Photo: Levin Sottru
Dr. Robert Schmidt had been serving as head of the junior work group “Neural foundations of action selection, initiation and execution in the basal ganglia” at BrainLinks-BrainTools for three years. He was also member of the Bernstein Center Freiburg during this time. In September 2016, the neuroscientist will start a job as Lecturer at the University of Sheffield. The Freiburg research cluster may consider Schmidt's departure a success, because his case shows that its professional environment provides junior scientists with the right skill set to keep up with in-demand-specialist fields on a global scale.
The job at the renowned Psychology Department of the university located in the English midlands is similar to a junior professorship: Schmidt will be active in research as well as in teaching, and after absolving a probationary period of three years, he will be employed indefinitely. Over the years, there would be a real chance to reach positions such as “chair” or “head of department”. By his own account, he wants to establish himself as a senior lecturer with an own workgroup and sufficient third-party fundings in the near future. Having been asked if the Brexit could upset his plans he responds with a smile: “If the worst comes to the worst, there could be a lot more paperwork to do and maybe the EU will suspend their funding. However, I will keep my job.” With this in mind: congratulations to such a lucky pull!