The Habilitation Program
The habilitation programme at RWTH Aachen University's Faculty of Medicine aims to promote young female scientists. It is aimed at female scientists working in clinical and non-clinical fields who are seeking a habilitation and already have a proven track record of excellent scientific achievements.
On the one hand, the programme aims to support female scientists in the early stages of their careers – in particular postdoctoral researchers up to approximately three years after completing their doctorate who have gained initial experience in transferring their research results and have already developed new project plans – in developing a clear research profile.
On the other hand, the programme is aimed at female scientists in advanced career stages who wish to further sharpen their research profile through scientific independence, increased publication activity and the assumption of leadership roles, for example as junior research group leaders, and who are clearly pursuing the goal of a scientific career.
The habilitation programme comprises four funding lines, each with a maximum funding period of two years:
• Funding line: Postdoctoral fellowship for clinically active female scientists, ‘early phase’
• Funding line: Postdoctoral fellowship for clinically active female scientists, ‘advanced phase’
• Funding line: Habilitation scholarship for non-clinically active female scientists ‘early phase’
• Funding line: Habilitation scholarship for non-clinically active female scientists ‘advanced phase’
Clinically active female scientists are guaranteed that they can use 50% of their working time for protected research activities. They also receive a monthly salary supplement based on their individual circumstances. Non-clinically active female scientists receive material or personnel resources amounting to €12,000 per funding year, as well as a monthly salary supplement.
Candidates are selected through a two-stage process conducted by a selection committee. First, applicants are selected on the basis of their written documents. In a second step, the selected applicants are invited to a personal interview with the selection committee.
The responsible selection committee is the Equal Opportunities Commission of the Faculty of Medicine.
If selected for funding, applicants automatically participate in the TANDEM mentoring programme. The clinic management and the Dean's Office provide support with integration into teaching so that applicants can meet the teaching requirements according to the faculty's habilitation regulations.