Junior Groups
BMBF – Federal Ministry of Research and Education
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation – Sofja Kovalevskaja Award
Target group: postdocs (non-Germans from abroad)
Funding period: 5 years
Deadline: once a year (July)
Brief description: Applicants are successful top-rank junior researcher from abroad that have completed their doctorate with distinction in the last six years, and have published work in prestigious international journals. The award allows building up a working group over five years and working on a high-profile, innovative research project at a research institution in Germany. Scientists from all disciplines may apply. The Humboldt Foundation plans to grant up to six Sofja Kovalevskaja Awards annually. The award is valued at up to €1.65 million. Funding rate 10-15%
Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation – Plus 3
Target group: junior group leaders
Funding period: +3 years
Deadline: twice a year (March, September)
Brief description: For junior PIs with funding for their group of 5 – 6 years and no possibility for an extension. Boehringer will fund additional 3 years with up to 900.000 Euro to support the career towards professorship. Applications from junior PIs in Germany that have led their group for >2 years and less than 5 years. Applicants have received their initial funding through a competitive procedure like the DFG Emmy-Noether Program, have at least two last authors, the PhD was received less than 12a ago, produced outstanding papers, and have international experience. Funds can be used for the own position and personnel expenses, comprising, for example, one postdoc and/or two graduate students, a laboratory technician, consumables, equipment and travelling expenses.
Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation – Exploration Grants
Target group: junior group leaders
Funding period: 12 – 18 months
Deadline: twice a year (March, September)
Brief description: With its Exploration Grants, the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation aims to provide outstanding scientists doing basic research in biology, chemistry, and medicine with the opportunity to explore new lines of research at an early stage of their careers. They thus enable junior research group leaders to pursue new ideas or surprising findings that have the potential to broaden or reorient their research profile. 60.000 – 80.000 Euro for consumables and personnel. Applicants have received their PhD less than 12 years ago, have an excellent publication track record, have led their own research group at least since 2 years, and have international experience. The proposed project offers the potential to initiate a new research direction in your laboratory.
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research – CIFAR – Azrieli Global Scholars
Target group: young group leaders
Funding period: 2 years
Deadline: once a year (likely February)
Brief description: The program provides $100.000 CDN funding and support to help scholars build their network and develop essential skills to become the next generation of research leaders; the 2018 CIFAR network consists of 370 researchers from 18 countries. Researchers within five years of their first academic appointment from anywhere in the world are eligible to apply. The program provides funding, skills training, mentorship, and opportunities to collaborate with outstanding colleagues from diverse disciplines to position scholars as leaders and agents of change within academia and beyond.
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – DFG – Emmy Noether Program
Target group: postdocs
Funding period: 6 years
Deadline: no submission deadline (processing around 6 months)
Brief description: Postdocs are eligible within 2-4 years after PhD award (childcare extension). The program wants to give outstanding researchers the opportunity to satisfy the prerequisites for appointment as a university professor by leading an independent junior research group and performing relevant teaching duties. Candidates need international research experience (research stay abroad or an international environment in a German institution). Non-German applicants who are not integrated in the German research system are expected to continue their scientific or academic career in Germany following completion of the funding period. Intent to do so must be confirmed by the applicant in writing and submit-ted with the proposal. Funding is provided for PI, for personnel, material and other resources for implementing the project (e.g. PI, PostDoc, PhD, TA, 10.000 – 12.000 consumables/a/person, i.e. ca. 1,4Mio €). Funding rate about 20%.
Deutsche Krebshilfe – Max Eder Program
Target group: postdocs with MD or PhD
Funding period: 4-7 years
Deadline: four times per year (April, July, September, December)
Brief description: To facilitate young oncologists (generally not older than 35 years) to establish a research group directly at a clinic or in very close cooperation (medics during or after medical specialization and life scientists with a clinical project in oncology). The hosting institute has to contribute to the implementation of the project. The foundation will fund the first 4 years with up to 800.000 Euro to finance the PI, personnel, consumables, investments, travel, and research animals. An additional 3 year period can be supported with up to 600.000 Euro. Overheads are not paid.
