START Fellowship

Junior Researcher START Fellowship

Supporting Independence

To support young talents on their transition from postdocs to independent researchers, MCQST is offering Junior Researcher START Fellowships. With a total budget of 300.000 € for a funding period of two years, the fellows have the opportunity to start their own scientific project in one of the Research Units of MCQST.

The funds are flexible and may be spent in accordance with DFG rules for instrumentations, staff, consumables, travels as well as for the fellows' own salaries. Laboratory and office space will be provided by one of the MCQST Principal Investigators (PIs).

How to Apply

Eligible candidates are at the beginning of their academic career and have completed their doctoral degree in physics, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, or engineering within the last four years. Research experience in quantum science and technology is of advantage and should be documented by publications in high level academic journals.

Applications should include:

Curriculum vitae (two pages max, without photo)
Research outline (two pages max)
Complete list of publications and talks (please highlight 3 publications that best represent your research)
Doctoral certificate
Support letter from MCQST host committing to offer laboratory and office space
Two letters of recommendation, at least one from an external expert (outside MCQST)

Please send all application documents to support[at]mcqst.de

Please note that we cannot accept applications without a support declaration by a MCQST PI. If you are not already in contact with one of our PIs, you can find a list of our members here. It is important that an MCQST PI supports your application as they will provide not only funding and academic guidance but also structural support like an office space. We are aware that this adds an extra hurdle for external applicants but this approach has proven very fruitful for a successful outcome of the fellowship in the past.

Application deadline: January 22, 2023.

For those who are invited, we are planning interview days on February 14/15, 2023.

Selection Process

The MCQST Executive Committee together with an international Advisory Board will select the Junior Researcher START Fellows. In a two-stage selection process, candidates who successfully passed the first stage were invited for an interview on February 14/15, 2023. Selection criteria are scientific excellence and an original research proposal. The start date of the fellowship will be fixed in agreement with the MCQST office, but should begin no later than 1 January 2024.

MCQST is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals. Furthermore, MCQST seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.