Henriette Herz Scouting Programme

The Humboldt Foundation underscores that applications from individuals who have not previously acted as hosts for the Humboldt Foundation are especially welcome. An applicaton is thus, if the other prerequisites are met, possible.

No, in order to apply, the applicant must hold an executive academic position at a German university or research institution at the time of applying.

Yes, applicants that hold an executive academic position at a German university or research institution at the time of applying may apply. The applicant’s nationality is not relevant in this case.

No, is it not possible to apply to several programmes of the Humboldt Foundation concurrently.

Yes, if you hold an executive academic position at a German university or research institution at the time of applying and meet the other prerequisites.

An application is possible as soon as you hold an executive academic position at a German university or research institution at the time of applying. This includes e.g. a junior group leadership or a junior professorship, even when they are still temporary. Any change in position should be actively communicated in order to include such information during the selection process.

Additionally, you may only act as a scout while holding an executive academic position at a German university or research institution and can offer to make research facilities available.

Applicants are formally required to hold an executive position at a German university or research institution; such positions generally include the right to confer doctorates. Successful scouts will usually already have supervised doctorates independently or conducted independent research with postdoctoral students. We therefore recommend that you do not apply until you have some (initial) experience, as this will improve your chances of being selected.

Currently, around 30% of applications are successful. Frequent reasons that have led to rejections in the past include the following:

• The concept contains no unique elements in terms of how the applicant intends to explore new ways of recruiting postdocs through the Henriette Herz Scouting Programme
• Measures to increase diversity within the discipline are not sufficiently specific and/or not very promising
• The applicant has no prior experience in supervising junior researchers
• The programme’s strategic added value compared to other available funding opportunities for postdocs is not clearly outlined

There is no closing date for submitting your application. Applications are processed as part of an ongoing procedure. As soon as we receive your complete application, it will be forwarded to independent peer reviewers and, upon submission of the written peer review, a decision will be made at the next meeting of the Selection Committee. Please note that your application can only be submitted after your references have uploaded all the necessary documents. The date used to determine whether the applicant meets certain formal  requirements, such as those relating to a permanent stay in Germany, is the date on which the Humboldt Foundation receives the respective application. Selection committee meetings take place  twice a year – once in May and once in November. Applications should be submitted at least six to eight months ahead of the prospective selection meeting.

The concept  is an integral part of the selection documents and will be uploaded with the application in the online portal. It should be comprised of about 2 pages. Points discussed in your concept should include:

• How you intend to identify people who fit the programme’s target group
• (Innovative) methods to recruit qualified resarchers for the team and how these, if so, differ from the methods applied in the past
• Plans to specifically identify and recruit female researchers, and targets for how many of the requested recommendation entitlements are to be awarded to women
• The role your own international networks and research cooperations will play in identifying and recruiting suitable candidates
• Planning for the involvement and support of junior researchers.

The reference letter from a junior researcher shall be provided by a person, who is, at the time of the application, no longer supervised (e.g. as a Phd student) by the applicant. The person providing the reference should be in a position to answer the questions in the questionnaire (PDF).

We will inform you about the Selection Committee’s decision via email in the days following the meeting.

There is no standard duration for scouting activities; it depends on the granted permissions to recommend fellows and when they are used. Scouts can identify up to three potential research fellows abroad and recommend them for a Humboldt Research Fellowship. Ideally, scouts will use their permission to recommend a fellow once a year; the corresponding deadlines can be found in the Guidelines on the Recommendation Procedure. In agreement with the Foundation, flexibility is possible. The appointment as a scout ends when the final research fellow’s fellowship and the respective ex-post evaluation have been completed. Another application for further permissions to recommend fellows may then be submitted.

The concept is the basis for a scout’s subsequent efforts to recruit junior researchers, and is heavily weighted in the selection process because the programme receives applications from many excellent candidates. Selected scouts are therefore expected to implement the described measures and objectives in their specific recommendations for postdocs; they may deviate from the concept in exceptional circumstances by prior arrangement with the Foundation.

Documents are usually reviewed within two weeks and the grant documents are then issued within a further two weeks. When planning a research stay in Germany or the beginning of sponsorship, researchers from countries subject to visa requirements must take into account the duration of the respective visa process.