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

October

Volkswagen Foundation Humanities and Social Sciences in 'Dual Use': provides two years’ funding to focus on the question of how concepts from the humanities and social sciences are transferred to other contexts and utilised there for political or ideological purposes – for example, to undermine trust in science, the media or the institutions of democratic society. “Dual use” effects are where scientific ideas are taken out of their original context. This funding supports research in three areas: exploratory basic research that reveals where and under what conditions such repurposing and the mechanisms underpin it; it creates space for reflection within the philosophy of science on how theory-building can take into account its potential impacts beyond the realm of science, without restricting the freedom of research and teaching; And it seeks to stimulate science communication that conveys complex concepts in an accessible way, without oversimplifying them. Online Q&As on 8 September (in English). Deadline: 6 October
Swedish-German Call for Proposals for Joint R&D Projects by young, small and medium-sized enterprises to develop innovative products, processes or technical services from all technology and application areas. Funding will be available for R&D projects in which new products, technical services or processes will generate sustainable solutions with high market potential. The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants from the two countries (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure, new fields of application, etc). Background from Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie is here. Deadline: 13 October
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
Humboldt Foundation Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships for researchers at all career levels and in all disciplines from Germany to carry out research abroad with members of the Humboldt Network around the world for 6-24 month research stays. Female scientists and members from underrepresented groups are expressly invited to apply. You will need to identify a suitable host using their search tool and note that most of these – depending on country – are expected to contribute approximately one third of the costs (there are exceptions – see details). Deadline: completed application documents including references to be available for their October, February, or June meetings
Humboldt Foundation Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) research fellowships for Postdocs with German citizenship or permanent residence in Germany (but not citizenship/permanent residence in Japan) in any discipline. The fellowship will provide up to 24 months funding with a stipend and other allowances including for travel and insurance. You should have completed your PhD no more than six years ago, have already published and have a very good command of English. Japanese is only necessary if it is crucial for your research topic. Applications in English only and you must have a host in Japan. Deadline: completed application documents including references to be available for their October, February, or June meetings
(Reminder) Swedish-German Call for Proposals for Joint R&D Projects by young, small and medium-sized enterprises to develop innovative products, processes or technical services from all technology and application areas. Funding will be available for R&D projects in which new products, technical services or processes will generate sustainable solutions with high market potential. The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants from the two countries (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure, new fields of application, etc). Background from Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie is here. Deadline: 13 October
ERC Starting grants: for talented early career scientists who have already produced excellent supervised work, shown potential to be a research leader and are ready to be independent. Researchers of any nationality in any discipline with 0-10 years of experience since completion of PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise, and an excellent research proposal can apply. They are worth up to €1.5 million for a period of 5 years with an extra €1 million. Please speak to your local EU or grants office if you are considering an application as soon as possible – as well as the support you will receive, there are internal deadlines. Deadline: 14 October
Hector Research Career Development Award for junior research group leaders and assistant professors (W1) in psychology, medicine, natural or engineering sciences to strengthen their independent research.
The award is €25,000 and includes for instance additional funding for one PhD student, as well access to a network of fellows. Deadline: 30 October

November

(In German) Hannelore Kohl Prize 2027 for early career researchers under the age of 35 whose outstanding research contributes to the rehabilitation of people with craniocerebral injuries. The prize is 10,000 euros and is awarded every two years. Researchers with publications that are no more than two years old can apply. Work from clinical and experimental research on topics such as neurorehabilitation, neuroplasticity, prevention of traumatic brain injuries or health services research will be considered. Deadline: 1 November
John F Kennedy Memorial Fellowships/German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship for Visiting Post-doctoral Fellowship to be held at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University: fellowships to German postdocs who are in the process of writing their habilitation or equivalent research in the Social Sciences. The award includes a stipend for 10 months of continuous residential research at CES. Applications via DAAD. Deadline: 30 October. The second fellowship is for all scholars from social science disciplines who are citizens of an EU member state other than Germany and the funding aims to bring together highly accomplished social scientists to carry out research at Harvard for one academic year. Further details here. Deadline: 1 November
Azrieli International Postdoctoral Fellowships offer funding of 14,000 ILS per month and 20,000 ILS per year for research expenses including travel, together with tailored support to outstanding researchers in any discipline. Leading academic institutions provide Azrieli Fellows with professional development including activities and events to foster a supportive community, networking, leadership training, skill development and interdisciplinary and cross-cultural exchange. You must secure an academic sponsor in Israel prior to applying. Deadline: 11 November
FAIR4Chem Award for the FAIRest dataset in chemistry: to recognise chemistry researchers who publish their research data following FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) and thus make a significant contribution to increasing transparency in research. NFDI4Chem will award the FAIRest dataset with a prize money of €500. Deadline: 15 November
Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard-Stiftung: supporting talented female researchers in the natural sciences and basic medical research who have children to give them more time for research. This is aimed at PhD and postdocs of all nationalities who are conducting research in Germany. Preference is given for those who switched their field of study after completing their PhD. Support includes €500 per month for one year following acceptance or, for instance, maternity leave. Submission from 1 September. Deadline: 30 November

