The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation's Henriette Herz-Scouting-Program aims to enable scientists from abroad to carry out joint research projects in Germany. To this end, around 40 people are selected each year as "scouts" in a competitive procedure, who are allowed to propose young researchers from abroad to the Foundation for sponsorship. Prof. Dr. Eric Bodden, a computer scientist at the Paderborn University, is one such scout. The scientist was successful with his application to recruit international young researchers.
"Through my own experience abroad, I understand very well what motivates young international researchers in particular to do their Ph.D. or post-doc in other countries. I know the obstacles that may have to be overcome in order to master recruitment and integration into an existing research group. That's why I'm pfarticularly keen to support young scientists in particular," says Bodden, who heads the Secure Software Engineering group at Paderborn's Heinz Nixdorf Institute or the Department of Computer Science.
In Paderborn, the young researchers will have the opportunity to experience working and research life at a German university. This will give them unique insights into the German and European research landscape, ranging from world-leading basic research to exciting projects with renowned industrial partners. A typical guest stay lasts one to two years. "Paderborn computer science has always stood for cutting-edge research, which is also increasingly about networking with other countries. In recent years, for example, several top researchers have come to Paderborn on a permanent basis," Bodden said. In the Henriette Herz Scouting Program, each scout can propose one young scientist per year for funding.
