Funding opportunities

To put in a fellowship or research grant funding application, get in touch with the appropriate experts across the Göttingen Campus with as much notice as possible (see below).

If you are a researcher in Göttingen, make sure you are signed-up to receive the GC Postdoc Network newsletter to get regular updates about funding, prizes, and similar opportunities, as well as tips and training to make sure you put in the best application.

Several funding programmes are available for postdocs and other early career researchers 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.

Göttingen Campus Resources

GAUSS new webpage tool: find research funding opportunities in MINT (STEM): attracting research funding is one of first steps on the road to academic independence. There are lots of options for postdocs depending on your career level, length of the project or research plan. To support you in navigating through the different funding schemes, explore your options here.
GAUSS collection of Trainee Programmes for MINT (STEM) – check out their webpage tool
A training program is one option to start your career in industry and can be a great opportunity. As there are many in different sectors (eg Pharma, Chemical Industry, Consulting, Precision Engineering), we collated nearly 50 and listed them on this webpage categorised by industry and all with a short profile. At all these companies, alumni of GAUSS/GGNB are employed at all these companies. Find out more here.

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

April

Statistical Science for the Society: Wissenschaftlicher Nachwuchspreis award for early career researchers for outstanding research work in the fields of theoretical statistics, economic and social statistics, economics and social sciences or from another discipline related to official statistics. The prize is €5,000 for a completed dissertation (prize can be shared) or €2,500 for other completed courses of study. Deadline: 15 April
Gerda Henkel Stiftung: “Prospekt Utopia“ invites applications from postdocs in all disciplines supported by the foundation (see website to understand how this can be interpreted). Researchers will reflect on the significance of their disciplines in terms of the meaning these have for lived reality and as a way of providing orientation and thus to explore the future with regard to its possible shapes and the potential for interpretation and creation it offers. In doing so, the approaches may hinge on the representation of and/or reflection on historical visions of the future, or equally address horizons of expectation or conceptions of future practice and the scope for scholarship to act. There will be fifty projects worth up to €50,000 each. Deadline for first project outline: 15 April
Volkswagen Foundation Change! Fellowships for those who are researching transformation processes with up to 3 partners outside academia using a transdisciplinary approach. These fellowships can be in any discipline and cover your position for 4 to 5 years – 1.5-1.8 million euro. They are for postdocs (2-15 years after receiving their doctorate), junior professors and professors within 3 years of taking up their post. Online Q&A session 9:30-11:00 on Friday 6 March, 10:00-11:30 on Monday 30 March and 9:30-11:00 on Friday 10 April. Full details here. Deadline: 16 April
(In German) BMFTR Society-Related Sustainability “Nachwuchsgruppen“ – Funding is provided for interdisciplinary social-ecological junior research groups that use a transdisciplinary research approach to develop innovative ideas and solutions to make cities fit for the future. The funder is Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and it lasts five years. An overarching goal of the funding measure is to provide excellently trained researchers in inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability research with attractive career prospects in science and practice. Deadline for outline application: 29 April
Fast Forward Science competition – for short (up to 3 mins) video and audio content from early career researchers (students or up to 6 years after PhD) for science communication about a theme that is currently being researched in German, or English with German subtitles. In addition, there are special prizes for best debut and audio award are open to all science enthusiasts regardless of their scientific or professional background. In addition, there is a “Special Energy Award” which accepts contributions from all multimedia. There are several prizes and awards worth €2,000 and €1,000 euros each. Deadline: 30 April
(In German) Rudolf-Kaiser-Stiftung Preis 2026 to honour a researcher in the area of experimental physics under 40 from Germany or integrated into the German science system. The applicant should not have been appointed to a chair or similar and must have published several good papers with at least one outstanding. Deadline: 30 April.
Scotland research and innovation scheme: stream II excellence track – provides funding to further develop and enhance research projects between Lower Saxony and Scotland embedded in an existing collaboration with the objective to apply for prestigious third-party funding, particularly Horizon Europe. All topics are funded, particularly energy (transformation), life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and its transformation as well as security policy. Up to €100,000 for up to 2 years. Funders include: Royal Society of Edinburgh, Volkswagen Foundation and Lower Saxony’s Ministry of Science and Culture. Deadline: 30 April
Enlight teaching and learning award 2026: recognizes innovative and international courses or programmes at the University aligned with Enlight’s educational principles. The award targets teaching staff whose courses demonstrate excellence in transdisciplinary collaboration, research-oriented learning, and engagement with societal challenges. The selected course will be nominated for the Enlight Teaching & Learning Award, which will be presented at the Enlight Teaching & Learning Conference from 22 to 24 October 2026 at the University of Bern. Deadline: 30 April
Lower Saxony - Scotland research and innovation scheme: stream II excellence track – provides funding to further develop and enhance research projects between Lower Saxony and Scotland embedded in an existing collaboration with the objective to apply for prestigious third-party funding, particularly Horizon Europe. All topics are funded, particularly energy (transformation), life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and its transformation as well as security policy. Up to €100,000 for up to 2 years. Funders include: Royal Society of Edinburgh, Volkswagen Foundation and Lower Saxony’s Ministry of Science and Culture. Deadline: 30 April

