Funding opportunities for postdocs
Many third-party funding providers offer special funding programs for early career researchers. Depending on the career stage, various options can be selected here as building blocks for academic independence and a further career path. For example, the acquisition of your own position in a research project or the management of your own junior research group through to the establishment of networks, collaborations and mobility programs in Germany and abroad. We have compiled the most important funding providers and funding programs for you from the wealth of offers.
Support programs
Acquiring your own third-party funded project is of great importance for your academic career path. At the same time, you can also apply for your own position or a scholarship and thus obtain basic funding for postdocs, usually for two to three years.
- Own position within the framework of DFG project funding
- Own position within the framework of the DFG's Walter Benjamin Program
- Own position as part of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation's project funding program
- Research fellowship from the Gerda Henkel Foundation (Historical Humanities)
Note: Please contact the Research Funding Office for advice on DFG programs for early career researchers. A proposal for a research position must be submitted to the Research Funding Office for review before submission. Please also note the internal procedures for submitting proposals.
For outstanding young researchers, the independent leadership of a junior research group is an attractive opportunity to quickly qualify for an academic leadership role, especially as a university lecturer.
- Emmy Noether Program of the DFG
- ERC Starting Grant of the EU
- Junior research groups of the returnee program of the state of NRW
- Young College of the Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts of the State of NRW
- Sofja Kovalevskaja Award of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- Junior research groups and doctoral colleges of the Hans Böckler Foundation
The DFG's Heisenberg Program is primarily aimed at excellent researchers who have already attained their professional standing and want to prepare themselves for a long-term professorship with a top-class research project and further enhance their scientific reputation. The Heisenberg program offers the following modules: Heisenberg position, Heisenberg rotation position, Heisenberg professorship and Heisenberg fellowship.
The Volkswagen Foundation's Lichtenberg Endowed Professorship is intended to establish the endowment as a sustainable funding instrument for outstanding academics in endowed professorships.
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) of the EU serve the individual career development of experienced researchers through training, research and international or intersectoral mobility. The broad-based expansion of skills is intended to pave the way to a successful career for researchers.
Humboldt Research Fellowships from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enable researchers at various stages of their careers to carry out their personal research project - in cooperation with a host research institution of their choice in Germany.
The DAAD promotes the international exchange of students and academics. In the DAAD scholarship bank you will find DAAD scholarships for stays abroad during your doctorate, as well as scholarships from other funding bodies.
The Heinrich Hertz Foundation promotes academic exchange by awarding scholarships for international research stays to academics working in North Rhine-Westphalia who are planning a research project abroad and academics working abroad who are planning a research project in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Walter Benjamin Program of the DFG for carrying out a research project abroad
In order to establish international collaborations, the DFG offers the modules "project preparation workshop", "trips abroad" and "guest stays".
The DFG's scientific networks enable a multi-year, cross-location exchange - also with scientists from abroad - on a scientific topic with the aim of achieving a concrete result.
Scholarship program of the Daimler and Benz Foundation to support selected postdoctoral researchers, junior professors or heads of young research groups. The annual funding amount of 20,000 euros per scholarship, which is granted for a period of two years, can be used to finance scientific assistants, technical equipment, research trips or participation in conferences.
