Individual Research Fund
The University of Siegen awards individual start-up funding for the preparation and application of a research project in order to specifically strengthen the third-party funding competence of researchers. The funding line is aimed at postdocs in an early career phase as well as advanced postdocs, junior professors and professors.
The aim of the Individual Research Fund funding line is to sustainably raise the profile of individual research priorities and to support academics in an early postdoc phase in particular when embarking on an independent academic career. The funding is used to prepare a third-party funding application for submission within twelve months.
Funding conditions
- All researchers employed at the University of Siegen who have completed their doctorate are eligible to apply.
- Applicants should prepare a third-party funding application within 12 months for a project that will be carried out at the University of Siegen if approved.
- Applicants can submit a maximum of one application per call. Repeated submission of a (rejected) application is possible once.
- Applicants who have already had an application approved in this funding line are excluded from submitting a further application.
The Individual Research Fund particularly supports the promotion of early career researchers. Postdocs are therefore expressly encouraged to apply.
The following funds can be applied for as start-up financing for the preparation and submission of individual third-party funding proposals to the DFG, EU, federal and state ministries and foundations:
- Material and travel expenses
- Auxiliary staff for preparatory work - (here: calculation tool for auxiliary staff)
- Measures for qualification and proposal excellence (e.g. workshops, coaching, peer mentoring)
For postdocs in an early career phase (R2), the funding includes an accompanying advisory program to prepare for a scientific career and support in the preparation of a third-party funding application. Contents of the program are
- Workshop "Proposal Writing" by the House of Young Talents (strongly recommended)
- Proposal advice and coaching by the Research Funding Office (mandatory)
- Individual coaching on career development by the House of Young Talents (optional)
Full funding of a project from theIndividual Research Fund and final funding of projects are excluded. Ongoing projects and project positions are also not eligible for funding. Furthermore, funding requires that no other funds, including at Schools level, are available for the implementation of the requested measure.
Applications must be submitted electronically to the Prorectorates for Research, Infrastructure and Networking and comprise three documents:
1. data sheet
with binding confirmation that the application will be submitted
2. application according to the application template (max. 3-5 pages)
Please use only the template provided for your application. Unfortunately, incomplete applications and applications that deviate from the templates cannot be considered. Applications submitted outside the deadline cannot be considered either.
The application template comprises the following sections:
- Project outline
- Significance of the proposed measure for the planned third-party funding application
- Justification of the selected funding organization and the selected funding program
- Relevance of the third-party funding application for the academic career (for postdocs in an early career phase (R2))
- Work program and timetable
- Financial plan and justification of the requested funds
- If available, a list of publications relevant to the project published in the last five years
- Information on the duration of the employment relationship (valid for the entire funding period) or binding commitment from the Schools regarding an intended extension of the employment relationship
- Further information
- Academic curriculum vitae incl. list of publications
Please note that the application must also be comprehensible for non-specialist reviewers.
The applications are discussed and decided on by the Senate Commission for Research. The criteria on the basis of which the applications are reviewed are
- Quality or relevance of the research project with regard to the planned third-party funding application
- Appropriateness of the funds
- Scientific curriculum vitae of the applicant
- For advanced postdocs, junior professors and professors (R3/R4): Contribution of the research project to strengthening the profile of the University of Siegen
- For postdocs in an early career phase (R2): Significance of the funding for the applicant's academic career development
