A selected group of highly qualified researchers from industry with a strong connection to TUM Research Groups will become Rudolf Diesel Industry Fellows of the TUM-IAS. The fellowship includes the status of Temporary Affiliated Professor at TUM. The selection is based on a joint proposal by the applicant and the TUM Host professor. This fellowship is named after Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913) who was a TUM student with Professor Carl von Linde. In 1897 Diesel invented the combustion principle named after him.

The TUM-IAS awards up to three Rudolf Diesel Industry Fellowships each year. Throughout the affiliation period, the Rudolf Diesel Fellows may offer special courses and lectures in their field of expertise to enhance the connection between the University and industry. Fellows are expected to develop an intensive collaboration with their hosting Focus Group and to participate in TUM-IAS programs and events and organize activities such as a workshop, public talk, or speakers' series in order to contribute to the intellectual life of the Institute and the University.

The duration of the fellowship can be adapted to the specific purpose and needs, taking into account the necessity of providing support for the doctoral candidate who is jointly coached by the proposers.

The TUM-IAS expects the company of the Fellow to support the connection of their researcher to academia by continuing to pay his/her salary. The Fellow receives a 50,000 € award from the TUM-IAS plus 20,000 € in research funds (administered by the TUM-IAS). The Rudolf Diesel Fellowship also includes the funding of a doctoral candidate or equivalent to assist the Fellows in their research at TUM.

In addition, TUM-IAS Fellows have the opportunity to apply for flexible funding from the TUM-IAS for research Start-up support, e.g. large instruments or additional staff for TUM-IAS Focus Groups (see p.14).

• Candidates for Diesel Fellowships can be nominated by the Deans of TUM Faculties and all further members of the “Erweiterte Hochschulleitung (EHL)”, as well as by members of the TUM-IAS Board of Trustees (any member of the university community can propose, but the nomination must typically be channeled through the Dean of the hosting Faculty or the Director of the hosting Institute).
• Applications should consist of a nomination letter including a description of the facilities provided for the Rudolf Diesel Fellow by the Host institute of TUM, a CV including a list of publications and a short statement of purpose jointly signed by the candidate and the hosting professor, describing the content of the joint research and the concrete implementation plans and including also any planned events to enhance the Institute's intellectual environment.
• Applications may be submitted at any time. The TUM-IAS also accepts nominations more than one year in advance for the purpose of more flexible planning.