DFG Workshop for Early Career Investigators: “Vascular Surgery – From Bench to Clinical Research”
Through its workshops for early career investigators, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) supports the training and professional development of particularly committed researchers in early career phases. The newly established workshop gives an opportunity to up to 20 participants to develop their research ideas into high-quality proposals for third-party funding and prepare specifically for an independent academic career.
It is led by Professor Dr. Nikolaos Tsilimparis (LMU Munich) in cooperation with Professor Dr. E. Sebastian Debus (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf) and Professor Dr. Hubert Schelzig (University Hospital Düsseldorf).
Background
In the last few decades, vascular surgery has developed into a highly specialised field. While new surgical and endovascular procedures were the main focus for many years, there is now an increasing need for high-quality clinical studies, translational research approaches and innovative technologies to further develop existing treatments and establish new therapeutic strategies.
At the same time, there is still considerable need to support researchers in early career phases in vascular surgery in Germany. Compared with other surgical disciplines, there are still relatively few independent university-based structures in the field, and success in securing third-party funding remains limited in this area. This workshop seeks to train a new generation of research-active vascular surgeons, strengthen national research networks and sustainably improve the competitiveness of vascular surgery in Germany with regard to public research funding.
Goal
The workshop is aimed at researchers in the early stages of their careers. Participants will have an opportunity to:
- develop independent research projects,
- acquire the knowledge required to successfully secure third-party funding,
- gain the skills needed to submit proposals to public research funding organisations, particularly the DFG,
- advance translational and clinical research approaches,
- establish national research networks, and
- establish long-term mentoring and alumni structures.
Thematic Focus
Project proposals from across the full spectrum of vascular surgery are welcome, particularly in the following areas:
- Exploratory clinical research and pilot studies, especially those aimed at generating preliminary findings and data or investigating disease mechanisms and mechanisms of action
- Translational research
- Experimental vascular surgery
- Vascular biology
- Registry research and health services research
- Artificial intelligence in vascular medicine
- Virtual reality and digital technologies
- Interdisciplinary projects at the interfaces with cardiology, radiology, angiology, immunology or bioinformatics
Studies that fall within the scope of the DFG’s Clinical Trials Programme are excluded, i.e. interventional clinical studies, including phase II clinical feasibility studies and phase III clinical intervention studies, which are aimed at demonstrating the efficacy of a therapeutic, diagnostic or prognostic procedure.
Structure and Organisation of the Workshop
The workshop consists of four consecutive phases that build on one another.
Phase 1 – Planning Workshop:
The selected participants are expected to meet their project mentors for the first time in Hamburg on 15 April 2027. The scientific quality and methodological feasibility of the project ideas submitted will be discussed. Participants will receive individual advice on their projects, identify the preliminary work required, network with each other and be introduced to the structure of DFG proposals. Mock reviews conducted by experienced reviewers will provide practical insights into the DFG’s review process. Participants will prepare an initial draft of their project proposal after the workshop.
Phase 2 – Workshop Week:
The central element is a multi-day workshop week, which is expected to take place in Munich from 28 June to 2 July 2027. Participants will present their project ideas and attend workshops on preparing proposals. The programme will also cover study planning and statistics, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), publication strategies, academic writing and career development in academic vascular surgery. In addition, participants will receive individual mentoring from their project mentors. International experts will report on current developments in vascular research and third-party funding.
Phase 3 – Preparation and Submission of Research Proposals:
Following the workshop week, participants will finalise their proposals with the support of their mentors. Proposals must be submitted by 30 September 2027. They must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the DFG’s requirements.
Phase 4 – Revision and Alumni Workshop:
The revision and alumni workshop is scheduled to take place in Düsseldorf in spring 2028. Participants will present the current status of their projects and discuss their experience of submitting proposals and implementing their projects. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to strengthen the research network, engage with alumni, discuss reviewers’ comments and receive support in preparing follow-up proposals.
