Exzellenz verbindet be part of a worldwide network Dr. Damian Grasmück Programme Director Social Sciences Selection Department of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Freiburg, September 29, 2011
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Connecting academic excellence worldwide Knowledge transfer and cooperation at the highest level
Historical and intellectual roots Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859): discoverer, universal scholar, cosmopolitan and patron of excellent scientific talents 1953: establishment of today s Alexander von Humboldt Foundation based in Bonn international network of academic cooperation and trust inspired by Humboldt s example
Principles of the Humboldt Foundation sole selection criterion: academic excellence no quotas for countries or disciplines sponsorship of people, not projects free choice of academic host / collaborative partner independent academic research, not stipulated by the Humboldt Foundation
Equal opportunities for female academics equal opportunities is an important issue for the Foundation sponsoring of women: fellowship programmes 32%, award programmes 13% sponsoring of women correlates with age and career stage measures supplementing standard sponsorship opportunities: fellowship extension of up to 3 months or fellowship interruption of up to 18 months, allowances targeted counselling
The Humboldt Foundation's funding Budget for 2010: approx. 103 million EUR Financed by federal funds: approx. 96% AA: BMBF: BMZ: BMU: Federal Foreign Office Federal Ministry of Education and Research Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Sponsorship Opportunities offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Sponsorship individual and personal sponsorship for foreign and German top-flight academics to collaborate with specialist colleagues more than 800 prestigious research fellowships and awards annually flexible sponsorship options for different career stages individual and personal mentoring for those sponsored and their families the success rate for applications and nominations is between 30% and 40%
Key sponsorship programmes 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 Anneliese Maier Research Award Max Planck Research Award Alexander von Humboldt Professorship Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship
Alumni sponsorship and international networking more than 25,000 Humboldtians in over 130 countries: Once an Humboldtian always an Humboldtian alumni sponsorship and international networking through e.g. - further research stays - Research Group Linkage Programme - Humboldt Colloquia and Kollegs - Humboldt Alumni Associations - Humboldt Alumni Award
Research Fellowships for exceptionally qualified academics from abroad and from Germany
Research fellowships for research stays in Germany For postdoctoral and experienced researchers Humboldt Research Fellowship worldwide, all disciplines, no quotas Georg Forster Research Fellowship researchers from emerging and developing countries, all disciplines, no quotas research projects with relevance to development
Research fellowships for research stays in Germany Humboldt Research Fellowship / Georg Forster Research Fellowship Postdoctoral researchers Experienced researchers Duration of sponsorship 6 to 24 months 6 to 18 months, may be divided up into 3 stays Application period Fellowship amount applications at any time, doctorates completed less than 4 years ago 2,250 EUR per month (plus additional benefits) applications at any time, doctorates completed less than 12 years ago 2,450 EUR per month (plus additional benefits)
Research fellowships for research stays abroad For postdoctoral and experienced researchers Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship worldwide, all subjects, no quotas Humboldtians as hosts host contribution (negotiated individually)
Research fellowships for research stays abroad Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships Postdoctoral researchers Experienced researchers Duration of 6 to 24 months 6 to 18 months, may be sponsorship divided up into 3 stays Application period applications at any time, doctorates completed less than 4 years ago applications at any time, doctorates completed less than 12 years ago Fellowship amount: dependent on age, family status and destination (A fellowship calculator is available on our website)
Research Fellowships Japan/Taiwan The Humboldt Foundation is in charge of the pre-selection of postdocs from Germany for fellowships of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research stays of 6 to 24 months in Japan National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC) Research stays of 6 to 12 months in Taiwan
Research Fellowships: Application Requirements and Benefits
Application requirements Postdoctoral researchers above average doctorate academic publications: list of 1 to 3 key publications comprehensive list of publications agreement by academic host independent research plan knowledge of German and/or English Experienced researchers independent academic activity, e.g. as an assistant professor academic publications with own, clearly defined profile: list of 3 to 5 key publications comprehensive list of publications agreement by academic host independent research plan knowledge of German and/or English
Application procedure applications at any time to the Humboldt Foundation directly assessment by independent expert reviewers decision by independent selection committees duration of procedure: approximately 3 to 6 months
Benefits provided fellowship travel lump sum language courses* family allowance allowance for research costs for the host institute* (*not applicable to Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships)
Benefits provided intensive and individual mentoring in Germany and abroad by personal contacts at the Humboldt Foundation study tour*, network meeting, annual meeting return fellowships for specific regions / for Germany alumni sponsorship (*not applicable to Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships)
Origins of incoming researchers 2006 2010: 3,019 research fellowships granted to academics from abroad Asia 34 % Europe 37 % North America 15 % Australia & New Zealand 2 % Latin America 5 % Africa 6 %
Disciplines of incoming researchers 2006 2010: 3,019 research fellowships granted to academics from abroad Humanities and Social Sciences 25 % Natural Sciences 65 % Engineering Sciences 10 %
Countries of destination of outgoing researchers 2006-2010: 589 research fellowships granted to academics from Germany Spain 2 % Switzerland 3 % France 4 % Australia 4 % Italy 2 % other 11 % (27 countries) Canada 5 % Japan 7 % USA 54 % Great Britain 8 %
Disciplines of outgoing researchers 2006-2010: 589 research fellowships granted to academics from Germany Humanities and Social Sciences 23 % Engineering Sciences 5 % Natural Sciences 72 %
Award Programmes
Research awards overview Research awards - Humboldt Research Award: 60,000 EUR - Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award: 45,000 EUR - Reimar Lüst Award: 50,000 EUR - Konrad Adenauer Research Award: 50,000 EUR - Phillip Franz von Siebold Award: 50,000 EUR Anneliese Maier Research Award: 250,000 EUR Max Planck Research Award: 750,000 EUR Sofja Kovalevskaja Award: up to 1.65 million EUR Alexander von Humboldt Professorship: 3.5 to 5 million EUR
Research awards Sofja Kovalevskaja Award for top level junior academics from abroad up to 1.65 million EUR for a period of 5 years to establish their own junior research group in Germany joint application by the applicant and the host institution
Other Fields of Activity
EURAXESS Germany Germany s role in the EU-wide network of EURAXESS Services Centres to facilitate cross-border, research-related mobility Information and personal counselling for internationally mobile researchers: funding programmes job offers immigration and residence, taxation Internet portal and contacts: www.euraxess.de
National Contact Point (NCP) Mobility Task information and advice for German institutions and researchers on opportunities and actions in the Specific Programme People of the 7th EU Research Framework Programme which includes the Marie Curie Actions Marie Curie Actions support for research training, career development and transnational researcher mobility; intersectoral exchange; international cooperation
Alumniportal Deutschland target group: anyone who has studied or conducted research in Germany (Germany alumni) access to all registered Germany alumni, organisations and companies access to opportunities in education and research opportunities for alumni to present their expertise platform for regional and professional alumni networks www.alumniportal-deutschland.org
Contact The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is available to answer your questions at any time: info@avh.de www.humboldt-foundation.de Jean-Paul-Straße 12 53173 Bonn Germany Tel: +49 228 833-0