European Research Council – ERC – Starting Grant
Target group: postdocs
Funding period: 5 years
Deadline: once a year (October)
Brief description: For researchers of any nationality with 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD (Extensions are possible under certain circumstances), a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal. Starting Grants may be awarded up to 1,5 million Euro; an additional 0,5 million Euro can be made available to cover eligible “start-up” costs for researchers moving from a third country to the EU or an associated country and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities. An ERC grant can cover up to 100% of the total eligible direct costs of the research plus a contribution of 25% of the total eligible costs towards indirect costs. Funding rate about 13%
Human Frontier Science Program – HFSP – Career Development Award
Target group: postdocs (former HFSP long term fellows that return to their home country)
Funding period: 3 years
Deadline: once a year (likely October)
Brief description: The goal of CDA support is to encourage former HFSP fellows to initiate an original research program in their own laboratories as independent researchers in their home country or in an HFSP member country. Applicants for the CDA are expected to propose an original and innovative frontier research program that holds promise for the development of new approaches to problems in the life sciences with potential to advance the field of research significantly. The three-year award of 300.000 USD provides initial support during a critical period of career development. Host institutions are expected to contribute additional resources in support of the awardees and their independent research program. The CDA is open only for former HFSP Fellows. Candidates are furthermore encouraged to select research institutions that are different from their PhD institutes to facilitate their scientific independence.
Jacobs Foundation - Jacobs Early Career Research Fellowship
Target group: postdocs, highly talented young scholars
Funding period: 3 years
Deadline: once a year (October)
Brief description: A three-year grant allows Fellows to concentrate on their research projects related to children and youth. 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. The Ideal candidate has obtained his/her PhD no more than 7 years ago. 150.000 SFr over 3 years.
Jung Foundation – Ernst Jung Career Advancement Prize
Target group: MDs
Funding period: 3 years
Deadline: once a year (likely August)
Brief description: For medical specialists under 35 years of age who want to work at a German hospital after at least two years of scientific research work, preferably abroad, to intensify their research work and strive to complete their residency at the same time. Applicants and the host hospital make a commitment to exclusively conduct research work during the first year. The residency can start afterwards but it must be geared towards scientific effectiveness for two more years in total through intermittent leave. The funding of 210.000 Euro is intended for a three-year period and to finance their own position and material expenses. It is paid out in two installments where the payment of the second half of the amount is tied to the approval of an application for further research funding by a third institution, for example the DFG, after 18 months.
Leibniz Association – Leibniz Competition Junior Research Groups
Target group: postdocs
Funding period: 5 years of which two have to be funded by the host institute
Deadline: once a year
Brief description: Candidates have completed their PhD within the last 5 years (childcare periods are taken into consideration with 2 years per child under the age of 12). Funding can be applied for own position (PI), personnel, consumables, travel expenses etc. up to 1 million Euro; the Leibniz host institute has to fund two years of the five year period, e.g. application for 1 million Euro requires a 667.000 Euro contribution from the host totaling to 1,67 million Euro.
New York Stem Cell Foundation – NYCSF – Stem Cell Investigator Award
Target group: junior group leaders
Funding period: 5 years
Deadline: once a year (likely February)
Brief description: Applicants are early career investigators exploring the basic biology and translational potential of stem cells. The goal is to foster bold and innovative scientists with the potential to transform the field of stem cell research, and advance understanding and use of stem cells in the development of treatments for human disease. In addition to providing funding, NYSCF partners with investigators to advance and translate their research. The award provides $1.5M USD over 5 years and is open to researchers based at both national and international accredited academic and nonprofit research institutions. Candidates must be within 5 years of starting a faculty position (professorship), have demonstrated ability to independently supervise staff and research, have a publication record containing articles that are innovative and high impact, have demonstrated or strategized true innovation for translation of basic sciences to a clinical setting.
New York Stem Cell Foundation – NYCSF – Neuroscience Investigator Award
Target group: junior group leaders
Funding period: 5 years
Deadline: once a year (likely February)
Brief description: Applicants are early career investigators and innovators in neuroscience. The goal is to foster truly bold, innovative scientists with the potential to transform the field of neuroscience. Applicants are encouraged in the fundamental areas of developmental, cellular, cognitive, and translational neuroscience, broadly interpreted. Applicants need not be working in areas related to stem cells. The award provides $1.5M USD over 5 years and is open to researchers based at both national and international accredited academic and nonprofit research institutions. Candidates must be within 5 years of starting a faculty position (professorship), have demonstrated ability to independently supervise staff and research, have a publication record containing articles that are innovative and high impact.
Volkswagen foundation – Freigeist fellowship
Target group: postdocs
Funding period: up to 5(+3) years or 6(+2) years
Deadline: once a year (October)
Brief description: Funding for own position (PI), personnel, consumables, travel expenses etc. up to 2,2 million Euro; no overheads. It is expected that the hosting institute contributes financially to the project. PhD of applicant awarded 1-4 years prior to submission. The project has to be linked to a research institution in Germany. Candidates must already have changed their academic environment and moved to a new location – at the latest when starting the Fellowship. A return to the working context of the doctorate will only be accepted under exceptional circumstances. Candidates have previously completed a brief research stay abroad, or at the latest integrate one in the proposed research project. Funding rate around 7%
