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[elskerdk]

I was just wondering if there are any others out there who have applied for positions at German universities, either sucessfully or otherwise.  There is a very interesting position posted at Humboldt in Berlin for which I think I am a good match.  Now I speak fluent German, but since they legally have to give preference to German and EU citizens and have a serious braindrain problem I just wonder if it is a waste of my time.  I would absolutly love to work anywhere in Northern Europe/Germany so of course it is an exciting idea to me. If anyone has experiences to share, I would appreciate the advice. 

[mehmet_shehu]

Either you haven't bothered doing any research on the German academic system and its disgraceful apprenticeship system (hence the x thousands of German academics desperate for work in the UK) or you are smoking crack.

Either way you must be nuts to even think about trying to make it in the German university system.

[schoolmarm]

The German professorship is VERY different than in the US.  The German "Professor" is more of an equivalent to the US "department chair".  There is usually only one professor per department.  The others are Dozentin.  One of my esteemed colleagues just retired after a whole career at a great Uni without becoming "Professor".  If the position is at a Fachhochschule or Technical (science/engineering) or Musik or Sporthochschule, you will teach much more than if the post is at a Uni.  It seems that my German counterparts really crank out the research.

There are usually many, many qualified German (or EU) citizens for these posts.  Budgets are also tight, as they are in the US. 

You might try going over on a DAAD or Fulbright fellowship, or on a Humbolt if you are under 40.

Or you might want to do what I do.  Live there doing research in the summer and on breaks.

Alles gut!

[euro_ir_nerd]

elskerdk: I'm not entirely sure whether the university *has* to give preference to EU citizens. Although I don't know any U.S. citizens becoming junior professors, I don't think it would be impossible. Also, if you look at a recent ad from the Humboldt University (maybe that's the one you've been looking at: http://www.personalabteilung.hu-berlin.de/stellenausschreibungen_neu/stellenlist?mode=2&ident=20060823100002),
they explicitly state that "Applications from scholars located outside of Germany are welcomed."
Of course, the competition will be stiff, so this isn't a shoo-in by any means, but I think that you should be competitive. Just go for it.

[supernumerary]

they explicitly state that "Applications from scholars located outside of Germany are welcomed

By all means go for it, it can't hurt to apply, but I think 'outside of Germany' in practice means elsewhere in the EU. Each EU state has a legal duty to treat all EU applicants equally, i.e. all things being equal it would be unlawful to favor a German applicant over a French applicant. That's how I would read the welcome to 'outsiders'. You mention the serious braindrain problem - think also of the serious unemployment problems. Very high unemployment (apparently now at its highest since reunification) doesn't usually translate into a 'foreigners welcome' climate. Although in the end it's still worth going for it - trying is never a waste of time and you just never know.

[elskerdk]

Thanks for the input...it is defintely a long-shot, but I think I will apply.