The 16 junior scientists are to receive a salary corresponding to BAT 1a of Germany's statutory salary scale as well as extensive support for setting up a study group of their own at a research institution in Germany. This phase of independent research is to serve to qualify them for a professorship.
The new programme is a special variety of the Emmy Noether Programme, which was set up in 1999 to enable junior scientists and scholars to attain academic independence soon after finishing their PhD. In order to meet the requirements of the young computer scientists, the so-called first phase of the Emmy Noether Programme, a two-year research visit abroad, has been omitted from the programme. In changing this aspect of the programme, the DFG has taken the fact into account that many computer scientists already work in another country while doing their doctorate. In addition, the age limit, which is set at 32 years for the second phase of the Emmy Noether Programme, has been raised to 35 years. This increase provides an opportunity to encourage particularly qualified computer scientists from abroad or from industry to return to German research.
The junior scientists were selected from a total of just under 80 applicants in a procedure comprising several phases. Thirty-four shortlisted applicants were invited to a meeting of reviewers where they presented their projects and subsequently discussed with the reviewers. Ultimately, 16 applicants were recommended for funding on the basis of their written applications and their oral presentations.
Out of the scientists chosen for funding, six are currently active abroad (USA, United Kingdom, Australia). With the new programme, these junior scientists have now been won over for a career in Germany.
Attractive programmes for junior scientists and scholars are necessary to staff higher education lecturer positions that are soon going to become vacant in computer science. According to careful estimates, at least 110 chairs that were set up in this subject area between 1970 and 1975 will become vacant over the next five years. However, unlike in other subjects, there is a lack of junior scientists for these positions. One reason for this is that computer scientists are frequently offered attractive jobs in industry on completing their PhD that research cannot compete with. The DFG hopes that, as a branch of the Emmy Noether Programme, the "Aktionsplan Informatik" will contribute to remedying this shortcoming with its flexible and generous funding arrangements.
A further round of project proposals for the "Aktionsplan Informatik" is planned for 2003.
You can obtain more details of the "Aktionsplan Informatik" from Dr. Gerit Sonntag, DFG Central Office, Engineering Science Group.
Tel: 49-228-885-2499.
Email: Gerit.Sonntag@dfg.de