Promoting young scientists Talent management in the Helmholtz Association

1 Contents

3 Foreword 4 Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups 6 Programmes for PhD Students 8 Helmholtz Management Academy 9 Mentoring 10 Fostering Young Talent before University

Cover picture: At the hydro lab of the solar research division of the DLR’s Institute of Technical ­Thermodynamics in Cologne: During an inspection of the PROPHIS facility, a staff ­member explains the principle behind actinometry – the measurement of the photo- chemical effectiveness of electromagnetic (especially solar) radiation. Dear Readers,

Because we realize that promoting up-and-coming young scien- development from the beginning. In addition, the Helmholtz tists is vital to guaranteeing internationally competitive, first-rate Academy has further professionalised the training of the lead- research in the future, we have made this aspect a fundamental ing scientists of tomorrow by providing them with the neces- part of our culture at the Helmholtz Association, nurturing young sary management skills, and our mentoring programmes help researchers and scientists in a multitude of ways and establish- establish networks of contacts and foster equal opportunity by ing the highest standards of training and education. We would encouraging young women to strive for positions of leadership. like to introduce the various means by which we work towards this goal to you in this brochure, along with examples from some Our new programmes were developed in cooperation with of our Research Centres. the individual Helmholtz Centres, which in turn have various programmes of their own. Thus the Helmholtz Association as a The Helmholtz Association’s programmes for fostering young whole is well equipped to meet the scientific challenges of the scientists are one way in which we are honouring the commit- future. ment we made as a partner of the German federal and state gov- ernments in the Pact for Research and Innovation. The central element of our overall strategy is the programme for promoting postdoctoral researchers, the only one of its kind in . But we have also established special programmes for young people of all ages – from youngsters in kindergarten and school- children to undergraduate and graduate students – which aim Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mlynek to discover bright young minds at an early age and foster their President of the Helmholtz Association

3 Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups: Focused support at a crucial career stage

Our Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups help young scientists own research group and benefit from the excellent working con- become independent early on and offer them reliable career pros- ditions and conducive environment of a large research centre. pects. They are unique in Germany and help attract creative and Moreover, the tenure option provides them with a long-term talented minds from all over the world to the Helmholtz Research career perspective. Centres. The programme particularly stresses close cooperation with universities. The leaders of the Helmholtz Young Investigators We think excellence should be rewarded and fostered from an early Groups work closely with partners at universities. This gives stage. That means on the one hand enabling researchers to plan them the opportunity to acquire teaching experience and qualify their careers, and on the other, acknowledging competitive achieve- themselves for a career in higher education. Some of them have ment. This is particularly important in the postdoctoral phase. The already been appointed for a joint position as junior professor by Helmholtz Association has established the Young Investigators the Helmholtz Association and the respective universities, in an Groups with the special requirements of this critical career stage in arrangement we soon hope to be able to offer all those heading mind. Young Investigators Groups.

A Major Advantage – the Tenure Option Unique Opportunities for Outstanding Applicants

Intended for researchers and scientists who completed their The most important criterion in selecting applicants is their PhD between two and six years ago, deducting any time off for outstanding quality as scientists. The selection process consists parental leave, the measure allows them to start and head their of three stages. In the first, applications are pre-screened at the

Tenure track provides reliable career prospects Additional Groups in the Centres The Helmholtz Association is introducing the tenure track, In the last few years, the Helmholtz Centres have set up their own standard in many other countries, to Germany. Young academics ­programmes enabling young scientists to establish independent are initially offered a temporary position in which they can establish research groups under the same conditions as their counterparts in their own work groups and push their research forward. At the same time, the Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups. All in all there are now more they are offered the prospect that the centre will continue to fund their than 50 independent groups headed by young researchers in different research work following positive assessment in an evaluation process. Helmholtz Centres in addition to the 80 Helmholtz Young Investigators The tenure track option thus offers young scientists reliable career Groups. ­perspectives.

4 Dr. Julia Boike heads a Helmholtz Young Investigators Group at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. She and her team of five are conducting research into the impact of change on the perma- frost regions of the Arctic.

“I came back from my time abroad respective Helmholtz Centre; in the second, the written proposal positively brimming with ideas. Thanks is evaluated by international experts. Finally, the applicant gives to the Helmholtz Association, I now a presentation to an interdisciplinary review panel. This elabo- have the ­opportunity and the latitude to rate process ensures that only the best applicants are accepted realize them with the Helmholtz Young and that they conduct research on relevant topics. Investigators Group I head. Getting the To enable these young scientists to conduct first-rate research, chance to work in this group is one of the the Helmholtz Association provides each of these groups with best things that happened in my career €250,000 a year for a period of five years. By 2007, 80 such and was the reason I decided to stay in Young Investigators Groups had been established; over the Germany.” long term, the Helmholtz Association would like to increase the number of groups to 100. With this measure, the association has already succeeded in attracting numerous researchers from renowned institutions abroad to work in Germany.

