Humboldt-Bayer Science Foundation Research Fellowship (Georg Forster Research Fellowship or Humboldt Research Fellowship)

Humboldt-Bayer Science Foundation Research Fellowship (Georg Forster Research Fellowship or Humboldt Research Fellowship) is sponsored by Bayer Foundation and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Georg Forster Research Fellowship Applications for Georg Forster Research Fellowships can no longer be accepted with immediate effect. In light of budget cuts and revised funding conditions set by the funding body, the Humboldt Foundation is unable to continue the Georg Forster Research Fellowship Programme in its current format. We are currently developing a new programme design for researchers from developing and emerging countries.

Applications for Georg Forster Research Fellowships will no longer be accepted with immediate effect. Georg Forster Research Fellowships awarded up to and including 2026 are not affected by this. Sponsorship will be carried out as approved.

All events and networking activities will take place as planned. Alumni of the Georg Forster Programme will continue to be eligible for individual alumni support from the Humboldt Foundation throughout their academic careers.

Georg Forster Research Fellowship for Sustainable Development The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants the Georg Forster Research Fellowship to researchers in all disciplines from developing and emerging countries (see list of countries , PDF) who have above-average qualifications. We particularly welcome applications from female scientists.

With this fellowship the Humboldt Foundation acknowledges the important role of researchers from these countries in achieving the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals and thus provides them with sponsorship that is equivalent to the Humboldt Research Fellowship . 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.

As the Georg Forster programme is intended to actively contribute to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality), we particularly encourage women to apply. We also expressly welcome applications from Least Developed Countries (LDC) as defined by the UN. We generally welcome all applications regardless of ethnic, cultural or social background, gender identity, age, religion, worldview, disability or sexual orientation.

Programme information (PDF, 144 KB) Information for expert reviewers Information for independent peer reviewers Research fellows in portrait Recently selected fellows A global challenge – many local solutions: For years, Andreas Taubert has been cooperating with colleagues from Nigeria on water treatment methods. Currently, Gloria Ugwuja is working in Potsdam on a Georg Forster Fellowship.

Against the flow: Professor of Molecular Biology, Carmen Gloria Feijoo, wants to make the academic world more diverse and spark the interest of Chilean women in a fellowship in Germany. Ezinne Ezepue has been a Georg Forster Research Fellow, conducting research on African storytelling at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln.

Georg Forster Fellow and biochemist Alejandra Omarini (Argentina) conducts research on the industrial utilisation of lemon peels. The Argentinian historian Walter Ludovico Koppmann is working at the Lateinamerika-Institut in Berlin on the Jewish working class in Buenos Aires.

Electrical engineer Wilfred Fritz conducted research as a Georg Forster Fellow at the Institute for Power Transmission and High Voltage Technology at the University of Stuttgart. Researchers from developing and transition countries, whose research has little or no direct relevance for the sustainable development of their region of origin, should apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship .

Researchers from Brazil can only apply for a Capes-Humboldt Research Fellowship . The Humboldt Foundation also grants the Georg Forster Research Award to internationally recognised scientists from developing and transition countries. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship enables you to conduct your own research at various stages of your career in collaboration with a host at a German research institution of your choice.

Hosts may apply for a subsidy for research costs. Information on sponsorship during the research stay Information on sponsorship for alumni abroad Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdocs enables you to conduct research in Germany.

The monthly fellowship amount is €3,000 plus additional benefits. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years. You can still apply for research sponsorship in Germany even if you are already well advanced in your academic career.

The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for experienced researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €3,600 plus additional benefits. Fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.

In addition to the fellowship amount and additional benefits, you will also receive personal support throughout your sponsorship. You are flexible in determining when you would like to start your fellowship. Prior to your research fellowship, you and your partner will be able to attend an intensive German language course.

Further financial support, including family benefits for children and partners, subsidies for private full health insurance and allowances for travel expenses, is also available. We stay in contact even after your research stay has come to an end. Our alumni sponsorship measures flexibly support every Humboldtian’s individual journey through life, in both their careers and their future collaborations.

A return fellowship or later visits to Germany are also possible. You must meet the following criteria The Georg Forster Research Fellowship is exclusively for postdocs with above-average qualifications from developing or transition countries . Your research must address questions relevant to the sustainable development of your region of origin , regardless of your field.

Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last four years? Or are you within six months of completing your doctorate and can already provide a written summary of your findings? Have you been published in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards?

