Deadline: March 15, 2013
Open to: excellent researchers at the postdoctoral level regardless of their field of research
Fellowship: employment contract with the University of Konstanz in accordance with the public sector staff tariffs of the German federal states
Description
The Zukunftskolleg is a central scientific institution of the University of Konstanz for the promotion of young researchers in the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, and is an integral component of the institutional strategy “Modell Konstanz — Towards a Culture of Creativity.” The Zukunftskolleg forms a platform for interdisciplinary discourse between distinguished researchers in Germany and abroad, and provides them with resources for obtaining extramural funding.
The Zukunftskolleg of the University of Konstanz offers up to fifteen (15) ZIF Marie Curie 2-year Research Fellowships (any discipline represented at the University of Konstanz) to develop and implement individual research projects. This call for applications is part of the Zukunftskolleg Incoming Fellowship Program (ZIF) and is financed by the Seventh Framework Program (FP7) Marie Curie Actions – People (co-funding of regional, national and international programs), the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the University of Konstanz. The rules and ethical principles for the FP7 and the DFG guidelines apply. Marie Curie Fellowships are available to researchers regardless of their nationality and field of research. They are intended to encourage the transnational mobility of top-level researchers in order to integrate them within the European research area. The fellowships will begin on September 1, 2013, and end on August 31, 2015.
Eligibility
The target group consists of excellent researchers at the postdoctoral level, leadership abilities and a capacity for teamwork, so that they can reasonably be expected to take up leading roles in academia and European research and innovation policy.
In order to be eligible, candidates must fulfill all of the eligibility criteria:
- Candidates must be in possession of a doctoral degree;
- Applicants must not have had their main residence in Germany for more than 12 months during the three years prior to the application deadline of March 15, 2013 (mobility rule);
- Candidates must not hold a permanent position, a professorship, or have an habilitation or equivalent (Venia legendi);
- Applicants must propose a research project that ties in with a discipline represented at the University of Konstanz (applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential mentors (local host) among the Professors at the University of Konstanz in order to ensure appropriate affiliation);
- All ethical issues raised by a proposed project (if applicable) must be described in the project outline. The candidate should explain how these will be addressed, so as to conform to national and Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) ethical principles. For advice, please see the CORDIS website on ethics (http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ethics_en.html) and contact the Zukunftskolleg office. If a proposed project that has passed the peer review stage raises any ethical issues, it is forwarded for review by the University of Konstanz Ethics Committee.
Candidates with their own position funded by another programme, which can be transferred to Konstanz, are also eligible. Candidates may not benefit from more than one Marie Curie grant at the same time. Therefore, candidates may not use another Marie Curie Fellowship or other EU funding in conjunction with this Fellowship programme.
Fellows have an opportunity to teach. They are expected to participate actively in the regular weekly meetings of the Zukunftskolleg and to have their place of residence in Konstanz.
Fellowship
The Postdoctoral Fellowship consists of an employment contract with the University of Konstanz in accordance with the public sector staff tariffs of the German federal states (TV-L; depending on personal qualifications and up to salary group 13 TV-L). Fellows are expected to have their place of residence in Konstanz. An additional mobility allowance is provided where necessary.
The Zukunftskolleg provides a professional infrastructure and an appropriate workplace for conducting research. Fellows have the opportunity to benefit from a variety of career development measures, including the University of Konstanz’s Academic Staff Development and Research Support offices. Fellows may nominate recognized experts in their field of research as senior fellows, who will be invited to Konstanz for a research stay of one to nine months. Each fellow receives a mobility allowance and a research allowance. Furthermore, a pool is available for funding cooperative projects, research assistants, travel, and equipment purchases. Each fellow is a member of both a university department and the Zukunftskolleg. A Mentoring Committee supports each fellow in her/his career development. This committee consists of an experienced researcher from the fellow’s research field within the university department, as well as an advanced Research Fellow of the Zukunftskolleg.
How to apply
Fellows are selected on the basis of their academic excellence, the quality and topicality of their research project outline, personal aptitude with regard to leadership and team skills, and interdisciplinary interest. International experience in teaching or research, and a strong interest in interdisciplinary topics are desirable.
Applications are evaluated in a two-stage process:
- Eligibility check and pre-selection based on the written application;
- Further selection based on independent peer reviews.
Candidates will be informed of the final decision and the evaluation of their own strengths and weaknesses approximately one week after the second selection phase mid-June 2013.
More information on the Zukunftskolleg and current fellows, as well as a special section devoted to the application and selection process (application forms, guidelines on eligibility, evaluation criteria, the timeline and the stages of the selection process) are available on our website athttp://www.zukunftskolleg.uni-konstanz.de/. The University is committed to encouraging diversity among its staff and employees. If appropriately qualified, disabled persons will be given preference (please contact the Disabilities Adviser for assistance: Tel. +49 (0) 7531 / 88 – 2483). The University of Konstanz encourages researchers to resume their careers after any interruptions, as extra-academic experiences are respected and appreciated as potentially beneficial to the community of fellows. The University of Konstanz is an equal opportunity employer and endeavors to increase the number of women in research and teaching. The University of Konstanz has been certified by the Hertie Foundation as a family friendly institution. The University is committed to advancing the compatibility of a University career and family life.
All applications and supporting materials must be submitted in English via the Online Application Platform at www.zukunftskolleg.uni-konstanz.de/online-application
Applicants are encouraged to check their eligibility before submitting their proposal.
The deadline for applications is March 15, 2013 (17:00:00 GMT + 1:00).
Contact: Help Desk, zukunftskolleg-application(at)uni-konstanz.de, Tel.: +49 (0) 7531 / 88 – 5678
or Dr. Nani Clow, e-mail: n.clow(at)uni.kn.
