We support qualified early career researchers in the independent realisation of research tasks.
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 focus of the current call for proposals is on AI .
Admission of the 2nd postdoc cohort 2025: to the press release
Details and application
The next application phase is expected to start in 2028.
There are many benefits to participating in the Graduate Centre:
- 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
Digital technologies shape our everyday lives and have changed the way we communicate, work and live. Their influence extends far beyond individual habits and has a profound impact on social, economic and political processes. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in particular – based on statistical methods and the analysis of large amounts of data – play a central role in the current phase of digital transformation. They make it possible to recognise complex relationships, make predictions and automatically generate content such as texts or images. This allows knowledge to be extracted from extensive databases and made usable in a very short time. However, their effects on society and coexistence have not been sufficiently researched and understood.
Against this backdrop, a fundamental understanding of the technical basics and social implications of digital technologies is becoming increasingly important for all scientific disciplines. Digital skills – especially in the field of AI – are becoming a key qualification in research, teaching and professional practice.
Strengthening digital skills across disciplines is therefore one of the objectives of the Graduate Centre for postdocs and doctoral candidates at bidt. This call for proposals aims to fund projects that address these challenges and make innovative contributions to the application and sustainable and trustworthy design of digital technologies in various disciplines.
The target group is postdocs who are in their first one to two years after completing their doctorate and are pursuing a career in science. The university at which the future employment is sought must be a university sponsored by the Free State of Bavaria or a state-recognised university that is significantly refinanced by the Free State of Bavaria.
Very good English skills are also required, as the working language at the Graduate Centre is English. Basic knowledge of German and an interest in expanding this knowledge are also required.
An interest in interdisciplinary exchange and experience at the interface with other disciplines are also desirable.
If accepted into the Graduate Centre, active participation in the course programme is expected.
The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts is aiming to admit around ten new postdocs to the Graduate Centre in 2027. Admission is expected to take place on 1 January 2027 following a successful application.
The funding includes personnel funds for the postdoc position with a maximum value of E14 TV-L as well as research funds of €15,000 p.a. each for a maximum period of four years (subject to the provision of the necessary budget funds by the budget legislator).
The required infrastructure and all other necessary resources must be provided by the university at which the researcher is employed.
Contact person
Cohort 2022
Cohort 2025
Alumni
Events for Postdocs
These events are aimed at participants in the bidt funding programmes and bidt employees.
Network Meeting 2026 of the bidt Graduate Center
Working groups
Together, postdocs and doctoral candidates can gain experience in an interdisciplinary context and work in a productive and results-orientated manner. An overview of the respective working groups and a brief description can be found here:
Continuing education topics
The Graduate Centre for Postdocs offers further training courses to specifically promote the skills development of early career 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 supporting 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
Appointment to a professorship - Leadership I
lateral leadership, sandwich position - Leadership II
Leadership, values - Resilience
Dealing with crises - Networks, communication, contacts
Participation in non-university (research and consulting) 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.