Dr. Ingo Röhle is leader of a Young Investigators Group at How can I apply? the DLR’s Institute for Propulsion Technology. The positions for leaders of Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups are advertised each spring in the magazines Nature “Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups and Science, among others, and are posted on the Helmholtz offer young researchers a fairly high de- website. gree of freedom, when it comes to initiat- In addition, the individual Helmholtz Centres regularly call for ing new research topics, for instance. young scientists to apply to lead research groups. I also see a great advantage in the fact You will find details on the websites of the individual centres that the Young Investigators Groups via links on the Helmholtz homepage at www.helmholtz.de create a direct link between universities and the respective research centre.”

5 Programmes for PhD Students: Conducting excellent research and acquiring key skills at the same time

Two additional instruments that help make Helmholtz Centres Helmholtz Graduate Schools for PhD Students so attractive for outstanding young researchers from around the world are the Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Helmholtz Research The Graduate Schools provide an umbrella structure for gradu- Schools, both of which are appealing options for young people ate students from a wide variety of fields. Besides the work in who have just finished their studies. A thesis on an interesting and their individual research groups joint seminars and lectures and relevant topic lays the foundation for outstanding achievements in internships are open to all participants. Additional interdiscipli- the future. The Helmholtz programmes create the ideal parameters nary training goes far beyond the field of specialisation and thus for this by providing a structured doctoral framework. In accordance provides these young people with key skills for a career in industry with this, a binding agreement is reached with PhD students on the or science. The Helmholtz Association has approved six gradu- specific form their academic guidance is to take and a customised ate schools since 2007: the Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Gradu- qualifications programme is defined for each student. ate School for Environmental Research (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ), the Helmholtz Graduate School for Molecular Cell Biology (Max Delbrueck Centre for Molecular “The conditions the Helmholtz Association Medicine, MDC), the Helmholtz International Graduate School of provides allow me to finish my doctorate Cancer Research (German Cancer Research Center), the Helm- quickly than I otherwise could have. The holtz Graduate School for Polar and Marine Research (Alfred infrastructure, direct access to experts Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research), the Helmholtz from all fields, excellent information man- Graduate School for Hadron and Ion Research (Gesellschaft für agement and the chance to gain additional Schwerionenforschung, GSI) and the Helmholtz Graduate School qualifications and skills, e.g. in workshops for Infection Research (Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research). at my research centre, all offer PhD candi- Ultimately the Helmholtz Association plans to establish Graduate dates invaluable support.” Schools at all of their research centres. John Kettler, PhD student at the Forschungszentrum Jülich. Helmholtz Research Schools for outstanding “Our needs as PhD students are debated PhD students and taken into consideration here on a scientific and management level. I work in Helmholtz Research Schools are joint ventures with universities in health research, and it’s encouraging to see which up to 25 outstanding graduate students focus as a team on research for the benefit of humanity being one specific research topic. Thus the students gain valuable experi- given real chances already at PhD level.” ence in working together closely in research teams – a form of Tilman Janzen, PhD student at the Helmholtz Zentrum München. Kettler and Janzen are the spokesmen for collaboration that is the basis of all top-notch research today – and Helmholtz Juniors, the representative and networking body receive additional training to ensure they have both the hard and for Helmholtz PhD students. soft skills required for their future careers. To ensure they receive the best quality training, the Helmholtz Association has established agreements with distinguished, experienced partners such as the graduate school at Imperial College London. The English-language Helmholtz Research Schools are a major fac- tor in attracting graduate students from abroad to the centres.

