The acquisition of third-party funding is particularly important for a research-oriented university as it enables larger-scale research projects to be realised. The DFG is the largest third-party funding provider for university research in Germany and for HHU. Coordinated programmes such as Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs), research groups and Research Training Groups (RTGs) enable researchers to network across subjects and universities to an even greater extent.
The DFG Liaison Officer supports all researchers at the University who would like to submit proposals to the DFG. This support is particularly relevant for those submitting a proposal for the first time. Here, Professor Bayen paid tribute to the dedicated efforts of the previous Liaison Officer, Professor Dr Stefan Egelhaaf, who passed away in 2023. She says: “My predecessor attached great importance to the task of helping postdoctoral researchers navigate the proposal process. I want to continue this work, encourage researchers to submit proposals and promote a culture of support in which experienced applicants advise colleagues submitting proposals for the first time.”
About Dr Bayen:
Dr Ute J. Bayen studied psychology in Bonn and Freiburg. After completing her doctorate at Pennsylvania State University, she researched and taught at various universities in the USA, latterly spending ten years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been W3 Professor of Mathematical and Cognitive Psychology at the Department of Experimental Psychology at Heinrich Heine University since 2007. Her key research area is the psychology of memory. Using mathematical models, she researches how people memorise and subsequently recall information. The psychologist is also Lead Liaison Officer for the German Academic Scholarship Foundation and member of the Committee for the Allocation of Research Awards of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
About the role of Liaison Officer:
All universities that are members of the DFG designate one of their lecturers as Liaison Officer. This person acts as a contact for questions, provides advice on funding options and the proposal process, and mediates between various units and bodies at the DFG.
Contact: Professor Dr Ute J. Bayen, tel.: +49 211 81-12144, e-mail: sekretariat-bayen(at)hhu.de