The »Joint Research Academy in Biomedical Engineering and Science of Hearing and Sensory Systems« (JRA) is a support structure dedicated to the career development of junior scientists (PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, junior group leaders and junior professors) within the Cluster of Excellence »Hearing4all«. It offers educational, organisational as well as financial support in order to develop young academics into comprehensively educated and independent members of the scientific community with excellent chances to a successful career in academia or industry.