If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdocs. Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent qualification – during the last twelve years? Is your academic profile substantiated by an extensive list of publications in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according to international standards?

If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “What is required of you” section, apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship for experienced researchers. If a doctorate in your field or country of origin is not possible or uncommon, you can still apply up to 16 years after completing your master’s or other postgraduate degree provided that you have a publication record commensurate with your career level.

To successfully apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, your research should make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of your region of origin. You must also fulfil the following criteria: You must be a citizen of a developing or transition country – excluding PR China and India (see list of countries ).

You must have lived and worked in a developing or transition country for at least 12 months within the last 18 months (excluding PR China and India).

If you obtained your university entrance qualification and university degree or your university degree and your doctorate in Germany, you can apply if you have lived and worked in one of the developing or transition countries from the list for at least five years and you intend to do so long-term.

Please note: For your application to be successful, you may not have lived in Germany for longer than a total of six months within the 18-month period prior to submitting your application. Only experienced researchers : If you are not living in a country from the list of countries at the time of application, you must additionally have a permanent job in one of the developing or transition countries on the list.

Confirmation that research facilities are available/host’s statement A researcher from an academic institution of your choice in Germany will provide you with a mentoring agreement and written confirmation that research facilities are available, and will compile a detailed review for you. You can provide two expert reviews.

Postdocs : Your doctoral supervisor and one other researcher – outside of your institute, if possible – should provide well-grounded information on your qualifications. Experienced researchers: The reviews should be provided by important collaborative partners and/or researchers at your own institute as well as other institutes – outside your country of origin, if possible.

Natural sciences and engineering: You must have a good knowledge of German or English. Humanities, social sciences and medicine: You must have a good knowledge of German if this is necessary for conducting your research successfully. Otherwise, good knowledge of English will suffice.

You must 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 . You may not apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship if you have already received sponsorship from the Humboldt Foundation.

In such cases, our alumni programmes are open to you. If you would like to apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, please submit the necessary documents to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online only . If you have any doubts or questions, please contact us ( info[at]avh.

de ) before submitting your application. We are happy to help. Please note that you may only submit your application once you have uploaded the following documents to the application form: curriculum vitae (two pages max) research outline (five pages max) complete list of your publications (cf.

sample list , PDF) list of key publications (cf.

sample list , PDF) doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that this will be the case within the next six months German language certificate, if required if required: acceptance form and/or publisher’s acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in German or English In addition : host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available, as well as two expert reviews.

Please note that these documents can only be uploaded in a protected area by the host(s) and expert reviewers personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded. Further information and explanations can be found on the application form.

As soon as we have received your online application, we will send you written confirmation by email. After reviewing your documents, we will notify you of the expected selection date. The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every February, June and October .

Please send your completed application form, including any additional documents required, well in advance of the desired selection date. Applications are usually processed within four to eight months. Incomplete or inaccurate applications take longer to process and often have to be postponed to a later Selection Committee meeting.

The deadline for meeting certain formal conditions – in particular those relating to limitations on career stages and previous stays outside of eligible countries – is the date on which we receive your application. If your application is successful, you may begin your fellowship between two and twelve months after being selected. If your application is unsuccessful, we may provide you with reasons for our decision.

Please request this information informally by email. You and your host will receive a letter with the outcome of your application approximately five weeks after the decision is made. Decisions cannot be appealed.

You can, however, re-apply if you significantly improve crucial aspects of your rejected application. In the case of unanimously rejected applications, you must unfortunately wait a minimum of 18 months before re-applying. Georg Forster Research Fellows in portrait Members of the Selection Committee Feb.

/Mar. , June/July, Oct. /Nov.

acknowledgement of receipt if not eligible: formal rejection to applicant and host notification about the expected date of decision reminder about missing items, if applicable Request for independent peer reviews (usually two) allowing for potential impartiality issues Reviewed applications forwarded to selection committee members Selection committee meeting (3 times a year) information about decision to applicant and host (1—3 working days after selection meeting) delivery of award documents (approx.

4 weeks after selection meeting) upon request: information on factors that led to rejection to applicant and host (approx. 5 weeks after selection meeting) Start of fellowship (if applicable: preceding language course) min 2 to max 12 months after selection meeting The decision to award research fellowships is taken by a selection committee consisting of 15–20 researchers from various fields.

