• All researchers employed at the University of Siegen who have completed their doctorate with outstanding results and who have not completed their doctorate at the University of Siegen are eligible to apply.
• External applicants who have a host researcher at the University of Siegen (letter of acceptance must be enclosed)
• The junior research group must be located and carried out at the University of Siegen.
• Max. 3 years after the doctorate (date of certificate); periods of absence due to childcare are taken into account and at least 1 year of postdoctoral experience
• Publications in high-ranking international journals or comparable form
• Substantial international research experience, proven for example by research stays abroad, international research collaborations or an international working environment during the doctorate or postdoc phase in Germany.
• Applicants should prepare and submit a proposal for third-party funding in a competitive junior research group program within 12 months.
• Applicants may submit a maximum of one application per call. A
  repeated submission of a (rejected) application is possible once.
• Applicants who have already had an application approved in this funding line are excluded from submitting a further application.
  

The Junior Research Group Fund includes

• flexible material resources (for travel, support staff, consumables, translations and conference fees)
• individual coaching, structured advice and peer mentoring

Own positions or infrastructure cannot be funded.

The funding includes an accompanying advisory program to prepare for an academic career and support in preparing a third-party funding application. Contents of the program are

• Proposal advice and coaching by the Research Funding Unit (mandatory)
• Individual coaching on career development by the House of Young Talents (optional)
• Collegial advice from an experienced researcher at the University of Siegen, provided by the HYT (optional)

Full funding of a junior research group from the Junior Research Fund and final funding of projects are excluded. Ongoing projects and project positions are also not eligible for funding.

Up to €10,000 can be applied for.

Applications must be submitted electronically to the Prorectorates for Research, Infrastructure and Networking and comprise two documents:

1. Data sheet with binding confirmation that the application will be submitted
2. Application according to the application template (max. 5 pages)

Please use only the templates provided for your application. Unfortunately, applications that deviate from these cannot be considered. Applications submitted outside the deadline cannot be considered either.

The application template comprises the following points:

1. Project outline
2. Current state of research and innovative content
3. Justification of the selected funding organization and the selected funding program
4. Justification of the choice of location University of Siegen and the selection of the host researcher
5. Work program and schedule of the overall project and the funded measure
6. Financing plan and justification of the requested funds
7. List of publications related to the research topic (max. 5, if available)
8. Information on the duration of the employment relationship (valid for the entire funding period) or binding confirmation from the Schools of an intended extension of the employment relationship
9. Further information
10. Academic curriculum vitae of the applicant including a list of publications
    

Please note that the application must also be comprehensible for reviewers from other disciplines.

Further documents:

• External applicants: Confirmation of the host scientist * of the host scientist at the University of Siegen

Applicants present their project to the Research Committee in the form of a short presentation and are then available to answer questions. Decisions on applications are based on the following selection criteria:

1. scientific quality: in particular, the scientific quality, relevance and originality of the main topic or research idea should be assessed.

2. qualification of the applicant: assessment of the professional requirements for carrying out the junior research group and the completeness of the thematic coverage. The prospects of success of the planned application should also be roughly assessed here.

3. resources applied for: It must be checked whether the resources applied for are appropriate for the applicant's anticipated achievements.

4. contribution of the research project to further strengthening the profile of the University of Siegen.

In addition, the committee also takes subject-specific framework conditions into account. In a summarizing vote, the present application is considered in its entirety.