Jump directly to main navigation Jump directly to content Jump to sub navigation

July 2021: Extension of the Board of Directors

As of July 1, the Leibniz-Instituts für Sonnenphysik Board of Directors has three instead of two members, with the third area being referred to as Administration and Technical Services. The Baden- Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts has appointed Dr. Johannes Heilmann to fill this position.

Already in 2020, the KIS Foundation Council - in close consultation with the Board of Directors - carried out discussions on organisation and management issues. In the light of the two existing directors’ duty to lead and promote academic work, research and scientific development and considering also the endeavours of Leibniz Association to streamline leadership and the structures of duty, the Board of Directors was extended to a third member to take charge of non-scientific matters. The statute of the foundation was amended accordingly. This extension is aimed at pooling the resources and know-how within a Board of Directors faced with ever-growing demands and with an increasing number of issues involving different departments at KIS.

As of July 1, the Leibniz-Instituts für Sonnenphysik Board of Directors has three instead of two members, with the third area being referred to as Administration and Technical Services. The Baden- Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts has appointed Dr. Johannes Heilmann to fill this position.

Dr. Heilmann, who holds a PhD in biology, studied at The Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn, bevor he started his career with GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt. There, he initially worked as junior scientist on biophysical issues, then moved on to the department for scientific IT at GSI and in 1997 made the transition to the administrative staff of the institution where for many years he acted as authorised officer on the second management level. In 2011, Dr. Heilmann moved on to the Leibniz Association where for several years he served as administrative director of the Senckenberg Nature Research Society and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research. Dr. Heilmann is very familiar with the structures and organisation of both Helmholtz Association and Leibniz Association where he is also a member of the council of speakers of the Administrative Committee. Meeting the standards of Leibniz institutes, Dr. Heilmann has wide experience in leading organisational units outside the scientifically active areas in the joint effort to support the institute's research and development mission.

At KIS, Dr. Heilmann has taken over as the Director of Administration and Technical Services. Commenting on his appointment, he said: “I very much look forward to being part of the management of a very renowned institute of astrophysics and to further develop the organisation and my area of responsibility, together with the KIS staff. I would like to thank the Board of Directors and the Foundation Council for the trust they have placed in me.”

Picture of the new Director of Administration and Technical Services: Dr. Johannes Heilmann