May

Ars Legendi faculty prize for mathematics and natural sciences recognises excellent university teaching in the life sciences, chemistry, mathematics and physics with an award of €5000 each. Whilst only certain groups can nominate, self-applications are also permitted. In particular, they are looking for the development and implementation of: new curricular, modules or courses; teaching and learning materials or innovative teaching and examination methods; innovative counselling and support concepts for prospective and current students; other measures to improve studies and teaching (e.g. in quality assurance). Deadline: 4 May
Stockmeyer Science Award to honour outstanding food science research. The award-winning work should be notable for its practical solutions and application-oriented research, which, in line with the foundation's purpose, contribute to improving food safety and consumer protection as well as to strengthening consumer confidence in the quality and safety of food. The prize of €10,000 is awarded to scientists who have made outstanding achievements in this area. Individual achievements such as doctoral theses and habilitation theses as well as publications in scientifically recognized journals that have been produced in the last three years are considered. Deadline: 15 May
Emmy Noether Groups “Methods in artificial intelligence” for highly qualified early career researchers in any discipline specialising in the field of AI method development – interpreted broadly - including theoretical foundations, analysis and evaluation. This could include but is not limited to: machine learning, optimisation, logic and reasoning, algorithmics, data analytics and data mining, knowledge representation, knowledge-based systems, mathematical and formal foundations, statistical learning methods. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to establish and lead an Emmy Noether Group for a period of six years, enabling them to refine their research profile, enhance their international visibility and become eligible for a professorship. Deadline for draft applications: 11 June
Indo-German Bilateral workshops about an identified research issue pertaining to an industrial problem. They offer the opportunity to develop in-person workshops in India or Germany lasting 2-5 days led by a researcher from India and one from Germany in academia or industry to facilitate interactions to identify innovative pathways for common socio-economic priorities and technology gaps. The programme provides catalytic funding of around €30000 per workshop to cover travel, accommodation, hospitality, venue etc. Deadlines: 31 July, and 31 January 2027
Canon Foundation Research Fellowships Europe-Japan for European and Japanese researchers to pursue a period of research in any discipline with any host in the other area for 3 months to one year. You must have an MSc or PhD awarded in the last 10 years and priority is given to researchers who plan to travel rather than extend their current stay. The award is flexible funding up to €30,000 per year or pro rata. Deadline: 15 September
AI Research Groups Lower Groups: for scientists with at least 2 years postdoc research experience to fund research groups in computer science, artificial intelligence, application disciplines. Funding up to 2 million euros for up to five years. Deadline: TBC autumn

June

Hannah Arendt Fellowships in Humans and AI: for outstanding international scholars to pursue independent research for up to six months in Lower Saxony during the summer semester (April-September 2027). Up to ten fellows are hosted at universities or research institutions in Lower Saxony. They collaborate closely with a local academic partner and are fully embedded in the local scholarly environment. The programme allows researchers to focus entirely on their projects, free from teaching duties, while accessing a broad network of institutions and contributing to innovative, future-oriented research in the Humanities, Cultural Studies, and Social Sciences. This year’s call is about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving - and being driven by - profound socio-cultural transformations. How does AI, understood as a complex and multifaceted phenomenon rather than merely a technical tool, reconfigure the relationship between human agency, forms of subjectivity, societal structures, and the public sphere? Deadline: 1 June
Boost research! Seed grants for Lower Saxony by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation which is a new initiative to support new collaborations among researchers in Lower Saxony. The aim is to initiate innovative research projects and subsequently attract additional third-party funding. All disciplines can apply for projects aimed at postdoctoral researchers at universities and research institutions in Lower Saxony. They provide up to 800,000 euros for up to 4 years. Mandatory online consultation on 16 April for which you must register. Deadline: 2 June
(Regular call, In German) Deutsche Krebshilfe Mildred-Scheel-Postdoc Program – for early career medical doctors and natural scientists (PhD within 10 years and applicants normally under 35 years) to carry out projects in clinically oriented oncological basic research or clinical cancer research within Germany or at renowned institutions abroad. Funding is a stipend, monthly allowance for conferences and consumables plus one-off start-up fund, family travel allowance. Funding lasts 3 months to 2 years. Deadlines: 23 June (and 22 September)
(Regular call, In German) Max-Eder Junior Research Group by the Deutsche Krebshilfe to support highly qualified early career researchers (normally under 35 years) specializing in oncology to establish an independent research group and further develop their scientific career by changing location. The funds last 4 years (+3 years extension possible) and cover salaries, consumables, facilities, travel. Deadline: 23 June
Applied Photonics Award for a thesis (diploma to dissertation) relevant to this field. It comprises prize money and an opportunity to share their final thesis with a large specialist audience. Deadline: 30 June

