One particularly problematic field is medicine, as it applies to both scientific researchers and practicing medical doctors, for whom special regulations for doctors at teaching hospitals (TV-Ä) apply.

These regulations provide special payments for doctors who predominantly carry out patient care duties. There are, however, options in place to ensure that doctors employed in research are not placed at a disadvantage compared to those who spend most of their time treating patients. Differences in salary, for example, can be balanced out by the awarding of allowances. Additionally, in many areas of clinical research, it can be assumed that the prerequisite required for the application of the more favourable collective bargaining agreement for doctors (Ärztetarifrecht, TV-Ä), that of “predominantly carrying out patient care duties” as defined by collective bargaining law, is fulfilled.

What the DFG offers

In funding employees using DFG funds, all costs arising from the implementation of the provisions of the collective agreement are covered. As in all scientific fields, these include bonuses, allowances, payments made in anticipation of a change in salary group, etc. The only requirement is that the appropriate collective agreements are applied correctly. Here, too, the categorisation of payments in accordance with collective bargaining legislation is the exclusive responsibility of the higher education institution or hospital in question. The DFG encourages hospital administrators to take advantage of these decision-making options for the purpose of preserving clinical research. This decision is made entirely by the higher education institution on the basis of the new, applicable collective bargaining legislation. The resulting personnel costs occurring in projects funded through DFG grants will be borne entirely by the DFG.

Information for Third-Party-Funded University Positions

The DFG has added the following addendum to all award letters: “In funding employees using DFG funds, all costs arising from the implementation of the provisions of the collective agreement are covered. As in all scientific fields, these include bonuses, allowances, payments made in anticipation of a change in salary group, etc. The only requirement is that the applicable provisions of the collective bargaining legislation are applied correctly. Here, too, the categorisation of payments in accordance with collective bargaining legislation is exclusively the responsibility of the higher education institution or hospital involved.“

Statement by the Senate Commission on Clinical Research

In 2007, the DFG’s Senate Commission on Clinical Research issued a statement on the TV-L. In this statement, the Senate Commission points out the resulting disadvantage to doctors involved primarily in research. It calls upon hospital administrators to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the collective agreement for awarding allowances, in order to achieve at least partial recompense. The DFG also expressed the hope that this would enhance the appeal of the already risk-fraught path to a scientific career in medicine, which would now result in financial disadvantages compared to a career in patient care.

Research Training Groups: Fellowships for Doctoral Researchers in Medicine

Within the framework of a Research Training Group, doctoral researchers in the medical field may receive a fellowship in an amount equal to those provided for by the BaföG (Federal Training Assistance Act).