 In 1920 , the University of Göttingen offered Max Born its chair of theoretical physics , which had recently been vacated by Peter Debye . Göttingen was an important centre for mathematics , thanks to David Hilbert , Felix Klein , Hermann Minkowski and Carl Runge , but not so much for physics . This would change . As part of his price for coming to Göttingen , Born wanted Franck to head experimental physics there . On 15 November 1920 , Franck became Professor of Experimental Physics and Director of the Second Institute for Experimental Physics , a fully tenured professor ordinarius . He was allowed two assistants , so he brought Hertha Sponer with him from Berlin to fill one of the positions . Pohl , a gifted teacher , headed the First Institute , and handled the lectures . Franck refurbished the laboratory with the latest equipment using funds from his own pocket . 
