The Clinician Scientist Program (CSP)

Intramural Funding

he Clinician Scientist Program of the Faculty of Medicine at RWTH Aachen University is intended to enable physicians with an above-average interest in research or who are already scientifically active to pursue their specialist medical training [Fachärztliche Ausbildung] and a scientific career at the same time. The recognizable goal must be to pass the specialist medical examination and habilitation.

The Clinician Scientist Program comprises several funding lines: In addition to the main funding line (Main), there is a funding line for the early phase (Junior) of the scientific career, another funding line to conduct research in another department or research institution in Germany or abroad (Rotation) and a funding line intended to provide short-term freedom for research (Short-term). The “Habilitation” funding line is intended to support clinically active women on the path to habilitation. Further information on the funding line page. The core element of all funding lines in the Clinician Scientist Program is the protected research period, during which physicians are released from their clinical work and can devote themselves entirely to their research. Applications are only submitted during ongoing calls for proposals via the ProFund portal.

CSP Main and Junior

The appropriate funding line depends on the applicant's personal career to date. The funding consists of financing a 50% position for 1 or 3 years, so that the clinic can guarantee the appropriate amount of protected research time. The scope, duration and location of the protected research time depend on the funding line.

The program is accompanied by a mandatory curriculum and mentoring.

The funding requirements in brief:

(This is only a brief overview; the detailed information in the statutes is decisive. Please also note the compatibility with other funding instruments of the faculty)

In order to receive funding under one of the two CSP funding lines, the following criteria in particular must be met at the time of application:

At least 50% clinical activity at the Faculty of Medicine RWTH Aachen and employment contract or promise of continued employment that extends beyond the funding period applied for
completed doctorate degree
Concrete research project for the protected research period and (possibly) rotation agreement within the faculty or RWTH (if applicable) [rotation is not mandatory, but recommended]
(possibly shared) first or last authorship in a Q1 journal

CSP Rotation:

The aim of the rotation program is to use the existing research potential of a host institution for the qualified development of young scientists and thus enable the establishment of new innovative techniques in the sending clinic or faculty. To this end, the program participants rotate to another research institution of their choice.

Another central goal is to expand the research profile of the program participants in order to promote a career in science for physicians.

When participating in the program, clinically active scientists spend their entire working time as protected research time for up to 24 months. The clinics are enabled to release their employees from their clinical routine by funding the position of the program participants. Rotation to another research institution in Germany or abroad (this can also be an institution of the Faculty of Medicine or the RWTH) is obligatory as a central element of the program. Applicants may have already completed their medical specialist training [Fachärztliche Ausbildung], but must not yet be habilitated or appointed to a professorship.

The scholarships are granted for a defined research topic that is to be worked on under the guidance of a qualified scientist at the host institution. It must be demonstrated how the techniques learned are to be established in the applicant's own clinic.

The eligibility requirements in brief:

(This is only a brief overview; the detailed information in the statutes is decisive. Please also note the compatibility with other funding instruments of the faculty).

In order to receive funding under one of the two funding lines of the rotation program, the following criteria in particular must be met at the time of application:

At least 50% clinical activity at the Faculty of Medicine RWTH Aachen and employment contract or promise of continued employment that extends beyond the funding period applied for
Completed doctorate
Concrete research project for the protected research period, which includes rotation to another research institution and is supported by the host institution
(Possibly shared) first or last authorship in a Q1 journal

CSP Short term:

The short-term program serves to promote early-career scientists in the clinical-practical subjects of the Faculty of Medicine at RWTH Aachen University.

The program is intended to provide clinically active scientists with short-term protected research time for 3-6 months and up to 100% of their working time, which can be used relatively freely for research purposes.

The protected research time can be used individually. It can be used for smaller research projects (e.g. preliminary studies), initiating or completing a larger research project, applying for extramural funding, preparing publications or learning new techniques.

The protected research time cannot be used to write applications for animal experiments, ethics applications, applications for intramural funding or similar.

The eligibility requirements in brief:

(This is only a brief overview; the detailed information in the statutes is decisive. Please also note the compatibility with other funding instruments of the faculty).

At least 50% clinical activity at the Faculty of Medicine RWTH Aachen and employment contract or promise of continued employment that extends beyond the funding period applied for
Completed doctorate
A detailed timetable showing how the protected research time will be used must be available and the project must be supported by the clinic lead. (In the event that costs are incurred as a result of or for the research activity, the source of funding must be explained and the funding must be secured).