Professor Fellowships

BMBF – Federal Ministry of Research and Education https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/jobs-and-careers/info-for-senior-researchers.html

GCRI – German Centre for Research & Innovation http://www.germaninnovation.org/resources/faculty-and-researchers

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation – Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/lynen-fellowship.html

Target group: Postdocs and experienced researchers, German nationality or non-Germans well integrated into German science system

Funding period: 6 – 24 months (postdocs) and 6 – 18 months (experienced researcher)

Deadline: no deadline; selection committee meetings take place three times a year (February, June, October). Applications should be submitted at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection meeting.

Brief description: For research stays worldwide by researchers from Germany of all disciplines and at all career stages with an academic host that is a former Humboldt fellow. For post-doctoral researchers up to four years after completing a doctorate and experienced researchers up to 12 years after completing a doctorate. Success rate about 40%.

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation – Georg Forster Research Fellowships https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/humboldt-fellowship-postdoc.html

Target group: Postdocs and experienced researchers, from developing countries

Funding period: 6 – 24 months (postdocs) and 6 – 18 months (experienced researcher)

Deadline: no deadline; selection committee meetings take place three times a year (February, June, October). Applications should be submitted at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection meeting.

Brief description: Applicants from abroad with above-average doctoral degree, PhD completed within the last 4 years. Applicants apply directly presenting a research proposal containing aspects important for the continued development of the country of origin for a project to be conducted in Germany and providing a hosting confirmation from a German research institution. Success rate about 20-25%.

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation – Humboldt Research Fellowship https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/humboldt-fellowship-postdoc.html

Target group: Postdocs and experienced researchers, from abroad

Funding period: 6 – 24 months (postdocs) and 6 – 18 months (experienced researcher)

Deadline: no deadline; selection committee meetings take place three times a year (March, July, November). Applications should be submitted at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection meeting.

Brief description: Applicants from abroad with above-average doctoral degree, PhD completed within the last 4 years. Applicants apply directly presenting a research proposal for a project in Germany and providing a hosting confirmation from a German research institution. Success rate about 25%.

Deutsche Krebshilfe – Mildred-Scheel-Professor https://www.krebshilfe.de/forschen/foerderung/foerderprogramme/nachwuchsfoerderung/mildred-scheel-professur/

Target group: young group leaders (should be below the age of 45 years)

Funding period: 5 years

Deadline: once a year (December)

Brief description: To facilitate young oncologists (medics and life scientists generally not older than 45 years) to establish themselves in basic oncology or clinical cancer research. Applicants have experience in leading a research group, an excellent track record, propose an innovative research plan, and are embedded within a hosting clinic or an associated research institution close to a clinic. The foundation will fund 5 years with up to 1.000.000 Euro to finance the PI (W2/3), personnel, consumables, investments, travel, and research animals. The hosting institute will commit itself to provide the necessary infrastructure, integrate the candidate into teaching, and provide 100.000 Euro per year to the applicant on free provision.

Jacobs Foundation - Jacobs Advanced Research Fellowship https://jacobsfoundation.org/en/activity/jacobs-foundation-research-fellowship-program/

Target group: group leaders, most innovative mid-career researchers.

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 15 years ago. 400.000 SFr over 3 years.

Leibniz Association – Leibniz Competition Women Professor https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/about-us/leibniz-competition/

Target group: female group leaders

Funding period: 5 years of which two have to be funded by the host institute

Deadline: once a year

Brief description: The Program is targeted at women in all disciplines who have an outstanding international track record. They will be promoted by means of a W2/W3 position, which is either unlimited in term or which features a tenure track option guaranteed by the university and the respective Leibniz Institute. The program aims at rewarding both the successful recruitment of outstandingly talented women as well as the initiation and early phases of such recruitments. Essential resources will also be provided. 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.

Volkswagen Foundation – Momentum – Funding for Recently Tenured Professors https://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/en/funding/our-funding-portfolio-at-a-glance/momentum-funding-for-recently-tenured-professors

Target group: Professors

Funding period: 5 – 7 years

Deadline: once a year (June)

Brief description:

Volkswagen Foundation – Lichtenberg Professorship https://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/en/lichtenberg-stiftungsprofessuren

Target group: Professors

Funding period: 5 years

Deadline: no deadline

Brief description: The aim of the funding line is the endowment of a professorship at W2/3 level with a total of at least 5 million Euro, 2 of which are contributed by the foundation, 3 are to be raised by the hosting university. In addition, the university has to install the professorship with sufficient personnel and consumables budget as well as the laboratory equipment, e.g. the PI position, a postdoc, PhD student and technical assistance plus consumables. This basic budget should guarantee the sustainable implementation of the professorship and to make it independent of varying revenue from the endowment.