The committee’s decision is usually based on two independent peer reviews that evaluate your personal academic credentials.

The assessment is based on the following selection criteria, depending on your career level: academic career and academic record to date (mobility, determination, thematic scope, academic productivity) quality of the key publications named in the application (originality, innovativeness, evaluation of your own contributions to publications involving several authors) originality and innovative potential of your proposed research (significance for the further development of the subject area, convincing selection of scientific methods, potential for scientific development, clear focus and feasibility within the requested sponsorship period, viability at the host institute) as well as the relevance of your research for the sustainable development of your country and/or region of origin (Please refer to the answer to the question "I am from a developing/transition country.

Should I apply for a Humboldt or Georg Forster Research Fellowship?" in our FAQ .) your future potential (academic potential, personal development, career prospects, e.g. professorial appointment) your independent research profile (for experienced researchers) The assessment also considers the individual life journey and educational background, also and especially in terms of equal opportunities and accessibility.

In past years, an average of 20 to 25 percent of applicants received fellowships. All the best for your application! I have worked in an English-speaking country for several years.

Do I need an English language certificate? No, an English language certificate is not required. Can I apply before I have completed my doctorate?

You may apply if you will complete your doctorate within the next six months. If selected, you must complete your doctorate before commencing the research fellowship. Please note that your application will be rejected for formal reasons if your dissertation has not been published and you do not have any further academic publications at the time of application.

It is either not customary or not possible to take a doctorate in my country of origin. Can I apply? You can apply if you can prove that your academic performance is equivalent to a Ph.

D. , e.g. by academic publications in internationally reviewed journals and publishing houses. Should this be the case, you may apply to the programme for experienced researchers, however, only until up to 16 years after you obtained your first university degree (Master's degree, Diploma, etc.).

It is, furthermore, possible to apply to the programme for experienced researchers if you hold an academic position that is equivalent to or higher than Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer / Reader etc., regardless of the date of your first university degree, within the first twelve years of working in this position. Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you ( info[at]avh. de ).

What determines the date of a doctorate? The relevant date is that of completing the final academic part of the doctoral process (e.g., defence of thesis, doctoral viva). This date will usually be included on your doctoral certificate alongside the date of issue.

The key date for calculating the period following your doctorate is the date on which your application is received by the Humboldt Foundation. Which date is valid if I have several doctorates? In the case of multiple doctorates, the effective date is that of the first doctoral degree (PhD/CSc.)

My doctorate was completed less than four years ago. Can I apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers? Yes.

You should, however, already have a clearly recognisable own research profile and, as a rule, be working at the level of at least assistant professor or junior research group leader, or have a record of several years of independent scientific work. My doctorate was completed more than four years ago. Can I apply for a fellowship for postdocs?

We cannot consider your application for a fellowship for postdocs if your doctorate was completed more than four years ago. In case you already have a clearly recognisable own research profile and, as a rule, are working at the level of at least assistant professor or junior research group leader, or have a record of several years of independent scientific work, you can apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers.

If you have passed the deadline, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave). Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you ( info[at]avh. de ).

I obtained my doctorate more than twelve years ago. Can I still apply for a fellowship for experienced researchers? We cannot consider your application if you obtained your doctorate more than twelve years ago.

If you have missed the deadline, an exception may be made in well-founded cases (e.g. recognition of parental leave). Please send us your CV and a list of your publications before you apply so we can advise you ( info[at]avh. de ).

How will child-rearing periods be considered in the application process? Periods in which you interrupted your academic activities after completing your doctorate in order to rear children may be taken into account as career breaks after examination. The proportionate offsetting of such periods is also possible.

Please always indicate child-rearing periods when filling in our application form. Mothers can claim two extra years for each child born after their PhD plus any further verifiable parenting periods. Fathers and other persons responsible for raising children are only credited with verifiable parenting periods.

In general, postdocs may apply up to four years, and experienced researchers up to twelve years after completing their doctorates. Recognized child-rearing periods may correspondingly extend these maximum timeframes during which the submission of applications is possible. The extension is limited to 6 years.

Please contact info[at]avh. de if you have any questions. Which other career breaks are considered in the application process?

Periods in which you interrupted your academic activities after completing your doctorate in order to perform military or alternative service, to care for close relatives, due to long-term illness, or, for example, to care for children or due to the closure of institutes during a lockdown imposed to control an epidemic may be taken into account as career breaks after examination.

