Johanna Quandt Young Academy at a glance
- provide a platform to share knowledge across disciplines
- learn about research approaches of other disciplines
- provide a framework for translating the gained expertise into a global context
- bring together young scientists and outstanding leaders of the international science community
- debate about and generate new ideas and concepts for defined topics
- formulate science-based solutions for future development of society
- form a strong voice to impact university and global development by policy statements
Mission of the JQYA
Acknowledging young scientists as a driving force for the formulation of novel ideas and concepts, the Goethe University opened the Johanna Quandt Young Academy at Goethe (JQYA) in 2018. The academy is tailored to the needs of early-career researchers at the beginning of their scientific independence and during their professional qualification.
The JQYA displays the ideals of traditional academies by being a learned society with the goal of providing a platform for intellectual exchange and self-guided professional development. Through the Academy Program platform, we bring together young and senior, national and international scientists from all conceivable disciplines.
The Academy Program is based on the Academy Theme, an annually-changing topic. The career development of early-career researchers benefits from their integration into the Academy Program because the young high potentials (I) learn about other disciplines’ research approaches, (II) increase awareness of their own research within a larger continuity and, therefore, (III) gain a better understanding of their own research questions through scientific dialogues and cross-disciplinary debates.
All this inspires creative solutions and extends scientific horizons. In addition to the platform for scientific exchange, we offer versatile and individually tailored financial support lines which guarantees the scientific freedom to pursue an academic career.
Our Founder
Johanna Maria Quandt (née Bruhn), born in Berlin on June 21, 1926, was the daughter of art historian Dr. Wolfgang Bruhn and Marianne Bruhn (née Rubner). Her grandfather, Max Rubner, succeeded Robert Koch as the Chair of Hygiene at the Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin. After completing her education at the Protestant Gymnasium Potsdam-Hermannswerder in 1944, she trained as a medical-technical assistant but could not finish due to wartime disruptions. During the war’s final months, she worked as a nurse, an experience profoundly shaping her life.
After the war, she worked as a secretary before spending a year in the United States in 1955. Returning, she became secretary to entrepreneur Dr. Herbert Quandt at AFA AG in Frankfurt. In 1960, she married Herbert Quandt. After his passing in 1982, Johanna Quandt, as the executor of Herbert Quandt’s will, took on roles on the supervisory boards of family companies, such as BMW AG and ALTANA AG, until her 1997 retirement, passing responsibilities to her children Susanne Klatten and Stefan Quandt.
Johanna Quandt’s philanthropic legacy includes establishing the Herbert Quandt Media Prize in 1986 and the Johanna Quandt Foundation in 1995, where she chaired the Board of Trustees. Her unwavering commitment to medical care and biomedical research manifested in profound ways: She established the Charité Foundation in Berlin, supporting the Charité Hospital and the Berlin Institute for Health Research. In Frankfurt, the Johanna Quandt Foundation is committed to improving care and discovering new therapies in the field of pediatric medicine. Notably, Johanna Quandt funded a stem cell transplant center at Frankfurt University Hospital in 2004. Her lively interest in innovative paths in research and academia is evident in her special support for and her backing of Goethe University Frankfurt as it transitioned back to an independent foundation university. This enduring dedication to advancing medicine and scientific exploration underscores Johanna Quandt’s lasting impact on healthcare and academic pursuits.
Recognized for her commitment, Johanna Quandt was honored with the highest distinction as an Honorary Senator of Goethe University Frankfurt. Over 30 years, her support of Goethe University prioritized harnessing talent and fostering the professional qualification of international early career researchers. Her legacy continues through the Johanna Quandt University Foundation, supporting research projects across disciplines, including the establishment of the Johanna Quandt Young Academy @Goethe.
