A junior professorship in Germany provides an early career step for researchers to gain independence in research and teaching after completing a doctorate. Junior professors have responsibilities like supervising doctoral students and teaching courses while also pursuing their own research. These positions typically last 3-4 years, but can be extended up to 6 years if successfully evaluated. Completing a junior professorship qualifies one for a permanent professorship without needing further habilitation.

1. Junior professor
If your ultimate goal is to become a professor at a German university, then a junior
professorship is an interesting career step after completing your doctorate.
What is a junior professorship?
A junior professorship enables
young junior researchers to engage
in research and teaching early in
their careers. Unlike research
associates, who are bound by the
instructions of their superiors, junior
professors are on equal terms with
other university teachers.
A successfully completed junior
professorship will enable you to
meet an important precondition for appointment to a professorship – and habilitation
is then no longer required.
© DAAD / Jan Zappner
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2. You will find more information on our website in the section The path to a
professorship.
Employment
As a rule, junior professorships are advertised by universities, sometimes jointly with
non-university research institutes. The focus here is on early independence in
research and teaching. Junior professors are allowed to supervise doctorates, have
teaching obligations and play an active role in academic administration. However,
additional conditions also apply:
Junior professors are initially appointed for three or four years. If junior
professors prove their worth – as a rule, this is determined by an evaluation – the
professorship can be extended to a total of six years.
If the junior professorship has a tenure track option, it offers the possibility of a
subsequent permanent professorship. The precondition for this is the successful
completion of the junior professorship.
Fixed term

3. Appointment and salary
At most universities the appointment of a junior professor follows the same rules as
those governing the appointment of professors. Read more:
As a rule, the requirements for appointment to a junior professorship include an
outstanding doctorate, a special capacity for research work and pedagogical
aptitude.
What qualifications are required?
Junior professors are considered especially highly qualified postdoctoral
scholars. After the first two or three years the vast majority have their contracts
extended to six years.
A successful junior professorship meets the requirements for appointment to a
university professorship – in the same way as the habilitation process. If the
junior professorship has a tenure track option, its successful completion
immediately leads to a tenured professorship.
What are my prospects?

4. Usually a university appointments committee (Berufungskommission) selects
the most promising applicants and invites them to an interview and a trial lecture
(open to members of the university). The best candidates are shortlisted.
References are sought from professors at other universities concerning the
applicants’ academic and personal suitability for the position.
There is no single set of rules covering the whole of Germany because education
falls under the jurisdiction of the respective state. In most states, however,
universities make their own autonomous decisions on appointments, otherwise
the relevant state ministry is also involved in the appointment process.
Appointment
As a rule, junior professors are paid in accordance with the W1 remuneration
scale, a salary scale for scholars. (More information: Professorship at a university
> Salary). Depending on the state in which the junior professorship is based (or
whether it is paid in accordance with the collective agreement for federal
employees), the gross monthly basic salary is between roughly 4,200 and 4,800
euros.
You should bear in mind that monthly deductions are taken from this total to
cover taxes and possibly also social contributions for medical, unemployment
and retirement pension insurance. These contributions enable you acquire rights
to the excellent benefits of the German social security system.
Salary

5. Job search & funding
Where are jobs advertised? And who provides funding for international researchers?
Here you will find more information:
Find a job
Looking for a new science job? Here you will find a list of job portals that specialise in
academic and research-related job offers in Germany.
More
Funding and fellowships for postdocs
Outstanding international postdoctoral scholars with good degrees, publications in
prestigious specialist journals, relevant research experience or excellent research
proposals can also receive support in the shape of fellowships and prizes.
More

6. Contents
Students
PhD Students
Postdocs
Career options
Where to do research
Funding and fellowships
Dual career
Preparing your stay
Why do your postdoc in Germany
Senior researchers
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7. Last Update:
31 Aug 2018
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8. Last Update:
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