Funding opportunities

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

March

  • Körber Stiftung: Deutscher Studienpreis – for those who completed their dissertation in 2023 and whose research has clear social significance which can be communicated in the form of a short text. The dissertation and reviews can be in German or English but the application and accompanying short text must be in German. Deadline: 1 March 2024
  • 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 2024
  • Procope Mobility for German-French, three-month collaboration stays in the fields of research and innovation. This funding supports mobility to France of early career researchers (maximum of seven years after dissertation, who are not French) working in laboratories in Germany. Deadline: 10 March
  • Fast Forward Science: prizes in science communication (in German or English with German subtitles) in association with Wissenschaft im Dialog to reward the best debut video, the best debut audio, and the best video made by a “Young Scientist” (students and postdocs up to 6 years after PhD award) for a video under 5 minutes, and video made by a “Young Scientist” over 5 minutes. A passion for research, innovative multimedia formats and for communication is vital. A number of prizes at €2,000 and €1,000. Full details here. Deadline: 12 March
  • (in German) Stockmeyer Nachwuchspreis für Nachwuchswissenschaftler(innen): to reward work (theses, publications, etc) by a researcher/student 30 years old or below whose research contributes towards food safety and strengthening consumer confidence in the quality of food demonstrating a high degree of applicability and practical relevance and are not older than two years. Deadline: 15 March
  • Laura Bassi Scholarships – established to provide editorial assistance to early career researchers whose research focuses on neglected topics of study in any discipline. Costs awarded are $2,500 for PhD students, $500 for other early career researchers. Note that there is a voluntary application fee of $10.  Deadline: 24 March, 24 July, 24 November)
  • VolkswagenStiftung: Change! Fellowships and research groups: society needs to change to overcome the crises facing us today – but how can that be implemented? The foundation is looking for researchers who are involved with non-academic partners researching transformation processes. All disciplines are welcome to apply. The Fellowships for early career researchers (doctoral degree at least two years ago) would fund own position plus research project for up to 5 years. There is also funding for research groups which is aimed at senior scientists. Deadline (Fellows): 28 March, Deadline (Research Groups): 24 April
  • (in German but applications in English possible) ARD/ZDF Förderpries Frauen + Medientechnologie: for women who have completed a degree at a German, Austrian or Swiss university in the field of technical and engineering sciences, media studies or other subjects related to media technology. Related topics such as mobile phone and internet technology, speech and image processing are also acceptable. The written thesis in English or German must have been accepted between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2024 and applicants must submit their CV, written thesis, a summary plus expert opinion from a reviewer (1st or 2nd examiner of the thesis). The prizes range from €2,000-€5,000. Deadline: 31 March
  • 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 informationbefore submitting any documents. Funding is for one year: Deadline: 31 March, 31 July, 30 November.
  • German-Japanese University Alliance (HeKKSaGOn) has a call for project proposals to develop research collaborations within the alliance, which is made up of the universities of Kyoto, Osaka, Tohoku, Heidelberg, Göttingen and KIT. Each group must include the participation of researchers from at least one Japanese and at least one German member university (eg Göttingen University).   The aim of these seed funds is to initiate new collaborations in the focus areas that the network has set itself for the coming years: Transcultural Studies and the Transformation of Societies, Data Science, Digitization and Artificial Intelligence, and Life Science, Medicine and Changing Environments. Queries to Tanja Falkowski. Deadline:31 March

April and later

  • DFGTrilateral Research Conferences at Villa Vigoni - funding for exchange and networking for humanities and social scientists active in Germany, France and Italy to explicitly support the use of German, French and Italian as languages of science. Although multilingualism is a fundamental principle of this funding, applications are welcome from a range of subjects. The meetings must take place at Villa Vigoni. Early career researchers are expressly encouraged to apply. Deadline: 14 April

  • Volkswagen Foundation: Pioneer Projects to develop fundamental improvements and innovation in any area of the German research system. This funding provides 500,000€ for 3 years per project. Applicants can be PhDs, professors or academic administrators at any German university or research centre in any discipline who, in addition to their research, would like to explore a project idea to develop a specific area about the research system. The project should change and shape existing structures and could work across borders, be scalable and able to continue without long-term Volkswagen support. 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. Deadline: 15 April

