Mannheim professor receives 1.3 million euros for research!

Mannheim professor receives 1.3 million euros for research!

On August 5, 2025, the University of Mannheim announced that Prof. Dr. Matthias Meier was accepted into Heisenberg funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). This highly endowed funding amounts to a total of almost 1.3 million euros, which will be awarded over a period of five years. Prof. Meier, who previously worked as a junior professor at the university, will receive 840,000 euros for a Heisenberg professorship and 440,000 euros to finance a new research project.

Prof. Meier's research focus is on macroeconomic fluctuations, business cycles, crises and the corresponding economic policy measures. His project covers three central topics: the study of companies' order books as an important economic factor, the analysis of corporate debt and its impact on monetary policy decisions, and research into the decision-making processes within monetary policy.

Research projects in detail

The order books of companies, which contain bindingly agreed but not yet fulfilled delivery contracts, play a crucial role. They have the potential to cushion economic downturns and reduce political pressure to propose solutions. In addition, the study of corporate debt places a particular focus on the effects of different loan maturities, with the analysis based on data from the US economy.

Another central aspect of Prof. Meier's research deals with monetary policy. This examines how monetary policy decisions are made and who directs them. In particular, the interaction between “doves”, who focus on employment, and “hawks”, who focus on price stability, is examined as a factor influencing monetary policy strategies.

The DFG Heisenberg Program

The DFG's Heisenberg Program supports outstanding young scientists who want to prepare for a professorship. The funding not only offers financial resources, but also the opportunity to establish research projects at a location of your choice. A positive evaluation process after three years could lead to the permanent position of the professor. Scientists from all disciplines who have completed their habilitation or can provide habilitation-equivalent achievements are eligible to apply. However, professors in domestic tenure-track programs and holders of permanent positions comparable to W2 or W3 are excluded from applying.

The Heisenberg Program offers various funding options, including the Heisenberg Professorship, the Heisenberg Position, the Heisenberg Rotation Position and the Heisenberg Scholarship. Applicants have the opportunity to choose between these variants and combine them during the five-year funding period.

All relevant information, forms and information sheets required for the application are available on the DFG website. The DFG ensures that applicants have all the necessary forms to successfully submit their applications. Specific guidelines and information sheets on the application requirements are also provided. Further details can be found at DFG – forms and information sheets be retrieved.