Career Paths of Junior Researchers at RWTH
The promotion of junior researchers and making attractive career paths available is a particular concern of the University.
Junior researchers pass through various phases of qualification starting with their doctoral studies. The decision whether or not to work in industry or academic is often a late one. The University creates suitable framework conditions for career development and highlights possible career paths within and outside of the University early on.
When discussing transparent career paths for junior researchers after their doctoral studies, one must consider that a maximum of 20 percent of doctoral candidates in Germany remain in academia and that a maximum of 5 percent of those get tenure. As a result, one of RWTH Aachen's important tasks is to promote other academic career goals aside from professorships and to highlight equal, planable career paths.
The Doctoral Academy already offers doctoral candidates support with transferable skills during their doctoral studies and offers stimuli regarding their career orientation. However, the Center for Professional Leadership or CPL also raises awareness during later career phases with its advising, coaching, and mentoring services. It offers supportive and accompanying qualification measures for all career paths.
The following table explains the goals and target groups as well as the corresponding qualification offers and support for junior researchers.
| Career Phase | Career Goal | Target Group | Further Education Offers and Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Researcher | Professorship | Employees with excellent research performance, high-ranking international publications, and experience in managing international research projects, who are pursuing an academic career and professorship |
Research and innovation, teaching, management: |
| Senior Scientist | Responsible for activities in research, teaching, management, and partially in the research and information infrastructure | Employees, who wish to assume responsibility for various activities at a chair or institute |
Research and innovation, teaching, management: |
| University Reader | Independent, academic teaching | Employees with a focus on teaching (for example adjunct teaching staff and instructors for specific tasks) | |
| Science Manager | Employment in science management | Faculty administration, staff unit management, heads of divisions and areas in the ZHV, support staff for the University administration and departments |
Leadership and management: RWTH International Academy / RWTH Research Manager |
| Manager | Employment in industry, and society (endowments, associations, public administration) | Employees pursuing a management position outside of the university |
Leadership and management: |
| Entrepreneur | Employment in industry and society | Employees interested in entrepreneurship |
Entreprenuerial support: |
| Industrial Researcher | Employment in industry and society | Employees pursuing a position outside of the university | RWTH Doctoral Academy |