03.05.2012

Helmholtz Association funds PIER Graduate School

The Helmholtz Association will fund the PIER Graduate School with a total of 2.4 million euros in the coming six years. This was announced today by the Helmholtz Association in Berlin. The PIER Graduate School offers an excellent training for doctoral students in a unique environment, thus attracting young talents from all over the world to come to Hamburg. It is part of PIER (Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research), the new cooperation of University of Hamburg and DESY, acting in four groundbreaking research fields: particle and astroparticle physics, nanosciences, photon science, and infection and structural biology.

As an interdisciplinary and supervising umbrella structure, it will not only expand the existing high-quality doctoral training of University of Hamburg and DESY in the PIER research fields, but also create optimal structures and parameters with transparent access information and services for doctoral students. “The Helmholtz Association’s funding approval gives us the opportunity to put together a comprehensive package for doctoral students, thus creating optimal graduation conditions,” says Stefanie Tepaß, coordinator of the PIER Graduate School. “This makes the research area Hamburg even more attractive for highly qualified international young scientists,” adds PIER executive director Christian Salzmann.

The PIER Graduate School continues to promote an intensive exchange among doctoral students and with representatives of economy and industry. With contact fairs, recruiting events and a special mentoring programme, PIER doctoral students are encouraged to actively plan their future careers. Within the framework of cooperation with international universities and research centres, the PIER Graduate School will provide structured exchange programmes for doctoral students and facilitate common graduations. Coaching, childcare offers and financial support for travelling with family make reconciling work and family easier.

Moreover, the Helmholtz Association awards two scholarships within the framework of the PIER Graduate School – one for excellent women. In addition, the "Joachim Herz Stiftung" contributes five attractive scholarships per year for outstanding doctoral students.