Tenure-Track Program (WISNA) at the University of Bonn

Germany’s joint federal and state program supporting early-career researchers (WISNA) is funding 1,000 tenure-track positions at 75 universities throughout Germany. With funding approved for 28 tenure-track positions, the University of Bonn was the most successful university during the second round of applications in 2019. WISNA professorships are advertised as W1 assistant professorships with tenure-track to a W2 professorial position or – in certain cases – to a W3 professorship.

What are the program’s goals?

To make career paths for young academics at German universities more transparent and easier to plan
To help young researchers decide early on in their professional careers whether they want to remain in academia
To make the German academic landscape more attractive and globally competitive
To support German universities looking to recruit and retain the best early-career research talent from Germany and abroad
To establish and strengthen the tenure-track model as a separate route to a university professorship
To promote the cultural shift that accompanies the implementation of the tenure- track system
To support the reorganization and development of academic staffing structures to best fit with the new career path[A1]
To advance equal opportunity objectives and improve the compatibility of family and career

The tenure-track assistant professorships supported by the WISNA program are underpinning a comprehensive cultural shift, enabling promising young researchers to become established early on in their careers while also offering long-term, stable career prospects. The University of Bonn is committed to implementing this change as a means of attracting and retaining early-career researchers of the highest caliber. By providing comprehensive advisory services and skills development opportunities, the University assists individuals to achieve their career goals either within or outside of academia.

Who is the target group?

The program is designed exclusively for early-career researchers. Assistant professors who successfully complete the probationary period and receive a positive final evaluation will, after six years, be awarded tenure.

Do you have questions about how to apply or how the appointment process works?

You can learn more here

Evaluation and skills development

Individuals holding a tenure-track assistant professorship have an initial three-year period in which to demonstrate their qualities as a university professor. If the interim evaluation is positive, the individual’s contract is extended for another three years. This second phase concludes with a final evaluation, which, if positive, will result in the position being upgraded to a permanent professorship.

The evaluation criteria are published together with the call for applications.

During the temporary probationary period, assistant professors receive advice and assistance, such as progress appraisals and mentoring.

The University of Bonn offers a broad range of advisory services and skill-enhancement courses to help young researchers develop personally and professionally so that they achieve their career goals either within or outside of academia.

Find out more

Further information

Further information on the tenure-track program, including documents on administrative arrangements and the funding guidelines, can be found on the dedicated information portal run by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Interested in applying for a tenure-track professorship at the University of Bonn? Current calls for applications are published on the dedicated University of Bonn web page.

Vacancies at the University of Bonn