Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers

Submit an application if you are a researcher from abroad with above average qualifications, completed your doctorate less than twelve years ago, already have your own research profile and are working at least at the level of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Group Leader or have a record of several years of independent academic work. A Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers allows you to carry out long-term research (6-18 months) in Germany. Applicants choose their own topic of research and their academic host. The fellowship is flexible and can be divided up into as many as three stays within three years.

Scientists and scholars of all nationalities and disciplines may apply to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online at any time. The Humboldt Foundation grants approximately 500 Humboldt Research Fellowships for postdoctoral researchersand experienced researchers annually. Short-term study visits, participation in congresses and training courses cannot be financed.

Academics from developing and emerging countries may be eligible to apply for a Georg Forster Fellowship.

Requirement

1. Doctorate or comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent), completed less than twelve years prior to the date of application. If it is not possible or customary to take a doctorate in the candidate’s subject or country, applications may be submitted up to twelve years after commencing publication activity;
2. The candidate’s own research profile documented by a comprehensive list of academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and/or by publishing houses;
3. Confirmation that research facilities are available and mentoring agreement and a detailed expert’s report by an academic host at a research institution in Germany; details of the research outline including information on the intended duration of the fellowship must be agreed with the intended host before applying;
4. Two expert reviews from important collaborative partners and/or academics from the candidate’s own institute and, if possible, from abroad;
5. Language skills: scholars in the humanities or social sciences and physicians must have a good knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the research successfully; otherwise a good knowledge of English; scientists and engineers must have a good knowledge of German or English;
6. Applications to continue a research stay already underway can only be considered in exceptional cases. The applicant may not have spent an extended period in Germanyprior to application. Potential applicants who have been in Germany for more than six months at the time of application are not eligible to apply;
7. The Humboldt-Foundation assumes that candidates will abide the Rules of Good Scientific Practice and the legally-binding principles of scientific ethics during the application and sponsorship periods.

Application and Selection process

The Humboldt Foundation will confirm receipt of the online application by email. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that he or she has submitted all the necessary documents.

After providing all the documents and receipt of the host’s statement and expert reviews, applicants will be notified about the proposed selection date. If there is any delay in submitting the host’s statement and the expert reviews, the entire application will take longer to process. The application documents will then usually be forwarded to two independent reviewers for written review. On the basis of these independent peer reviews a selection committee composed of about 50 academics from all disciplines reaches a decision on approving research fellowships. The selection committee meets three times a year, in March, July and November. If an application has been approved a fellow arriving from abroad may start the fellowship two months after the selection meeting at the earliest. Fellows must start their fellowships within twelve months of the selection meeting; otherwise the fellowship will be forfeited.

Official Link

Deadline: Varies