Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK)

The Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) is one of the largest natural history research museums in Germany. The museum has earned its leading reputation through the documentation, research and explanation of species diversity (biodiversity). The "heart of the museum" is formed by the important scientific collections, which focus on vertebrates and insects in terrestrial habitats. These collections form the basis of the diverse research topics dealt with at Museum Koenig. The permanent exhibition also shows excerpts from these rich holdings. The ZFMK is under the jurisdiction of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The competent authority is the Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf. Due to the national and international importance of the research carried out at the Museum Koenig and the associated forward-looking work in the national interest, half of the research-related expenditure of the annual budget of around 3.5 million euros is borne by the federal government. The Koenig Research Museum has 49 permanent positions (including 14 scientists) and a further 130 employees (including 15 scientists in third-party funded projects, 100 doctoral students, diploma and state examination candidates, 15 volunteers). Since 1989, the position of Director has been linked to the Chair of Systematic Zoology at the University of Bonn.