Attracting research funding is one of the key measures on the road to academic independence and success. There are plenty of options as a postdoc to apply for national and international research grants and scholarships depending on your career level. The list of funding opportunities below is not exhaustive but should give you a general overview of what is available.
If you require individual advice for specific funding schemes please contact, depending on your affiliation, either the research department of the University (where you can also receive information on research data management) or the UMG. Both departments have designated offices for EU research funding (University,
UMG). If you are based at one of the non-university institutions on Göttingen Campus please contact the respective research funding offices (MPI-nat Research Support and EU Liaison Office; DPZ Unit Research Coordination (FoKo)).
Please make sure that you familiarize yourself with the eligibility criteria of various funding agencies concerning the cut-off dates for applying for fellowships. Especially the highly attractive longer term or junior group funding schemes (e.g. Emmy Noether, Sofja Kovalevskaja, ERC) are varying in this regard. For some the cut-off date is the date of your PhD certificate, for others it is that of your thesis defense. Further details are available here.
Funding Opportunities
Please click on the different career level and funding schemes in order to see more details.
Purpose: To enable researchers in the postdoctoral training phase to independently conduct their own research project at a location of their choice in Germany or abroad and paving the way for increasing independence and autonomy. Fostering mobility and thematic developement by changing research institution
Duration: 2 years
Type of Funding: Salary, consumables, travel etc.
Award: N/A
Eligibility: Postdocs at an early career phase; special provisions apply for the Walter Benjamin Fellowship (to go abroad)
Purpose: To enable scientists and academics to carry out a research project on a specifically defined topic within a limited time period. This scheme has different proposal modules depending on the application as for example the "Eigene Stelle" (for further details please check out the guidelines)
Duration: Usually 3 years with option for renewal
Type of Funding: Staff, consumables, travel etc.
Award: N/A
Eligibility: Researchers holding a PhD and working at a German research institution
Purpose: To enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers through international and inter-sectoral mobility, who wish to diversify their individual competence in terms of skill acquisition
Duration: 1-2 years
Type of Funding: Own salary, consumables, travel costs etc.
Award: Depending on the host city and country (see guidelines for details)
Eligibility: PhD and four years of research experience
Purpose: To sponsor research stays worldwide by researchers from Germany who choose an academic host from over 25,000 members in the Humboldt Network abroad
Duration: 6 to 24 months
Type of Funding: Stipend; after completion of fellowship you will benefit throughout your entire academic career from Humboldt Foundation sponsorship opportunities (e.g. collaboration support)
Award: Amount varies according to the host country (for further information please use the fellowship calculator here)
Eligibility: Up to 4 years after completing PhD; host must be a member of the Humboldt Network
Deadlines: Submissions are possible at any time. The selection committee meets every February, June and October therefore applications need to be submitted well in advance of the desired selection date.
Purpose: To enable continuing cooperation between a member of the Humboldt Network and Feodor Lynen Research fellow after his/her return from abroad. Allowing fellows to continue cooperation with their hosts in association with a research institution in Germany
Duration: Maximum 12 months
Type of Funding: Stipend including a mobility allowance and a subsidy towards the cost of medical and liability insurance, additional benefits apply (e.g. family allowance)
Award: 3,200€ per month (+ family allowances Insurance subsidies, mobility allowance)
Eligibility: Successful completion of research stay abroad is a prerequisite for beginning the return fellowship. Feodor Lynen, JSPS and MOST (Taiwan) Research fellows whose last Alexander von Humboldt Foundation sponsored research stay was more than six months in duration are eligible for application
Deadlines: Up to 9 months before and no later than 6 months after completing the initial stay sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation abroad and the return fellowship must be taken up no later than 12 months after completing the initial stay
Purpose: To support early career researchers from abroad with above average qualifications to carry out long-term research in Germany
Duration: 6-24 months
Type of Funding: Lump sum per month including mobility allowance and health/liability insurance; additional benefits not included in this lump sum are amongst others travel costs, language courses and family allowances
Award: 2,500 € per month (further benefits are available; check out the guidelines for further information)
Eligibility: Maximum 4 years of experience since completion of PhD
Deadlines: The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every March, July and November. Applications need to be submitted well in advance of the desired selection date.
