Guidelines. Status: December 2011

Transcription

1 Guidelines Status: December 2011 The objective of the Elite Network of Bavaria is to strengthen what Bavaria can offer to outstanding scientific talents in order to keep the best performers, who until now have often left the country to continue their scientific career abroad, in Bavaria. The focus is on the preparation for a career in science or a science-related professional activity. The concept of the Elite Network of Bavaria therefore provides the establishment of International Doctorate Programs under the auspices of the Bavarian state universities and the Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt. Universities of applied sciences, art colleges, the Universitaet der Bundeswehr Muenchen as well as other nonuniversity research institutions can participate in cooperation with one of the abovementioned universities. In further developing the concept of the Elite Network of Bavaria, new International Junior Research Groups are going to be established. Host universities can be the state universities and the Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt. The next calls for proposals in 2012 and 2013 will include only International Doctorate Programs and International Junior Research Groups. In the subsequent calls for proposals in 2014 to 2016, more funding allocations for the support of Elite Graduate Programs will be available. The announced will be made in due course. The first call for proposals in 2012 extends only to areas of research in the humanities, the social sciences and the economics. The second round in 2013 extends only to areas of research in the life sciences, natural sciences and engineering.

2 2 I. International Junior Research Groups...2 II. Selection, application and responsibilities of International Junior Research Groups...3 III. Financing...4 IV. Formalities...6 V. Schedule...6 I. International Junior Research Groups With the establishment of International Junior Research Groups as a fifth funding line of the Elite Network of Bavaria, excellently qualified junior researchers will be brought to Bavarian universities their research projects being embedded in the current topics of the respective Elite Graduate Programs or the International Doctorate Programs in the Elite Network of Bavaria. In this way, the Elite Graduate Programs and the International Doctorate Programs expand or complement their scientific programme while the International Junior Research Group will be integrated into a scientifically particularly attractive environment. The new funding line tops off the program of the Elite Network of Bavaria, which now provides funding opportunities for university students as well as young researchers. An application after an international call for proposals is possible in agreement with a participating scientist from one of the above two lines of funding or can be handed in on his / her initiative. The application requires the drafting of an innovative, creative and scientifically challenging project proposal at the frontier of knowledge in the respective subject fields. It is expected that the host institution provides suitable premises and standard facilities that allow access to the necessary infrastructure and equipment to participate. A further funding of the candidates by the host institution in a later phase remains to be decided on at a later date. Collaborations with non-university research institutions are possible and welcome as long as the existing funding lines are involved. The endowment for the International Junior Research Groups is internationally competitive. This funding within the framework of the Elite Network of Bavaria is limited to junior researchers who have not been working at the host institution so far and preferably will not work there in the two years before the start of the junior research groups. Their research projects should be embedded in the current topics of the Elite Graduate Programs or the International Doctorate Programs in the Elite Network of Bavaria and complement them. Only one International Junior Research Group can be established per Elite Graduate Program or International Doctorate Program. The program will allow Junior Research Group leaders to enter a phase of scientific independence directly after a period of gaining post-doctoral experience. Eligible appli-

3 3 cants are therefore suitably qualified persons who completed their doctoral studies two to five years ago. They freely dispose of their research funds and decide on the acquisition of third-party funds. They publish as responsible authors and decide on the recruitment of staff within the project budget. They are expected to participate in the supervision of scientific work, such as Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral theses with relevance to the respective Elite Graduate Program or International Doctorate Program. The funding of the International Junior Research Groups by the Elite Network of Bavaria is limited to five years. Development and results of the International Junior Research Group must be documented. For the selection process, the International Expert Commission of the Elite Network of Bavaria convenes an expert review panel. II. Selection, application and responsibilities of International Junior Research Groups The selection process consists of two stages. The draft proposals, which are submitted in the first stage, are not limited regarding their topic. The draft proposals must explain how the Junior Research Group is going to ensure the high quality of their work. After a positive assessment of the draft proposals, the coordination office of the Elite Network of Bavaria will ask for proposals. The assessment is carried out by the members of the International Expert Commission of the Elite Network of Bavaria as well as by an expert committee. The Bavarian State Ministry of Sciences, Research and the Arts decides on the basis of the recommendations of the International Experts Commission. Similar to an executive summary, the application should in particular include the following information: junior researcher responsible for the Junior Research Group (name, address), scientific excellence recognized by publications (quality, quantity, originality), awards and prizes, international experience, external third-party funds and existing co-operations, etc. central research topic and the correlating research orientation as well as the profile of the International Junior Research Group summary of the main intentions of the International Junior Research Group preliminary work directly related to the central research topic relevant international co-operation of the International Junior Research Group

