MD-LEICS

• Characterize predisposing and protective factors contributing to pathogenesis of modern diseases on population and individual level.
• Identify vulnerable periods and windows of opportunities to prevent or successfully treat modern diseases across the lifespan.
• Develop scalable, novel strategies for detection, prevention, and therapy of modern disease, based on the understanding of risk factors and mechanisms.
• Translate recent advances in basic sciences into innovative clinical applications for the management of modern diseases.​

Through the MD-LEICS program, we provide interdisciplinary clinical and scientific qualification and access to cutting-edge research facilities and state-of-the-art labs. The qualification concept comprises four elements:

• Scientific qualification in modern diseases
• Research rotation with protected research time
• Clinical education / residency, partly (30 out of 36 months) credited towards Residency and Fellowship Training by the State Chamber of Physicians of Saxony
• Professional skills training

To ensure a balanced clinical, scientific, and academic career development for the Clinician Scientists, the program is integrated in a multidisciplinary mentoring concept. Within the MD-LEICS program, each Clinician Scientist will have continuous mentors (scientific/project mentor, external mentor, and head of the department of the host institution). 

All MD-LEICS institutions provide a work, research, and study environment that promotes equal opportunities and a family-friendly work-life balance. We are committed to create a work- and training-space that fosters all project staff to start a family and care for family members. We do this by supporting a family-friendly environment (e.g. flexibility in working hours, services to help find child-care onsite with dedicated nursery services and emergency childcare options available) and offering career development specifically tailored towards women scientists (topics include presentation and negotiation skills, networking, balancing research, clinical care and family commitments, and leadership training). During maternity protection and parental leave, projects can be extended based on a written application. Parental leave during MD-LEICS is encouraged, and research projects can be extended if requested by the respective clinician scientists during parental leave. Furthermore, part-time work is facilitated (up to 50% reduction of the clinical part). In case of maternity protection, parental leave, and/or child/elder care, student assistance/research assistance can be requested, and a rapid review process of the steering committee will allocate financial resources for short-term positions.

Applicants

We are offering four fellowships to physicians with a research background and focus on Modern Diseases (e.g. metabolism, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cardiometabolic complications, eating disorders). Applicants will undergo clinical specialty training at Leipzig University Medical Center in Modern Diseases (preferably in Cardiology, Endocrinology, Laboratory Medicine, Pediatrics, or Psychosomatic Medicine).

Eligibility criteria are a medical degree and a completed doctorate degree/submitted doctoral thesis (equivalent to MD or MD/PhD; for applicants who have submitted, but not yet completed, their doctorate degree, proof of submission, as well as a signed letter from the Principal Supervisor stating the prospects of success, is required). Key selection criteria include applicant's qualification and publication record, preferentially on modern diseases, as well as project feasibility, scientific quality and novelty, and strategic fit. Applications from candidates from abroad or other universities are highly welcome. There is no age limit in MD-LEICS. The program is open also for part-time employees (up to 50% reduction at the clinical part). All applicants agree to spend 36 months in total (100%) in the program. 

Funding

A contractually agreed share of 50%-75% of the total working time is exclusively protected for scientific qualification and research. There is no fixed corset on how to allocate this share over the 3-year program to ensure flexible adaptation to the participants needs, advance in academic track and special aspects of the clinical specialization. With the application, however, the applicants, as well as the mentors and heads of institutes, have to provide a proposed schedule. We do encourage a 6-month full time starting period for scientific qualification to establish the basis for the independent research project.

The host institutions need to certify the suitability of clinical training for Residency and Fellowship Training to avoid possible delays in the clinical qualification track. To facilitate this aim, directors of the main MD-LEICS-supporting institutions participate in the program and guarantee that research time is being approved as Residency and Fellowship Training. According to an agreement of the Faculty of Medicine with the State Chamber of Physicians of Saxony (Ärztekammer), 30 out of 36 months can be credited towards Residency and Fellowship Training.

Application forms can be found here:

• Call (PDF)
• Fact sheet/Information (PDF)
• Application form (ZIP File)​

Please find information on data processing for applications according to GDPR/DSGVO in German language here (PDF file)​.​

In order to prepare your application please make sure to compile the required information in one single PDF document. The online-only application (to be written in English) should include:

• Application form (including motivation letter, curriculum vitae, publication list, project proposal*, nomination of potential mentors [can be handed in later])
• Copy of degree certificates (Medical degree certificate, Approbation certificate, Doctorate certificate, for candidates with submitted, but not completed, doctoral thesis: proof of submission, as well as a signed letter from the Principal Supervisor stating the prospects of success)
• Letters of support from the head of the host institute/hospital department confirming access to resources for the proposed project, protected research time of at least 50% (optimally 75%), and assumption of 20% of the personnel costs​

The Clinician Scientist Program offers four fellowships per year supported by the German Research Foundation for national and international Clinician Scientists through a competitive recruitment process.

All applications are reviewed by a selection committee. To ensure that fairness doctrine and the ideal of impartiality are applied to each application, two ad hoc reviewers evaluate the application in addition. Where applicants are equally qualified, preference is given to candidates with disabilities or equivalent.

• STEP 1: All submitted documents are checked for completeness and compliance with formal requirements.
• STEP 2: Evaluation of scientific project proposals. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the potential supervisor for their desired project (a brief list of research areas of the six possible PIs can be found below) prior to applying to discuss potential projects on modern diseases.
• STEP 3: The best candidates from step 2 evaluation will be invited for hearing (approx. 4 weeks after application deadline). Evaluation considers scientific quality and novelty, realizability, propensity for future extramural funding, strategic fit, applicants qualification and publication record. Criteria are transparently applied in a highly standardized manner.
• STEP 4: Applicants will be informed about the outcome of the selection process shortly after the hearing. 

Timeline​​

The attached list provides a brief overview of potential supervisors for MD-LEICS projects. We strongly encourage all applicants to contacting the respective supervisor prior to applying to discuss project feasibility.​