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Researchers in Europe without Barriers Czech
Presidency Conference Creating attractive
framework conditions and attracting talented
junior scientists Ilka Schießler Max Planck
Society, Germany Prague, 28 April 2009
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The Max Planck Society

• Application must be preceded by knowledge. (Max
  Planck)
• The Max Planck Societys research activities are
• knowledge driven
• open to application
• oriented towards basic research
• The Max Planck Societys scientists work
• at the frontier of knowledge
• at an internationally recognized level
• in selected areas, whenever they
• are new or
• not (yet) represented at universities or
• require special funding and/or must be set up
  for the especially long term or
• enable the training of specialized junior
  scientists

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Locations
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The global knowledge-based society of the future

• Research based on the solid foundation of
  education and qualification
• Key factor in ensuring the societys prosperity
• Programms to support excellent junior scientists
• Financial and legal framework conditions

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International competition for the brightest minds

• Demographic trends in Germany and Europe
• More schoolchildren must obtain university
  qualifications to survive in global competition
• The potential of women must be harnessed to
  greater effect

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Attractive scientific career opportunities

• Primary importance number of scientific job
  available in specific specialist fields
• Problem cut back or discontinued research fields
  owing to financial considerations
• Better long-term prospects
• Otherwise junior scientists will look for jobs
  abroad or in areas outside of science

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Reconciling family and professional life

• Hertie Foundationss career and family audit in
  2006 currently being re-audited ? ongoing
  measures are assessed, development potential is
  identified and continuing support is developed
• Childcare situation has been improved
• existing childcare provisions have been extended
  or facilities have been newly established
• range of childcare services and times were
  enhanced
• ? better reconciliation of family and working life

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Equal opportunities between men and women

• Support parents in continuing their scientific
  careers
• Dual-career support
• Childcare and extention of childcare times
• Childcare services during congresses, meetings
  and evening seminars
• Flexibility in terms of working hours and
  location
• Improved opportunities for part-time employment
• Internet protal family and work

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Statistical data

• Women make up over 24 of scientific staff
• Almost 23 of heads of junior research groups and
  senior research scientists, and more than 40 of
  doctoral students are women
• In 2008, 5 of 20 newly vacant W3 positions and
  21 of 41 W2 positions went to women

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Various stages of scientific career

• Permeability between various stages of a
  scientific career and the recruitment process are
  key factors for a successful science system
• MPS supports junior scientist at all stages of
  their carrer
• Students
• Doctoral students
• Postdoctorals
• Independent Junior Research Groups
• Publically advertised in specialist publications
  or in the MPSs employment listings

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Qualifications and advancement

• Wide range of opportunities
• Position of Junior Professors for qualification
  as a Professor or a Scientific Member
• Cooperation agreements with universities on
  joint appointments of Junior Professors

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More than the university degree!

• Employment requirements for university
  professors
• Pedagogical skills
• Exceptional abiltiy in scientific work
• Evidence of additional scientific achievement

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Fast-track Procedures

• For particularly talented students
• Commonplace in Anglo-Saxon countries
• Enable to join doctoral programms directly after
  completing a Bachelors degree or after one-year
  preparatory Masters stage
• Germany is currently losing the brightest junior
  scientists

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Tenure-track

• The MPS attaches great improtance to presenting
  career opportunities to the top candidates
• At the same time MPS must also develop its own
  research profile
• ? tenure track positions are only offered on a
  very limited basis
• Balance between fixed-term and permanent
  positions
• Appointment decisions are made on a individual
  basis, depending on the results of scientific
  evaluation and scientific perspective planning

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International standing

• Opportunities in Germany are essentially
  attractive, even by international standards
• Major problem lack of specialized workforces
  maintain a lead in innovation in future ? in the
  field of mathematics, information technologie,
  natural sciences and technology
• Women are under-represented in technical and
  scientific fields of study in Germany
• Modernization of the traditional culture of work
  and science is required

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Student assistants, Ph.D. students, post-docs,
research scholars and guest-scientists
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Student assistants, Ph.D. students, post-docs,
research scholars and guest-scientists 2007 acc.
to nationality
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