Outstanding early-stage researchers at KIT are supported on every career level. KIT´s central institution for supporting young scientists ist the Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS). It is the central contact point for persons interested in a doctorate, doctoral researchers, researchers interested in a postdoc phase at KIT, postdocs, as well as for supervisors and doctoral programs. KHYS is responsible for the qualification and support of young scientists as well as for assuring the quality of a doctorate at KIT. KHYS provides individual advice, supports doctoral programs of KIT, and offers comprehensive networking services.

KIT´s Young Investigator Group Preparation Program (YIG Prep Pro) is designed to support outstanding postdocs in acquiring funding for a junior research group of their own and, hence, to promote their careers towards a professorship.

The Young Investigator Network (YIN)is an independent, self-administrated network for early-stage researchers. YIN members (heads of junior research groups and junior professors) are offered support, such as funds for starting interdisciplinary projects, a program to enhance leadership skills, and events for the exchange of information and experience with each other and former members.

Outstanding, non-habilitated researchers may be appointed KIT Associate Fellows, who are authorized to participate in doctoral procedures. KIT´s multi-track program (in German only) offers excellent early-stage researchers clear perspectives at an early stage, with options ranging from a fixed-term W 2 professorship to a permanent position as head of a department or group.

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• Doctorate
• Postdoc phase

KIT awards doctorates in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, the humanities, and social sciences. Apart from individual doctorates, KIT offers a number of structured doctoral programs, such as research training groups and graduate schools. According to the Act of Baden-Württemberg on Universities and Colleges (Landeshochschulgesetz, LHG), doctoral procedures at the universities in Baden-Württemberg are based on doctoral regulations. These define the legal framework and the requirements for admission to a doctorate at one of the eleven KIT Departments, for instance.

The Guidelines for the Doctorate at KIT provide orientation for both doctoral researchers and their supervisors about the roles and responsibilities as well as about mutual expectations during the doctoral phase. They summarize the regulatory frameworks relevant to the doctorate and outline important milestones of a doctoral procedure.

Directly after the promise of acceptance, the supervisor and the doctoral candidate conclude a doctoral agreement in writing. The legal basis is Article 38, par. 5, cl. 3 LHG. A template of a doctoral agreement and information for supervisors and doctoral candidates can be found on the intranet. If you have questions regarding legal aspects of the doctoral procedure and doctoral regulations, contact the Higher Education Law and Academic Affairs Business Unit (HAA, in German only).

When concluding doctoral agreements, doctoral candidates must register centrally (Article 38, par. 5, cl 4 LHG) with Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS) on the Docata web portal.

Doctoral candidates accepted for a doctorate by a KIT Department automatically become members of the Convention of Doctoral Researchers. It is established on the department level and represents the interests of the doctoral researchers. The Convention of Doctoral Researchers discusses matters of concern and submits recommendations to the bodies of the university. In case of conflicts during the doctoral phase, both supervisors and doctoral researchers may contact the Ombudspersons for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors at KIT.

Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS) was established to support early-stage researchers at KIT. KHYS is the central contact point for doctoral researchers and their supervisors and connects all doctoral programs at KIT. On the website of KHYS, you will find comprehensive information on doctorates at KIT and on special support services offered by KHYS.

The postdoc phase starts upon completion of the doctorate. Postdocs can further qualify and gather information on further career options in or outside of academia. The postdoc phase at KIT may directly follow the doctoral phase or another postdoc phase spent at a university or non-university institution elsewhere. The postdoc phase usually takes up to three years.

Guidelines for the postdoc phase at KIT provide transparency and reliability for both postdocs and their superiors during a qualification phase that is crucial to the career. These guidelines summarize framework conditions during a postdoc phase at KIT and provide orientation for both parties.

Enhancing transverse skills and connecting to the scientific community are of decisive importance to a career in and outside of academia. Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS) provides advice for early-stage researchers, e.g. on funding a stay abroad.

Postdocs applying for third-party funding for research projects or proposing a junior research group are supported by KIT´s Research Office (FOR). FOR offers information on the conditions offered by KIT on the way towards a professorship.