One of the key elements of the Hector Fellow Academy is the support of young researchers. The Academy offers PhD positions to ambitious graduate students. As part of the application, a self-developed innovative research idea in the research field of one of the Hector Fellows has to be submitted. This idea is to be investigated by the students during the three years of their PhD phase. The young scientists are employed as research assistants at the institute of the respective Hector Fellow, who in turn is the supervisor of their doctoral thesis. Moreover, the Academy supports young scientists (usually postdocs) working in one of the interdisciplinary projects of the Hector Fellows.

The doctoral students as well as the postdocs have the opportunity to expand their research expertise and to acquire management know-how by attending courses at the HECTOR School of Engineering and Management, Technology Business School of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Furthermore, the Academy fosters active international networking of their young scientists at e.g. the annual symposia.