The nine ECR Board members are: Marcel Burfeindt, Dr. Marius Kroll and Dr. Carolin Mügge from Ruhr University Bochum, Madeleine Jendernalik, Dr. Max Pascher and Dr. Corinna Schmidt from TU Dortmund University in addition to Annabell Hüsken, Dr.-Ing. Sonja Hellebrand and Prof. Dr. Tobias Schroedler from the University of Duisburg-Essen. The committee is coordinated by the Research study Academy, which is responsible within the UA Ruhr for supporting researchers on their career courses within and beyond academic research.
Among the very first tasks of the freshly established ECR Board was to evaluate propositions for a new joint financing measure, the Mobility Grants for Postdocs. The Research study Academy of the UA Ruhr had released this pilot task at the start of the year. Postdocs from the 3 universities can obtain funding for stays abroad in order to get worldwide experience, establish research networks around the world or develop independent tasks with international partners. “The Movement Grants are a crucial step towards opening up international chances for our postdocs and reinforcing their academic independence,” says Prof. Wilhelm Löwenstein, spokesperson for the Research study Academy.
Concepts of great doctoral guidance
The UA Ruhr is continuously developing its joint structures and concepts to promote careers in science. Only recently, cross-university principles for good doctoral supervision were adopted (published in German just). To name a few things, the 3 universities are dedicated to promoting the scholastic self-reliance of doctoral trainees and supporting them in their career development. The paper likewise enshrines procedures against abuse of power. The concepts checked in April supplement the existing guidelines for securing great clinical practice of the German Research Study Foundation.
The UA Ruhr is also preparing a survey of all academic staff and doctoral trainees on career courses in academic community in the near future. Based upon this, further suitable assistance procedures are to be obtained. The task is funded by MERCUR and carried out by the Center for University Quality Development at the University of Duisburg-Essen.