Making the right move: How to build a research career in Germany Tricia Striano, PhD Hunter College New York, New York www.triciastriano.com
Why do I want to go to Germany? Good reasons Funds to do world-class research Become more international researcher Excellent resources and researchers The system works MPI director Not so good reasons Your boyfriend lives in Berlin You couldn t get a job elsewhere Why not?
Head of the Junior Research Group on Cultural Ontogeny at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. 5 year group LEIPZIG, GERMANY Accepted the position because of the unsurpassable resources for research. Want the best resources for research? GO TO GERMANY! Photo of naïve American on her way to Leipzig, Germany
It wasn t what I expected. Hiring, budgets, reports, review Feierabend? Terminating contracts Learning the German system Very different in terms of sick leave, maternity leave, vacations. Hierarchical system. No/Few people in similar position. Few female directors/role models Learning German. Learning everything the hard way! What doesn t kill you makes you (and your research) stronger!
Are you ready to run a research group? In many cases it is a good idea to get experience as a post-doc first. Get the chance to develop your own research program before/as you learn about management. With experience, managing and problem solving becomes much easier. You don t have to learn the hard way/on your own.
5 year challenge In most cases, you will have 5 years to build up your group, do your research, and get a new position. You will also be responsible for helping all of your PhD students, post-docs, etc. get positions.
Permanent positions are limited May take you 1-2 years just to build up your group, interview, hire, learn German. Now you have 2-3 years left. To obtain the permanent job of your dreams it may take 1-3 years, so you may want to get on the market in your 3 rd year just as your group is built up/functioning. Do a cost-benefit analysis.
Germany is investing in you. You are investing in Germany. * Before you invest in building up a group, find out about the possibility of permanent positions. How might taking this position affect the rest of my career? How might it affect your life? You may need to make sacrifices.
MONEY TALKS! Germany invests a lot of money in research! Germany invests in young scientists! Germany invests in innovative ideas.
How to build a group in Germany? Obtain funds and support! * Discovered the Sofja Kovalevskaja Program of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Found ad for the Sofja Kovalevskaja award on the bulletin board at the MPI. What do we know about the Humboldt Foundation?
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 2008 budget was approx. 68.1 mill. EUR -more than 98% of which was publicly financed by the federal government Promotes cooperation between excellent scientists and scholars from abroad and from Germany No quotas for individual countries or academic disciplines; selection based solely on applicant s academic record 23,000 alumni worldwide from 130 countries. Up to 800 fellowships and 100 awards granted annually
Humboldt Research Fellowship Open to all nationalities and disciplines For Postdoctoral Researchers 6 to 24 months; monthly stipend of 2,250 EUR for researchers who completed their doctorate less than 4 years ago For Experienced Researchers 6 to 18 months, may be divided into three blocks of at least three months each; monthly stipend of 2,450 EUR for researchers who completed their doctorate less than 12 years ago should be working at the level of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Group Leader or have several years of independent academic work www.humboldt-foundation.de
Eugenio Parise (Italy) volunteered in my lab in Leipzig. We used the data he collected to write an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoc Research Fellowship Grant! He got it!
Sofja Kovalevskaja Award For Junior Research Group Leaders Funding of up to 1.65 million EUR per award enables junior scientists with outstanding research records to conduct research in Germany Virtually unaffected by administrative constraints Award amount allows winners to conduct independent research, finance their own research group and cover living expenses over five years Open to all fields and nationalities Applicants must have received doctoral degree within past six years Up to eight awards are granted per application period; next application round begins in 2011 START PLANNING NOW! * Also Germans who are abroad for 3 years can apply!
Many disciplines represented. Disciplines of Guest Researchers from the United States 2004-2008: total 1417 (include renewed research stays) Arts and Social 34% Science 57% Engineering 9%
The Humboldt Network & Alumni Sponsorship Renewed research stays in Germany (up to three months) Continuation of co-operation with colleagues in Germany Not earlier than three years after completion of first stay in Germany Colloquia abroad, Humboldt conferences Humboldt associations and clubs Lifetime contact with the Humboldt Foundation; access to alumni worldwide
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Jean-Paul-Straße 12 53173 Bonn Germany www.humboldt-foundation.de info@avh.de Contact Information American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 1013 14th St., NW Suite 10105 Washington, DC 20005 www.americanfriends-of-avh.org info@americanfriends-of-avh.org
How to find an Institute/University/Lab/Mentor Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive & Brain Sciences in Leipzig GERMANY
Read about all the work at the Institute Do your research BEFOREyou make contacts. This process may take 3-4 months. Dear Prof. Dr. (Don t spell the name wrong. Use proper grammar). When in doubt more formal is better!
Show that you did your research Dear Professor.., My name is John Stahl. I am currently in my second year at the University Heidelberg. I am writing because (WHAT DO YOU WANT) I am interested to gain research experience in your laboratory. I have read several recent papers from your research team and think that your lab would be a perfect fit for me to pursue my research interests (WHY THIS LAB). I am most interested in doing research on early behavioral development in the first year. I am especially eager to learn more about the stillface effect I would like to do a practical this summer. I am available to begin 15 May until 1 October, I am eager to know if you have any advice to offer, and look forward to hear from you.
Don t give excuses. Research is a full time commitment! Don t write: I would like to start working for you on 15 May. Please note, that on the 20 th May I have to go on Holiday with my new girlfriend. Then on June 2, I am going to my parent s anniversary party. 30 years! In August I m on holiday! But besides this I m completely free to do research in your lab. Get back to me ASAP.
Example received April 16, 2010 Dear Dr. Striano, I am a psychology major in College, aspiring to become an elementary school psychologist. Considering the critical role early development plays in all aspects of life, I was interested in participating as a research assistant in your Infancy Research lab. Unfortunately, I read that a six month commitment is required. I am pregnant and due in August, so a commitment of that length at this time would not be possible. However, I was considering volunteering my child as a participant once he is born. I would appreciate meeting with you to discuss this possibility, and perhaps any other ways I may be able to volunteer. Thank you for your consideration, DON T CHANGE YOUR RULES! YOU ARE RUNNING A BUSINESS!
Tips for Grant Proposals Have a good question. Write clearly. Short sentences! Have 20 people read your proposal. Read it 60 times.. AT MINIMUM! Read/obtain proposals first! WHAT IS THE QUESTION, WHY IS IT AN IMPORANT QUESTION, AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT (WHAT IS NEW)?
Proofread AGAIN!
Plan your team /get them involved
If you leave Germany/You don t get a permanent position Try to get reduced tenure. Build international NO PAIN. NOprograms. GAIN! Don t wait around Explore the world (like von Humboldt!)
The good news is that you may be considered for positions in Germany once you leave. Keep an eye on Germany!
Keep Going! We don t post grant hit rates. If we did, we may find that some people are just more persistent/determined than others. Don t give up. NO PAIN. NO GAIN! If you get a grant, write the next one. If you don t get a grant, write the next one! The German system is different (does not foster many long term careers) but it works. Some of the best science come out of Germany in part because Germany offers outstanding resources to young scientists for limited time periods. These opportunities enrich our lives and foster our long term international careers and collaborations.
You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else RESEARCH THE RULES BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO PLAY! Albert Einstein DON T UNDERESTIMATE THE ROLE OF CULTURE/RULES/ETC. 2000 2004
Use code humboldt50 www.drstriano.com
Making the right move: How to build a research career in Germany Tricia Striano, PhD Hunter College New York, New York www.triciastriano.com