Application

LeiCoT - PROGRAM

Submit your Application

Application documents must be prepared in English and submitted as a single PDF file via email.

Required application documents:

• Application form including:
  o Cover letter / statement of motivation
  o Curriculum vitae (CV)
  o List of publications (at least 6 peer-reviewed original publications, or at least one outstanding publication, e.g. in a journal within the top 10% or with an impact factor > 15, as first or last author)
  → Download application form  Jetzt Bewerbungsformular herunterladen
• Certificates:

o Medical degree certificate
o Medical license (Approbation)
o Doctoral degree certificate (PhD/MD doctorate)
o Habilitation certificate (if applicable)
o Specialist medical certification

• Letter of support from the head of the institute, clinic, or department confirming:
  o Access to resources required for the proposed project
  o Protected research time of 50%
  o Coverage of costs for the rotation position
  o Names of potential mentors (LeiCoT supporters – please request the list from the coordination office)
  o External applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the intended clinic or potential principal investigator (PI) prior to submission in order to discuss possible research projects, clinical integration, and requirements for the necessary support letter. Please also note the obligation statement.

LeiCoT offers funding over a period of ten years for a total of 12 Advanced Clinician Scientist (ACS) positions. At least 25% of funded positions are intended for external applicants, and at least 50% of positions will be awarded to women.

Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration in case of equal qualifications. Please include the relevant documentation with your application.

Please send your complete application documents (in English) as one combined PDF file to: sandra.schulze@medizin.uni-leipzig.de

PROCESS

SELECTION PROCESS

LeiCoT supports physician scientists and senior physicians over a period of six years within the Advanced Clinician Scientist program. Funding is awarded through a competitive selection process.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Board certification as a specialist physician with a solid research background in basic, translational, or clinical research
• Demonstrated research experience in at least one of the three focus areas:
  Metabolism
  Brain/Heart
  Cancer
• Proven ability to establish, lead, and actively develop a research group
• Successful acquisition of third-party funding is desirable

All applications are reviewed by a selection committee. To ensure a fair and independent evaluation process, two external ad-hoc reviewers are also involved. Both the applicants’ qualifications and the scientific excellence of the proposed project are assessed. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration in case of equal qualification.

STEP 1

All submitted documents are checked for completeness and compliance with formal requirements.

STEP 2
Scientific project proposals are evaluated by the selection committee and external reviewers. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their potential academic supervisor prior to submission.

STEP 3

The highest-ranked candidates are invited to a personal interview. The following criteria are considered in the evaluation:

• Scientific quality and originality of the project
• Innovation potential
• Feasibility of the proposed work
• Strategic fit with the program
• Potential for future acquisition of external third-party funding
• Scientific qualifications of the applicant
• Publication record and previous research achievements

All criteria are applied transparently and according to standardized evaluation procedures.

STEP 4

Applicants are informed of the outcome of the selection process shortly after the interviews have been completed.

TIMELINE

Next call planned for 2027

• Application period
• Selection of candidates
• Interviews
• Start of funding