Research Boards
Research Board
The Research Board (RB) was established in 2019 as an independent, advisory commission of the Rectorate. As an expert body, it has the task of advising the Rectorate on research issues. In doing so, the members of the Research Board always have the long-term development of the entire university in mind.
In particular, their responsibilities include the following:
- monitoring the development of the university’s overall research profile,
- recommendations regarding external and university research funding instruments
- recommendations on the submission of applications in competitive procedures requiring a pre-selection by the Rectorate,
- participation in the evaluation of the research centers.
Its members are appointed by the Rectorate for a term of three years. They may be reappointed.
The Research Board is composed of the following members:
- one representative each from the subject areas natural sciences, life sciences, engineering sciences, humanities and social sciences,
- one representative from the field of medicine, and
- one representative of early-career researchers.
- The rector and the vice president for research and innovation are ex officio members.
The Research Board may call in additional experts to deliberate on special issues.
Research Infrastructure Board (RIB)
The Research Infrastructure Board (RIB) is an expert advisory board tasked with formulating recommendations to the Rectorate and the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Medicine as a basis for decisions on the procurement of research infrastructure. The members of the RIB always have the development of the entire University in mind and take into account aspects of development planning, resulting costs, and opportunities for cooperation in formulating their recommendations.
Composition of the board:
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Philology
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy
- Faculty of Biology
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources
- Faculty of Engineering
The vice rector for research and innovation and the head of administration are ex officio members of the board. The director of University IT Services, the director of the University Library, and a representative of the administration of the university medical centre are also permanent members of the board.
(Re)investment programme for research infrastructures
In the (Re)investment programme for research infrastructures, the University of Freiburg makes it possible to acquire high-quality infrastructures but also to apply for repairs, maintenance, and replacement purchases. Eligible applicants are faculties (except the Faculty of Medicine), research centres (except for current Clusters of Excellence with DFG funding), and shared facilities located at a faculty. Please submit applications to the dean’s office of the respective faculty or the leadership of the research institute. Individual applications by researchers to the RIB are not permitted.
The next round of applications is planned for 2025. You can also have yourself placed on a list (email) to be notified when the next round of applications opens.
Commission on Responsibility in Research
The Commission on Responsibility in Research (KVF) works on the basis of the University of Freiburg’s Guidelines [in German] on the responsible handling of the freedom and risks of research as well as the applicable laws, scientific standards, and relevant professional regulations.
The commission provides assistance to researching members and affiliates of the University of Freiburg in evaluating ethical and legal aspects of security-related research by advising them (advisory procedures). It may issue opinions in cases of doubt concerning the compatibility of research projects with the guidelines (clarification procedures), and it mediates in the event of disagreements between researchers on research ethics issues (mediation procedures).
The commission is composed of members of the following areas of the university:
- one professor each from the areas:
- ethics
- humanities and social sciences
- life sciences
- natural sciences
- engineering
- one professor who is qualified to hold judicial office
- one non-professorial academic staff member
- one doctoral candidate
The members of the KVF and their deputies were appointed by the Senate in December 2021 for a term from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024. The doctoral candidate representatives were appointed for one year.
The individual tasks of the KVF are regulated by the Statutes in the current version.
Members of the commission
Full Professors with qualifications for judicial office
Full Professors from the field of Ethics
Full Professors from the field of Humanities and social sciences
Full Professors from the field of Life Sciences
Full Professors from the field of Sciences
Full Professors from the field of Engineering
Academic Staff
Doctoral candidates
Investigative Commission on Academic Integrity
The Investigative Commission on Academic Integrity is responsible for advising the rector in cases concerning academic integrity and investigating allegations of academic misconduct. The members are bound to confidentiality.