Funding yourself in the early postdoc phase
Within the framework of project financing, postdocs can obtain temporary positions from some funding agencies. In addition to their own position, these formats often also provide funding for material and other personnel.
Funding profile
The Walter Benjamin program (Germany) enables particularly qualified scientists in the early postdoc phase after completing their doctorate to carry out their own research project at a research institution in Germany without being subject to directives. At the same time, it is intended to support the thematic development and mobility typical of this career phase and to promote the next career step by embedding them in a suitable research environment and providing concrete career support (mentoring/integration on site).
Scope of funding
Funding is provided for the financing of an employment relationship (postdoctoral researcher) at a research institution in Germany; teaching is only provided to a limited, career-promoting extent, non-scientific services are excluded during DFG working hours. In addition, irrespective of the module, there is a monthly lump-sum allowance for material/travel and publication costs as well as increased publication costs for book publications; further necessary material/project funds must generally be provided by the host institution.
Eligibility to apply and deadlines
Doctoral candidates in the early postdoc phase are eligible to apply; there are no further personal restrictions for the domestic position, but a change to a new academic environment is generally expected (stay/return only with special justification and recognizable thematic development). Applications can be submitted at any time; funding is generally provided for up to 2 years (exceptions/extensions only within narrow limits).
Selection procedure
Applications are submitted to the DFG with the research project and the necessary attachments; for the Walter Benjamin position, an employer's declaration from the host institution and an informal statement from the host researcher describing the planned career support in concrete terms are required. The selection takes place in a competitive review process: Among other things, the quality/originality of the project, qualifications and potential of the applicant, justification of the host institution (including mobility) and the promised support services on site are evaluated.
Funding profile
The Fritz Thyssen Foundation's project funding is aimed at researchers from the humanities and social sciences as well as biomedicine and supports research projects of limited scope and duration. Thematically, the project must fit into the Foundation's funding areas (history, language & culture; state, economy & society; medicine and natural sciences); interdisciplinary projects are expressly welcome and, as a rule, a connection to the German science system is expected.
Scope of funding
Depending on the project, funding is provided for personnel, material and travel expenses; the project duration can generally be up to three years. Funding is usually initially granted for two years; an application for an extension may have to be submitted for a third final year.
Eligibility to apply and deadlines
Applications can only be submitted from within a university or non-profit research institution; they can be submitted by one or more persons with a doctorate or habilitation; project staff cannot be applicants. Fixed deadlines apply for project funding: February 1 (decision in the summer session of the foundation committees in June) and September 1 (winter session in February); the postmark is decisive.
Selection procedure
The content of the application is not processed in parallel at other funding institutions in order to relieve the expert reviewers; the funding decision is made at the aforementioned meetings of the foundation committees.
Funding profile
Within the framework of the DFG research grant, researchers can apply for funding to finance their own position as project leader in order to carry out a clearly defined research project independently. The aim is for applicants to devote the time funded by the DFG exclusively to the proposed project at a German research institution.
Scope of funding
Funding is provided to finance the applicant's own position for the duration of the project. As a rule, the in-kind grant is provided for up to three years; a continuation proposal can then be submitted for up to a further three years (project-specific, depending on the project).
Eligibility to apply and deadlines
The in-kind grant is aimed at all persons who have completed their academic training; the own position is applied for as part of an in-kind grant project application and requires that the project is clearly limited in terms of topic and time. Applications can be submitted at any time (no fixed deadlines in the normal grant procedure).
Selection procedure
The review is carried out by external reviewers from the applicant's own discipline.
Funding profile
The Change! Fellowships program of the Volkswagen Foundation promotes transdisciplinary research on social transformation processes in which scientists work together with non-scientific partners to gain knowledge and put it into practice. It is aimed at individuals from all disciplines who work with partners from practical fields such as civil society, public authorities or companies.
Scope of funding
The Change! Fellowships of the Volkswagen Foundation are designed as personal and project-related funding, which provides a total of EUR 1.5 - 1.8 million over 4-5 years. Funding is provided, in particular, for individual positions for postdocs with full funding as well as personnel funds for additional research assistants, material and travel funds within the framework of the project; for junior professors, the funding usually includes personnel, material and travel funds; individual positions are only awarded in exceptional cases (e.g. as bridge funding). A supplement for the preparation of research data (data reuse) is also possible.
Eligibility to apply
Postdocs (2-15 years after completing their doctorate), junior professors and professors up to three years after accepting their first professorship are eligible to apply; the prerequisite is the involvement of at least one to a maximum of three non-scientific partners. The main applicant must be working at a German university/research institution or have a corresponding letter of confirmation of employment.
Deadlines and selection procedure
The fellowships are usually awarded annually in spring; there are online consultation hours in advance. Selection is based on an external assessment and further selection stages.
Funding profile
PRIME ("Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience") promotes international mobility in the postdoc phase through temporary employment at German universities and is aimed at postdocs who see their long-term career prospects in Germany. The program is open to applicants with above-average qualifications from all disciplines.
Scope of funding
Funding is provided for an 18-month employment contract at a German university, which includes a 12-month phase abroad and a 6-month reintegration/return phase in Germany. During the 18 months, recipients receive a regular salary; for the 12 months abroad, an additional foreign allowance is paid.
Eligibility to apply and deadlines
Postdocs with very good/excellent doctoral achievements are eligible to apply; applications are possible regardless of nationality and current place of residence (with possible country-specific restrictions for the target country depending on nationality/residence). The annual deadline is the last working day in August.
Selection procedure
PRIME is highly competitive; the selection is based on external reviews, on the basis of which an interdisciplinary selection committee makes the final assessment and draws up a ranking list (the available funds determine the number of approvals and reserve places).