Beate Naroska Guest Professorship

Beate Naroska (1943–2008) was a professor in experimental particle physics at the University of Hamburg from 1989 to 2008. As an excellent scientist at DESY and CERN, a devoted teacher and mentor, Beate Naroska made pivotal contributions to particle physics using data from the ISR, PETRA and HERA accelerators. This guest professorship of the Cluster of Excellence Quantum Universe at the University of Hamburg and DESY has been established in her honor.

The guest professorship is awarded annually to two successful female scientists who do excellent research in one of the research areas of Quantum Universe (Higgs physics, dark matter and axions, gravitational waves, quantum gravity as well as algebraic and geometric structures, artificial intelligence, and detectors, quantum sensors and accelerators) and who are committed to gender equity and diversity in the discipline.

The Award consists of a personal prize money (Senior Award 7500 €; Junior Award 5000 €) and a certificate.

As part of the guest professorship, we invite the awardees to participate in the scientific activities of Quantum Universe, to actively contribute to the qualification of early career researchers within the Quantum Universe Research School, and to raise the visibility of women in our research field. The awardees are invited to Hamburg for up to six months. Support for travel and living expenses including child care is available throughout the stay.

Overall, the Beate Naroska guest professorship aims to:

• provide excellent research conditions for outstanding female researchers
• attract world leading researchers to Hamburg
• provide role models for women in the physical sciences and encourage networking
• start new and intensify existing collaborations.

E-mail

Research Field Physics
Education Level PhD or equivalent

Specific Requirements

We encourage applications and nominations of outstanding female researchers by the
15th of February 2026. Applications should include:

• a scientific CV including main publications and teaching experience
• your research interests (up to 3 pages)
• the Quantum Universe area and the researchers you wish to collaborate with
• your preferred stay at Quantum Universe (number of months, period)
• how you plan to engage in the qualification of early career researchers
• your personal commitment for gender equity and diversity.

Please send us your application or nomination to  with the subject line “Beate Naroska Guest Professorship 2026” by the 15th of February 2026. Elisabetta Gallo, the Quantum Universe Diversity Director, is available for questions (,  ). Visit our website for further information about the Cluster of Excellence Quantum Universe and our activities: