Young Investigator Group Preparation Program (YIG Prep Pro)
KIT aims to increase the number of junior research groups and junior professorships. YIG Prep Pro provides the best conditions for writing a successful proposal for a third-party funded junior research group. KIT offers you funding and mentorship to pursue your research idea and prepare a proposal for your own third-party funded junior research group. Our experts will assist you in a tailored program that will benefit your successful academic career with the goal of becoming a professor.
Your benefits at a glance
- The establishment of a junior research group at KIT is an important step on your career path towards a professorship and guarantees independence at an early stage in your academic career.
- You will be part of an excellent research environment in which you can put your research idea into action.
- KIT's specialized depth and interdisciplinary range in research and teaching ensures the best possible professional integration of your research project. We invite you to contact the heads of the institutes you are interested in before you apply for the YIG Prep Pro.
- Individual support in writing a successful proposal for a third-party funded junior research group
- KIT furthermore offers a diversity-friendly environment (e.g. International Scholars & Welcome Office, childcare offers, focus on personal and career development)
Program Details
See who has been taking part in the program and how the YIG Prep Pro can serve as an academic career booster.
to fellows and alumniTarget Group and Funding
Target Group and Funding
A support scheme with three different fellowship options with special advantages is offered in the YIG Prep Pro as follows. Please note that the choice of fellowship option must be stated on the application form.
YIG Prep Pro Funded Fellowship for International Postdocs
Focus and Scope:
This option requires you to spend a postdoc phase at KIT. The funding includes the salary of your position (full-time), initial investments for equipment as well as your own budget for consumables for a period of two years to boost your research project. For further details, please refer to “Who can apply”.
YIG Prep Pro Remote Fellowship for International Postdocs
Focus and Scope:
If you are currently affiliated with an institution abroad, KIT offers remote mentorship and support. This option assumes you already have your own funding and will involve KIT experts who support you in preparing the proposal for a third-party funded junior research group to be established at KIT. Twice per program year, the travel expenses for a guest stay at KIT will be covered. For further details, please refer to “Who can apply".
YIG Prep Pro Fellowship for KIT Postdocs
Focus and Scope:
Postdocs who are already working at KIT are eligible to apply within the first 9 months after the start of their employment. The funding includes initial investments for equipment as well as your own budget for consumables for a period of two years to boost your research project. The program offers individual mentoring and support for writing a proposal for a junior research group that lists KIT as the host institution. Please find further details under “Who can apply”.
Selection Process
The selection process has two stages:
- Pre-selection based on the written applications
- Final Selection based on an online presentation of your research idea to the experts committee
After the submission deadline of the call, all applications will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary experts committee. Candidates who successfully pass this pre-selection will be invited to the final selection round. Please note that you need the support of an institute at KIT to participate in the final selection.
The support of your application and the cooperation within the YIG Prep Pro Fellowship as well as the admission of the junior research group to the institute must be confirmed in a letter of support. This letter of support must be submitted by the institute before the final online presentation (at the latest by 9 April 2025) - it is mandatory for participation in the final selection.
The results of the final selection will be communicated in June 2025.
Program Content
Program Content
Individual mentorship and support:
Individual mentorship and support within the YIG Prep Pro consists of four main interlinked elements:
- Professional mentor
Your host institute will provide a professional mentor who will give you advice on important next steps to take on your scientific career path and support you in establishing a professional network. - Proposal advice and consultation
Our experts will assist you in writing a proposal for a third-party funded junior research group through individual consultations as well as intensive and individual feedback on your proposal, through consulting on suitable funding instruments and presentation coaching. - Individual training program
A tailor-made development program is offered for YIG Prep Pro fellows. It consists of individual coaching and various workshop offers. Furthermore, an individual development plan with professional and interpersonal competencies can be created together with the HR department. - Network
Take advantage of the YIG Prep Pro network and exchange your experience with other researchers in peer-coaching sessions or with the independent Young Investigator Network (YIN; KIT's network of researchers who successfully acquired funding for their own junior research group).
Who can apply?
Who can apply?
Early career researchers of all disciplines: International researchers, in particular 0 to 3 years after the completion of the doctorate, the PhD certificate is mandatory (the relevant cut-off date is the end of the call period, 14 February 2025; phases of parental leave and childcare will be taken into account).
Applicants should:
- Have substantial international research experience (as PhD candidate and/or postdoc)
- Have a promising research project idea in a research field that is relevant to KIT (see institutes at KIT / Scientific Computing Center (SCC))
- Have a very strong scientific track record, including publications in respected international journals, qualifying them to provide academic leadership to members of a junior research group or showing great promise to do so in the near future. The amount of postdoc experience will be taken into account.
- Be characterized by remarkable communication skills and a cooperative working style as well as analytical and project management skills. Apart from the willingness to take on responsibility, active development of skills and personality as a researcher is expected.
- Be prepared to move to Germany for a longer period of time
Please note that once your proposal for third-party funding of a junior research group is successful, you will be expected to establish your junior research group at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
Applies only to candidates for the YIG Prep Pro Fellowship for KIT Postdocs:
Researchers should not have been at KIT for more than 9 months at the end of the call for applications (14 February 2025).
How to apply?
How to apply?
Application documents
- Application form including the desired fellowship option: It is important that you indicate an institute with a contact person at KIT that matches your research idea and that could also be a suitable host institute for preparing and establishing your junior research group (institutes at KIT and Scientific Computing Center (SCC)). We strongly recommend that you contact the head of the institute you are interested in before you apply to discuss your options.
- CV in tabular form: Please include your research and teaching experience (no more than 2 pages).
- List of publications: Please distinguish between peer-reviewed publications and other publications. Please mark the publications that are relevant as preliminary work for the planned project with an asterisk “*”.
- Brief outline of your research idea: Please provide your approach on how the project can be integrated within the research environment at KIT (up to 5 pages + additional references page).
- Certificates: University degree and doctoral degree certificates (or notarized copy using the Latin alphabet)
Please submit all documents in English in the stated order (one PDF; no larger than 3 MB).
Please send your complete application documents to: yigpreppro∂peba.kit.edu
FAQs
Need help? Check our FAQs about YIG Prep Pro.
The call for 2025 is open. Please apply by 14 February 2025.
Important Dates
- by 14 February 2025
Call for applications closes at 11:59 pm CET. - by end of March 2025
Invitations to final selection round and further exchange with potential host institute - end of March / beginning of April 2025
Planning further steps with potential host institute - at the latest by 9 April 2025
Letter of support needs to be sent by your host institute to yigpreppro∂peba.kit.edu. - 7 or 14 May 2025
Personal online presentation in the final selection round (depending on target group) - June 2025
Final notification about acceptance - in the following months: start of fellowship
- YIG Prep Pro Call for candidates (pdf)
Contact
Email: yigpreppro∂peba.kit.edu
- Questions concerning YIG Prep Pro:
Verena Landgrebe, Julia Schuller (PEBA) - Questions relating to specific funding instruments:
Janine Maurer (Research Office)