With the MBG-BiRC Young Investigator Career Programme, MBG and BiRC wish to create a stimulating scientific environment where young scientists can establish themselves as group leaders. The intention is that 5 – 7 years as a group leader at MBG or BiRC will form an excellent platform to apply for tenure at Aarhus University, another Danish university or internationally.
Early-to mid-career non-tenured scientists, who are awarded one of the following career grants:
Candidates for the career programme are recruited through participation in the MBG-BiRC Young Investigator Symposium, or by direct contact to the head of Department or other staff members (see fig. 1). It should be emphasized that these are the only ways for non-tenured candidates to engage in an investigator grant application with the department. Candidates already working at the department should contact the head of Department.
Figure 1. Candidates for the mentor programme are enrolled either by participation in the MBG-BiRC Young Investigator Symposium or by direct contact to the department. Candidates who have not participated in the symposium will meet with the MBG research committee and pitch their idea prior to grant application.
The MBG-BiRC Young Investigator Symposium is organised every year. The symposium is announced internationally and applicants are selected on the basis of their CV and a short research statement. Candidates are assigned a mentor within their field of research. At the symposium, the participants have the possibility to present their current and future research plans and to interact with each other and the MBG staff. After the symposium, the symposium committee and the mentors will decide whom to offer the possibility to apply for an investigator grant.
Candidates contacting the department directly will be invited to give an MBG-BiRC Focus Talk, presenting current research, followed by a meeting with the MBG Research committee where future research plans are discussed. The research committee will then decide whether to continue the application process.
The applicant is assigned a personal mentor who will discuss the project and review the application before submission. There will be administrative support from the AU Research Support Office and MBG's scientific coordinator. Together with the candidates, we will develop a plan for applications (which grants to apply for and when).
The extent of the programme corresponds to the length of the career grant
Outstanding candidates will be able to negotiate a 3-year extension of the programme.
For further questions, please contact
Head of the Research Comittee at MBG Torben Heick Jensen (thj@mbg.au.dk)
