The 37 early-career researchers at a glance; Jörn Benzinger from the RUB Research School can also be seen in the upper left corner.
UA Ruhr
Thinking Research Globally
Research Explorer Ruhr 2026 kicks off.
From 21 June to 4 July, 2026, the summer program Research Explorer Ruhr once again brings international early career researchers from various disciplines to the Ruhr Area. Organized by the UA Ruhr Research Academy, the two-week format offers prospective and early postdocs the opportunity to get to know the research landscape of the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) – as well as the Ruhr region as an attractive place to live and work.
This summer, 37 bright minds from 18 countries have come to the Ruhr Area. They work closely for two weeks with host professors and their research groups at TU Dortmund University, Ruhr University Bochum, and the University of Duisburg-Essen. This creates the best possible conditions for long-term collaborations. In addition, the (prospective) postdocs spend two weeks immersing themselves in the German academic system, exploring funding opportunities and career paths. Ideally, the program leads to a longer research stay at the University Alliance Ruhr, facilitated by a successful third-party funding application.
"We at RUB are looking forward to welcoming 15 international guests from all research disciplines this year, who were selected from a total of 161 applications. Our return rate of around 25 percent over the past ten years demonstrates the program’s lasting impact and how well-established it has become at the UA Ruhr level," says Dr. Jörn Benzinger, Global Talent Acquisition, RUB Research School. "The fact that we can welcome researchers from Latin America, North America, Central Asia, and West Africa in particular this year also reflects the desired visibility we are striving to achieve through our marketing efforts in these regions."
