Career paths for young scientists: Networking in Marburg strengthens research

Career paths for young scientists: Networking in Marburg strengthens research

On March 8, 2025, an important networking meeting for young research group leaders took place in the Pharmacy Department at the Philipps University of Marburg. This event was organized in collaboration with the German Pharmaceutical Society (DPhG) and was aimed at 50 participants, including students, doctoral candidates and established scientists. The main goal was professional exchange and planning career paths in the field of academic research. Prof. Dr. Peter Kolb and Prof. Dr. Julia Weigand initiated the meeting to offer participants useful information and perspectives.

The highlights of the event included lectures by PD Dr. Jasmin Kizilirmak and Dr. Axel Oberschelp, who provided comprehensive information about career options in Germany and the path to a professorship. In addition, Dr. Christine Berger presents the support offered by the Marburg Research Academy (MARA), which supports doctoral students, postdocs and young faculty in their career development. Prof. Dr. Sabine Pankuweit, Vice President for Promoting Young Talents, gave a welcoming speech and emphasized the importance of such events.

Research and innovation

During the meeting, three working groups presented their research priorities. Hannes Schihada's group investigated G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their signal transmission. Franziska Heydenreich's group worked on targeted mutations of the amino acids of these receptors to map signal processing more precisely. Benedict Tan focused his group on mitochondrial gene expression and its connection to metabolic diseases.

The event not only promoted exchange among participants, but also networking with scientists from related departments. Initial ideas for new research projects emerged from the discussions. Given the positive feedback, the university plans to continue this successful format. Pharmacy in Marburg has a tradition going back over 400 years and is a leader in Germany with a focus on GPCRs and RNA.

Tenure track career planning

A central aspect of the meeting was tenure-track career planning, an innovative concept that employs young scientists on probation. After a set period of time, they can achieve a lifetime professorship. The aim of this initiative is to establish tenure-track professorships at German universities, which helps to ensure a predictable career. Information about the program shows that up to 1 billion euros will be made available between 2017 and 2032 to support the academic careers of young scientists. To date, 971 tenure-track professorships have been created by May 31, 2023, which corresponds to a proportion of women of 49.1% and shows that a total of 97.1% of the planned positions have actually been filled.

The program stipulates that the tenure evaluation is carried out independently of financial or strategic aspects. In addition, international job advertisements are part of the strategy to attract qualified applicants. Further funding criteria include a maximum time limit of six years for the professorships and specific requirements that must be met by the universities. The tenure track program was launched in 2016 to attract young academics from home and abroad and to offer institutions a clear structure for careers.

In conclusion, it can be said that the networking meeting in Marburg and the tenure track program are valuable steps to promote young scientists and enable a sustainable academic career. The exchange between scientists and the resources provided are crucial for innovative and sustainable research.