Between 01 October and 31 December 2024, the DFG accepted 27 new researchers into the Emmy Noether Program, 18 into the Heisenberg Program, and seven into the Reinhart Koselleck Program. The selection shows once again how broad the spectrum of excellent research in Germany is and how specifically the programs are tailored to different career stages and research perspectives.

The Emmy Noether Program offers highly qualified postdoctoral researchers and junior professors with fixed-term contracts the opportunity to qualify for a professorship by leading their own research group over a period of six years. Among the 27 newly funded researchers are five scientists in materials science and related fields:

• Dr. Andrea Belluati (TU Darmstadt) is using "PIES" to investigate the targeted integration of polymers to control symbiotic systems.
• Prof. Dr. Frederik Haase (University of Halle-Wittenberg) is investigating geometric frustration in scaffold compounds and its influence on reactive processes.
• Dr. Jan Masell (KIT Karlsruhe) is working on the design and functionalization of 3D magnetic textures with potential applications in spintronics and data storage.
• Dr. Sandheep Ravishankar (Forschungszentrum Jülich) combines modern optoelectronic characterization with process development of perovskite solar cells in his project DIRECT-PERO.
• Dr. Viviana Villafane (TU Munich) is dedicated to the construction of quantum spin-phonon networks based on silicon defect centers in diamond. A topic of high relevance for future quantum technologies.

The Heisenberg Program is open to scientists who already meet all the requirements for a professorship. It enables flexible further development at a location of their choice, which is an important step towards scientific leadership positions. Among the 18 newly accepted researchers is a project with a clear focus on materials:

• Dr. Felix Löffler (MPI for Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam) is developing 3D printing processes for polymer nanofilms with nanometer resolution for the high-throughput synthesis of new materials and molecules.

The Reinhart Koselleck Projects are aimed at established scientists who want to break new ground with particularly innovative - and often risky - research approaches. One of the seven newly funded projects is in the field of materials science:

• Prof. Dr. Thomas Heine (TU Dresden) is investigating how long-range magnetic order can be established in metal-free materials - a topic with potentially far-reaching implications for spin-based applications.

The current funding round shows not only how the programs are tailored to the needs of different career stages, but also how they specifically support highly innovative topics in materials science.

For more information on the programs and how to apply, please visit the DFG website.