Helmholtz Investigator Group Leader and Helmholtz Innovation & Exploration Group Leader (m / f / d / x) - Inklusiver Job 🦼 🦻 🦯

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals.

AWI cooperates with leading universities in the Earth System Sciences who accompany the selection and support process. Currently we are inviting expressions of interest for the upcoming call for the Helmholtz Association Award :

Helmholtz Investigator Group Leader and  Helmholtz Innovation & Exploration Group Leader (m / f / d / x)

Background

As an internationally renowned Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, the  Alfred Wegener Institute  (AWI) is one of the very few scientific institutions in the world that are equally active in the Arctic and Antarctic. It coordinates German polar research efforts, while also conducting research in the North Sea and adjacent coastal regions in Germany. Combining outstanding research infrastructure, cutting edge field work, and innovative modelling approaches the Alfred Wegener Institute explores nearly all aspects of the Earth system and its biodiversity – from the atmosphere to the ocean floor, from land and coasts to the ice-covered seas.

Call for Expression of Interest

The Alfred Wegener Institute seeks Expressions of Interest from outstanding talents to apply for their own Investigator Group or Innovation Exploration Group ( HGF call for application ). The two-step process will start with an internal selection process of  up to three candidates . The final selection of candidates will be carried out by external expert panels advising the president of the Helmholtz Association. Helmholtz Investigator Groups ( Standard Track ) and Innovation Exploration Groups ( Pilot Track ) of successful applicants will be hosted at the AWI. Funding is on the order of €350,000 per year for a period of five years, with potential access to further substantial research infrastructure depending on internal negotiation within AWI.

Eligibility

The following eligibility criterion applies for  both tracks :

• The outstanding researchers are at maximum six years of academic age. Academic age is calculated as years after receiving the doctoral degree, deducting times due to the reasons named in the Helmholtz Call.

In addition, the following  eligibility criteria  apply :   Standard Track

You can apply in any field of research in which you have recently excelled if it is generally related to the  AWI's research program . This can be demonstrated by a grand idea supported by a first own publication and a CV fit for an ERC application.Helmholtz Investigator Group leaders collaborate closely with a German partner university. A potential partner university with indication of a contact person at the university should be specified in the application.

Pilot Track

Selection criteria and process

Standard Track The initial AWI-internal selection of candidates for the Standard Track will take place in cooperation with a German university.

Pilot Track

The initial AWI-internal selection of candidates for the Pilot Track will take place in cooperation with the AWI Technology Transfer Office.

If you are interested in submitting an application, you should identify and contact a potential mentor for realizing your idea from the AWI. If you need help, please contact  corinna.kanzog@awi.de . Short application (max. 2 A4 pages, font size 11) should include :

− Motivation for the project

− General significance of the proposed project

− Objectives

− Strategic importance for the AWI

− Project plan

− Planned group composition and required infrastructure

− Information on the planned cooperation with the German partner university (Standard Track)

− Dominant methodology / technology (if applicable)

Please provide in addition to the  short application  a full  curriculum vitae  incl.  publication lis t. Template CV is provided on our  AWI webpage.

Questions about the call for applications and the internal selection procedure are answered by  corinna.kanzog@awi.de . Deadline for submission of short applications ( corinna.kanzog@awi.de ) is  19 January 2026 . Short-listed applicants will be invited to present their projects to the AWI Scientific Council end of February 2026. Successful candidates will be informed after the final decision by the AWI Board of Directors, and they will be asked to provide a full proposal until 4 May 2026.