Starting off well with the right support

What distinguishes the promotion of junior researchers at Münster University? A PhD student, an associate professor and a trainee give their views Anyone who spends thousands of hours at their desk doing research is not only dependent on selfless support and patience on the part of their nearest and dearest, but is also very pleased at the many forms of support available at Münster University: for example, the University's Graduate Centre, when another application for funding or for a scholarship has to be written, or additional competences are to be obtained, or the career path is set to continue outside the academic world; or the University's Reading and Writing Centre when there's a writer's block to overcome; or the smartNETWORK which offers opportunities for international exchanges and structured PhD work. But something that is perhaps even more important is that a possible supervision agreement and PhD students' representation at university level raise awareness at Münster University and make these students' interests more visible. Vít Kortus is the coordinator at the Graduate School of the "Religion and Politics. Dynamics of Tradition and Innovation" Cluster of Excellence and himself a doctoral student. For me, the promotion of junior researchers - combined with my "Mathrix" associate professorship - means a high measure of independence. In particular, it gives me the opportunity to offer lectures and seminars on my own and thereby qualify for W2 professorships - a job for life.