International Research Training Groups Dr. Sebastian Granderath, Research Careers Division

1. DFG and Funding of German Research 2. Research Training Groups 3. International Research Training Groups - why & how 2

1. DFG and Funding of German Research 2. Research Training Groups 3. International Research Training Groups - why & how 3

DFG - its position in the German research funding system Fraunhofer Gesellschaft FhG: application-oriented research (59 institutes, 1.8 bn EUR) Helmholtz Assocation HGF: fundamental sciences with high impact (16 centres, 3.4 bn EUR) Leibniz Association WGL: long-term research/service (86 institutes, 1.4 bn EUR) MaxPlanck-Society: basic research (80 institutes, 1.5 bn EUR) DFG: funding organisation! for researchers /universities (2.7 bn EUR) 4

DFG - Profile Germany s Largest Research Funding Organisation Self-governing organisation under private law largest funding organisation for university researchers Funding of scientific research in all disciplines based on scientific merit and excellence Special focus on supporting young researchers Support of international cooperation in all fields of research Policy advice, knowledge transfer, equal opportunity 5

DFG funding portfolio Promoting Young Researchers International Scientific Contacts Infrastructure Individual Grants Programme Funding Programmes Coordinated Programmes Research Fellowships Research Units Emmy Noether-Programme Prizes Priority Programmes Heisenberg-Programme Collaborative Research Reinhard Koselleck-Projects Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Prize Centres Heinz Maier-Leibnitz-Prize Clusters of Excellence 6 Communicator Award (International) Research Training Groups

Amount of research funding awarded by programme for 2011 (in M and %) Infrastructure funding 180 (6.7%) Prizes, other 48 (1.8%) Excellence Initiative 407 (15.0%) Individual grants programme 955 (35.2%) Research Centres 42 (1.5%) Research Training Groups 144 (5.3%) Collaborative Research Centres 561 (20.7%) Priority Programmes 201 (7.4%) Research Units 175 (6.5%) 2.7 bn 7

1. DFG and Funding of German Research 2. Research Training Groups 3. International Research Training Groups - why & how 8

Graduate Education in Germany (before 1990) Traditionally: no graduate programmes, no institutionalisation Apprenticeship - model dissertation-only PhD: no offers for expansion of scientific knowledge and methodological skills strong dependence on supervisor long time-to-degree, difficult transition into non-academic job market => need for structured PhD programmes! => DFG entrusted with new funding instrument Research Training Groups (1990) 9

What is a Research Training Group? structured PhD programme at a university (single-site) no Graduate School : small, focused unit of 5-10 PIs Excellent, coherent research programme specific qualification programme innovative supervision concept promotion of early independence and international mobility 10

Funding available for Research Traing Groups People fellowships/positions for PhD students (10-15) fellowships/positions for Postdocs (0-2; 2 years) fast-track qualification fellowships (M.A.-PhD) Resources consumables, literature, documentation travel funds for PhDs and postdocs costs for qualification programme, visiting scientists support for coordination, recruitment, sabbaticals, gender equality measures 11

Research Training Groups data Funded for 9 years (2 x 4.5years) approved through scientific peer-review open for all fields of science & humanities no disciplinary quota, bottom-up principle RTG by field (June 2012) ENG 35 = 16% SSH 67 = 31% Budget ~144 M (2011) 216 RTGs currently funded (avg 560 k p.a.) ~25-30 new grants per year NAT 53 = 25% LS 61 = 28% 12

Research Training Groups: Evaluation and decision process Pre-Proposal 6months Review Board evaluation on paper by Review Board(s) Recommendation Recommendation of full proposal (or not...) Full Proposal 8 months Review Panel On-site review by Review Panel (in GER) Funding Recommendation 13 Grants Committee on Research Training Groups Funding decision by RTG Grants Committee (May and November, all disciplines, no quota)

1. DFG and Funding of German Research 2. Research Training Groups 3. International Research Training Groups - why & how 14

Internationalisation of the doctoral phase A wealth of advantages... Breadth of knowledge Scientific conferences, summer schools, guest scientist vsits Access to resources Field work, archives, facilities/instruments and Methods International Career options international networks and cooperations Personal skills intercultural and social experiences 15

Internationalisation of the doctoral phase..but long-term research abroad may prove difficult individual, ad-hoc approach identification of destination integration into PhD project funding administrative and organisational hurdles at destination => Conflict: Mobility versus time-to-degree 16

