Alexander von Humboldt Foundation – Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

6-24 months

• 2,650 EUR per month. This includes a mobility lump sum and a contribution towards health and liability insurance.
• Lump sum for the fellow’s travel expenses if the costs are not borne by a third party.
• Language fellowship for an intensive language course lasting two to four months at selected language institutes in Germany immediately prior to the actual period of research; language fellowships may also be granted to accompanying marital partners.
• Family allowances for accompanying family members staying at least three months (see program solicitation for details).
• Additional extension of the fellowship up to 12 months for research fellows accompanied by children under the age of 12.
• A subsidy towards research costs to be paid to the hosts in Germany amounting to 800 EUR per month (for research projects in the natural sciences and engineering) and 500 EUR (for research projects in the humanities and social sciences).
• Europe allowance for a research stay at a research institute in another European country (though not the research fellow’s own country) for a designated period in the course of the fellowship if necessary to ensure the success of the research project.

Applicants must have:

• A doctorate or comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent), completed less than four years prior to the date of application. Candidates who have nearly completed their doctoral degrees are eligible to apply provided that they submit the manuscript of their dissertation or publications containing the results of their dissertation.
• Academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and/or by publishing houses.
• Confirmation that research facilities are available, a mentoring agreement and a detailed expert’s statement by an academic host at a research institution in Germany.
• Necessary language skills. Applicants in the humanities or social sciences and medicine are required to have a good knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the project successfully. Scientists and engineers must have a good knowledge of German or English.
• Applicants who have been in Germany for more than six months at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants of German nationality are eligible to apply provided that their habitual place of work and residence has been outside of Germany for at least five years.