Cologne Clinician Scientist Program

Training program for physicians conducting research

The Faculty of Medicine has been supporting clinician scientists since 2012. The idea: to strengthen physicians who are actively engaged in both patient care and research.

Since 2019 this support is further strengthend and expanded by a structured program: the Cologne Clinician Scientist Program (CCSP). This programm is supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), which has developed a concept specifically for clinician scientists. The DFG recently published background information and a funding atlas of all DFG-funded Clinician Scientist Programmes. In this way, paracurricular support (research track, research exchange, sabbaticals, research scholarships) can be further expanded in the postgraduate area. Further information on the Cologne CCSP can be found in our flyer.

Group photo of the retreat in autumn 2024. A group of sponsorship recipients, the program spokesperson and the coordinator stand in front of the conference building.

The Cologne Clinician Scientist Program is aimed at physicians after 2-3 years of their specialist training and who have a documented scientific interest (preferably with at least one first authorship). The CCSP program is intended to enable the retention of persons interested in science and the promotion of longer-term scientific activity parallel to or alternating with clinical training.

The funding of a fellow in the program is initially for 2 years and can be extended for a further year following a positive evaluation. By continuing to support clinician scientists through structured programs and the involvement of the CCSP and the clinics, the Faculty of Medicine aims to strategically promote the expansion and networking of research and translation.

The CCSP module was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) from 2019-2026 (26 fellows). The program has been funded by the Faculty since 2024.

Program Overview

advantages of CCSP-funding

50% financial funding to pursue your own research project
Mentoring
"binding curriculum"
Exchange of expertise in regular meetings
Increasing the visibility of the target group

Application requirements & documents

The Cologne Clinician Scientist Programme is aimed at assistant physicians with the following qualifications

doctoral degree
In the 2nd/3rd year of specialist training
At least one first authorship

Application documents

Structured application
Optional: application for consumables (15.000 €) for the entire funding period
Personal details incl. CV, list of publications
letter of motivation
Self-commitment of the clinic director
Nomination of 2 mentors

Selection committee

Prof. Dr. Esther von Stebut (Spokesperson + Chair)
- Representative: Prof. Dr. Michael Schroeter
Prof. Dr. Carien Niessen
Prof. Dr. Veerle Visser-Vandewalle
Prof. Dr. Dirk Stippel
Prof. Dr. Elke Kalbe (Gender Support Officer)
Prof. Dr. Florian Klein
Prof. Dr. Jens Brüning
Dr. Marie Anne-Catherine Neumann (Fellow Representative)
- Representative: Dr. Felix Köhler

Program coordinator & contact

Ms. Mila Evers
Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne
Vice-Deanery for Science & Transfer
Building 42, EG 008
Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 20
50931 Cologne

phone. 0221 478 30770
email: mila.eversuk-koeln.de

Spokesperson & chair

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Esther von Stebut
Direktorin, Klinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie
Prodekanin für Wissenschaft
Chair, Department of Dermatology
Vice Dean for Research & Transfer
Universitätsklinikum Köln
Kerpenerstr. 62, 50937 Köln

E-Mail Sekretariat: dermatologie-chefsekretariat(at)uk-koeln(dot)de

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