Purpose: To support the international mobility of postdoctoral researchers by temporary positions at German universities in place of conventional scholarships with an upto 12 months long stay abroad.
Duration: 18 months of which 12 months have to be spent abroad and 6 months (re-integration phase) at a German university, which is mandatory.
Type of Funding: TV-L E13 salary (the German host university administrates the salary during the whole funding period); on top appr. 1,200-2,000€ per month expatriate allowance during the 12 months abroad; plus a lump sum travel allowance depending on the country of destination
Award: The exact salary depends on your personal circumstances (stage, children, tax group etc.) and the expatriate allowence as well as the lumps sum for travel depends on the chosen country of destination for your stay abroad
Eligibility: Everybody who has completed a PhD or will have completed it by the prospective start of the fellowship; check the FAQs for more detailed information.
Deadlines: 30 August 2024 with the selection process in the following February and earliest start in June 2025
Purpose: To support the best and brightest minds in their postdoctoral research, connecting them with world-class academics and leading researchers in Israel
Duration: 2 years with the option to renew for a third year
Type of Funding: Salary, consumables, travel etc.
Award: Basic stipend of ILS 168,000 per academic year, with an additional ILS 20,000 granted annually for research expenses and research-related travel (altogether approximately EUR 53,000 in total)
Eligibility: Postdocs who have officially been awarded their PhD degrees (signified by the date on their diploma) no earlier than November 1, 2019, in all countries except Israel; candidates must have secured an academic sponsor and perform their postdoctoral research at one of the following Israeli institutions: Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Reichman University, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Haifa and Weizmann Institute of Science
Purpose: Intended to recruit highly talented and motivated young scientist, who wish to work at the forefront of cancer research in any of basic or translational cancer research labs at the DKFZ. This program offers up to 10 fellowships per year and provides interdisciplinary training and research opportunities in state-of-the-art research facilities for excellent young scientists
Duration: Initially for 2 years
Type of Funding: 2 year fellowhips; DKFZ Postdoc salaries are competitive by national standards and are negotiated and confirmed during the recruitment phase should a fellowship be offered
Eligibility: The candidates with a background in biology as well as in physics, mathematics, bioinformatics, epidemiology and other research fields, should be at an early stage of their career, having held a PhD (or MD) for no longer than 2 years
Type of Funding: 300 000 € over a duration of 3 years to cover salary (basis on a TV-L E13 contract, including employer contributions) and costs related to the project (material, service, and travel costs)
Eligibility: Candidates should have a qualification equivalent to a PhD or MD and successful previous research endeavors with publications and should still be at an early stage of their career
Purpose: To support excellent postdoctoral researchers in laboratories throughout Europe and the world. International exchange is a key requirement and the career development is supported by leadership courses and networking opportunities
Duration: 12 to 24 months
Type of Funding: Fellowship covers the applicant’s salary (depending on host country; rates are available here), but no overheads, bench fees, consumable costs etc.; childcare and relocation allowances are possible
Award: Salary costs depending on the host country
Eligibility: At time of fellowship start PhD has to be obtained max. 2 years ago and not in the same country; at least one first-author publication accepted or published
Deadlines: Submissions all year round, however there are two cutoff evaluation dates:
2nd Friday of February to enter the spring selection round with results being announced in June; 2nd Friday of August to enter the autumn selection round with results being announced in December
Purpose: Stipend to foster young researchers who have already demonstrated scientific excellence in the early stages of their careers
Duration: 2 years
Type of Funding: Stipend covers full annual salary and research expenses
Award: About CHF 217,400 in total + CHF 10,000 per year for research expenses, including travel/mobility allowances and research cost contributions
Eligibility: Applicants who have received their PhD not longer than 2 years ago or PhD students who will finish within 6 months; applicants need to have at least one scientific publication in a peer-reviewed journal or have been awarded a prize for their doctoral thesis.