4 4 integration into the profile of the university and ties to its existing research institutions, presentation of the scientific environment co-operations with other universities and other non-university institutions integration into existing networks (research associations, federal and EU programs, Collaborative Research Centres, graduate schools, etc.) possibly; capability for the implementation of the research results financial framework (annual financial resources) / co-payment of the university The junior researcher applies independently as the leader of the International Junior Research Group and is responsible for the draft proposal and the proposal. III. Financing By supporting the application of an International Junior Research Group, the university obligates itself to provide the infrastructure and its share of resources that may be required to continuously promote the International Junior Research Group. a) Financial framework Up to eight International Junior Research Groups will be established within the framework of the Elite Network of Bavaria. Up to three of these Junior Research Groups are planned for the next call for proposals in relating to the following Elite Graduate Programs or International Doctorate Programs in the humanities, the social sciences and the economics. (See and Elite Graduate Program: Ethics of Textual Cultures ( Elite Graduate Program: East European Studies ( Elite Graduate Program Finance & Information Management ( Elite Graduate Program: Honors in Business, Economic and Information Systems (

5 5 Elite Graduate Program: Aisthesis. Art and literary culture discourses from a Historical Perspective ( International Doctorate Program: Premodern Textuality ( International Doctorate Program: Incentives - Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics ( For the call for proposals in 2013, it is planned to establish five more International Junior Research Groups relating to the current Elite Graduate Programs or the International Doctorate Programs in the life sciences, natural sciences and engineering. The host university and the participating academic institutions are expected to provide adequate infrastructure and technical equipment. The Bavarian State Ministry of Sciences, Research and the Arts is going to fund the post of the leader of the International Junior Research Group with an A 14-position (Akademischer Oberrat auf Zeit) or TV-L E 14-position or TV-L E 15-position, and up to two PhD positions as A 13-positions (Akademischer Rat auf Zeit) or TV-L E 13- positions. Possibly, there will be half an administration position available. Depending on the requirements of the discipline, part-time positions for promotion might be appropriate in individual cases. The International Junior Research Group leader and the doctoral students have to provide services with regard to teaching, research and project management as long as this does not affect their own research projects. Additional funds will be provided, of which the host institutions have to bear a quarter. Regarding the amount of additional funds, adequate additional equipment will be offered in the light of the diversity of the subject-related requirements, but only in accordance with the requirements of the individual subject and the subject matter of the relevant International Junior Research Group. As a rough guide for the additional funds, a value of 60,000 (plus co-payment of the host institution) can be assumed. The specific amount depends strongly on the reasonable requirements in their disciplines and on international standards. b) Use of funds The funds provided have to be used to implement the research project. The International Junior Research Group leader decides independently on the use of funds, hiring of staff and the raising of further third-party funds.

6 6 IV. Formalities Draft proposals should have the following form: a maximum of 10 pages, font size 12, single line spacing DIN A4, printed on one side, not punched and not stapled Additional copies of the draft on CD-ROM as a PDF or a Word-document Send to: Geschäftsstelle des Elitenetzwerks Bayern Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Salvatorstraße München Dr. Manuela Gronostay at the coordination office of the Elite Network of Bavaria can help you with any questions relating to the submission of draft proposals (Tel. 089/ , Manuela.Gronostay@stmwfk.bayern.de). V. Schedule Submission of draft proposals by 11 April 2012 (deadline) Selection by the International Expert Commission and request for a further proposal in early summer Submission of proposals by 30 August 2012 (deadline) Evaluation by expert committee in autumn 2012 Decision of the International Expert Commission on a funding recommendation expected for December 2012 Beginning of the International Junior Research Groups expected for 2013