Career perspectives for junior scientists
In light of increasing competition for highly qualified personnel between industry and the public sector—both nationally and internationally—clear and predictable career paths as well as attractive employment conditions at universities are of central importance. They form a key basis for deciding in favor of academic qualification and a professional career in higher education.
Chemnitz University of Technology is committed to a task-appropriate staffing structure, transparent and reliable career paths, and stable employment conditions for early-career researchers.
Current permanent employment concepts
Until now, the following five tenure concepts have existed at Chemnitz University of Technology:
- Lehrstellenkonzept (vgl. Rundschreiben des Rektors 39/2022)
- Funktionsstellenkonzept (vgl. Rundschreiben des Rektors 66/2022 und 22/2024)
- Forschungsmultiplikatorstellenkonzept (vgl. Rundschreiben des Rektors 37/2022)
- Oberassistenzstellenkonzept (vgl. Rundschreiben des Rektors 36/2022, wobei der Begriff gemäß Rundschreiben des Rektors 11/2024 nicht mehr benutzt wird)
- Entfristungskonzept für wissenschaftliches Personal (welches exzellente Forschungsleistungen erbracht hat) (vgl. Rundschreiben des Rektors 42/2023)
Further Development and Changes in the Legal Framework
Against the backdrop of the amendment of the Sächsisches Hochschulgesetz (SächsHSG) and the experience gained with the existing regulations, the tenure concepts were comprehensively reviewed and further developed. The amended law introduces new staff categories, opening up additional tenure options, particularly for research managers.
On this basis, the concepts were restructured, further developed, and partially renamed. In addition, pooling options were introduced to enable more flexible staffing arrangements.
Current Tenure Concepts
The tenure concepts at Chemnitz University of Technology are now as follows:
- Wissenschaftsmanagerinnen- und Wissenschaftsmanagerkonzept
- Lehrstellenkonzept
- Forschungsmultiplikatorkonzept
- Entfristungskonzept Senior Research and Teaching Associate
- Forschungsexzellenzkonzept
- Funktionsstellenkonzept
Detailed descriptions of the individual categories and their respective criteria can be found in Rundschreiben des Rektors 52/2025.
Excluded from these new regulations are Lehrkräfte für besondere Aufgaben (LbA) and tenure-track (junior) professorships.
Lecturer with special responsibilities
Positions for Lehrkräfte für besondere Aufgaben (LbA) may be established in areas of activity in which the teaching of practical skills and knowledge is of primary importance. As a rule, lecturers with special responsibilities unshall be employed with a permanent contract.
Tenure-track (junior) professorships
Tenure-track (junior) professorships were introduced at Chemnitz University of Technology with the promise of transfer to a permanent professorship in the event of a positive tenure evaluation (without job reservation). This is intended to enable early-career academics to enter the university structure at an early stage, combined with academic independence even in the qualification phase at post-doc level. The TU Chemnitz also successfully participated in the second round of approval of the Federal-Länder Programme for the Promotion of Young Academics (WISNA Programme). As a result, five so-called tenure-track professorships can be filled in the next few years. For each of the tenure-track professorships, the TU Chemnitz will receive a grant of around 118,000 euros per year for up to a maximum of ten years from the Federal-Länder Programme for the Promotion of Young Academics.
More information can be found under the following links:
Rundschreiben des Rektors 08/2019
TUCaktuell: TU Chemnitz ist erfolgreich im Bund-Länder-Programm zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses
