Funding opportunities

Several funding programmes are available for young academics at the Göttingen Campus:

If you are part of the University, check out the Research Department, here and (for EU projects) here and Göttingen International for Education and Mobility programmes. If you are part of the wider Göttingen Campus see the GAUSS page.
 

External Sources

  • A very useful external source of advice is the Federal Funding Advisory Service on Research and Innovation. They can help you identify a whole range of funding opportunities from various German government initiatives. They can also help you find local, national and EU research schemes, recommend partners, support international projects and much more.  You can contact them by phone or email.
  • You may like to sign up to FIT (Forschung Internationales Transfer) which provides current calls from a range of funders. You can subscribe to FIT and select the type of calls and how often you want to be informed.
  • Postdocs will also find this funding website useful - Research in Germany.
  • Individual grants: German Research Foundation (DFG) has published a How-To Guide about individual grants programmes - whether for individual projects or people. It also includes tips for your proposal.  

Upcoming Funding opportunities

Sorted by deadline

March

  • VolkswagenStiftung Research Cooperation Lower Saxony with Israel: research projects led by a researcher in Lower Saxony. Research that falls within the following themes will be funded in 2023: the Natural Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Maths. Deadline: 1 March 2023
     
  • Elsa Kröner Memorial Grantsto support research-active clinicians at the beginning of their career to significantly advance a particularly promising medical research project via release from clinical tasks for two years. The fellowship pays €250,000 of which €200,000 can contribute towards salary.  Deadline for first round: 1 March
     
  • ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowships support new postdocs for two years at ETH Zurich. The programme is intended to foster early career researchers who have already demonstrated scientific excellence in the early stages of their careers. Apply jointly with your potential host (an ETH Zurich professor), with whom you must have an academic synergy but not an existing close collaboration. Deadlines:1 March, 1 September
     
  • (In German) Heinrich Stockmeyer Young Talent Awardfor €2,500 to support a researcher under 30 years of age in any kind of scientific food research in the interest of safe food and to promote consumer protection in the areas of food and nutrition. Deadline: 15 March
     
  • Corona Foundation: research in cardiovascular diseasefor young basic scientists in medicine or doctors who are distinguished through excellent scientific achievements. Funds are to set up a separate research group to carry out future-oriented, innovative projects in translational cardiovascular research, in particular preclinical or clinical studies including epidemiological and genetic studies. Deadline for initial application: 15 March
     
  • Royal Society Newton International Fellowships: for non-UK early career researchers who wish to conduct research in natural sciences (including but not limited to biological research, chemistry, engineering, maths and physics) in the UK for two years. Please email here in case of queries. Contact your potential UK host institution and supervisor at an early stage to get approval. Deadline: 16 March
     
  • British Academy Newton International Fellowships: for non-UK early career researchers who wish to conduct research in the social sciences and humanities in the UK for two years. Please email here in case of queries. Contact your potential UK host institution and supervisor at an early stage to get their approval. Deadline: 16 March
     
  • Klaus Tschira Boost Fundoffers flexible funding for postdocs in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science to create scope for independent, higher risk, interdisciplinary research, support building international collaborations/networks and career development, including mentoring and advice. Register for the webinar for interested candidates on 27 January at 16:00.  Deadline for grant applications: 31 March
     
  • BAM (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung): Adolf Martens Fellowship Programmefunds postdoc junior scientists who obtained their PhD (in an area of expertise matching BAM’s scientific direction) outside Germany within the last 3 years. BAM tests, researches and advises on protection for people, the environment and materials, and sets safety standards in technology and chemistry for Germany and its global markets. Please email for more information before submitting any documents. Funding is for one year: Deadline: 31 March, 31 July, 30 November
     
  • (In German and English) Volkswagen Stiftung: Pioneer Projects (impetus for the German research system)for researchers (as well as admin) in any discipline who, in addition to their research, would like to explore a project idea to develop a specific area about the German research system. Projects can relate to any aspect of the research system, such as the organisation of research, teaching, transfer, governance and administration. The envisaged project should pursue practical improvements. Deadlines:  31 March, 31 October
     
  • Stiftung Steine-Erden-Bergbau und Umwelt (Foundation for Stone and Earth Mining and the Environment) award three prizes of up to €7,000 to junior scientists, researchers, students, companies etc for work that contributes to the promotion of the following themes and deals with specific questions: the ecological, economic and technical topics as regards environmentally-friendly and economical supply of raw meterials, efficiency, the protection of natural resources and provision of raw materials, the design of areas affected by mining, regional planning.  Deadline: 31 March

April

  • EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation) Young Investigator Programmefor independent group leaders (between one and four years’ experience, depending on personal circumstances) with their own lab. The fellowship provides €15,000 in their second year with the opportunity to apply for small grants of up to €10,000 at other times. Networking is a key benefit of the programme which includes meetings, special interest groups, visits to discuss collaborations. Other support includes mentoring, training, access to vacancies and grants for organising conferences. Deadline for initial application: 1 April. Applicants who get through the first stage will be invited to submit a second application for a mid-July deadline.
     
  • Käthe and Ulrich Pleiss Foundation support the promotion of talent at an early stage in the field of business and career education by rewarding successful research from German-speaking countries for dissertation and habilitation theses etc in these fields, preferably with a systematic, historical or empirical focus. Deadline: 1 April
     
  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung funding for “artificial photosynthesis” or “use of alternative raw materials for hydrogen production” for junior research groups (at least four people) from the natural or engineering sciences at a university or research institutes. Deadline (for first stage): 6 April
     
  • Heinz Billing Prize for outstanding contributions to computational science consists of €5,000 and is awarded every two years to a scientist from any discipline to recognise the work of a younger scientist, typically not yet with tenure. Applications and nominations are invited from all fields of computational science and should demonstrate significant progress in solving scientific problems by computational means. Deadline for applications/nominations: 14 April
     
  • Innovation prize German Society for Biomedical Technology (DGBMT)/Stiftung Familie Kleeof €10,000 to honour work carried out in Germany in which the transfer from research in biomedical technology to a medical technology innovation has been successful. Deadline: 30 April
     
  • DAAD JSPS Short-term Postdoc Fellowship Programme: for PhDs and Postdocs with permanent residence in Germany to go to Japan for 1-6 months. Funding to cover travel, a stipend, travel insurance, and related costs. Application deadlines are 6 to 8 months before your intended travel. Contact: Martina Sternemann, deadline: 30 April, 31 August

May and later

  • JSPS invitational Fellowship for full-time international researchers with the equivalent status of professor or assistant/associate professor in Japan (or at least six years after PhD completion with a continuous research record), from all fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences to conduct research in Japan for 14-60 days (short-term). The fellowship includes a stipend, travel costs and travel insurance plus research support. The visit can begin 7-15 months following application. Contact by email. Deadlines: 2 May 2023 and (likely) 2 September 2023 (see website and contact JSPS directly)
     
  • Einstein Fellowshipfor outstanding young thinkers in any field who want to pursue a project in a different field from that of their previous research. This fellowship includes living expenses for five/six months in the garden cottage of Einstein’s summerhouse in Brandenburg where you must stay, and a stipend of €10,000 plus travel expenses. Deadline: 15 May
     
  • Joachim Herz Stiftung – promoting interdisciplinary events in the Natural Sciencesby providing funding for events for early career researchers with the aim of forging new contacts, interdisciplinary networks and getting to know new ways of working and methods. Organisers of events such as workshops, symposia, colloquia, conferences, summer/winter schools in the natural sciences can apply for support. Deadline: 16 May
     
  • Gerda Henkel Stiftung: Lost cities interdisciplinary funding programme is for research groups, meaning at least two scholars active on the project, providing support for PhD holders from the humanities/social sciences with a university affiliation of any nationality and location. Apply in English or German. Deadline: 24 May
     
  • (In German)Heinrich Stockmeyer Foundation’s Science Prize – to recognise outstanding food science research which shows practical solutions which contribute to food safety. Diploma thesis, doctoral thesis, habilitation thesis or publications from the last three years can all qualify for this prize which is worth €10,000. Deadline: 31 May  
     
  • DFG Young Investigators Academy (NWA): Ageing processes in reproduction – implications for fertility and health (FertilAGE)funds reproductive research for early career researchers in the natural, medical and veterinary fields from the basic sciences or clinic. This (NWA) programme features a qualification programme, supervision/mentoring during project application and training. For those projects that are successful, one-year start-up funding is awarded with the goal that further funding will be gained through a full application to the DFG. Deadline 16 June
     
  • Minerva Fellowship Programme: research residency in Israel– The Minerva Fellowship Programme (funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research) enables Israeli and German scientists in all research fields to complete a research residency at institutions in the respective other country. Postdoc fellowships last for a maximum of 24 months Contact Julia Lechler. Next deadline: June 2023
     
  • (Website in German, applications in English or German) Peter and Traudl Engelhorn Foundation for the Promotion of Life Sciences’ Postdoc grants/stipends for 2 years for Postdocs (age limit 34) to support research in Life Sciences (biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, genetics, proteomics, molecular biology, cell biology, systems biology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, biophysics, genetic engineering, bioinformatics, etc). Deadline: 15 July  
     
  • ENLIGHT Network R&I ECR Mobility awards - seed-funding for early career researchers at Göttingen University (or other universities in the Network) to develop further collaboration with other ECRs n the ENLIGHT network). Funds are provided for mobility for meetings, workshops, conferences etc to meet with other ECRs from other universities that are also part of the ENLIGHT Network. Applications should be in ENLIGHT’s flagship areas (Health and Well-being, Climate change, Energy and Circular economy, Digital innovation and Impact of digitization, and Equity). The award is €1,000 and events must take place before 1 April 2024. Successful applicants may be selected for further funding via the ENLIGHT R&I Prize which provides up to €5,000. Deadline: open but apply as soon as possible as funds will only be allocated while still available (1 December at the latest).

On-going

  • ALEXANDER von HUMBOLDT JSPS Research Fellowship up to 24 months in Japan for postdocs with permanent residence in Germany in all disciplines. Applications are generally processed four to seven months. Deadline: open 

    MSC4Ukraine (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions for Ukraine)has been launched to support postdocs and PhD candidates from Ukraine (in residence on 24 February 2022 and displaced after that date or ready to relocate). The programme will match researchers with institutes and fellowships will be offered on a rolling basis from January 2023.  Deadline: open
     
  • DFG Emmy Noether programme applications: for highly qualified early career researchers and junior professors (normally up to 4 years after PhD completion and at least 2 years of postdoc experience) on temporary contracts who want the chance to qualify for the post of professor at a university by leading an independent junior research group for six years. (The eligibility period has been extended by 3 months due to the coronavirus pandemic for those who would otherwise have to apply by 31 December 2022). Deadline: proposals can be submitted at any time.
     
  • DFG Walter Benjamin Programmeenables researchers in the postdoctoral training phase to independently conduct their own research project at a location of their choice for 2 years. The project can be carried out at a research institution in Germany or abroad, with the host institution providing support for the project. Applications can be submitted at any time. Frequently asked questions are here.  Contacts are subject-specific and can be found here. Deadline: at any time
     
  • EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) Postdoctoral Fellowshipssupport researchers for two years and international mobility is a key requirement. Fellowship includes a salary or stipend, laboratory leadership training, access to an EMBO global network, relocation allowance and support for those with kids. Applications accepted throughout the year.
     
  • EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) Scientific Exchange Grantssupport researchers for up to three months between laboratories in eligible countries – facilitating collaborations with research groups with expertise, techniques or infrastructure that is unavailable in the applicant’s laboratory. They cover travel and subsistence costs. Applications accepted throughout the year.
     
  • EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) Core Facility Fellowshipssupport training for core facility staff (including scientists and technicians) in specific techniques in core facilities that provide services to research institutions or universities. The fellowships contribute towards travel and subsistence costs. Applications accepted throughout the year.
     
  • Exist Business Funding for University-based Business Start-ups  by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate funding. The application comes from the University/research institute but is driven by researchers (potential entrepreneurs) who hand their business idea to the University. More info about the scheme is here. Applications must be in German. Deadline: on-going
     
  • Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship - the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation provides sponsorship for research stays worldwide (length of 6 to 24 months for postdocs), for researchers from Germany in all disciplines and all career stages. Applicants choose an academic host from some 15,000 academics in the Humboldt Network abroad. Deadline: Apply throughout the year but well in advance of committee meetings in February, June and October
     
  • Fritz Thyssen Foundation Research Stipendsto support highly qualified individual junior scholars who generally received their doctoral degree one or two years ago. It provides postdocs with an opportunity to focus on a research project for a limited period of time and the stipends can be used to enable scholars to familiarise themselves with a new field of research or to write an article for publication. Funding in the following areas: history, language and culture; interdisciplinary field “image-sound-language”; state, economy and society; medicine and the natural sciences. Deadline: applications can be submitted at any time and an answer is generally provided within 8 weeks.
     
  • Fulbright Germany: Reisestipendien für deutsche Wissenschaftler*innenfor scientists with German citizenship for teaching or research stays in the US for 3 to 12 months. Fulbright Germany encourages applications from diverse groups who are traditionally underrepresented in academia. No deadline but apply at least nine months before you intend to travel
     
  • Liebig Postdoc Fellowships are to help start the careers of prospective university teachers in the field of chemistry. Postdocs from chemistry and related fields can get funding to continue their scientific experience at another working group and university (different from their PhD which should have been completed within three years). Deadline: at any time
     
  • Leopoldina Postdoc ScholarshipPostdoctoral scientists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland who already show independence in natural science or medicine to conduct research abroad. Contact: PD Dr Andreas Clausing. Deadline: applications can be submitted at any time and are considered four times a year.
     
  • VolkswagenStiftung: support in Germany for Scientists/Scholars from Afghanistan (or who have fled Afghanistan): scientists in Germany are eligible to apply if they have received research funding from the VolkswagenStiftung in the last 10 years. Scientists can apply to bring researchers from Afghanistan (or scholars/scientists who have fled Afghanistan) to work on their research project. Potential PhD students could be funded although the initial funding period would only cover 2 years. In all cases, please discuss potential applications directly with the VolkswagenStiftung before applying. Open deadline.
     
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds travel grants for postdocs, PhD researchers and medical students working on experimental projects in basic biomedical research who want to travel for courses with at least 50% practical work and laboratory visits. Deadline: open but you must apply at least six weeks and no more than six months before the planned date of departure.
     
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds MD Fellowships – 18 months for medical students to pursue ambitious, experimental projects in basic biomedical research (worldwide). Applicants must study human medicine in Germany and change cities and institutions for at least ten consecutive months to work in an internationally renowned laboratory. Benefits include a monthly stipend, seminars, travel allowances, individual support, access to a network. Deadline: open but you must apply at least three months before the planned start date.
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