On the path to professorship leading a research group is a significant step – it is regarded as an equivalent of a “Habilitation” in many disciplines. You should think about this step strategically, as many funding opportunities are typically available within four to six years after your PhD.

Within that time frame, you need to meet the requirements:

• If you are a postdoc abroad, maintain or establish connections with potential host institutions.
• Be able to establish an independent (innovative but feasible) project.
• Have consistent track record of (first-authored) publications in recognized journals in your field.
• Ideally you have received other past third-party funding.
• Often you need international research experience.

Germany offers a wide range of research group funding programs. Check them ahead of time to find the right programs and deadlines. Here are some programs worth looking at:

Federation and the federal states (Länder)/DFG programs:

• NRW-Rückkehrprogramm (NRW Returning Scholars Program): Interesting for researchers who’ve lived in Germany before going abroad. It enables you to build your group at a university or research institution in Northrhine-Westphalia.
• Emmy Noether Programme: The most well-known funding program by the DFG.
• BMBF Junior Research Groups: Thematic focus, applicants are universities, so you need to have an established connection.
• Walter Benjamin Programme: Enables post-PhD researchers of two years to work on their own projects.

Non-University Research Institutions (The Institute recommends you, build a strong connection beforehand!)

• Lise Meitner Excellence Program: Supports women in nuclear science and technology.
• Leibniz-Junior Research Groups: Enables to set up a research group at a Leibniz institute.
• Max Planck Research Groups: The level of funding depends on the research area and focus.
• Fraunhofer Attract: Focus on Application-oriented researchers from the industry.
• Helmholtz Investigator Groups: Additional leadership program.

Foundation Programs

• NEXUS: A program by Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (private foundation), only possible in three states.
• Robert Bosch Junior Professorship: Focus on sustainability research.
• Klaus Tschira Boost Fund: Technically also not a Research Group program, but you can receive up to 120.000 Euros for your project and staff.
• Max Eder Research Group Program: Focuses on cancer research.