6 The centres cooperate with distinguished university partners: Dr. Henner Büsching is a researcher at the Johann Wolf- gang von Goethe University, Frankfurt, and coordinates the Helmholtz Research School for Quark Matter Studies Biosoft - International Helmholtz Research School on Biophysics­ in Heavy Ion Collisions, a project carried out in coopera- and Soft Matter (Forschungszentrum Jülich, Heinrich Heine Uni- tion with the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung. versity Düsseldorf, University of Cologne): The school researches ­Currently 25 PhD students from 14 countries are working on their theses there. topics including the interaction of complex macromolecules and cell functions. “I think it’s great to be able to bring Helmholtz International Research School for Infection Biology young researchers from theoretical and (Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hanover Medical School, experimental physics together. They work University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover): The school researches together on one topic in the Helmholtz strategies for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infections in Research School and get superb training human and veterinary medicine. in soft skills, as well. The students are Helmholtz International Research School in Molecular Neurobio­ highly committed and are starting to work logy (MDC, Freie Universität , Charité – Universitätsmedizin together really well as a team.” Berlin): The school investigates neurobiological questions relating to the development and function of the brain. Helmholtz International Research School in Translational Cardio­ vascular and Metabolic Medicine (MDC, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin): The school researches the mo- lecular basis of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and transfers the results into medical practice. Helmholtz Research School for Quark Matter Studies in Heavy Ion Collisions (GSI, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University, Frankfurt): The school is participating in the international project for the estab- lishment of the FAIR particle accelerator. Helmholtz Space Life Sciences Research School (DLR, University of Bonn, University of Hamburg, Christian-Albrecht University Kiel, German Sport University Cologne, University of Regensburg, RWTH Aachen): The school’s research focuses on the health aspects of manned space travel. ESSRES : Helmholtz System Science Research School (Alfred Wegener Institute, University of , Jacobs University): The school combines life and earth sciences to gain a better under- standing of the mechanisms shaping the Earth’s climate. German Research School for Simulation Science (Forschungszen- trum Jülich, RWTH Aachen): The school does research in the field of computer simulations, allowing students to work directly with super- computers and sophisticated visualisation systems. Anastasia Galkin is a PhD student at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ, German Research Centre for Geosciences.

“I really had my heart set on the GFZ because of the excellent working environ- Helmholtz Juniors have their say ment it offers. There’s an intensive inter- The PHD network aims to foster cooperation among young scientists and disciplinary exchange and I receive a lot researchers. Among other things, it organises an annual meeting where of support for my research – in procuring young academics can discuss educational issues and suggestions for the necessary equipment, enabling me improvement with the management of the Helmholtz Association and the to attend conferences and in many other heads of the individual centres. areas that are vital for a PhD student.”

7 Helmholtz Management Academy: Leadership skills for the executives of today and tomorrow

In spring 2007, the Helmholtz Association founded an academy The academy was launched in autumn 2007 with 30 manage- to equip talented young people with the specific skills they need ment trainees from the Helmholtz Centres. In the medium term, for careers in research management. we plan to open the academy to participants from universi- ties, other research institutions and technology and research- Professional management is not something learned overnight. intensive companies, as well, with the aim of professionalising Thus the Helmholtz Academy prepares young people with back- research management in Germany as a whole. grounds in science or administration for positions in science management with practically-oriented training. The programme also includes options for the Helmholtz Association executive: board members, managing directors, programme spokespersons and directors of institutes. We have placed an external partner with excellent references in charge of the content and methodo­ logy, the Malik Management Zentrum St. Gallen, Switzerland.

The young managers’ training programme lasts two years and includes on-site seminars, which incorporate topics from the projects participants are working on and their actual team and “I was thrilled when I was recommended management situations, and independent learning. In addition, for the Helmholtz Academy. It is providing a special mentoring programme fosters the development and me with the tools I need to make my work expansion of a management network within the Helmholtz As- in the field of research management more sociation. efficient and more effectively support scientists in what they do. I am convinced that networking among participants of the academy will help administration and research work together more smoothly in the future.” Dr. Kristina Böhlke runs the Project Management Organi- zation DESY. By order of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research she and her staff oversee and manage the ministry’s project grants in the area of large-scale facilities.

Sponsors from research and industry There are currently numerous programmes for human resources develop- ment already in place at the individual research centres, some of which go far beyond conventional lecture and seminar series. One sponsoring programme for young scientists at the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, for instance, allows them to pursue their research and get to know the workings of a commercial enterprise at the same time, enabling them to gain valuable additional qualifications outside their actual field and forge helpful contacts for their future careers. After three years, the com- panies decide whether they wish to engage their sponsee in a permanent capacity.

