If you are looking for a postdoc fellowship in Germany, The Humboldt Research Fellowship is an option you should definitely consider.
In providing Humboldt Research Fellowships for postdocs, the Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad who are just embarking on their academic careers and who completed their doctorates less than four years ago to spend extended periods of research (6–24 months) in Germany. Scientists and scholars from all disciplines and countries may apply.
In this article we provide you with key details about this opportunity for postdoc fellows.
Eligibility
• Postdoctoral Researchers: You can apply if you have completed your doctorate less than four years ago. You should have a clearly defined research profile, typically working at least at the level of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Group Leader.
• Experienced Researchers: Even if you are well advanced in your academic career, you can still apply for this Fellowship if you collected your doctorate during the last twelve years.
Researchers from all disciplines and countries (except Germany) are eligible.
Humboldt Research Fellowship benefits
Awardees of the Humboldt Fellowship enjoy the following benefits:
Monthly fellowship amount of €2,670 for postdoc fellows
Monthly fellowship amount of €3,170 for experienced researchers.
Conduct your research in Germany.
Individual support from the Humboldt Foundation.
Potential subsidy towards research costs for your host.
Additional benefits include a mobility lump sum, medical and liability insurance coverage, and more.
Research Stay
The fellowship enables you to conduct research at various stages of your career in collaboration with a host at a German research institution of your choice
The duration of the fellowship can be 6 to 24 months for postdocs and 6 to 18 months for experienced researchers.The research outline is carried out in cooperation with your academic host in Germany. You choose your own research topic and host.
General requirements
1). Nationality: You can apply for the fellowship if You are not a German national. If you are a German national, or if you obtained your university entrance qualification and university degree, or your university degree and your doctorate, in Germany, you can apply if you have lived and worked abroad for more than ten years and intend to continue doing so long-term.
2). Stay: For your application to be successful, you may not have lived in Germany for longer than a total of six months within the 18-month period prior to submitting your application.
3). Confirmation that research facilities are available/host’s statement: A researcher from an academic institution of your choice in Germany will provide you with a mentoring agreement and written confirmation that research facilities are available, and will compile a detailed review for you.
4). Two expert reviews.
• Postdocs: Your doctoral supervisor and one other researcher – outside of your institute, if possible – should provide well-grounded information on your qualifications.
• Experienced researchers: The reviews should be provided by important collaborative partners and/or researchers at your own institute as well as other institutes – outside your country of origin, if possible.
5). Language skills:
• Natural sciences and engineering: You must have a good knowledge of German or English.
• Humanities, social sciences and medicine: You must have a good knowledge of German if this is necessary for conducting your research successfully. Otherwise, good knowledge of English will suffice.
Application procedure and documents
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online through the online application portal. A complete application has:
curriculum vitae (two pages max)
research outline ( five pages max)
complete list of your publications
list of selected key publications
key publications
doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that this will be the case within the next six months
German language certificate, if required
If required: publisher’s acceptance notifications and/or acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in German or in English
Host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available, as well as two expert reviews.
Deadline and key dates
The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every March, July and November. Please send your completed application form, including any additional documents required, well in advance of the desired selection date.
LINKS
• Website:Humboldt Research Fellowship
• Online Application portal: Humboldt online application portal.
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