Deadlines: Submission deadlines are 1 March and 1 September at 17:00 Swiss local time
Purpose: To support outstanding junior scientists in Life Sciences (e.g. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Proteomics, System Biology, BioMedTech, Biotechnology, BioInformatics, Biophysics)
Duration: 2 years
Type of Funding: Postdoctoral fellowships
Award: Stipend in the amount of a TVL E13 post
Eligibility: PhD in natural sciences, pharmacy or medicine with above average results; age limit: 34 years
Purpose: To strengthen the autonomy of the next generation of academics as well as helping committed researchers get a smooth start on their career path during the productive phase after their dissertation
Duration: 2 years
Type of Funding: Scholarship; application for new project or extension for existing project (see guidelines for further details)
Award: 20,000€ per year
Eligibility: Early career researchers with completed PhD (see further details outlined in the guidelines) and formal connection to a research institute in Germany
Purpose: To support highly qualified junior scientists to pursue projects at renowned international research institutions (oncology)
Duration: 2 years
Type of Funding: Stipend, monthly allowance for conference visits and consumables, one-off start-up fund, family travel allowences (see guidelines for further details)
Award: N/A
Eligibility: PhD not more than 10 years prior to application, usually not older than 35 years, at point of application permanent resident in Germany
Deadlines: 3 calls per year (mid-February, Mid-June, mid-October)
Purpose: Research Prize to acknowledges outstanding contributions to biomedical research in Europe based on methods of molecular biology, including novel analytical concepts. It is intended to symbolize the close links between the company and the field of biomedicine
Duration: N/A
Type of Funding: Prize and coverage of your work by Nature in print and online
Award: 20,000 € (for personal use)
Eligibility: European researches not older than 35 years
Purpose: To give outstanding researchers the opportunity to satisfy the prerequisites for appointment as a university professor by leading an independent junior research group and performing relevant teaching duties. To attract outstanding early career researchers (back) to Germany from abroad
Duration: 6 years
Type of Funding: Research staff (salary for group leader, postdocs, PhD students), consumables, travel, etc.
Award: N/A
Eligibility: At least two years of postdoc experience; maximum four years after PhD; substantial international experience; check out further eligibility criteria on the respective webpage
Purpose: To support talented early-career scientists who have already produced excellent supervised work, and are ready to work independently and show potential to be research leaders
Duration: 5 years
Type of Funding: Staff (own post, postdocs, technicians), equipment, travel, consumables, etc.
Award: 1.5 million € (+500k € in exceptional cases, e.g. startup costs, major equipment, access to large facility)
Eligibility: 2-7 years of experience since completion of PhD (see guidelines for consideration of career breaks), promising scientific track record
Deadlines: the last call closed on 24 October 2023
Purpose: Worldwide fellowship program enabling exceptionally qualified young researchers with a personal research grant to work on an unconventional, groundbreaking project of their choice in new areas of science, engineering and social sciences anywhere in the world. Demonstrating a willingness to engage in a dialogue on relevant social, cultural, political, or economic issues across the frontiers of their particular discipline is required
Duration: 5 years (awarded in 2 instalments: 2 and 3 years)
Type of Funding: Postdoctoral Fellowship including salary, equipment, travel expenses, consumables and staff costs
Award: 600,000 CHF for up to five years
Eligibility: Postdocs prior to their first faculty appointment; PhD obtained max. 5 years prior to the application deadline
Deadlines: Applications can be submitted from October, deadline usually in mid-January (upcoming call: deadline will be 15 January 2025)
Purpose: Excellence stipend program to invite outstanding researchers to develop their ideas towards innovations at Fraunhofer
Duration: 5 years
Type of Funding: Staff costs (3-4 research staff), consumables, etc.
Award: 2.5 million €
Eligibility: External candidate with extraordinary reputation and scientific achievements, minimum completed PhD or equivalent experiences. Creative research idea with realistic potential for application-oriented development
Deadline: Twice per year (early March and mid-September)
Purpose: To offer early scientific independence to excellent researchers and the option for a permanent position. The group leaders receive professional skills training by the Helmholtz Management Academy and additional support measures
Duration: 6 years (option for permanent position after positive evaluation)
Type of Funding: Staff salaries, consumables, travel, etc.