July and later

EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships support excellent postdoctoral researchers in laboratories throughout Europe and the world for a period of up to two years. International exchange is a key requirement. The fellowship includes a salary or stipend, a relocation allowance and support for fellows with children. The career development is further supported by the EMBO Laboratory Leadership course and networking through the global network of EMBO Fellows. Deadline: 10 July
Peter Traudl Engelhorn Stiftung Postdoctoral fellowships for outstanding early career scientists to apply for postdoctoral fellowships in the field of life sciences – natural sciences, pharmacy or medicine. The fellowship provides two years funding to carry out research in a scientific institute in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Deadline: 15 July
INSTAND Dissertation Award is given annually to scientists under 35 years of age for up to two outstanding dissertations (theses) in German or English completed in the last two years in the field of quality assurance in laboratory medicine. The prizes are worth €1,500. Deadline: 31 July
(In German) Deutsche Immobilien-Akademie an der Universität Freiburg (DIA) Research Award for dissertations, habilitations (as well as diplomas and Master’s) in this fielddealing with economic and business topics. The prizes are €1,000 or €2,500. Deadline: 31 July
(in German but publication can be in English or German) DWS - Wissenschaftspreis 2025 for outstanding theses, processed between 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, by those from law or economics in the fields of tax law, business tax or finance. It is worth €3,000. Deadline: 31 July
(Reminder) Indo-German Bilateral workshops about an identified research issue pertaining to an industrial problem. They offer the opportunity to develop in-person workshops in India or Germany lasting 2-5 days led by a researcher from India and one from Germany in academia or industry to facilitate interactions to identify innovative pathways for common socio-economic priorities and technology gaps. The programme provides catalytic funding of around €30000 per workshop to cover travel, accommodation, hospitality, venue etc. Deadlines: 31 July (and 31 January 2027)
Volkswagen Stiftung – Pioneering Research – Exploring the Unknown Unknown supports ground-breaking and risky research ideas with high scientific relevance – basic research projects that strive to explore the unknown unknown with high potential for major scientific breakthroughs but also for failure. 3 to 5 years funding open to applications from all disciplines, postdocs or professors. Online Q&As 10:00-11:00 on Thursday 11 June and 16 July. Zoom room will appear on website. Deadline for short proposals: 27 August
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call opens on 9 April – European Postdoc Fellowships (12-24 months) and Global Postdoc Fellowships (24-36 months) - for researchers from all disciplines with a PhD and a maximum of 8 years of full-time post-graduate research experience (see exceptions). The goal is to enhance the potential of researchers who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral mobility. Applicants for a European Postdoc Fellowship can be of any nationality while applicants for a Global Postdoctoral Fellowship must be nationals or long-term residents of an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country. You can get support for your application from KoWi (EU Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations) as well as your local Research Funding Office. Further information about support here. Deadline: 9 September (TBC)
Canon Foundation Research Fellowships Europe-Japan for European and Japanese researchers to pursue a period of research in any discipline with any host in the other area for 3 months to one year. You must have an MSc or PhD awarded in the last 10 years and priority is given to researchers who plan to travel rather than extend their current stay. The award is flexible funding up to €30,000 per year or pro rata. Deadline: 15 September
(Reminder) AI Research Groups Lower Saxony Groups: for scientists with at least 2 years postdoc research experience to fund research groups in computer science, artificial intelligence, application disciplines. Funding up to 2 million euros for up to five years. Deadline: TBC autumn

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.
UniBund conference funding: for postdocs to cover travel and fees can be applied for at any time for a Göttingen researcher as long as it is at least four weeks before the trip. The funding covers costs to present your own results in the form of a lecture or poster. Unibund also provides funds for central lecture series about research, cultural activities, student excursions and institutional conferences at the Uni. Deadline: open ended

Research Grant experts across the Campus to support your application

To put in a fellowship or research grant funding application, get in touch with the appropriate experts across Göttingen Campus with as much notice as possible:

UNI	Lisa Grow	lisa.grow@zvw.uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 28252	National and international funding (Humanities), Research & Transfer Services
UNI	Felix Spöler	felix.spoeler@zvw.uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 28245	National and international funding (Natural and Life Sciences), Research & Transfer Services
UNI	Ricarda Blumentritt	ricarda.blumentritt@zvw.uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 21320	EU programmes (Horizon Europe MSCA and Erasmus+), Göttingen International
UNI	Jakob Hedderich	jakob.hedderich@zvw.uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 21326	DAAD, Göttingen International
UNI	Claudia Sueltmann	Claudia.sueltmann@zvw.uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 28254	EU Office, Research & Transfer Services
UNI	Małgorzata Siennicka-Rahmstorf	malgorzata.siennicka-rahmstorf@zvw.uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 28253	EU Office, Research & Transfer Services
UNI	Florian Pahlke	transfer@uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 24283	Knowledge & tech. transfer, Research & Transfer Services
UNI	Martin Stammann	gruendung@uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 25164	Start-up support, Research & Transfer Services,
UMG	Team Research Management	forschung@med.uni-goettingen.de	(0551) 39 61270	Research Management
MPI	Kerstin Mosch	kmosch@gwdg.de	(0551) 3899 453	Forschung EU
DPZ	Björg Pauling	bpauling@dpz.eu	(0551) 3851 454
DPZ	Robert Teepe	rteepe@dpz.eu	(0551) 3851 122