The Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific-research organisation with 28,000 staff working and an annual budget of 2.4 billion euros. The 15 Research Centres of the Helmholtz Association supervised more than 4,500 German and foreign doctoral students in 2008. Its research focuses on six major fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Key Technologies, Structure of Matter, Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Helmholtz also has a long tradition in talent management. The Association developed the Helmholtz Research Schools to cover the crucial period in the careers of young scientists, namely their PhD studies. 

The Helmholtz Association created the international Helmholtz Research Schools several years ago. What do these institutions do and who are they for?

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The Helmholtz Association attaches great importance to promoting the next generation of scientists. Today’s young researchers will be the leading minds of tomorrow; in fact, they are already contributing importantly to the research done at the Helmholtz Centres today. This led the Association to develop a strategy that aims to support them throughout their studies. The strategy includes a new programme to provide more than 170 PhD students with a system of structured training and to actively support the centres as they develop and adapt academic programmes and opportunities for advanced training, while also setting new standards of excellence. Helmholtz Research Schools are jointly established by Helmholtz Centres and universities for the purpose of promoting talented young scientists from Germany and abroad. The Research Schools provide each and every PhD student with an outstanding interdisciplinary training, while also honing their individual abilities and personal skills to better prepare them for postdoctoral success. Since the Helmholtz Research Schools are geared to attract students from around the world, English is the lingua franca.

What research areas do they focus on, and how does each Research School work?

The topics they study are as varied as the Research Fields of the Helmholtz Association itself. We currently have seven Helmholtz Research Schools, which focus, respectively, on infection biology, biophysics and soft matter, molecular neurobiology, quark matter studies in heavy ion collisions, earth system science, polar and marine research, and translational cardiovascular and metabolic medicine, and space life science. Besides doing research in the labs of the Helmholtz Centres and their partner universities, the PhD students at the Research Schools also attend interdisciplinary lectures, colloquia and seminars. The number of students per Research School is limited to 25. Once a year they take a seminar that focuses on delivering key competencies. Helmholtz collaborates with Imperial College London in offering these seminars at all of its Research Schools. Each programme is built around a three-year PhD programme, with each student receiving financial support in the form of grants and/or employment contracts. The doctoral students also gain intercultural competence by meeting talented young PhD students from other countries at advanced training courses and by working with renowned scientists in international study groups.

What are the medium and long-term goals of the Helmholtz Research Schools? What advantages do they offer graduates?

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Helmholtz Research Schools provide students with an excellent environment for pursuing their PhD studies. Their high international visibility and integrative character raises the students’ identification with the schools and their incorporation into higher education networks. The students benefit from working at a Helmholtz Research Centre right at the very beginning of their career and from getting to know unique research infrastructures. PhD students from abroad are able to gain insights into the German academic system, and all the students have the opportunity to acquire additional qualifications (professional skills) that open up further career options for them, both in academia and industry, once they have their PhD. Scientists today have to do more than "just" produce outstanding research; they must also possess a variety of management skills, like team leadership, project management, and how best to raise external funding. The ability to present complex scientific issues to a broader non-specialist public is also becoming ever more important.

Who can apply to the Helmholtz Research Schools and what further information is available?

Positions for PhD students are internationally advertised by the Helmholtz Centres and the Research Schools. Applicants must have an outstanding performance record in their field and be fluent in English. A knowledge of German is not a condition, but German courses are available. More information can be found on the Research School websites.

Further information: www.helmholtz.de/research-schools