International Research Training Groups Concept Idea: systematic international cooperation in PhD training! Set-Up: bilateral programme - two sites (5-10 PIs each) added value through complementarity systematic cooperation on three levels: Research - Qualification Programme - Supervision/Mentoring Reciprocal research exchange of PhD candidates: 6 months Symmetry of interests, resources and commitment complementary funding required 17

International Research Training Groups Scientific Diversity Between Spaces. Movements, Actors and Representations of Globalisation (IRTG 1571, Berlin UNAM/Mexico) Brain-behavior relationship of emotion and social cognition in schizophrenia and autism (IRTG 1328, Aachen Philadelphia/USA) Mathematical Fluid Dynamics (IRTG 1529, Darmstadt Tokyo/Japan) IRTG by field (June 2012) ENG 5 = 10% NAT 17 = 35% SSH 9 = 18% LW 18 = 37% Virtual Materials and Structures and their Validation (IRTG 1627, Hannover Cachan/France) 18

International Research Training Groups Global Diversity 19 No earmarked funds No priorities for disciplines or countries Same evaluation procedure Driven by demand! 49 IGK = 22% of RTG Partners in 22 countries long-distance-irtgs increasingly attractive Norway 1 Netherlands & Norway 1 Netherlands 3 Italy & Austria 1 France & Switzerland 1 France 5 Estonia & Sweden 1 Denmark 1 Czech Republic 1 IRTG by partner country Switzerland 1 UK 1 Sweden 2 Spain 1 USA 6 India 2 Austria 1 Russian New Zealand 1 Federation 2 South Korea 2 Canada & USA 1 Canada 2 Mexico 1 Brazil 1 R. South Africa 1 China 5 Japan 4

International Research Training Groups German American Projects IRTG 1062: Signaling Mechanisms in Lung Physiology and Disease (SMLPD) (Giessen UC Davis; University of Utah; Arizona State, since 2005) IRTG 1131: Visualization of Large and Unstructured Data Sets. Applications in Geospatial Planning, Modeling, and Engineering (Kaiserslautern UC Davis, 2005) IRTG 1328: Brain-behavior relationship of emotion and social cognition in schizophrenia and autism (Aachen U PENN, 2006) IRTG 1498: Sematic Integration of Spatial Information (Münster, Bremen SUNY Buffalo, 2008) IRTG 1524: Self-Assembled Soft-Matter Nanostructures at Interfaces (Berlin - Chapel Hill, 2009) IRTG 1525: The Dynamic Response of Plants to a Changing Environment (U Düsseldorf Michigan State, 2009 ) IRTG 1705: The world in the city: Metropolitanism and Globalization from 19th Century to the present (Berlin NYC- Toronto, 12012) 20

International Research Training Groups Challenges organisation of the doctorate mobility and long-distance coordination complementary funding identify adequate partners and common goals create flexible ways of (co-)funding 21

Cooperation agreements with partner organisations 22 PR China (MoE, GU-CAS) - 2002/2003 Netherlands (NWO) 1999 France (UFA, MoE) 2004 Czech Republic (CGAR) 2004 Hungary (OTKA) - 2004/2006 India (DST, UGC) 2004, 2010 Japan (JSPS) - 2005 Korea (KOSEF) 2006 Finland (AKA) 2006 Russia (RFBR) - 2007 Mexico (CONACyT) 2009 Brasil (FAPESP) 2010 Canada (NSERC) - 2011

International Research Training Groups Required complementary funding Fellowships/positions for doctoral candidates +/- same number as on German side Costs for thesis research consumables, materials, small equipment.. Funds for joint activities workshops/summer schools, visiting scientist programme,.. Exchange/travel for doctoral candidates and PIs Combination of intramural and extramural funding is possible! 23

Setting up a successful IRTG start from existing cooperations define complementary strengths and resources Integrate mutual mobility into research programme (tandem projects, joint supervision.. ) design a joint qualification programme Tackle obstacles to mobility (creditation, tuition) Secure support from home institution and from funding agency Write joint proposal 24

DFG support for new IRTG initiatives Washington office as information/contact point in U.S. consultation with DFG headquarter in Bonn Funding for preparatory workshop (up to 20 k ) 25