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Important information for Humboldtians
Best possible support during the crisis
The Humboldt Foundation wants to support its network flexibly and in the best possible ways during the coronavirus pandemic. We are continuously at work to respond to this dynamic situation and comply with government requirements. We have cancelled or postponed events. Where possible, we are working to develop digital formats for events. Our funding measures are continuing with minor restrictions. It goes without saying that fellowships and associated benefits will be paid without interruption. When delays arise due to the coronavirus crisis, we work to provide flexible support.
We have bundled important information for individuals we currently sponsor and future Humboldt Fellows in FAQs on this subject.
Applications and nominations still being accepted
If you are interested in applying for one of the Foundation’s fellowships or nominating a colleague for an award, this is, of course, still possible. The Foundation continues to accept, process, review and approve funding applications, as usual. If, due to the pandemic, it is initially not possible to enter Germany, you may be able to start your sponsorship in your home country or country of residence.
Experiences of young researchers in the coronavirus situation
No one knows yet how the pandemic will impact the careers of young researchers. In a three-part series, we profile Feodor Lynen Research Fellows and show how they are dealing with the challenges facing them. We start with the molecular chemist Florian Mulks. Back in 2020, he had planned his stay in the USA as a Feodor Lynen Research Fellow. Then the corona pandemic came. But a solution was found in the Humboldt Network.
- Stable connections - Florian Mulks and the Humboldt Network
- Doing research with a family in tow - the Feodor Lynen Fellow Gesine Drews-Sylla made the move to Prague
- Where the wild bees are - Feodor Lynen Fellow Anja Buttstedt on the Social Insects Research Group at the University of Pretoria and at the colonial heritage of her field of research
- Research abroad during the pandemic - Feodor Lynen Fellow Sandra Fluhrer describes her research at the University of Berkeley on the Alumniportal Deutschland
#ResearchAcrossBorders – The Humboldt network is working on solutions
Dealing with the corona crisis is - worldwide - currently one of the most important tasks these days. The Humboldt network with its experts from a wide range of disciplines and countries is also working at full speed on this. At the same time, we are already addressing the question of what experiences, changes and even lessons will come out of this crisis. In this connection, as part of its campaign #ResearchAcrossBorders, the Humboldt Foundation asked researchers from its network the following questions: How are you helping through your work to deal with the coronavirus? How important are collaborative international research projects in this connection? And how might the future look after Covid-19? These experts report in video portraits (YouTube).
In addition, the Humboldt Foundation gathered video statements at #ResearchAcrossBorders (Twitter) which make the case for international research collaboration, scientific exchange, trust and open-mindedness. We are convinced that global problems can be solved only when we work together. In this crisis and in the future.
Media and news
- Humboldtian Hendrik Dietz, Professor of Biomolecular Nanotechnology at the Physics Department of the Technical University of Munich, is developing nano-objects from DNA material that could be used in the future to render corona viruses harmless (TU München)
- The Breathing Project: an interdisciplinary research group led by Humboldtian Martin Koch, Professor of Experimental Semiconductor Physics at the University of Marburg, develops emergency breathing devices (Frankfurt Live)
- A research team from Mainz led by Humboldtian Wolfram Ruf is developing a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. (Euronews)
- Humboldtian Jochen Guck researches the connections between Long Covid Diseases and distinct changes in blood cells
- "Cut off from intellectual sources". Former Feodor Lynen Research Fellow Cora Dietl on the impact of the Corona pandemic on research in the humanities and social sciences, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German)
- Sonia Lippke, Katharina Zweig and Kristian Franze on special challenges for scientists and their families in the pandemic; Froschung & Lehre (in German)
- Humboldt Professorship Stefan Hofmann about fear and mindfulness in Corona times; NDR (in German)
- Humboldt Professor and psychologist Jürgen Margraf on social isolation due to the Corona crisis, Tagesschau.de (in German)
- Anke Hoeffler, economist, political scientist and Humboldt Professor at the University of Konstanz, co-initiates online study on Covid19, Südkurier (in German)
- AI projects and their relevance in the fight against the Corona pandemic, Wirtschaftswoche (in German)
- Torben Schiffner, renowned vaccine researcher and recipient of the Sofia Kovaleskaya Award at the University of Leipzig, on the need to adapt vaccines, MDR(in German)
- German Chancellor Fellow Diana Raiselis contributes to development of a "Global Nighttime Recovery Plan", Deutsche Welle
- Humboldt Professor Jens Meiler on the development of a coronavirus vaccine, ARD extra (in German)
- Humboldt Professor and psychologist Jürgen Margraf on the willingness of the population to support measures to combat the pandemic (Tagesschau.de)
- Humboldt Research Fellow and philosopher Donatella Di Cesare on the Corona crisis in Italy, ZEIT (in German)
- Feodor Lynen Research Fellow and sociologist Hartmut Rosa on how society could change, taz (in German)
- Max Planck Research Award Winner and lawyer Katharina Pistor on debt relief as an answer to the coronavirus crash, The Guardian
- Georg Forster Research Award winner and parasitologist, Francine Ntoumi, on the outbreak of the virus in Africa, Science Magazine
- Anneliese Maier Research Award winner and psychologist, Ulrike Hahn, on the coronavirus strategy in the United Kingdom, The Guardian
- Humboldt Professor and Psychologist Jürgen Margraf on long-term consequences and anxiety disorders after two years of the Corona pandemic (Audio Clip DLF, in German)
- Silent Night: Chancellor Fellow Diana Raiselis is working on sustainable concepts for reviving nighttime culture. (15 January 2021)
- "An example of everything that can be done on virtual platforms." : Federal President Steinmeier at the Humboldt Foundation’s digital Annual Meeting (24 June 2020)
- “This won’t be the last crisis.” – International comments from science and academia on the coronavirus pandemic (8 June 2020)
- President of the Humboldt Foundation sees dealing with the crisis as an opportunity for changing our way of thinking (2 April 2020)
- Hans-Christian Pape: “The corona crisis is a wake-up call" (16 March 2020)
- Aid campaign from China: International Humboldt Network shows strength (30 March 2020)
- Corona pandemic: precautions currently being taken by the Humboldt Foundation (13 March 2020)
- Corona pandemic: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation takes precautions (11 March 2020)
Official information on current developments
Individuals being sponsored by the Humboldt Foundation can find information on the latest developments regarding corona cases in Germany and Europe on the following websites:
- Latest information (in German) from the Federal Ministry of Health.
- General information, including legal issues, from the Federal Ministry of Health.
- General information and a current risk assessment by the Robert Koch Institute can be found here.
- For answers to FAQs on symptoms and hygiene measures from the Federal Centre for Health Education visit this page. For information in English, scroll down to the last third of the page.