Georg Forster Research Fellowships (HERMES)

Georg Forster Research Fellowship for researchers from developing and transition countries

Attention, researchers from developing and transition countries! The Georg Forster Research Fellowship supports you – postdoctoral and experienced researchers – with your research in Germany.

Through the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation sponsors researchers with above-average qualifications and from all fields. These researches must come from developing and transition countries – excluding PR China and India (see list of countries, PDF). As a fellow, you will benefit from individual support from the Humboldt Foundation and our diverse sponsorship portfolio.

Benefits

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.

Postdocs

Benefit from research sponsorship in Germany at the beginning of your academic career. The Georg Forster Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers enables you to conduct research in Germany. The monthly fellowship amount is €2,670. Fellowships may last from 6 to 24 months.

Experienced researchers

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 €3,170. Fellowships may last from 6 to 18 months and can be divided into up to three stays within three years.

Register now and apply online or continue processing your application.

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Georg Forster Research Fellowship for researchers from developing and transition countries

Researchers from developing and transition countries, whose research has little or no direct relevance for the further development of their region of origin, should apply for the Humboldt Research Fellowship.

The Humboldt Foundation also grants the Georg Forster Research Award to internationally recognised scientists from developing and transition countries.

What we offer

Postdocs

Experienced researchers

General conditions

In addition to the fellowship amount, 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 marital partner will be able to attend an intensive German language course.

Further financial support, including family benefits for children and marital partners, subsidies for private full health insurance and allowances for travel expenses, is also available.

Alumni programmes

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 post-doctoral researchers with above-average qualifications from developing or transition countries. Your research must address questions relevant to the further development of your region of origin, regardless of your field.

Postdocs

Did you complete your doctorate – or equivalent academic qualification – during the last four years? Or are you within six months of submitting your doctoral thesis 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 postdoctoral researchers.

Experienced researchers

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.

How to apply

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.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Georg Forster Research Fellowships (HERMES) 2021

Application Deadline: 15 June 2015.

In providing Georg Forster Research Fellowships (HERMES) for postdoctoral researchers, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad who are just embarking on their academic careers and who completed their doctorates less than four years ago to spend extended periods of research (6-24 months) in Germany.

The research fellowship programme is financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung–BMZ) and co-financed by the European Union ( EU) in the 7th Framework Programme.

Send us your application,

if you are a researcher with above average qualifications in a developing or transition country (see list of countries),
if you intend to carry out long-term research of your own choice (6 to 24 months) at a research institution in Germany together with an academic host you have chosen yourself,
if your research outline includes aspects that are important for the continued development of your country or region of origin and
if you want to contribute to the exchange of knowledge and methods between Germany and your country of origin.

A candidate’s academic eligibility is assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

academic record and academic performance to date (mobility, determination, breadth of research activities, academic productivity)
quality of key publications specified in the application (originality, degree of innovation, applicant’s contribution in cases of multiple authorship)
originality and innovation potential of the suggested research outline (significance for the advancement of the discipline, convincing choice of academic methods, prospects for academic development of the applicant, clear focus and feasibility of realization within the requested funding period and at the chosen host institution)
the applicant’s future potential (academic potential, further academic development, career prospects)

Application requirements

Doctorate or comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent), completed less than four years prior to the date of application.
Candidates who have nearly completed their doctoral degrees are eligible to apply provided that they submit the manuscript of their dissertation or publications containing the results of their dissertation, however, at the earliest, 6 months prior to the completion of their dissertation
Academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and/or by publishing houses.
Choice of a research outline of major relevance to the future development of the candidate’s country or region of origin
Confirmation that research facilities are available and mentoring agreement and a detailed expert’s statement including a statement on ethical issues concerning the planned research stay by an academic host at a research institution in Germany.
Expert reviews from the doctoral supervisor and two other academics qualified to give well- founded comments on the applicant’s qualification, preferably including reviewers not working at the applicant’s own institute

Benefits:

In addition, the Humboldt Foundation grants up to four Georg Forster Research Awards every year to leading researchers from developing countries.
a monthly fellowship of 2,650 EUR for postdoctoral researchers (doctorate completed within the last four years) or 3,150 EUR for experienced researchers (doctorate completed within the last 12 years),
a flexible starting date and – for experienced researchers – the option of splitting the fellowship up into a maximum of three stays,
individual mentoring during the sponsorship period,
intensive German language course for fellows and their marital partners prior to the fellowship,
additional financial support for accompanying family members, for example, or for items like travel expenses or pension plans and
comprehensive alumni sponsorship once the research stay has come to an end, such as a Return Fellowship or further stays in Germany.

Application and selection procedure

Applications can be submitted at any time from 01/07/2013 to mid-2015 using the following address:

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Selection Department

Jean-Paul-Str. 12, 53173 Bonn, Germany

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Georg Forster Research Fellowships (HERMES) for postdoctoral researchers