Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowships

The Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship Program is a globally competitive fellowship program for early and mid-career researchers aiming at improving the development and living conditions of children and youth or contributing to one of the Jacobs Foundation’s thematic priorities. This includes, but is not limited to educational sciences, psychology, economics, sociology, family studies, media studies, political sciences, linguistics, neurosciences, and medical sciences.

Fellowships are awarded to the most highly talented and innovative young scholars and mid-career researchers working on child and youth development. Funds from Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowships are awarded directly to the Fellow’s institution and may be used over a three-year period by the Fellow to partially cover the Fellow’s salary and for any activity supporting the Fellow’s research, such as assistant salaries, equipment, technical assistance, professional travel, or trainee support.

Scholars who engage in interdisciplinary work on individual development and learning of children and youth, and who seek to combine genetic, epigenetic, neurobiological, behavioral and social levels of analysis, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Besides providing Fellows with independent and competitive funding, the program offers a wide range of non-financial benefits. Fellows are encouraged to interact with each other and make use of the Jacobs Foundation’s Conference Center Marbach Castle at Lake Constance (Germany) for short-term group residencies and workshops. Networking and alumni events will enrich the fellowships

Independent and Competitive Funding: Fellowship Categories

Selection Criteria

Fellows are selected on the basis of their research accomplishments, creativity, and potential to become leaders in the scientific community through their contributions to the field of child and youth development. International relevance of the fellow’s planned work, the alignment of planned projects with the goals of the Jacobs Foundation, and the willingness to identify with our aims and to engage actively with us will also be selection criteria.

Focus of the Program

The Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship addresses all scholarly disciplines contributing to improving the living conditions of children and youth and/or to one of the Foundation’s thematic priorities as described below.

In the years 2016–2020 the Jacobs Foundation will focus on three thematic priorities:

Within our thematic priority “Science of Learning,” we explore the frontiers of individualized learning and intervention. We do this by generating research insights and innovation related to the biological, technological, psychological, and pedagogical dimensions of learning.
We are interested in research on the biological bases of skill acquisition and development of children and youth and their consequences for learning environments and institutions. We want to understand how new technology can optimize learning — whether it occurs in the informal setting of the playground, the more formal setting of a school, or in the family.

Within our thematic priority “Early Education,” we help to formulate comprehensive early education policies in Switzerland and other European countries. We do this by developing systematic programs designed to promote equal opportunity at the school-entry level and emphasizing the societal returns of education.

Within our thematic priority “Rural Livelihoods,” we work to improve the lives of the rural population of Côte D’Ivoire, both today and in the future. We do this by nurturing an ecosystem of private and public stakeholders dedicated to the common goal of enhancing educational quality.

Official Link

Deadline: 31st March, 2017