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International award for research in Germany
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is expanding its sponsorship opportunities within the Global Minds Initiative Germany funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The Foundation’s new Humboldt Research Professorships programme initiative creates new latitudes to recruit outstanding academics to work on internationally highly competitive research topics in Germany and structurally expand fields of research.
The new Humboldt Research Professorships allow top-tier researchers from other countries to conduct their innovative and creative research activities in Germany and establish them at German universities and research institutions without having to relinquish their posts abroad. Receiving institutions will be given flexible options for integrating and institutionally embedding the award winners, for example in the form of shared professorships or lab-to-lab professorships. Award winners are expected to initiate long-term collaborations with specialist colleagues in Germany, set up and manage an international working group in Germany and develop additional promising and creative research formats to optimally suit their research interests and methodologies.
Humboldt Research Professors will be permitted to simultaneously continue conducting their own professorships or working groups in their countries of origin during the sponsorship. At the same time, they will also have the option to relocate fully to Germany if they choose. Long-term prospects for remaining in the country can be negotiated locally on an individual basis.
Online info event: First-hand information on the nomination process and on details of the funding!
Our sponsorship
The award amount is usually €1.5 million for theoretical researchers and €3 million for academics in experimental disciplines. This sum will be made available over a period of five years and serves to fund the sponsored individual’s research. Up to €10,000 a month may be withdrawn for the award winner’s personal income to cover the cost of living during their research stay in Germany.
The receiving institution in Germany will be provided with an additional lump sum for administration amounting to 20 per cent of the award amount. In the event that the award winner remains in Germany, for example as a result of being appointed to a permanent professorship or comparable lifetime position, the receiving institution may under certain conditions apply for additional funding of up to €500,000 and an extension of the sponsorship period by one year. For more information please see the Regulations on the Use of Funds.
Who is eligible to be nominated?
Eligible to be nominated are outstanding researchers from abroad who can be expected to achieve further scientific breakthroughs in the future based on their highly successful, unconventional, innovative and audacious previous research.
Universities may nominate international top-tier researchers at the following career levels:
- up to 18 years after obtaining their doctorate and
- subsequent career levels
Candidates must have been predominantly living and working outside Germany for at least five years at the time of nomination. Furthermore, no employment relationship may exist in Germany at the time of selection or have been agreed for the future.
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation aims to achieve a good balance between genders and a high level of diversity among its fellows in all areas. We therefore expressly welcome the nomination of female scientists and members of underrepresented groups.
Ineligible for nomination are individuals who are in a close personal (marriage, civil partnership) or familial (parents, siblings, children) relationship with the person submitting the nomination.
Who is eligible to make a nomination?
Universities in Germany are eligible to make a nomination. Non-university research institutions in Germany may also initiate a nomination in conjunction with an eligible German university.
Nominations must be submitted to the Humboldt Foundation via the rector or president of the respective university with contributions by the academic directorate or board of the non-university research institution, if applicable. The respective cooperation partners of the nominees will serve as points of contact during the selection process.
What are the important aspects for a nomination?
The main selection criteria include researchers’ previous outstanding academic achievements and their potential to accomplish future pioneering breakthroughs with the proposed research. Plans for integrating and embedding nominees within the receiving institution and an appropriate scope of intended stays in Germany to implement the planned research project are also considered important criteria for success in the selection procedure.
How to make a nomination
Nominations must be submitted by March 15, 2026 at the latest.
Please use the relevant online nomination form, address all the points listed in the notes in detail and in the order suggested, and upload all the required documents.
Please ensure that your documents are complete! We would prefer to avoid deferring any decisions until the next selection round, but the limited timeframe leaves very little room for corrections in this first selection round.
We will confirm receipt of the nomination by e-mail as soon as the documents reach us. It goes without saying that all information will be treated in strict confidence. If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us (hrp-auswahl[at]avh.de). We will be happy to help.
Selection procedure
The selection process consists of two phases. In the spring, a preliminary selection of potential candidates is made based on the complete documents submitted for all received nominations. Following an external independent peer review of the shortlisted applications, the final selection takes place in the autumn. Selection decisions are made by an independent selection committee of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
Nominations are in competition with each other across all disciplines. There are no quotas for countries, research areas or the gender of the individuals nominated.
