Academic career paths

Zwei Wissenschalter im Labor untersuchen eine Platte mittels eines Geräts am Bildschirm

Support structures and services for talented early-career researchers

Saarland University is committed to supporting researchers in the early stages of their academic careers. Our programmes are specifically designed for doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and tenure-track professors, with the aim of cultivating an international, interdisciplinary and vibrant research culture.

Central pillars of our support strategy are two flagship funding programmes and the support initiatives managed by the university's Early Career Office. These initiatives combine structured support for early‑career researchers with practical guidance – ranging from strategic career planning and interdisciplinary research opportunities to securing external research funding. Saarland University is creating an inspiring environment in which emerging talent can thrive, undertake cutting-edge research and pursue academic excellence.

Early Career Office (ECO)

The Early Career Office is the university's central service unit for researchers in the early stages of their careers. Whether you are a doctoral student just beginning your research journey or an experienced researcher who has just begun your first professorship, the ECO offers information, advice and support. We provide individual guidance and coaching services, and we organize a variety of events that enable young researchers to meet, share ideas and network with others in their academic or scientific community.

Early Career Office

Joint federal and regional funding programme to promote early career researchers (WISNA)

WISNA is a joint federal and regional funding programme with a budget of one billion euros that aims to create 1000 new tenure-track professorships in Germany for researchers in the early stages of their research careers. At Saarland University, a total of thirteen tenure-track professorships have been funded across almost all university faculties.

WISNA

Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R)

The European Commission has drawn up the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers in an effort to establish a common set of principles governing the recruitment and employment of research personnel. Saarland University is committed to upholding these principles and to playing its part in developing an open and sustainable labour market in the European higher education sector.

HRS4R