Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is one of the top research universities in Germany. 3,600 researchers, a strong network and a wide spectrum of opportunities for specializing or continuing education all contribute to our success. Support is available from FAU’s service and advice centers, who are on hand to help with childcare, networking and leisure-time activities.
Further qualification after the doctorate: the postdoctoral phase
Services, funding opportunities, and professional development programs for FAU postdocs
The central points of contact provide guidance on all matters related to doctoral studies, the postdoctoral phase, habilitation, leading early-career research groups, and junior professorships (corresponding to the European Commission’s profile categories R1 through R3). They serve as the umbrella organization for all structured doctoral programs and support doctoral candidates and early-career researchers after they have completed their doctorates, as well as supervisors of doctoral and habilitation projects at FAU.
The range of services FAU offers researchers matches the diversity of research at the University. Various teams support researchers in applying for funding – from looking for suitable programs to finalizing funds to offering internal funding programs and ensuring that early career researchers receive the support they need and opportunities to gain further qualifications. This creates optimal conditions for excellent research, career development and successful project implementation.
Through the FAU Early-Career Research Group Leadership (FAUngl) career track, FAU offers promising early-career researchers a third pathway to a university professorship, in addition to habilitation and junior professorship, by allowing them to independently lead a research group.
Do you independently lead a junior research group, or are you joining FAU from outside the university with externally funded grants you have personally secured? Then apply now for the status of FAU Junior Research Group Leader (FAUngl).
FAU is proud of its talents, including these outstanding early-career researchers who have received ETI funding. Their shared goal is to prepare and submit an application to an external funding body. FAU places particular importance on identifying and supporting exceptional talent at an early stage. Through the Emerging Talents Initiative (FAUeti), it supports excellent early-career researchers in preparing applications for external research funding. This enables early-career researchers to independently advance innovative projects and further strengthen their scientific independence.
FAU views the training and professional development of high-potential employees as one of its greatest responsibilities and opportunities. Take part in a professional development program that stands out as particularly attractive within the German higher education landscape, offering you concise and well-structured training on all key topics relevant to your current career stage.
The FAU Graduate Center offers a range of interdisciplinary information events and core skills workshops. These seminars, workshops and events are open to all doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers at FAU. The seminar program is designed to develop skills for the successful completion of your doctoral degree as well as skills for your academic career and the job market, in order to improve your career opportunities in or outside academia.
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In Erlangen, Nuremberg, and Fürth, more than 6,700 employees in various roles conduct research, teaching and work. Here, a wide range of expertise and extensive experience come together. Learn more about what FAU stands for and what sets it apart.