8 Mentoring: Dr. Sabine Kirchhoff, a mentee in the Helmholtz Mentor- ing Network programme, coordinates the Helmholtz Creating Equal Opportunities, Research School for Infection Biology at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and MIDITRAIN, a project Learning from Others’ Experience funded by the European Union, both programmes for PhD students. “I’ve been taking part in the Helmholtz The Helmholtz Association is committed to creating equal Mentoring Network programme for a little ­opportunities for men and women in research and science. over six months now, and it’s great. I’ve The Helmholtz strategy aimed at pursuing this goal focuses its already made a lot of personal contacts ­programmes on the needs of the targeted age groups. with people at other research centres and gained valuable insight into the different A research organisation aiming to achieve top results cannot structures and problem-solving approach- afford to ignore the scientific potential of women. Thus the es. The intensive exchange with the men- Helmholtz Association has established a Mentoring Network tors and other mentees is very helpful for programme to help ensure equal opportunities for women in my future career.” science. Knowledge based on practical experience and a close network of contacts are the prerequisites for a successful career and excellent research management. The Mentoring Network programme is designed specifically to help young women fulfil these prerequisites so that they can plan their careers and assume leadership positions. It is aimed at both young women with a PhD who have already gained initial experience leading research groups or managing projects and at women currently working in administration and management who would like to advance their careers. In each case, the mentor and mentee come from different centres within the Helmholtz Association. This “cross-mentoring” aims to promote networking within the association as a whole.

The mentoring programmes at the Helmholtz Centres The first mentoring programmes for young women in research established Medicine in Berlin-Buch, mentors offer assistance with research grant by research centres within the Helmholtz Association go back to 1999. For applications, help mentees get their bearings in the research environment instance, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe offers a mentoring programme and give them advice on planning their careers. Some of the centres have for women in cooperation with the University of Karlsruhe, RWTH Aachen programmes aimed at employees in the very early stages of their careers. and the Fraunhofer Society. In addition to working with their mentor, PhD students at the Helmholtz Zentrum München receive both academic participants take part in a number of accompanying training measures guidance from their thesis advisers and counselling from mentors. At the aimed at personality development and improving working methods. Similar Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, too, mentors accompany doctoral students programmes exist at centres such as the Helmholtz Centre for Infection during their doctoral studies. An assessment of the Deutches Zentrum für Research, the German Cancer Research Centre and the GKSS Research Luft und Raumfahrt’s mentoring programme, which has been open to both Centre Geesthacht. men and women for several years now, has shown that it has a significant Other centres have established even more comprehensive programmes. positive impact on the future course of mentees’ careers. In the mentoring programme at the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular

9 Fostering Young Talent before University: Awakening youngsters’ interest in the sciences

The Helmholtz Association sees its responsibility for fostering which is helping preschoolers get hands-on experience with young minds as reaching all the way to school and preschool ­science and technology, to the great benefit of early education. children. The network of Helmholtz school labs and the “Tiny This national initiative is supported by the Helmholtz Associa- Tots Science Corner” aim to inspire children’s and teenagers’ tion, the business consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, the enthusiasm for technology and the natural sciences. They have Siemens AG, the Dietmar Hopp Foundation, and the Federal established themselves both as places where children can learn ­Ministry for Education and Research. Local networks make in a non-school context, and as partners that actively shape and sure that the teachers benefit from on-site training workshops enrich science teaching in schools. that are developed by the “Tiny Tots Science Corner”. For this purpose, the networks educate the trainers, schools are pro- vided with comprehensive learning materials and participating Tiny Tots Science Corner preschools are awarded the “Tiny Tots Science Corner” brand.

Science activities are not often featured in preschool education at the moment, despite their inclusion in the official curriculum. Success Story School Labs This gap is being addressed by the “Tiny Tots Science Corner”, The Helmholtz school lab network is a resounding success: Every “The Helmholtz Association’s school labs year, more than 40,000 schoolchildren visit one of the Helmholtz open up new perspectives by turning kids school labs that have been set up in 22 locations so far. The variety into researchers. Working side by side of the subjects and methods offered matches the scope of the with real scientists, they embark on an individual Helmholtz centres’ main research activities. At the Helm- exciting intellectual adventure in which holtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy, 14- to19-year-olds can they get to explore the worlds of science observe atoms using a scanning tunnelling microscope, make a solar and technology and get hands-on experi- cell or experiment with super-conductive materials. The Helmholtz ence with real experiments. Going outside Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ invites young research- the classroom gives both teachers and ers to determine harmful substances in water and air. And at the pupils an entirely new angle on learning, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), which is a part of the and they return to school full of new ideas Helmholtz Association, pupils can slip into the role of journalists dur- and enthusiasm.” ing their school holidays. They conduct interviews with scientists and This is how Karl Sobotta and Dr. Susanne Gatti size then produce a newspaper based on their research. up the impact of the school labs. Dr. Gatti heads the SEASIDE school lab at the Alfred Wegener Institute and is spokeswoman for the Helmholtz school lab network. The Life Science Lab at the German Cancer Research Center has Karl Sobotta is head of the JuLab school lab at the set up a special programme for especially motivated pupils from Forschungszentrum Jülich and is working together with year eight on that includes lectures, weekend seminars and summer directors of other school labs to promote the expansion of the network. academies during the school holidays. The Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Ramfahrt also maintains six school labs that allow young- sters to conduct exciting experiments and experience the fascination of science. The network of Helmholtz school labs offers activities for children and youngsters of all ages – from pre-schoolers and primary schoolchildren, to youngsters in vocational training and secondary school pupils on a science track.