The proportionate offsetting of such career breaks is also possible. Please always indicate career breaks when filling in our application form. Job hunting, unemployment and non-academic employment do not count as career breaks.

In general, postdocs may apply up to four years, and experienced researchers up to twelve years after completing their doctorates. Recognized career breaks may correspondingly extend these maximum timeframes during which the submission of applications is possible. The extension is limited to 6 years.

Please contact info[at]avh. de if you have any questions. Are child-rearing periods taken into account in the assessment of academic achievements?

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 you partially or completely interrupted your academic activities after finishing your doctorate in order to rear children.

The voluntary disclosure of private circumstances may help increase equal opportunities during the selection process. The consideration of your personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of your academic achievements. Please contact info[at]avh.

de if you have any questions. Are other career breaks taken into account in the assessment of academic achievements? 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 you partially or completely interrupted your academic activities after finishing your doctorate in order to perform military or alternative service, to care for close relatives, due to long-term illness, or, for example, to care for children or due to the closure of institutes during a lockdown imposed to control an epidemic.

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 your personal circumstances allows for a fairer assessment of your academic achievements.

Please contact info[at]avh. de if you have any questions. Are career paths assessed individually in terms of barriers to equal opportunities, accessibility and mobility?

Equal opportunities and diversity are important pillars of the Humboldt Foundation’s funding policies. If your career path has been impacted by personal limitations or structural issues, e.g. difficult research conditions, gender-specific discrimination or cultural barriers to mobility, please include this information so that such circumstances can be taken into consideration in your favour.

You can find the Humboldt Foundation’s statement on equal opportunities as well as information on the support we provide under Equal opportunities for researchers . I am from a developing/transition country. Should I apply for a Humboldt or Georg Forster Research Fellowship?

If your primary life focus (nationality and permanent residence) is in a developing or transition country (see list of countries ) and your research is of relevance for that country’s (or region’s) further development (see examples below), we recommend that you apply for a George Forster Research Fellowship.

A persuasive presentation of your work’s relevance for development in your region is one of the key criteria used when your application is evaluated. For projects that would be classified as basic research, we recommend applying for a Humboldt Research Fellowship. Should your programme search yield both the Humboldt Research Fellowship and the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, please use the Programme Compass for further guidance.

Examples of applications that are relevant to development: Example 1: Food security for children in Nigeria Food contaminated with mycotoxins, which are toxic metabolites produced by mould, presents a major challenge for people in Nigeria. As part of her Georg Forster fellowship, a Humboldtian is using biomonitoring to establish the extent to which Nigerian children and youths are exposed to mycotoxins from the foods they eat.

She hopes this will help make food safer for Nigeria’s population. Example 2: Climate change and stressed plants Plants under heat and drought stress emit a range of volatile organic compounds. During her stay in Germany, a Humboldtian from Latin America is researching the impact of these emissions on air quality and changes to the climate.

The results will be used to develop sustainable adaptation and prevention strategies specifically for her region of origin, providing political stakeholders with a solid scientific basis for decision-making. Example 3: Theoretical physics in Cameroon A physicist from Cameroon is conducting research into the highly topical and dynamic issue of quantum many-particle systems out of equilibrium.

As he works with a leading West African centre of mathematics and is highly committed to teaching, his research in theoretical physics sets an example for junior academics, contributing significantly to the inclusion of African countries in basic research developments and the establishment of this subject area in Cameroon.

The topic is moreover relevant to applications in quantum technologies, especially in quantum information – a recent advancement in solid-state physics –, which may in turn lead to potential applications around specific industrial problems.

Example 4: Improved tax enforcement through international co-operation Audits that can be conducted across borders and jointly by international teams (joint tax audits) have proven a valuable tool in the battle against tax evasion.

During her Georg Forster stay in Germany, a Humboldtian from the Republic of Moldova is examining the benefits of joint tax audits with the aim of formulating recommendations for the advancement of international tax legislation. In this way, she hopes to contribute to the integration of her country of origin into international tax law systems.

Example 5: Water reservoirs Silted-up water reservoirs are a major problem for Iran’s water supply systems. During his stay in Germany, an Iranian Humboldtian is working on methods to reduce impurities in water. His existing contacts and excellent local networks will allow him to transfer these methods to his country of origin.

