Contribution to Scientific Excellence by Attracting a First Class Reasearcher

This application for the Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant for Dr. Markin's research project at the Center for German Studies of the European Forum of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will contribute to its scholarly excellence by attracting a researcher with a truly global educational record, a long list of academic awards, and Europe-oriented career prospects. This four-year reintegration grant will significantly raise the chances that Dr. Markin will find a long term employment position in the Israeli academic sector as a result. The phenomenon of brain drain from Israeli universities of young scholars is one of the more important factors that can lead to the future distress of academic field not only in Israel but also in Europe, since the receiving countries for the leaving lecturers, professors and researchers lie in North America and, increasingly, Asia. As Israel and the European Union join their forces in their efforts to maintain their high scientific and research excellence internationally, scholars that can operate not only in English language, but also other European languages, such as German, as does Dr. Markin, become a valuable factor in contributing to scientific excellence since increasing number of research and development initiative take place both bi-laterally and multi-laterally.

As the declared mission of the Center for German Studies is to variously promote the relations between Israel and Germany, with an orientation towards post-WWII period of European, German, and Israeli history, it is especially important to attract internationally experienced researchers who are placing an emphasis on comparative, contemporary and cultural issues that form common denominator for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. This is the profile that Dr. Pablo Markin clearly demonstrates. As the periods of search for long-term employment positions both in Israel and Europe become relatively prolonged, it is important to give new graduates from overseas doctoral programs an opportunity to appreciate the European and Israeli resources, institutions, and opportunities that would be difficult to take into account in a global job market, such as that for tenure-track university positions. As regions, countries and cities compete for highly qualified and creative labor fource, it is important to offer employment conditions for researchers with international experience that create environments where they would be able to explore employment and career opportunities.

Given the already upper intermediate knowledge level of German language of Dr. Markin, there is a high degree of fit that exists between the activity of the Center for German Studies and his qualifications, interests and record. The successful hosting of the Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant will raise the profile of the Center for German Studies as a center of scholarly excellence that intends to take increasingly active part in the Framework Programs for Science and Research of the European Union. It is the contacts between young scholars and experienced researchers that open doors for employment positions both Israel-wide and in European as a whole. As a newly founded research unit, the Center for German Studies is in the early stages of gauging the full extent to which the scholarly and research collaboration between Israel and Germany, within the framework of the European Union, can be widened. A new generation of scholars combining international education and linguistic capabilities, that in the case of Dr. Markin include English, Hebrew, Russian, German, French and Spanish, and to some extend Portuguese, languages, can make an invaluable contribution to emergent areas of research such as metropolitan studies.