December and later

(Reminder) Lower Saxony Impulse Professorship for high-performing academics in all disciplines who have received a call to a W2-professorship or could be appointed to this level with no requirement to advertise. Prior consultation with the Volkswagen Foundation recommended. Academics should be approaching the end of their early career phase (maximum 10 years after completion of PhD) and demonstrate an extraordinary high level of expertise and leadership through grants, prizes, and other ways. The funding is designed to attract international researchers and high-performing early career researchers to Lower Saxony as well as to retain profile-defining researchers. The funding is intended to increase their career potential and boost their potential for future leadership roles. Funding up to 2 million EUR for up to 5 years. Deadlines: 1 December (and likely 1 June 2027)
Deutsche Lungenstiftung Deutschen Dissertationspreis Pneumologie to reward early career researchers for the best clinical and best experimental dissertation in the overall field of pneumology. The prize is €3,000 and is for researchers who have not exceeded 35 years of age when they completed. Deadline: 15 December.
(In German) Sampe innovation prize 2027 is for an outstanding thesis, which could be at various levels, that dealt with innovative material applications, new processing processes or material combinations from the field of composite materials with promise for the future. The prize money is €1,000 and other benefits include membership of Sampe. There is now no age limit for applicants. Deadline: 31 December
(In German) Roman Herzog Research Prize for Social Market Economy honours outstanding current research projects – whether dissertations or habilitations in German or in English – which contribute to shaping our economic and social order. There is an age limit of 40 (parental leave is taken into account) and the prize is €35,000. Deadline: 31 December
ERC Consolidator Grant: individual grants, 5-15 years of experience since PhD defence, for researchers of any nationality in any field, with a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal. These grants are to consolidate a researcher’s independence and are worth up to €2 million over 5 years with an extra €1 million for further particular costs (such as start-up, major equipment, field work, etc). If you want to make an application, please contact your local EU research grants office as soon as possible to get their support, advice and potentially access to local funds to support your application. In addition, they may be able to put you in contact with a successful applicant to help guide you. Their contact details are below. Note the webinars here to support your application. Or check out the details and helpful videos from the ERC. Deadline: 12 January 2027
Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science is five years’ funding for exceptional researchers in any discipline to pursue their own independent personal scientific project anywhere in the world. Researchers should have a vision for reshaping the future of their fields and, above all, are willing to engage in a dialogue with society on relevant social, cultural, political or economic issues across the frontiers of their particular discipline. The selection committee would love to hear from research projects that have not yet been represented by fellowship-holders. The application portal will open in October. Deadline: 15 January 2027
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. Note that a host laboratory may support a maximum of one candidate per selection round: in case of multiple applications, the extra/s will have to be withdrawn. Deadline: 22 January 2027
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: 28 January 2027
Academies’ Programme 2029 the joint research programme of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities, enables long-term basic research in the humanities and, working from historical perspectives, legal studies, economics and social sciences. Projects must be of transregional significance, outstanding in its disciplinary or interdisciplinary relevance with an annual budget of €120,000. Their aim is to support the exploration, preservation and interpretation of cultural traditions of major importance for research and for societies at large. Note zoom information event on 23 September and general information here. Deadline: 31 January 2027
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 January 2027 (31 July 2027)
Future ERC grants awaiting publication of the full call. Information about these opportunities here.
- ERC Consolidator Grant: individual grants, 5-15 years of experience since PhD defence. Deadline: 12 January 2027
- ERC Synergy Grant: Collaborative grants of 2-4 excellent PIs with complementary scientific expertise. Deadline: 11 May 2027
- ERC Advanced Grant: individual grants, significant research achievements. Deadline: 26 August 2027
- ERC Plus Grants: Individual grants, Visionary research projects that go beyond regular ERC grants. Deadline: 1 September 2027

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