Award: Ca. 1.8 million € (300k per year)
Eligibility: 2-6 years of postdoctoral experience, international research experience, an exceptional scientific record
Deadlines: Submission dates vary depending on your chosen partner institute
Purpose: To offer early independence, a first-rate working environment and excellent networking opportunities. Junior research group leaders obtain the opportunity to implement their own research projects and establish themselves in their respective field on their way to a full professorship or tenured position
Duration: 5 years
Type of Funding: Staff salaries (own post, 2-3 PhD students or postdocs), equipment, etc.
Award: N/A
Eligibility: Maximum 5 years after PhD; outstanding track record
Deadlines: Contact the Leibniz Institute of your choice as the application will be submitted by you and the respective director
Purpose: To support highly qualified young researchers specialized in oncology to establish an independent research group and further develop their scientific career
Duration: 4 years (+ 3 years extension)
Type of Funding: Staff salaries, consumables, equipment, facilities, travel etc.
Award: 800,000 € (for extension: 600,000€)
Eligibility: Not older than 35 years; change of location is required; not eligible if you hold a W post or habilitation
Deadlines: 3 application deadlines per year (mid-February, mid-June, Mid-October)
Purpose: To fund research groups in which those involved collaborate closely on specific medium-term research projects whose anticipated findings would not be able to be achieved within the scope of the individual grants program
Duration: up to 8 years
Type of Funding: Staff costs, travel, consumables, etc.
Award: N/A
Eligibility: Outstanding researchers
Deadline: No submission deadlines apply; DFG senate decides on proposals quarterly
Purpose: Supporting young outstanding researchers who want to consolidate their independence by establishing a research team and continuing to develop a successful career in Europe
Duration: 5 years
Type of Funding: Staff (own post, postdocs, technicians), equipment, travel, consumables, etc.
Award: 2 million € (+750k € in exceptional cases, e.g. startup costs, major equipment, access to large facility)
Eligibility: 7-12 years of experience since completion of PhD (see guidelines for consideration of career breaks), scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal
Purpose: Funding excellent established researchers who are leaders in their field and pursue a ground-breaking, high-risk project
Duration: 5 years
Type of Funding: Staff (own post, postdocs, technicians), equipment, travel, consumables, etc.
Award: 2.5 million € (+ 1million € in exceptional cases, e.g. startup costs, major equipment, access to large facility)
Eligibility: More than 12 years of experience since completion of PhD (see guidelines for consideration of career breaks), established, leading principal investigator with outstanding track record
Deadlines: current call opens on 29 May 2024 and will close on 29 August 2024
Purpose: To enable outstanding researchers who meet all the requirements for appointment to a long-term professorship to prepare for a senior academic role while continuing their research work
Duration: 5 years
Type of Funding: Depending on the type of funding (Heisenberg position; Heisenberg professorship; Heisenberg fellowship; Heisenberg temporary substitute position for clinicians)
Award: N/A
Eligibility: Outstanding early career researchers; habilitation or an equivalent qualification required
Purpose: To enable outstanding researchers with a proven scientific track record to pursue exceptionally innovative or higher-risk projects
Duration: 5 years
Type of Funding: Staff, scientific instrumentation, consumables, travel, miscellaneous and publication costs
Award: 500,000 - 1.25million € (increments of 250,000 €)
Eligibility: Researchers who hold or are eligible to hold professorships, especially at universities, and who have an outstanding CV and great scientific potential
Purpose: To sponsor research stays worldwide by researchers from Germany who choose an academic host from some 25,000 members in the Humboldt Network abroad
Duration: 6 to 18 months (divisible into a maximum of three visits over three years)
Type of Funding: Stipend; after completion of fellowship you will benefit throughout your entire academic career from Humboldt Foundation sponsorship opportunities (e.g. collaboration support)
Award: Amount varies according to the host country (for further information please use the fellowship calculator here)
Eligibility: Up to 12 years after completing PhD; host must be a member of the Humboldt Network
Deadlines: The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every February, June and October. Applications need to be submitted well in advance of the desired selection date.
Purpose: To enable scientists and academics to carry out a research project on a specifically defined topic within a limited time period. This scheme has different proposal modules depending on the application (for further details please check out the guidelines)
Duration: Usually 3 years with option for renewal
Type of Funding: Staff, consumables, travel etc.
