The start of 2023 marked the launch of the Medical Faculty’s Clinician Scientist Programme CareerS - and IRG resident Sophie Koser is among the first cohort of 14 pioneers: “I’m very pleased to be a member of the first CareerS Starter cohort,” Sophie explains and further elaborates: “With CareerS, the Faculty is sending a strong message in favour of supporting the next generation of scientists.”

The CareerS programme provides Clinician Scientists with flexible and protected time for research. At the same time, they are enabled to develop clinical and scientific skills that can be translated into patient care. With its two modules, the programme targets physicians at different career stages. As a participant in the Starter Programme, Sophie will devote the next six months from March to August to researching variants in meiosis-associated genes. She will be accompanied and supported by group leader Corinna Friedrich and IRG director Frank Tüttelmann.

In addition to protected time for research, the Starter Programme offers accompanying seminars and training modules, for example on career development or acquiring key qualifications. Regular meetings within the cohort allow for exchange and networking among the Clinician Scientists. It was the combination of financial and content-related support that convinced Sophie of applying for CareerS: “On the one hand, the program allows me to devote my time extensively to research, and on the other it provides a clear-cut schedule for networking opportunities and skill development.”

The next call for the DFG-funded career programme is open; the deadline for application ends April 17th. Further information can be found on the pages of the Medical Faculty.