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In providing Georg Forster Research Fellowships for experienced researchers, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad, who completed their doctorates less than twelve years ago to spend extended periods of research (6-18 months; may be divided up into a maximum of three blocks) in Germany.
ELIGIBILITY:
academic record and academic performance to date (mobility, determination, breadth of research activities, academic productivity)
– quality of key publications specified in the application (originality, degree of innovation, applicant’s contribution in cases of multiple authorship)
– originality and innovation potential of the suggested research outline (significance for the advancement of the discipline, convincing choice of academic methods, prospects for academic development of the applicant, clear focus and feasibility of realization within the requested funding period and at the chosen host institution)
– the applicant’s future potential (academic potential, further academic development, career prospects).
Applications are assessed on the basis of independent peer reviews requested by the Humboldt Foundation. The final decision is taken by a committee composed of academics from all disciplines in the framework of the funding available.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Doctorate or comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent) completed less than twelve years prior to the date of application. If it is not possible or customary to take a doctorate in the candidate’s subject or country, an application may be submitted up to 16 years after completing a Master’s or Diploma degree, provided that the publication record is commensurate with the candidate’s career stage.
- The candidate’s own research profile documented by a comprehensive list of academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and/or by publishing houses.
- Choice of a research outline of major relevance to the future development of the candidate’s country of origin or region of origin
- Confirmation that research facilities are available and mentoring agreement and a detailed expert’s statement by an academic host at a research institution in Germany.
- Expert reviews from the doctoral supervisor and one other academic qualified to give well-founded comments on the applicant’s qualification, preferably including reviewers not working at the applicant’s own institute.
- Necessary language skills: humanities or social sciences and medicine: good knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the research successfully; otherwise a good knowledge of English; natural sciences and engineering: good knowledge of German or English.
- Citizenship as well as principal place of residence and work in a developing country, emerging economy or transition state (excluding People’s Republic of China and India, c.f. detailed list of countries). Potential applicants who have been in Germany for more than six months at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
SCHOLARSHIP VALUE:
The fellowship is worth 3,150 EUR per month. This includes a mobility lump sum and a contribution towards health and liability insurance. Additional benefits for research fellows:
– lump sum for the fellow’s return travel expenses if the costs are not borne by a third party;
– language fellowship for an intensive language course lasting two to four months at selected language institutes in Germany immediately prior to the actual period of research; language fellowships may also be granted to accompanying marital partners;
– family allowances for accompanying family members staying at least three months (monthly allowance: up to 326 EUR for marital partners and up to 234 EUR for each child);
– for single-parents: flat-rate allowance for accompanying children (under the age of 18) for stays of at least three months (400 EUR per month for the first child and 100 EUR per month for every additional child);
– additional extension of the fellowship up to 12 months for research fellows accompanied by children under the age of 12
– a subsidy towards research costs to be paid to the hosts in Germany amounting to 800 EUR per month (for research in the natural sciences and engineering) and 500 EUR (for research in the humanities and social sciences);
– Europe allowance for a research stay at a research institute in another European country (though not the research fellow’s own country); for a designated period in the course of the fellowship if necessary to ensure the success of the research;
– extensive alumni sponsorship once a successful research stay has come to an end, especially for maintaining contacts with collaborative partners in Germany during the Humboldtian’s entire academic career.
DURATION: 6 – 18 months
DEADLINE: Application should be submitted at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection date (3 times a year – february, june and october)
HOW TO APPLY: Apply online
GET MORE INFORMATION HERE
