Junior Development Program

The program combines structured mentoring with course and coaching elements. The aim is to offer the young scientists the best possible environment for their professional development. In addition, special funding is provided for the mentees' research projects.

Annual Junior Faculty Retreat in Kochel am See

Admitted is any person who

  • holds a doctorate or comparable qualification
  • has an employment contract at the Department of Economics (ECONM) at LMU or at the ifo Institute Munich
  • has submitted a Mentoring Agreement signed by two academic mentors from the Junior Faculty Development Program jundp@econ.lmu.de.

Funding opportunities and resources

In most cases, junior faculty is hired for 100% positions and will have an independent research budget. In addition, Junior Faculty members receive the following benefits and resources

  • Special courses and workshops
  • Junior Faculty Handbook
  • Mentoring Agreements
  • Membership as Research Affiliates in the CESifo Network
  • Bids for topical workshops and topic weeks within CES

more information for our members in the intranet

The program's four pillars

  • Structured Mentoring for academic advice
  • Full access to ifo’s experts, networks and training offerings
    LMU Affiliation
  • “CESifo Affiliate” Status
  • Involvement in Munich guest programs
  • Acces to Departmental research fund (for junior faculty employed at LMU)

Each mentee (Junior Faculty) is assigned to two mentors (Senior Faculty), one scientific mentor from her/his field and one “general” mentor from outside her/his field. The mentors advise the mentee in all matters pertaining to the academic career, meet on a regular basis, discuss the timetable, the work schedule, and development plans. The mentors agree to support the progress and success of mentees, give subject-related advice, and assist the candidates in establishing an international network. Mentees and mentors agree, by participating in the program, to document their relationship and assist the program in documenting and reporting and to participate in a possible program evaluation.

Upon entering the Program, formal Mentoring Agreements will be signed between the Mentee and her/his Mentors.

These Mentoring Agreements will:

  • state the rights (e.g., access to courses) and obligations (e.g., structured contribution to the teaching curriculum) of the Junior Faculty.
  • detail specified milestones (papers, courses, teaching, international exposure, research stays abroad, grant writing). Mentors support the Junior Faculty in achieving these milestones.

As member of the JunDP you are appointed as an examiner for the bachelor and the master program. Hence you may independently teach all courses/seminars/colloquia at the bachelor’s and master’s level (within the above described framework) and also may supervise bachelor and master thesis. In general, master courses can also be taken by PhD students. Regarding teaching, each Junior Faculty has to define the teaching group it will be affiliated to.

Teaching offerings in the department are coordinated within four teaching groups:

  • Empirical Economics (Coordinator: Joachim Winter)
  • Macroeconomics (Coordinator: Uwe Sunde)
  • Microeconomics (Coordinator: Claudia Steinwender)
  • Public Economics (Coordinator: Andreas Haufler)

All Junior Faculty is expected:

  • to actively participate in the seminar and guest programs of the Faculty and the affiliated institutions.
  • to be actively involved in the supervision of Research Master and PhD students in a role as Junior Faculty Mentors and also as members of Dissertation Committees according to the regulations specified in the doctoral degree regulations (“Promotionsordnung”).
  • to make a systematic contribution to the Faculty’s teaching curriculum. This contribution will correspond to individual circumstances (in particular the requirements and demands of the respective funding situation). All Junior Faculty are part of a Teaching Group at the Faculty.
  • to, after successful evaluation, make a credible effort to acquire third party funding or/and to contribute to larger scale grant writing efforts on the Faculty level.

After two years, the progress and performance of the Junior Faculty member is reviewed by a committee consisting of the Director (see Contacts) of the Program, the Dean, the Dean of Research, the Head of Junior Recruiting, and an additional scientifically qualified Senior Faculty.

In case the committee concludes after the evaluation that the performance and prospects for an academic career are

  • satisfactory, the Junior Faculty member will be granted membership in the Program until he/she leaves his/her Junior Faculty position at the faculty or at one of the affiliated institutions.

  • non-satisfactory, the Junior Faculty member will receive tailored counseling and will be supported in his orientation towards the non-academic job market.

Periods of parental leave or other interruptions of the progress (as, e.g. extended periods of sickness or intense child care) will be appropriately considered in these evaluations.

Mentee's thoughts on the Program

For me, the Junior Development Programme means community, mentoring and support. It creates space to build a community where you can exchange ideas, learn how to navigate academic life and, last but not least, make friends. It includes professors who advise and guide us on the next steps to unleash our potential. The JunDP supports our research, funds our ideas, offers a variety of opportunities to build and expand our network, and organises annual workshops and retreats. It is one (of many) aspects that make LMU an incredible place to grow professionally.

Special Courses and Workshops

Regular fireside chats on various topics related to life and work as an academic are an integral part of the Junior Development Program.

Here, professors give junior professors insights into the job market for professors and answer junior professors' questions about how to successfully apply for professorships in Germany and abroad.

Mentee's thoughts on the Program

© Jeremy Barande

The Junior Development Program at the LMU is something very special and super enjoyable! It enabled me to connect very quickly with many talented and international members of the juniorfaculty through informal drinks, 1-hour panels on career advice, or training sessions on management skills. The highlight are the retreats where we all get to meet and discuss research ideas, either in Munich or on the shore of a scenic Bavarian Lake. Also, it has supported me in my research through funds that I used to hire a research assistant, but that can also be used to organize a visit abroad, or to finance access to data. Another aspect is the mentoring program, which gave me the opportunity to have discussions with my two mentors (tenured Munich faculties), not just about research papers, but also about career management and long-term objectives.The large size of the junior faculty creates a very nice peer group with lots of interactions, fostered by the Junior Development Program. In my view, this is a great asset of the LMU and something that makes it a very appealing destination for young researchers!