  • (In German) BMBF: Biokreativ: creative early career researchers for the bioeconomy – will support groups of early career researchers from the natural sciences, engineering and information technology. The aim is to prepare ECRs for this transformation and to get them qualified for careers in science and industry. The funding will provide a reliable and attractive environment to study bioeconomy issues, gain further experience. Funding is for research, development and innovation projects by groups intending to catalyse the transition to a bioeconomy. It is open to all topics and technologies. The research should be oriented towards applications in industry and society and oriented towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Deadline: 15 April

  • ZIF (Center for Interdisciplinary Research) funding for research in groups – open to PhD holders from all disciplines to fund a research project with a group of colleagues (preferably international). The group will be hosted on campus at Bielefeld University. The project must meet three criteria: interdisciplinarity, academic quality, originality on an international level and interdisciplinary collaboration must be necessary for the project. Costs for travel, accommodation, workshops and conferences could be requested. It could be one stay of 1-3 months, one stay 4-6 months, one stay of ten months over the course of three years. Personnel time (in the form of buy-outs) can be included for the 4-6 month stay. Deadlines:  23 April and 28 November.

  • (In German) BMBF funding for „Forschung für Nachhaltigkeit“ (FONA) for early career researchers (up to five years). To solve complex societal challenges, the BMBF would like to familiarise researchers with the transdisciplinary research approach and learning the methods and instruments required for this. Through excellent training and preparation for taking up key management and related roles, inter- and transdisciplinary work will need to be established structurally in the science system. The research concept for applications must be prepared by the potential head of a junior research group. This can be shared between two postdocs and the date of the PhD exam should not be more than four years ago at the time of submission. Deadline (for the first stage): 29 April

  • German Association for Pattern Recognition (DAGM)’s annual dissertation award for work completed in the previous calendar year (the relevant date is the PhD defence) in the fields of pattern recognition, image processing, machine vision, and machine learning. The prize is €2,500 plus free registration for the DAGM annual conference. Deadline: 30 April

  • (In German) Daimler-Benz Stiftung: Innovative Wissenschaftsvermittlung - funding for the conception and implementation of an event on the topic of innovative science communication with up to €30,000. Non-profit institutions, companies or organisations from the fields of culture, education, science and business that would like to organise and host an event are eligible to apply. Deadline: 30 April

  • (In German) Hermann Eiselen-Wissenschaftspreis for early career researchers who work to improve the food and nutrition situation in developing countries – in particular, fighting against hunger in countries with food shortages. The maximum award is €30,000 and this can be shared with up to three winners (€10,000 each). The research can come from any of the following: agricultural sciences (plant production, plant protection, plant breeding), soil science, animal production (including animal hygiene, fisheries and aquaculture),  Agricultural engineering, Agricultural and social economics of developing countries, Ecology and Biology, Resource management and protection, especially with regard to water, Nutritional Science and Ecotrophology, Geosciences, Food technology including stock protection or Forest Science. Deadline: 30 April

  • (In German) Preis für Patientensicherheit in der Medizintechnik by the German Society for Biomedical Engineering in the VDE (DGBMT) and Action Alliance for Patient Safety (APS) award prizes of €5,000,  €1,000 and €500 to encourage the next generations of scientists and technology in institutions, clinics and industry in Germany. Papers, publications and theses need to be submitted that significantly improve patient safety in a manageable period of time. Applicants should be under 35 years of age and can submit in German or English. Deadline: 30 April

  • Gerda Henkel Stiftung: Funding Programme Lost Cities - perception of and living with abandoned cities in the cultures of the world – for postdocs working in humanities and the social sciences to carry out interdisciplinary research in projects in the varied dimensions to examine abandoned cities. Thirty-six months’ funding for personnel, travel, materials and/or other costs, including costs for visiting international scholars. Deadline: 29 May

  • Heinrich Stockmeyer Stiftung prize to honour solutions and applications from research that contribute to improving food safety and strengthening consumer consumer confidence in the quality of food. The prize is worth €10,000 and is awarded for theses and publications. Deadline: 31 May<o:p></o:p>

  • Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg’s (HWK) fellowships in Germany – for 3 to 10 months in all disciplines (as long as the research fits their remit) to reside at the HWK in Delmenhorst. Awards are given based on academic merit, quality of research project, willingness to benefit from interdisciplinary community, academic fit with HWK. Deadline: 15 July

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.