Award: N/A
Eligibility: Researchers holding a PhD and working at a German research institution
Purpose: To sponsor research stays worldwide by researchers from Germany who choose an academic host from over 15,000 members in the Humboldt Network abroad
Duration: 6 to 24 months
Type of Funding: Stipend; after completion of fellowship you will benefit throughout your entire academic career from Humboldt Foundation sponsorship opportunities (e.g. collaboration support)
Award: Amount varies according to the host country
Eligibility: Up to 4 years after completing PhD; host must be a member of the Humboldt Network
Research areas: all research areas
Deadlines: Submissions are possible at any time. The selection committee meets every February, June and October therefore applications need to be submitted well in advance of the desired selection date
Additional remarks: Scientists with tenure are not eligible to apply
Purpose: Sponsorship of lab visits or attendance of research-related methods courses abroad
Duration: Up to 3 months
Type of Funding: Lump-sum contribution to travel expenses, lodging (e.g. student housing), and course fees
Eligibility: PhD students or medical students during their doctoral thesis as well as Postdocs OR graduates' research visits who have applied for a PhD project abroad, but who have not yet worked with their potential PhD supervisor (hereafter called PhD candidates)
Research areas: Experimental project in basic biomedical research aimed at elucidating basic biological phenomena of human life and acquiring new scientific knowledge
Deadlines: Applications for travel grants may be submitted at any time, but must reach the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) at the latest six weeks prior, but not earlier than six months before your proposed departure date
Additional remarks: Travel grants can be awarded only if the host institute covers all research-related costs and – in case of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers – if the home institution continues to pay the applicant’s salary
Purpose: Support of sustainable research and promotion of scientific exchange between Germany and certain South African countries
Duration: 2 weeks to 3 months
Type of Funding: Stipend
Award: Monthly scholarship rate determined according to host country, travel allowance depending on host country, health, accident and personal liability insurance benefits
Eligibility: Very well qualified students, graduates, PhD candidates and Postdocs from Germany, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa working on a marine project within the framework of SPACES II
Research areas: Environmental Sciences, Coastal and marine sciences, Geology (Investigation of climate change and its consequences in the Southern African region with a focus on sustainability)
Deadlines: Applications are possible at any time, but must be submitted at least 2,5 months before the planned stay
Purpose: Support of sustainable research and promotion of scientific exchange between Germany and certain South African countries
Duration: 2 weeks to 3 months
Type of Funding: Stipend
Award: Monthly scholarship rate determined according to host country, travel allowance depending on host country, health, accident and personal liability insurance benefits
Eligibility: Very well qualified students, graduates, PhD candidates and Postdocs from Germany, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa working on a terrestrial project within the framework of SPACES II
Research areas: Environmental Sciences, Coastal and marine sciences, Geology (Investigation of climate change and its consequences in the Southern African region with a focus on sustainability)
Deadlines: Applications are possible at any time, but must be submitted at least 2,5 months before the planned stay
Purpose: Sponsorship of short-term reaserch projects abroad to gain an important qualification for a later career in science, business or the cultural sector
Duration: 3-6 months
Type of Funding: Stipend
Award: Monthly basic amount for accommodation, meals and incidental expenses of 1,750€ (+ child allowance, subsidies for material costs and family support, if applicable)
Eligibility: Postdocs of all disciplines with above-average qualifications
Research areas: All research areas
Deadlines: 20 March, 15 June, 15 November
Additional remarks: The doctorate should not have been awarded more than four years ago at the time of application. An application in the final phase of the doctorate is possible.
Purpose: Sponsorship of research visits of natural scientists and medical researchers from Germany to the USA
Duration: 1 year
Type of Funding: Stipend
Award: Basic fellowship of 56,500 US $ + travel allowance including return trip + lump sum for study trips within the US and allowance for direct project costs + child and spousal allowances if applicable
Eligibility: Well-qualified early career researchers with outstanding research achievements
Purpose: For outstanding young thinkers who wish to pursue a project in a different field from that of their previous research. The fellowship supports those who, in addition to producing superb work in their area of specialization, are also open to other, interdisciplinary approaches.
