Albrecht Struppler Clinician Scientist Fellowship

Aim and Target Group

The Albrecht Struppler Clinician Scientist Fellowship is designed for physicians working at the TUM School of Medicine, TUM University Hospital or German Heart Centre Munich who intend to further develop an independent research profile while at the same time continuing their clinical qualification. The Fellowship is aimed at outstanding, high-potential early-career scientists who have already or will shortly receive their certification as medical specialist (Facharzt/-ärztin) and who have already successfully secured third-party funding. The Fellowship offers a relief of 50% from clinical duties, which gives Fellows time to carry out a transdisciplinary research project in collaboration with scientists from a department/school different to the TUM School of Medicine.

Duration

The Fellowship lasts three years during which the Fellow will continue their clinical duties to a reduced extent (relief of 50%). The regulations of the applicant’s home clinic at TUM regarding leave times have to be met by the Fellow.

Connection to a TUM department/school other than the TUM School of Medicine

Since it is the aim of this Fellowship to bridge medicine with other scientific fields represented at TUM, a cooperation partner/group from a TUM department/school other than the TUM School of Medicine must be identified in advance of the application. If applicable, this cooperation partner confirms to grant the Fellow use of facilities at their department/school (research, office, etc.).

TUM-IAS Connection

During the Fellowship, the Fellow is welcome to make use of the office space at the TUM-IAS building (long-term or short-term use possible). The Fellow should also actively contribute to interdisciplinary TUM-IAS events.

Funding

Since the Fellowship offers a relief of 50% from the Fellow’s clinical duties, 50% of the Fellow’s salary (TV Ärzte Ä2/Ä3) will be paid by TUM-IAS for the three years of the Fellowship (with the remaining part continuing to be paid by the Fellow’s home clinic at TUM). The Fellowship also comprises 15k € per year for consumables, travel, workshop organization etc., and funding for a doctoral candidate (TV-L E13, 75%) for three years or a postdoctoral researcher (TV-L E13/E14 position, 100%) for two years. The Fellow’s home clinic/institution at TUM will cover 50% of the funding for the doctoral candidate or postdoctoral researcher.

Fellows will be given a maximum degree of freedom as to how they utilize these funds (within bounds set by funding agencies; funds will be administered by the TUM-IAS) and their time.

Supervision of doctoral candidates

The doctoral candidate will be co-advised by the Fellow and their senior mentors at the TUM School of Medicine and the co-hosting TUM department/school. Doctoral candidates should be pursuing a graduation as Dr. rer. nat., Dr. med. (dent.) sci. or PhD. The doctoral work should be performed mainly during the Fellowship time; therefore, the search and hiring process of a candidate should be accomplished within three months after the Fellowship appointment.

How to apply

Please submit the following application documents (as individual PDF files):

• a cover page (available for download),
• a CV (no more than 5 pages) including a list of secured third-party funding,
• a list of major publications (please highlight the 3-5 most important publications of the past five years),
• a statement of purpose (no more than 5-10 pages) jointly signed by the candidate and their collaborator(s) outside the TUM School of Medicine, describing how the Fellowship would contribute to the innovation of the scientific or technological environment at TUM, and the specific goals to be achieved. The statement of purpose should also include the following elements: 
  • an abstract,
  • a budget and a time plan,
  • an identification of possible additional (interdisciplinary) collaboration partners both within TUM-IAS and within TUM as well as a short explanation as to why this collaboration would be beneficial for the outlined research project,
  • an outline for an international workshop/colloquium, to be organized at the TUM-IAS during the active Fellowship period,
• a list of 4-6 international peer-reviewers without any conflict of interest*– if applicable, also a list of persons who should be excluded from reviewing the proposal,
• a letter of support (1-2 pages) by the chair/head physician of the applicant’s home clinic at TUM
• a letter of support (1-2 pages) from the dean of the TUM School of Medicine
• a letter of support (1-2 pages) from the dean of the department/school of the cooperation partner/group

*Conflict of Interest
All shortlisted applications for the Albrecht Struppler Clinician Scientist Fellowship are evaluated by independent reviewers. In order to ensure that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest, we must ask any reviewers to refrain from evaluating the proposal if the following circumstances apply:
1. First-degree relationships, marriage, life partnership, domestic partnership with the applicant and/or host.
2. Personal (financial) interest in the proposal’s success or (financial) interest by persons listed under no. 1.
3. Current (within the past three years) or planned close scientific cooperation with the applicant and/or host.
4. Dependent supervisory relationship (e.g. teacher-student relationship up to and including the postdoctoral phase) with the applicant and/or host, extending six years beyond the conclusion of the relationship.
5. The affiliation or pending transfer to the department or to the non-university research institute of the applicant or host.
6. Any other situation that would compromise the ability to unbiasedly evaluate the proposal.

Evaluation

Decisions will be made by the TUM-IAS director in mutual agreement with the dean of the TUM School of Medicine, supported by external reviews and advised by the TUM-IAS Advisory Council including a representative of the TUM School of Medicine. Decisions will be sent via email within six months.