The 16th European Career Fair in Boston
“Europe will continue to invest in science and research,” “Europe is trying to gain the best scientists and researchers” – these were the two core messages with which Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, concluded her presentation at the conference in Boston titled “Destination Europe.” It was the first time the European Commission organized this one day conference in connection with the traditional European Career Fair.
The “testimonials” from researchers funded by the European Research Council (ERC) were specifically interesting. The general consensus was that the Starting Grants and Advanced Grants allowed great flexibility and that the ERC Grants were highly respected and prestigious. Therefore, the Commissioner’s comment that the “fantastically successful ERC” would be doubled to about 15 billion Euros in the next EU-Framework Program was well received.
The actual career fair, which took place on Saturday on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus, brought young US-based scientists from leading research universities together with European companies and scientific organizations. There were long lines at the booths and many students were interested in job and funding opportunities in Germany.
These funding opportunities for doctoral students and post-docs in Germany were also the focus of two workshops organized by the German Academic International Network (GAIN), both of which were ‘sold out.’
The career fair itself offered the 5,000 visitors a wide variety of opportunities and informational material from universities, funding organizations like DAAD, the DFG, the Humboldt-Foundation as well as about 100 different companies. The German Consulate General Boston and the German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI) New York also participated with their own booths. The most commonly asked question at the DFG booth was in regards to funding opportunities in the post-doc phase, specifically the Emmy Noether Program.
Europe and specifically Germany is becoming more and more attractive, given the massive cut backs in the American science system. A number of factors have led the compass to point towards Germany, including the diverse funding opportunities for young scientists, the flexibility through opportunities such as the Excellence Initiative, the internationalization of universities, which has made the language barrier practically obsolete, since classes are taught and research is done in English, and last but not least the attractive quality of life. The impression given was that of a “German Research Paradise.”
Eckart Lilienthal from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) explained the efforts put forth by the German federal government to preserve and further expand this paradise. Research and education are of the highest priority in the federal government and the BMBF’s budget was recently increased by 12 billion Euros.
The “testimonials” of post-docs during the information session on Sunday were both lively and convincing. Mark Bathe, who is now a professor of applied biology at MIT, discussed his experience as a Humboldt fellow and underlined the generosity and flexibility of the funding. His opinion was shared by many. The time he spent in Germany made it possible for him to network internationally and to gain diverse research experiences, specifically in interdisciplinary fields.
Sarah Köster, a 32 year old professor of physics at the University of Göttingen, worked at Harvard from 2006 to 2008 on a DFG research fellowship. Upon returning to Germany, she received a position as a junior professor with a tenure track through the Excellence Initiative. She too emphasized the network of other scientists made available to her. Her encouraging words to even younger colleagues: “Germany is hoping for applications from abroad, the odds are very good!”
The best conditions lure the best talent – and Germany has been dealt a great hand to play..
German Presence at the MIT European Career Fair
Lesley Wilson, Secretary General of the European Universities Association
© DFG