10 MEMBERS OF THE HELMHOLTZ ASSOCIATION

Alfred Wegener Institute German Cancer Research Center Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Polar and Marine Research Im Neuenheimer Feld 280 for Materials and Energy Am Handelshafen 12 69120 Heidelberg Glienicker Straße 100 27570 Bremerhaven Telephone +49 6221 42-0 14109 Berlin Telephone +49 471 4831-0 Fax +49 6221 42-2995 Telephone 030 8062-0 Fax +49 0471 4831-1149 e-mail [email protected] Fax 030 8062-2181 e-mail [email protected] www.dkfz.de E-mail [email protected] www.awi.de www.helmholtz-berlin.de / www.hmi.de Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY Planckstraße 1 Helmholtz Zentrum München Notkestraße 85 64291 Darmstadt German Research Center for Environmental 22607 Hamburg Telephone +49 6159 71-0 Health Telephone +49 40 8998-0 Fax +49 6159 71-2785 Ingolstädter Landstraße 1 Fax +49 40 8998-3282 e-mail [email protected] 85764 Neuherberg e-mail desyinfo@.de www.gsi.de Telephone +49 89 3187-0 www.desy.de Fax +49 89 3187-3322 GKSS Research Center Geesthacht e-mail [email protected] Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt Max-Planck-Straße 1 www.helmholtz-muenchen.de Linder Höhe 21502 Geesthacht 51147 Cologne Telephone +49 4152 87-0 Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ – Telephone +49 2203 601-0 Fax +49 4152 87-1403 German Research Centre for Geosciences Fax +49 2203 673-10 e-mail [email protected] Telegrafenberg e-mail [email protected] www.gkss.de 14473 Potsdam www.dlr.de Telephone +49 331 288-0 Helmholtz Centre Fax +49 331 288-1600 Forschungszentrum Jülich for Environmental Research – UFZ e-mail [email protected] Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße Permoserstraße 15 www.gfz-potsdam.de 52428 Jülich 04318 Telephone +49 2461 61-0 Telephone +49 341 235-0 Max Delbrueck Centre Fax +49 2461 61-8100 Fax +49 341 235-2791 for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch (MDC) e-mail [email protected] e-mail [email protected] Robert-Rössle-Straße 10 www.fz-juelich.de www.ufz.de 13125 Berlin Telephone +49 30 9406-0 Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research Fax +49 30 949-4161 Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1 Inhoffenstraße 7 e-mail [email protected], 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 38124 Braunschweig www.mdc-berlin.de Telephone +49 7247 82-0 Telephone +49 531 6181-0 Fax +49 7247 82-5070 Fax +49 531 6181-2655 Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) e-mail [email protected] e-mail [email protected] (associated member) www.fzk.de www.helmholtz-hzi.de Boltzmannstraße 2 85748 Garching Telephone +49 89 3299-01 Fax +49 89 3299-2200 e-mail [email protected] www.ipp.mpg.de

Published by Association Communications and Media Relations Picture credits: of German Research Centres Berlin Office Cover photo: Bierstedt; p. 3: Außerhofer; p. 4: Bierstedt; Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2 p. 5: Außerhofer, Fesseler, DLR/Roehle; p. 6: Außerhofer, Head office 10178 Berlin Fesseler; p. 7: Bierstedt, Weisbrod; Fesseler; p. 8: Ahrstraße 45 Telephone +49 30 206329-57 Außerhofer, Fesseler; p. 9: Außerhofer, Fesseler; p. 10: 53175 Bonn Fax +49 30 206329-60 Bierstedt, Limbach Telephone +49 228 30818-0 e-mail: [email protected] Fax +49 228 30818-30 www.helmholtz.de V.i.S.d.P. (Person responsible according to German press law): Thomas Gazlig Edited by: Dr. Angela Bittner, Berit Dannenberg Layout and design: unicom-berlin.de Printed by Mediabogen Berlin; edition of 2,000 copies Status 05/2008 www.helmholtz.de