Examples of applications that were rejected by the Georg Forster programme due to insufficient development relevance: Example 1: Research into neuro-degenerative diseases Neurodegenerative diseases are a huge problem for sufferers worldwide. Researching and developing suitable treatment options requires cost-intensive scientific equipment.

An applicant intended to expand his abilities regarding the use of such technology; it was however not apparent from his application how the skills to be acquired in Germany could be practically applied in his country of origin without the corresponding infrastructure. Example 2: Expanding cosmological models An applicant’s research project aimed to expand cosmological models (theoretical physics).

She had convincingly demonstrated added value for the advancement of her discipline; however, the peer review was unable to identify any relevance to societal, economic and/or political progress for science and research in the applicant’s country/region of origin.

Example 3: Developing new materials for cutting-edge photonic applications The availability of chiral chromophores, which emit circularly polarised light, is potentially of interest for a variety of applications, for example in quantum and information technology, and could therefore also be significant to the applicant’s country of origin.

It was however not possible to derive any direct impact of the envisaged findings on sustainable development for the applicant’s country of origin, as the highly advanced scientific infrastructure required for further development does not exist there. Which (virtual) mobility rules apply?

The aim of the programme is to enable highly qualified academics from developing and emerging countries to come to Germany to conduct a research stay here. Applicants should therefore be living and working in a developing or emerging country ( list of countries , PDF) at the time of application. It is expected that applicants plan to return to an eligible country.

Eligible applicants must have lived in a developing or emerging country for a minimum of 12 months in the 18-month period prior to submission of their application. Any time spent outside an eligible country within those 18 months is taken into account, regardless of duration or reason.

Individuals who, regardless of their country of origin, have supported themselves through funding from a German institution for more than six out of the last 18 months or who have worked on a doctoral project at an institution in Germany in the last 18 months are not eligible to apply.

If you are applying for a Fellowship for Experienced Researchers (more than 4 years after the PhD) and you are not resident in an eligible country (including Germany), at the time of application, you must additionally have a permanent employment in one of the eligible countries. If in doubt, please contact us before you submit your application so we can advise you ( info[at]avh. de ).

Can I apply if I completed my schooling and a university degree, or a university degree and a doctorate, in Germany? If you completed your schooling and a university degree, or a university degree and a doctorate, in Germany, you are a so-called educational resident and are eligible to apply provided that your uninterrupted, permanent place of residence and work has been in a developing or transition country for more than 5 years.

Educational residents are generally ineligible to apply if they have been in Germany within the last 18 months prior to receipt of their application or are already in Germany at the time of applying. If in doubt, send us a seamless CV and list of your publications so that we can then advise you ( info[at]avh. de ).

Do I need to know German in order to apply? Natural scientists and engineers: good knowledge of German or English is sufficient. Scholars in the humanities and social sciences: should have knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out their research successfully.

In this case, a German language certificate confirming proficiency must be submitted. Otherwise, a good knowledge of English is sufficient. Physicians: If the research involves work with patients, the candidate must have a good knowledge of German (language certificate required).

Otherwise, a good knowledge of English is sufficient. English or German is my native language. Do I have to submit a language certificate proving my proficiency?

No, a language certificate is not required. I'm a physician (MD / Dr. med.) Are there any special admission requirements?

You are eligible to apply if you hold a research doctorate or a comparable academic degree. In addition, please read our Admission Questionnaire for Physicians (MD / Dr. med.) for detailed information.

If you have several research doctorates, the above mentioned FAQ on the subject of "several doctorates" applies. Who can be my academic host? Any researcher working at a university (also of applied sciences) or research institution in Germany who offers to make research facilities available for the research stay may act as your host.

Please make sure that your host matches your research profile and and has the expertise necessary to support your research. If you have already worked in Germany for a longer period of time (12 months or more) you should look for a new academic environment for another guest stay in Germany.

Applications that involve returning to the supervisor of the doctoral thesis or to the mentor of a longer postdoctoral stay are generally rejected by the Selection Committee on the basis of a lack of further independent academic development. Individuals with whom you are in a close personal (marriage or civil partnership) or familial (parents, siblings, children) relationship cannot be selected as hosts. How can I find an academic host?

You are free to choose your own academic host. The Humboldt Foundation does not provide any direct support in finding a host. We would like to draw your attention to the following search engines for hosts and research institutes: Institutes at German universities and other research institutions Searchable Portal (GERiT) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Academic Exchange