Research Explorer Ruhr

Research Explorer Ruhr (RER) is a two-week summer program for international doctoral researchers, who have submitted their doctoral thesis, and early postdoctoral researchers interested in exploring the research landscape of the University Alliance Ruhr with its three members Ruhr-Universität Bochum, TU Dortmund University, and the University of Duisburg-Essen.
Join in and explore research opportunities at our most excellent chairs and institutes. Benefit from workshops on postdoc funding schemes and research career options in Germany! A series of networking events and guided excursions will help you becoming acquainted with the thriving Ruhr Area as a potential place to work and live.
The program is conducted entirely in English and the invitation includes travel expenses and accommodation.

Research Explorer Ruhr 2020 postponed: Due to COVID19, we have decided to postpone this year’s Research Explorer Ruhr. The new date is 22 November to 5 December 2020. We are currently in talks with our hosting professors and will keep all applicants updated via email. There will be no new call; our professors are currently selecting their guests. Please get in contact should you have any questions or concerns.
Helpful Information
International doctoral researchers, who have already submitted their doctoral thesis, and early international postdoctoral researchers, who have recently finished their PhD, are invited to apply for a spot in Research Explorer 2020 at the three UA Ruhr Universities Bochum, Dortmund and Duisburg-Essen.
If you are thinking of doing a postdoc at one of the three universities of the University Alliance Ruhr, but are not sure if it is the right fit for you, Research Explorer Ruhr is the right program. We offer a scholarship to visit us for two weeks in June 2020 to explore an institute that fits your research profile.
Our professors offer to host one guest at their institute from 14 to 27 June 2020 [postponed! new date: 22 November to 5 December 2020]. During this time, you can work out cooperation opportunities, research compatibility and possibilities to come back as a postdoc with your own funding. You will get the chance to participate in workshops on the German university system and proposal writing for postdoc funding, get to know the Ruhr Area culturally and scientifically and meet scientist working on relevant research questions.
We will cover the following costs for invited guests
- Travel expenses
- Visa costs
- Accommodation
- Lunch vouchers
A preliminary program will be published here in good time.
Here you can download an exemplary schedule from the last years: PDF-Download (256 kB)
You will find the profiles of the participating professors under "Hosts and Application".
Research Explorer Ruhr gives you the opportunity to invite interesting international doctoral researchers (shortly before their doctorate) and postdoctoral researchers (one year after their doctorate) to this two-week program at the UA Ruhr universities in June 2020 [postponed! new date: 22 November to 5 December 2020]. Research Academy Ruhr will cover travel and accommodation costs.
In addition to an introduction to the German research system, the accompanying program will also include a workshop to successfully raise funds for a postdoctoral position. If these guests wish to return as postdocs, the candidates themselves are responsible for obtaining the appropriate funds and scholarships.
International candidates can apply from January 2020 to 1 March 2020.
All organisational questions and planning with the guests are handled by Research Academy Ruhr, so that you can concentrate on joint research questions or projects. If you have any questions, please contact:
Ruhr-Universität Bochum: Dr. Jörn Benzinger
TU Dortmund University: Dr. Alexandra Franzke
University of Duisburg-Essen: Simon Kresmann
Contact

