Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Be a part of a worldwide network Experimental Biology 2012 Research in Germany Science Breakfast Margot Pfefferle American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation April 23, 2012 Melanie Schmitz: 4c-Bild
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Promotes academic cooperation between excellent researchers and other professionals from abroad and from Germany; administers 32 different award programs No quotas for countries or disciplines; selection based solely on applicant s academic record. Up to 800 fellowships and 100 awards granted annually 2010 budget was approx. 103 million EUR - more than 96% of which was publicly financed by the federal government AvH maintains lifelong contact to alumni through opportunities for renewed sponsorship and other alumni support over 25,000 alumni worldwide from over 130 countries, including 49 Nobel prize winners
Key Sponsorship Programs at a Glance Origin Academics from abroad Academics from Germany Career stages Postdoctoral researchers (up to 4 years after completion of doctorate) Junior research group leaders (up to 6 years after completion of doctorate) Experienced researchers (up to 12 years after completion of doctorate) (up to 18 years after completion of doctorate) Internationally renowned academics Humboldt Research Fellowship Georg Forster Research Fellowship Sofja Kovalevskaja Award Humboldt Research Fellowship Georg Forster Research Fellowship Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award Humboldt Research Award Max Planck Research Award Alexander von Humboldt Professorship Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship
Humboldt Research Fellowship Open to all Nationalities and Disciplines Approximately 600 per year For Postdoctoral Researchers 6 to 24 months in duration; monthly stipend of 2,250 For researchers who have completed their doctorate < 4 years ago For Experienced Researchers 6 to 18 months, may be divided into three blocks of at least three months each; monthly stipend of 2,450 For researchers who completed their doctorate < 12 years ago Should be working at level of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Group Leader or have several years of independent academic work
Humboldt Research Fellowship Application Procedure applications accepted at any time rolling application deadline assessment by independent expert reviewers duration of selection procedure: approx. 3 to 6 months Additional Sponsorship Provisions allowances for language training travel expenses stipends for family members additional funding for project costs and scientific equipment opportunities for future research stays in German
Humboldt Research Fellowship: Finding a Host Fellows Prior Relation to Host: Indirect scientific contact *36% No contact *34% Personal collaboration 14% Personal collaboration & institutional collaboration 7% Indirect scientific & institutional collaboration 4% Institutional collaboration 4% Other 2%
Application Procedure How to find a host Search for a Research Institution: The Research Explorer contains over 19,000 institutes at German universities & non-university research institutions, searchable by geographic location, subject & other structural criteria. Find Contacts at Your Desired Host Institution: GEPRIS, the DFG s internet database service, provides information on DFG- funded research projects. The information contained ranges from project content & objectives to participating scientists & research facilities. Meet the Challenges of Moving to Germany: EURAXESS shares information to help with relocating accommodation tips, benefits for families, careers in research, job searches, intellectual property, funding databases, higher education qualifications, language courses, schools, social security, visa & entry.
Feodor Lynen Fellowship The Humboldt Foundation offers highly qualified scientists & scholars from Germany an opportunity to carry out long-term research projects at institutes outside of Germany. The program is open to all disciplines. For Postdoctoral Researchers 6 to 24 months in duration; fellowship calculator online For researchers who have completed their doctorate < 4 years ago For Experienced Researchers 6 to 18 months, may be divided into three blocks of at least three months each; fellowship calculator online For researchers who completed their doctorate < 12 years ago
Sofja Kovalevskaja Award For Junior Research Group Leaders Open to all fields and nationalities; call is issued every two years Applicants must have received doctoral degree within past 6 years Next application deadline will be in September 1, 2013. Up to eight awards will be granted in 2014 Funding of up to 1.65 million EUR per award enables junior scientists with outstanding research records to conduct research in Germany Virtually unaffected by administrative constraints Award amount allows winners to conduct independent research, finance their own research group & cover living expenses for 5 years
Programs for Senior Scientists and Researchers For internationally recognized cutting-edge researchers Humboldt Research Award; 60,000 EUR; research stays in Germany over a period of 6 to 12 months (may be divided into segments); by nomination only Alexander von Humboldt Professorship; 3.5-5 mill. EUR for a period of five years, for the long-term recruitment of established cutting-edge researchers from abroad ; nominations by German universities (non-university research institutions with a German university)
Professional benefits If you have been a Humboldt Research Fellow at an early age, you are likely to go on to have a successful career in science. Percentages of Humboldt Research Fellows who are full professors: 80% of the researchers who held fellowships over 20 years ago 65% of the researchers who held fellowships in 1900-1999 30% of the researchers who held fellowships in 2000-2009
Professional benefits of research stay in Germany Enhanced professional reputation and recognition New research skills/techniques and knowledge Research results and publishing opportunities Expanded international networks and collaborations International experience: Mobility is increasingly important to successful research careers International research experience facilitates a deeper exchange of research topics, theories and methods
Professional benefits Alumni Testimonial: The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation fosters not only the progress of a scholar s research, but also the development of a scholar s sense of being a scholar in a more comprehensive way. The stipend thus has value beyond the specific opportunity it offers scholars to pursue their research. It exercises scholar s ability to view their work in relation both to that of other nations and to that of other disciplines.
Contact Information Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Jean-Paul-Straße 12 53173 Bonn Germany www.humboldt-foundation.de info@avh.de American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 1012 14th Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20005 www.americanfriends-of-avh.org info@americanfriends-of-avh.org
Professional benefits of research stay in Germany Humboldt Research Fellowship Evaluation (2010)