Eligibility Criteria
Researchers are eligible to apply if they
- work in vascular surgery or are members of the German Society for Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine (DGG),
- are at an early stage of an academic or clinician-scientist career,
- generally obtained their doctorate no more than six years ago, are about to complete their doctorate or hold an equivalent research qualification,
- have not yet completed their Habilitation (postdoctoral lecturing qualification),
- are integrated in a research-active working group; and
- are interested in pursuing an independent academic career.
Application
Please e-mail your complete application as a single PDF file to one of the following addresses by 20 January 2027:
Please note that your application will only be considered to have been received once you have been sent confirmation of receipt.
The application must include the following documents:
- Cover letter (maximum one page, setting out your motivation for pursuing research, your career plans and your interest in participating in the workshop)
- Project draft (maximum three pages, Arial 10 pt, single-spaced, including the title, background and research question, hypothesis, materials and methods, anticipated results, significance for vascular surgery, references and a description of the research infrastructure available for the project)
- Curriculum vitae (maximum two pages; see (interner Link))
- Copy of doctoral certificate or evidence that the doctoral thesis has been submitted, including a statement from the supervisor, or evidence of an equivalent academic achievement
- Optional: Letter of support from the head of the department or institute
Selection Criteria
Participants will be selected by an expert committee based on the following criteria:
- scientific quality of the project idea
- innovative potential
- feasibility
- preliminary work
- publication record
- potential to secure third-party funding in the future
- integration in suitable research structures
Up to 20 applicants will be invited to participate.
Key Dates
- Application period: 1 September 2026 to 20 January 2027
- Notification of the selection decision: 1 March 2027
- Planning workshop: provisionally 15 April 2027 (Hamburg)
- Workshop week: provisionally 28 June to 2 July 2027 (Munich)
- Proposal submission: 30 September 2027
- Revision and alumni workshop: Spring 2028 (Düsseldorf)
Costs
The costs of participating in the workshop will be covered, including accommodation, meals and travel expenses. Participants are required to contribute €150 towards the costs.
Equity and Diversity
The DFG explicitly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological and social backgrounds, and at different career stages, types of higher education institution and research institution, as well as from researchers with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Given the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG particularly encourages female researchers to apply.
Good Research Practice
According to a resolution of the DFG General Assembly, DFG funding may only be awarded to research institutions that have implemented the guidelines laid down in the Code of Conduct for Safeguarding Good Research Practice in their own regulations. The management of your institution is responsible for implementing the guidelines in a legally binding manner. In order to avoid delays in the disbursement of funding, please verify implementation within your institution in good time. For information regarding the implementation, please refer to the Research Integrity Portal. If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the Research Integrity team at the DFG Head Office.
Further Information
Detailed information on workshops for early career investigators is available (interner Link).
Further information on the Research Grants Programme:
(interner Link): Curriculum vitae
(interner Link): Proposal Preparation Instructions (Research Grants)
The (interner Link) may also be helpful.
Management, coordination and organisation of the workshop
Spokesperson for the workshop for early career investigators
Professor Dr. Nikolaos Tsilimparis (LMU Munich), in cooperation with Professor Dr. E. Sebastian Debus (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf) and Professor Dr. Hubert Schelzig (University Hospital Düsseldorf)
| E-mail: | sigrid.hanke@dfg.de |
| Telephone: | +49 (228) 885-2676 |
Privacy Policy
We, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), take the protection of your personal data and its confidential treatment extremely seriously. Therefore, please refer to the DFG’s (interner Link). If you intend to transmit personal data of third parties, please make sure to do so only if the necessary legitimation under data protection law exist. Before transmitting data of third parties to the DFG, please forward the DFG’s Data Protection Notice to the individuals affected (data subjects). If there is a legitimate interest not to inform individuals beforehand (e.g. for reasons of secrecy or in case of a nomination or candidate proposal), these individuals should be informed no later than at the time of publication.