For all organisational questions please contact:
For scientific questions please contact the professors directly.
What previous guests say about Research Explorer Ruhr:
Dr. Alexandria Ruble, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
"Attending the Research Explorer Ruhr (RER) in July 2018 enabled me to deepen my research collaboration with Prof. Stefan Berger, Director of the Institute for Social Movements. This collaboration eventually resulted in the successful application for a DAAD-Postdoc Research Fellowship. The RER was a crucial step in my successful grant application process for the application writing workshops and the exchange with international scholars from diverse academic and regional backgrounds improved my skills that are necessary for writing successful grant applications."
Dr. Dieter Reinisch, University of Vienna & Webster University, Austria
"Research Explorer Ruhr (RER) is an excellent program for those who have an intention to continue their postdoctoral research in Germany. I had an opportunity to communicate with researchers from different countries, cultures and of various professions. We explored the university, got to know the German system of higher education. RER provided a good platform to the participants to exchange some methodological and educational experiences: we presented our ongoing research during sessions."
Dr. Garnik Harutyunyan, Yerevan State University, Armenia
"Attending the Research Explorer Ruhr program was an amazing opportunity to learn about postdoc funding options in Germany, to build up a scientific network and to start a collaboration in my research project with an outstanding group at the Department of Biochemistry of Ruhr University Bochum. The program is nicely organized, with interesting seminars as well as space for discussions and experience exchange among successful young researchers."
Dr. Juliana Rizzo, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2019
Guests | Hosts |
Juliane Bazzo, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul State Eugene Lee, Korea Foundation Alejandro Llanes Mazon, INDICASAT AIP / Acharya Nagarjuna University Hemant Arya, Pondicherry University Neffer Gomez, Federal University of Parana Jiangliang Yin, Sichuan University Leticia Dobler, UFRJ - Federal University from Rio de Janeiro Ricardo S. Martínez, National University of Luján Adam Simmons, Lancaster University Mrigendra Singh Kushwaha, The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai. Pankojini Mulia, GITAM University Vedran Sulovsky, Cambridge Tom Giesbers Jacinto Páez, Diego Portales University Hossein Jafarzadeh, Sharif University of Technology Hernán Maltz, University of Buenos Aires Asmita Ghosh, CSIR New Delhi Junqi Zhang, University of New South Wales Hirshikesh Hirshikesh, IIT Madras Movaffaq Kateb, University of Iceland Ana Maria Schonhobel, University of Basque Country Thaiany Pedrozo Campos Antunes, Centro Universitário Saúde ABC Ailim Schwambach, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Samuel Grauer, Georgia Institute of Technology |
Prof. Dr. Mihran Dabag Prof. Dr. Marion Eggert Prof. Dr. Ralf Erdmann Jun. Prof. Dr. Sulamith Frerich Prof. Dr. Lukas Gooßen Prof. Dr. Thomas Günther-Pomorski Prof. Dr. Thomas Happe Jun. Prof. Dr. Verena Krebs Prof. Dr. Deniz Kus Prof. Dr. Corinna Mieth Prof. Dr. Klaus Oschema Prof. Dr. Birgit Sandkaulen Prof. Dr. Gunter Scholtz Prof. Dr. Ingo Steinbach Jun. Prof. Dr. Yasmin Temelli Prof. Dr. Konstanze F. Winklhofer Prof. Dr. Carolin Birk Prof. Dr. Uwe Bovensiepen Prof. Dr. Michael Farle Prof. Dr. Norbert Fuhr Prof. Dr. Philipp Jugert Prof Dr. Khadijeh Mohri |
2018–2015
Please visit: https://www.research-school.rub.de/rers.0.html
Impressions of Research Explorer Ruhr 2019
-
© Daniel Sadrowski/Research Academy Ruhr -
© Daniel Sadrowski/Research Academy Ruhr -
© Daniel Sadrowski/Research Academy Ruhr -
© Daniel Sadrowski/Research Academy Ruhr -
© Daniel Sadrowski/Research Academy Ruhr -
© Daniel Sadrowski/Research Academy Ruhr -
© Simon Kresmann/Research Academy Ruhr -
© Simon Kresmann/Research Academy Ruhr -
© Simon Kresmann/Research Academy Ruhr
"The Research Explorer Ruhr Program was excellent! It gave me the opportunity to connect with mentors at the Institute of Social Movements, as well as conduct research on a new project on female political prisoners in Germany in the library of the Institute and the RUB. The unique structure of the program provided both guidance and freedom to pursue new academic endeavors in Germany. I hope to return as a postdoc and enjoy beautiful Bochum again in the near future!"