The Gutenberg Council for Academic Careers (GCC) advises the JGU Executive University Board on strategic issues and helps to create ideal conditions for academics and artists in the early stages of their careers. The body is made up of leading JGU experts from various disciplines and with various qualification levels. By involving excellent academics in university governance, the university benefits from the broad expertise of all members who play an active role in shaping the higher education institution.

On its 10th anniversary the Gutenberg Council for Young Researchers (GYR), founded in 2014, was renamed Gutenberg Council for Academic Careers (GCC). The GCC is part of the Mainz college structure alongside the Gutenberg Research College (GRC) and the Gutenberg Teaching Council (GTC).

The GCC is funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Research Initiative.

As a strategic advisory body to the university management board, the Gutenberg Council for Academic Careers (GCC) prepares recommendations for forward-looking improvements to research and working conditions for academics and artists in the early stages of their careers at JGU.

The Gutenberg Council for Academic Careers (GCC) receives funding from the Rhineland-Palatinate Research Initiative. This is used to implement sustainable funding measures to support scientists and artists in the early stages of their careers.

Every year at DIES Academicus, JGU honors outstanding scientists in the early stages of their careers as well as artistic talents who have received an award for special achievements. Prizes are awarded at DIES Academicus by external companies, funding organizations and foundations as well as awards from JGU trust foundations.

With the so-called “Minigraduiertenkollegs” (mini graduate training groups, MGRK), the GCC has been working successfully for several years at establishing sustainable structures to supply support for academics in early career phases in the humanities and social sciences. The aim is to identify promising research approaches at JGU, support promising collaborations and offer doctoral candidates good framework conditions for their research projects. To date, 16 mini research training groups have been approved with a total of over EUR 4.2 million (as of 01/2025).

In the current funding period 2024-2027, four mini-graduate programs are being funded with a total of 1.3 million euros.

The Gutenberg Council for Academic Careers (GCC) is led by an interdisciplinary executive committee. The body is made up of members of JGU who have distinguished themselves through special commitment and outstanding achievements in supporting scientists and artists in early phases of their careers. In addition to professors, other academics from various faculties and career phases, from doctorate to advanced postdoctoral researcher, are also represented. The body is complemented by excellent students.

GCC’s executive committee is appointed by the JGU Executive University Board in agreement with the Senate. From among its members, the executive committee elects a director and a vice-director.
The Vice President for Research and Early Career Academics participates in the meetings of the executive committee in an advisory capacity.

The GCC office provides adminstrative support for all GCC projects.

Director: Prof. Dr. med. Julia Weinmann-Menke, FB 04, University Medical Center

Vice-Director: Prof. Dr. Florian Hett, FB 03, Professor of Digital Economics