Closing Date: 15 September 2024
Call for Applications: 2024/25 Fully Funded DKFZ Postdoctoral Fellowships
Overview
The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg is inviting highly motivated scientists to advance their careers in cancer research. With opportunities in basic, computational, epidemiological, prevention, and translational research, DKFZ offers an interdisciplinary environment on Heidelberg’s biomedical campus. Up to 7 fully funded fellowships are available for exceptional postdocs eager to work at the forefront of cancer research.
Although there are other ways of becoming a Postdoc at the research center, the DKFZ Postdoctoral Fellowships represent the most prestigious and competitive Postdoc recruitment process at the DKFZ. It is intended to recruit highly talented and motivated young scientists, who wish to work at the forefront of cancer research in any of the basic or translational cancer research labs at the DKFZ.
This program offers up to 7 fellowships per year and provides interdisciplinary training and research opportunities in state-of-the-art research facilities for excellent young scientists, no longer than 2 years past graduation, with a background in biology as well as in physics, mathematics, bioinformatics, epidemiology and other research fields.
Eligibility
- A qualification equivalent to a PhD or MD-PhD is a prerequisite for all applications.
- Candidates should document their successful previous research endeavors with publications.
- The candidates should be at an early stage of their career, having held a PhD (or MD-PhD) for no longer than 2 years.
- Candidates who submit their thesis before November of the running year are eligible to apply. The expected defense date must be included in the motivation letter.
- The fellowship is not open for internal candidates, unless they have been recruited to the DKFZ not longer than 6 months before the application deadline.
Selection criteria
The most important selection criterion is academic quality, demonstrated by outstanding publications. Other criteria that will be considered during the selection process include research prizes and awards, demonstration of mobility, or successful application for research funding.
Although it is not mandatory that applicants contact a research group before applying, showing a clear idea about the future research focus is of great advantage. Here is a non-exhaustive list of research projects that one can apply to.
Funding and duration
DKFZ Postdoc salaries are competitive by national standards and are negotiated and confirmed during the recruitment phase should a fellowship be offered. The fellowships are initially offered for a duration of two years.
What happens after you submitted your application?
The selection procedure for the DKFZ Postdoctoral Fellowship is composed of multiple steps which are highlighted below.
DKFZ Postdoctoral Fellowships Selection Process
Step 1:
- All application documents submitted will be evaluated by the Postdoc Selection Committee during a competitive selection process.
- The Committee will then invite shortlisted candidates who have successfully passed this first selection step for a visit to the DKFZ in Heidelberg. Letters of invitation will be provided for VISA application if necessary.
Step 2:
- About 8-10 weeks after the application deadline, a three day DKFZ Postdoctoral Fellowship Selection Symposium will be held in Heidelberg. Online participation is possible if you’re not able to attend in person.
- Applicants will have the opportunity to meet with individual division heads and research group leaders to discuss about potential research projects.
- On the second day all candidates will meet with members of the Postdoc Selection Committee to give a 15-minute presentation about their recent work which will be followed by a short discussion.
Step 3:
- Applicants will be informed about the outcome of the selection process shortly after the symposium.
- Start dates for fellowships will be mutually agreed after acceptance of the offered fellowship contract. Normally, fellowship positions should be filled within 6 months after the fellowship has been awarded.
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