We will inform nominators of the selection decision immediately after each meeting. If the nomination is unsuccessful, we will provide information on the level of competition and the selection criteria on request.
We plan to award 20 Humboldt Research Professorships per year in at least three selection rounds in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Funding for these awards currently remains subject to approval.
General regulations
The award recognises top-tier researchers’ personalities and previous body of work as a whole. Their personal and educational background – including and especially with regard to equal opportunities and accessibility – are also taken into account in the assessment.
Nominees and nominators must always abide by the rules of good scientific practice (PDF) and the principles of scientific ethics. The Foundation provides information on dealing with generative AI in the selection area (PDF). Please also note the Humboldt Foundation's position on Security-relevant research in international research collaborations.
FAQ
If you have any questions or comments regarding the programme, feel free to contact Alexander von Humboldt Foundation headquarters.
Email: hrp-auswahl[at]avh.de
If nominations are submitted incompletely or if additional clarifications are required, the processing time may be extended, which could make it necessary to postpone the nomination to the next selection round.
The proposal should be around 10 to 15 pages long and include information on:
- project concept and background
- significance of proposed research, methodology, and work plan
- collaborations with host institute(s)
- supervision of the research group and time spent in Germany
- references
- any other information the nominee deems important
Yes, but only in general terms in the financial plan (PDF). A numerical breakdown of the intended use by type of expenditure will only be required after the Selection Committee has made a positive decision.
Any university in Germany is eligible to apply. Non-university research institutions in Germany may make a nomination jointly with a university.
Yes, that is possible. The nomination documents should explain how the collaboration is to be organised.
Yes.
No, self-nomination is not possible.
No.
No, but candidates must be eligible for appointment to a professorship in Germany.
Yes, because the assessment of academic achievements is always made on an individual basis at the Humboldt Foundation. Therefore, when filling in the application form, please specify all periods in which the nominee partially or completely interrupted academic activities after finishing a doctorate in order to rear children.
The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of academic achievements.
Please contact hrp-auswahl[at]avh.de if you have any questions.
Yes, because the assessment of academic achievements is always made on an individual basis at the Humboldt Foundation. Therefore, when filling in the application form, please specify all periods in which the nominee partially or completely interrupted academic activities after finishing a doctorate in order to perform military or alternative service, to care for close relatives or due to long-term illness. Job hunting, unemployment and non-academic employment do not count as career breaks.
The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of academic achievements.
Please contact hrp-auswahl[at]avh.de if you have any questions
You may nominate academics with German citizenship if they have been working abroad in an academic position for at least five years. If you need further advice please contact us: hrp-auswahl[at]avh.de
At the time of nomination, the nominated candidate must have been predominantly living and working abroad for at least five years. Previous and short-term stays in Germany (such as visiting professorship) do not usually exclude a candidate from nomination. In cases of doubt, please contact us at hrp-auswahl[at]avh.de so we can advise you.
Yes, this is not an obstacle provided that they conduct research abroad on a long-term basis. If in doubt, please consult the Humboldt Foundation in advance.
Yes, with the exception of Max Planck Humboldt Award Winners and Alexander von Humboldt Professors.
Yes, this is possible. You should, however, consult the Selection Department at the Humboldt Foundation (hrp-auswahl[at]avh.de) before submitting the nomination.
The so-called lump sum for administration, which amounts to 20 percent of the requested funding amount, represents the portion of the award funds that the receiving institution can use at its own discretion. The use of these funds is very flexible.
For further details please see our Regulations on the use of funds (PDF, in German language only).
Soon after we receive your nomination, we will notify you by email. We will also notify the contact person named in the nomination if any important documents or information are missing or need amending, usually a few weeks after receiving the application.
Independent German and international peer reviewers will evaluate the nomination.
A Selection Committee appointed specifically for this purpose will make all final decisions on the Humboldt Professorships. It is composed of academics of all disciplines. Humboldt Foundation headquarters has no vote on the Selection Committee. The list of members of the Selection Committee can be found on this website.
There is no detailed written explanation for a rejection. After each Selection Committee meeting, we are available by telephone to give you information on the competitive situation and the selection criteria for the Humboldt Research Professorships. We also give advice on potential future nominations.
