Junior research group

In science, the contest for the “best minds” is in full swing. If you don’t want to be at a disadvantage, you have to actively promote junior researchers, enable them to gain qualifications and accompany them on their career path. In the best-case scenario, this will enable the institute to recruit gifted young researchers.

The Max Rubner-Institut is pursuing this policy and has established a funding programme for junior researchers that targets excellent postdocs who are given the opportunity to independently initiate innovative topics and address them in tandem with doctoral candidates. The funding is earmarked for a period of 3.5 years and covers the posts of the junior researcher and doctoral student as well as a dedicated budget.

The programme aims to build and extend MRI’s expertise on innovative research topics and methods, to reinforce areas that have added value for MRI’s research and political consultancy whilst fully exploiting the potential for interdisciplinary cooperation within MRI at the same time. By supporting tandems, in which excellent postdocs work together closely with young doctoral candidates, junior researchers benefit twofold.

The funding will be complemented by further training and courses in the researchers’ specialist field and beyond. Experienced mentors will be available to advise the tandems, and the junior research groups will be integrated in the infrastructure of an individual institute.

To launch the funding programme three tandems have been selected and will receive the requisite financial resources for 3.5 years:

• Sugar and sugar profiling in foods and biofluids
  Markers for assessment, consumption and health