Clinician Scientist Program (DFG)

The Clinician Scientist Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG) supports physicians in specialist training or in early scientific career phases at university hospitals nationwide. The goal of this funding initiative is the sustainable integration of clinical practice and independent research: protected research time in rotation positions, mentoring offers, and a science-accompanying curriculum support the compatibility of specialist training and research engagement. A doctorate or clinical license, affiliation with a university medical center, as well as a convincing mentoring concept with a significant research component, form the prerequisites for funding over the full program duration of up to 60 months. Applications can be submitted at any time without fixed deadlines, enabling flexible planning.

The funding is provided as a non-repayable grant. Eligible costs include personnel expenses (e.g., rotation or project leader positions according to TV-Ä or TV-Ü), consumables (materials, equipment, publication costs), travel expenses, as well as mentoring and training measures. Evaluation is based on scientific excellence, clinical relevance, the qualifications of the applicants, the quality of the mentoring concept, and the quality of structure and environment. For the application, a CV according to the DFG template, project description, agreement on objectives with the institution, declaration of leadership reservation by the clinic or institute management, and a third-party funding plan must be submitted. Through continuous application submission and close support by the DFG office, interested parties are comprehensively assisted to realize a scientifically sound and clinically relevant career development in university medicine.