Kiel University receives top rating for "KiTE-Kiel Training for Excellence"

Kiel once again stands out in the European competition for cutting-edge research: For the second time, Kiel University (CAU) has received funding from the European Commission's largest fund for the career development of doctoral candidates and postdocs for its international postdoc programme "KiTE-Kiel Training for Excellence". Following the first successful funding phase which started in 2023, the programme will enter a second round in 2027. Kiel University's application was awarded almost 99 out of 100 points, putting it in the top five percent of all applications submitted.

The EU is funding KiTE with 2.7 million euros. "The renewed funding enables us to specifically attract international researchers in the early phases of their careers to Kiel and to offer them reliable conditions for independent research and career development," says Professor Ralph Schneider, Vice President for Internationalisation and Early Career Researchers. "This will strengthen the university's international visibility and further expand our role as an attractive research location in Europe."

Springboard for international research careers

The programme is aimed at postdoctoral researchers from abroad. The researchers, known as KiTE Fellows, work in the university's four interdisciplinary priority research areas: Kiel Life Science (KLS), Kiel Marine Science (KMS), Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science (KiNSIS) and Societal, Environmental and Cultural Change (SECC). In addition to their academic work, they develop key skills in areas such as project management and strategic profile building and are supported by mentors throughout the programme.

At the same time, the fellows are expected to gain experience outside their own discipline and institution, for example in other research institutions, in the public sector or in business – both at home and abroad. "The combination of independence, targeted support and international networking is particularly effective," says Dr Gesche Braker, Head of Kiel University’s Postdoc Center and KiTE principal investigator. Initial results show just how effective the programme is: Several Fellows have taken on leadership positions at renowned universities or public authorities during the funding phase. "We promote talent and then lose some of them again quickly – that is exactly what shows the strength of the programme," emphasises Braker. Other Fellows have raised funds to set up their own research group at Kiel University. Like Dr Farooq Ahmad: "For me, KiTE was an excellent starting point to advance my work and realise the next step in my career." The plant pathologist has quickly settled into Kiel University and would like to further develop his career here.

Round two with some fine adjustments

The aim of the European Union is to mobilise young researchers internationally and keep them in Europe in the long term. There is great interest in research at Kiel University: Around 130 applications from all over the world were received for the 16 positions in the first funding phase. In the second phase, two more cohorts of eight postdocs each are to be funded for three years until 2031.

The programme was enhanced on the basis of previous experience. "It is now aimed more strongly at researchers in an early career phase after their doctorate, the training opportunities are more clearly structured and are already announced in the application phase," explains programme coordinator Dr Nadezhda Kakhro. Integration into the working groups is also being optimised so that the fellows have a reliable framework right from the start.

With KiTE, Kiel University is strengthening its international network and providing impetus in its interdisciplinary priority research areas. The programme helps to attract highly talented researchers to Kiel and to open up an internationally compatible career path for them.

This article was first published on 15 April by Kiel University.