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Georg Forster Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers

Timeline of selection procedure
Timeline of
selection procedure

Submit an application if you are a researcher from a developing country with above average qualifications, completed your doctorate less than twelve years ago, already have your own research profile and are working at least at the level of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Group Leader or have a record of several years of independent academic work. A Georg Forster Research Fellowship for experienced researchers allows you to carry out a long-term research project (6−18 months) you have selected yourself in cooperation with an academic host you have selected yourself at a research institution in Germany. The fellowship is flexible and can be divided up into as many as three stays within three years.

Scientists and scholars of all disciplines from developing and threshold countries (excluding People's Republic of China and India; c.f. detailed list of countries) may apply to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation directly at any time. The research proposal must address issues of significant relevance to the further development of your country of origin and, in this context, promise to facilitate the transfer knowledge and methods to developing and threshold countries.

The Humboldt Foundation grants up to 60 Georg Forster Research Fellowships for postdoctoral researchers and experienced researchers annually. Short-term study visits, participation in congresses and training courses cannot be financed.

To apply, please only use the application documents which can be downloaded here.

Other important details

Further information

  1. 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, applications may be submitted up to twelve years after commencing publication activity.
  2. The candidate's own research profile documented by a comprehensive list of academic publications in reviewed journals and for publishing houses.
  3. Choice of a research project of major relevance to the future development of the candidate's country of origin, including options for transferring knowledge and methods; details of the research project and the proposed timetable must be discussed with the prospective host prior to application.
  4. Confirmation that research facilities are available and mentoring agreement and a detailed expert's report from an academic host at a research institution in Germany.
  5. Three expert references from important collaborative partners and/or academics from the candidate's own institute and, if possible, from abroad.
  6. Language skills: scholars in the humanities or social sciences and physicians must have a good knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the project successfully; otherwise a good knowledge of English; scientists and engineers must have a good knowledge of German or English.
  7. The applicant may not have spent an extended period in Germany prior to application. Applications to continue a research stay already underway can only be considered in exceptional cases. If in doubt, candidates who have been in Germany for more than six months at the time of application should consult the FAQs and check with the Humboldt Foundation (info(at)avh.de) whether formal requirements have been met before submitting an application.
  8. Citizenship as well as principal place of residence and work in a developing or threshold country (excluding People's Republic of China and India, c.f. detailed list of countries).
  9. The Humboldt Foundation assumes that candidates will abide by the Rules of Good Scientific Practice during the application and sponsorship periods.
 

Applications may be sent to the following address at any time:

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Selection Department,
Jean-Paul-Str. 12, 53173 Bonn, Germany

The complete application should be submitted to the Humboldt Foundation at least four to seven months ahead of the prospective selection date.

Timeline of selection procedure
Timeline of
selection procedure

The Humboldt Foundation will confirm receipt of the application by email. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that he or she has submitted all the necessary documents. Applications not submitted as a single entity will take longer to process. Grossly incomplete applications will be returned to applicants unprocessed.

After providing all the documents and receipt of the host’s statement, applicants will be notified about the proposed selection date. The application documents will then usually be forwarded to two independent reviewers for written review. On the basis of these independent peer reviews a selection committee composed of about 15 academics from all disciplines reaches a decision on approving research fellowships. The selection committee meets three times a year, in February, June and October. If an application has been approved a fellow arriving from abroad may start the fellowship two months after the selection meeting at the earliest. Fellows must start their fellowships within twelve months of the selection meeting; otherwise the fellowship will be forfeited.

When submitting applications candidates may also apply to be informed about the reasons for a rejection should their applications be turned down by the selection committee. In this case, applicants and their hosts will receive separate notification on this issue in addition to the selection decision approx. four to six weeks after the selection committee meeting. It is not possible to appeal. However, applicants who have been rejected may submit a revised application provided that fundamental aspects of the original application have been manifestly improved.

 

Further information

One of our hallmarks is the degree of support we try to provide for every single guest researcher. This is why we offer you extra benefits in addition to the monthly research fellowship: from invitations to events, via language courses to family allowances.

Further information

Once a Humboldtian, always a Humboldtian: Even after your research stay has come to an end, we shall still maintain close contact with you. Our alumni sponsorship is flexible and designed to support every Humboldtian’s particular path in life and development as well as collaborations between individuals.

Further information