Duration: 6 months
Type of Funding: One off grant and 6 months accomodation for research stay
Award: 10.000€ grant and 6 months stay in Caputh (garden cottage Einstein`s summerhouse) near Berlin
Eligibility: People under the age of 35 with a university degree
Research areas: Humanities, social or natural sciences
Additional remarks: No fellowships will be given for dissertation research; the proposed project must be significally different in content and preferrably field and form from the applicants previous work
Purpose: Sponsorship of short research stays abroad
Duration: Maximium of 3 months
Type of Funding: Reimbursement of reasonable travel costs and daily/monthly fixed lump-sum depending on the country of the research stay
Eligibility: Applicants must have received a doctoral degree
Research areas: History, Language & Culture; the interdisciplinary field “Image–Sound–Language”; State, Economy and Society; Medicine and the Natural Sciences
Deadlines: No deadlines apply (normally a decision can be reached in eight weeks)
Additional remarks: General educational travel, excursions or lecture or congress-related travel are not supported
Purpose: Short research stay in Japan to gain insight into the Japanese cultural and scientific landscape
Duration: 2 months (July-August)
Type of Funding: Maintenance allowance and additional costs
Award: Flight tickets, insurance costs, maintenance allowance of ca. 3,300€ (534,000 Yen)
Eligibility: Master's students towards the end of their studies who wish to pursue a scientific career, doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers
Purpose: Short-term scientific exchange between Germany and Israel
Duration: Up to 7 days (longer stays with reasonable explanation)
Type of Funding: Weekly living allowance and reimbursement of flight costs
Award: Undergraduate and graduate applicants: 350€ per week; postdoc applicants: 450€ per week; flights up to 750€
Eligibility: Applicants have to be under 38 years old, German or Israeli citizens or presently residing in Israel or Germany together with a proven affiliation to a research institution and a proven residency of 3 years or longer in either of the two countries OR student/member of a German or Israeli university or research institution
Research areas: All research areas
Deadlines: 2 May (for fellowships starting from 1 July on) and 2 November (for fellowships starting from 1 January on)
Additional remarks: Scientists with tenure are not eligible to apply
Purpose: Support of bilateral research cooperation between German and foreign universities
Duration: 2 weeks to 3 months
Type of Funding: Travel allowance
Award: Fixed travel allowance depending on destination country (living costs during the stay have to be covered by partner institute)
Eligibility: German scientists who should have a PhD and work at universities and research institutions in Germany
Research areas: All research areas
Deadlines: Applications for most countries are possible at any time, but must be submitted at least three months before the planned stay (Exception: Latin America and Australia)
Additional remarks: This program promotes the mutual exchange of scientists from Germany and its partner institutions. Funding is only available if foreign scientists also apply for a research stay in Germany at the same time.
Purpose: Sponsorship of the attendance of relevant events (including fees for online events) like conferences, workshops etc.
Type of Funding: Travel, accommodation, subsistence costs and registration fees to attend relevant events (including online events and registration fees for online courses, training etc.)
Award: For travel distances, up to 1999km (within the same continent): up to 500€; for travel distances of 2000km or more (within the same continent): up to 750€; for intercontinental travel: up to 1000€; for activities not involving travelling (e.g. online courses) up to 500€
Eligibility: Membership of Marie Curie Alumni Association (open to any past, or present, Marie Curie researcher, project supervisor or project coordinator)
Research areas: All research areas
Deadlines: at least 45 days before the start of the event or activity
Purpose: Support of scholarly events, in particular national and international conferences
Type of Funding and Award: Reimbursement of travel expenses, accommodation and meal costs for active participants/speakers, up to 1.000€ resources to defray incidental conference costs (printing of flyers and posters, conference support by student helpers or assistants, rental costs for conference rooms etc.) and childcare costs incurred during the conference
Eligibility: Applications can only be accepted if they come from universities or non-profit research institutions and applicants must have a PhD
Research areas: History, Language & Culture; the interdisciplinary field “Image–Sound–Language”; State, Economy and Society; Medicine and the Natural Sciences
Deadlines: 28 February; 31 May; 31 August; 30 November (usually a decision is made 8-10 weeks after the deadlines)
