LMU Research Fellowships Promotion of Postdoctoral Researchers
LMU Research Fellowships Promotion of Postdoctoral Researchers
LMU Research Fellowships Promotion of Postdoctoral Researchers
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I.
The LMU Research Fellowships are an integral part of the LMU Academic Career Program designed to attract excellent young academics to LMU Munich. They are directed at outstanding postdocs from all fields of research who have completed their doctoral degrees within the last three years. The program gives Research Fellows the opportunity to carry out an independent research project with the support of an LMU professor in order to support earlycareer postdoctoral researchers in building a successful academic career. Additionally, the fellowships are designed to enhance LMU Munichs network of scientific collaborations. Therefore, fellowship projects may be located in one of the core research areas of LMU Munich (e.g. Focus Areas, Areas of High Potential, Cluster of Excellence, Collaborative Research Centers, Priority Programmes, research focuses of the Center for Advanced Studies (CAS)); however, individual projects are also welcome.
II.
Fellowship Package
Fellowship Research fellows will be employed by the University and will receive an attractive salary according to the German Tarifvertrag der Lnder (TV-L) (typically TV-L grade E 14). The fellows salary will be established on the basis of an individual evaluation of the fellows professional history by LMU Munich. The fellows gross salary will be subject to income tax deduction and social security contributions. These depend on the fellows individual status and are both paid directly to the state by the University as employer. For further information on employment, taxes, social security, immigration and living in Germany please see the list of links under IX. Duration The LMU Research Fellowships are granted for a period of two years. Fellowships may commence from fall 2012 and should be taken up no later than 1 March 2013. Resources As part of the fellowship, material and travel expenses (including expenses for research assistants) of up to 10.000 p.a. may be granted. An additional start-up grant of up to 25,000 may be provided to allow for substantial investments that may be required as part of research projects. Furthermore, candidates may apply for up to 2,000 for the reimbursement of relocation costs, subject to legal conditions. In the first two years after the completion of their research fellowship, the fellows may be granted up to 5,000 for continuing cooperation with LMU Munich, subject to legal conditions.
III.
Academic Integration
The fellows will be integrated into a faculty of LMU Munich and may also become involved in teaching. Their application must be supported by a professor of LMU Munich, who will function as academic mentor for the respective fellow and will ensure the fellows academic and infrastructural integration. The mentor will especially be responsible for securing a work place at the respective department or institute. The fellows will also be members of the Young Center of the Center for Advanced Studies and be able to make use of its services. Candidates will be responsible for identifying and contacting potential support professors. Additionally, the Center for Advanced Studies (www.cas.lmu.de) provides support to candidates in providing further information on core areas of research at LMU Munich and finding professors that match the candidates research interests. Inquiries should be directed to
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[email protected]. It will be at the discretion of LMU professors whether or not to support a candidate. (list of professors)
IV.
Eligibility
The LMU Research Fellowship Program is open to applicants who completed their doctoral studies no more than three years prior to the closing date for applications. Candidates who completed their doctorate more than three years previously but whose postdoctoral experience does not amount to a total of more than three years because of career breaks due to family, health or other reasons will be eligible to apply. Any such interruptions should be indicated in applicants CVs (see VIII. Details of the online application tool). Doctoral students who have not completed their Ph.D. by the closing date for applications may apply. However, the Ph.D. must be completed before the commencement of the fellowship and no later than January 2013 (see VIII. Details of the online application tool).
V.
The closing date for applications is 5 February 2012. LMU Munich is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. Disabled applicants with essentially equal qualifications will be given preference.
VI.
Selection Procedure
1. Applicants must submit their applications in full through the online application tool (www.lmu.de/excellent/research-fellowships). 2. The University Research Board will evaluate the applications und make a recommendation on the selection of candidates to the University Governing Board. The University Research Board is a committee that advises the University Governing Board on issues regarding young academics. 3. The Governing Board will reach a final decision on the selection of candidates and the resources to be granted on the basis of the recommendations by the Research Board. The fellowship grants will then be awarded.
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Increasing international scientific recognition (e.g. conferences), Initiation of new cooperative research networks.
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A Letter of Recommendation must be sent by email as well as by mail in a sealed and signed envelope either by the candidate or the professor by the closing date for applications. General questions regarding the application process may be directed to: [email protected]
IX.
Useful Links
The following websites provide information on employment, taxes, social security, immigration and living in Germany: http://www.euraxess.de/portal/home_en.htm (EURAXESS Researchers in Motion Portal which provides a wide range of information for researchers on working and living in Germany including social security, taxes, immigration requirements, etc.) http://ec.europa.eu/eures/ (Website of the European Job Mobility Portal which also provides a wide range of information on working and living in Germany) www.deutsche-sozialversicherung.de/en/index.html (website of the German Social Security System) www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de (website of the German public pension fund, which provides information on pension contributions in several languages). http://www.auswaertigesamt.de/diplo/en/WillkommeninD/EinreiseUndAufenthalt/uebersicht.html (website of the German Federal Foreign Office which provides information on visa regulations) http://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tv-l/west/ (German website which provides information on salary rates as part of the German collective agreement for the public service of the German Lnder TV-L)