Opportunities for Early Career Researchers

All universities participating in TRR 391 provide comprehensive support to young scientists in all career phases, from doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to junior faculty. Interdisciplinary support is provided by the university-wide graduate schools, which are part of the Research Academy Ruhr (RAR). The support program of RAR takes place in the pillars of advice, qualification and networking. From there, TRR 391 will constitute an excellent platform for early career researchers to build their own scientific careers, and will provide an outstanding environment to establish research collaborations with other research groups.

For this, a TRR-specific training program is installed in the framework of STAIRS, an Integrated Research Training Group. STAIRS will enable doctoral researchers to gain an outstanding qualification comprising both statistical methodology and data analytical as well as transferable skills, including competences required for interdisciplinary collaborations. Moreover, the doctoral researchers will participate in various formats to foster the scientific discourse and exchange within their own peer group and beyond. One of the key gateways to interdisciplinary work within STAIRS is the monthly STAIRS seminar, which will both accompany the early career researchers during their projects and give them the opportunity of further interdisciplinary exchange.

Moreover, the TRR 391 places special emphasis on promoting the postdoctoral researchers involved in its projects. This encompasses a mentoring by both their local project leaders as well as internationally renowned researchers. In addition, they gain full access to the events that are offered within STAIRS.

As the support of early career researchers starts already during the final period of their studies, TRR 391 will further incorporate advanced students of the participating universities in different ways. By having access to the methodology courses offered within STAIRS, students will benefit from the training program for doctoral researchers as part of their own education. Furthermore, gathering experience as a student assistant will allow interested students an early insight into the practice of a modern research field related to TRR 391.