We support qualified young academics in their independent research pursuits.
With this funding line, the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts seeks to assist postdocs at universities in Bavaria, qualify them for a successful career in academia and prepare them to take on a tenure-track, lead of a junior research group or comparable position. The aim is to promote the careers of excellent young researchers, primarily from the first or second year after their doctorate, who focus on technically, economically or socially relevant issues in the context of digitalisation.
The Graduate Center is coordinated by the bidt.
Details and application
Next application deadline:
Starting in 2024
There are many benefits to participating in the Graduate Center:
- Funding of a position
- Access to all bidt events
- Exchange in working groups with other doctoral researchers and experts from academia and society
- Increased visibility within the specialist community and beyond
The target group are postdocs in the first one to two years after their doctorate and wish to pursue an academic career. The applicant’s (future) position must be located at a university publicly administered by the Free State of Bavaria or at a state-recognised university significantly funded by the Free State.
Excellent knowledge of English is also required, as the language of communication at the Graduate Center is English. We expect a basic understanding of German and an interest in expanding this knowledge.
Interdisciplinary interests and experience at the intersection of other disciplines are also welcome.
In case of admission to the Graduate Center, we expect active participation in the course programme.
Funding includes costs for the postdoc position with a classification of no more than E14 TV-L and annual research funds of at most 15,000 euros each for a maximum of four years.
The required infrastructure and all other necessary resources must be provided by the university where the position is located.
After two years of funding, work progress is reviewed based on a report, and a decision is made on whether to continue the funding.
An application must include the following documents:
- Completed application form including a statement as to the willingness to take on a working group and to exchange ideas with doctoral students and other postdocs
- Five-page synopsis describing the research project; it should have a technical, economic or social focus relevant to digitalisation and be intended to take up to four years to complete
- Curriculum vitae, including references
- Proof of an outstanding doctorate or a comparable officially recognised degree or acceptance as a habilitation candidate
- A declaration of support by the university at which the applicant’s position is to be located; an existing employment relationship is not a prerequisite for application
The complete application documents (application form, synopsis of the research project, curriculum vitae and references, declaration of support) must be sent in a single PDF document (max. 10 MB) to young-talents@bidt.digital.
The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts decides based on the recommendations of an independent, interdisciplinary commission of non-Bavarian experts. The basis for the evaluation is always the written application.
Selection criteria include the applicant’s professional qualifications, the scientific quality of the research project and its relevance to aspects of digital transformation.
Contact
Promoted People
Events for Postdocs
These events are aimed at participants in the bidt funding programmes and bidt employees
Professional training
With its training courses, the Graduate Center for Postdocs specifically promotes the professional development of young researchers.
In addition to career-oriented continuing education, there are a number of other and important subject areas for scientists.
- Science communication
digital Storytelling, Interviews, competent use of social media, for example LinkedIn, Twitter - Agile Research
Scrum - Transfer, Founding
Design Thinking, patents and licensing - Balance of Family and Career
The targeted acquisition of third-party funding is essential for a career in science. The training courses mentioned here are intended to help participants with successful application and project management.
- EU tenders
- Writing a proposal
Third-party funding acquisition, funding bodies, various national/international calls for proposals - Evaluations, performance reviews
Expert opinions, time/budget plan, evaluations, resubmission, consulting services - Presentation
Personal presentation, rhetoric, moderating, media communication, interviews - Project management
Methods, requirements, budget and resources, conflicts, coordination - Conflict management
for employees with leadership responsibilities - Team, roles in the team
TMS (Team Management System)
A training programme is planned for postdocs with the aim of accompanying their career development. The primary goal is to remain in academia. The training courses prepare them specifically for applying for a tenure-track position.
- Negotiations
Negotiation situations, strategies - Appointment negotiations
Calling for a professorship - Leadership I
Lateral leadership, sandwich position - Leadership II
Leadership, values - Resilience
Dealing with crisis - Networks, communication, contacts
Participation in non-university (research and advisory) organisations
At the end of the four-year period in the Graduate Centre, there will therefore be a “competence workshop”.
Participation in the two-day seminar enables the postdocs to intensively examine their personal competencies through a holistic view of their life and professional biography.
This is the foundation for a sustainable professional orientation and goal development, in which the further career path is analysed and planned.
