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Volkswagen Stiftung Freigeist Fellowship 2018

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Eligibility

PhD holders

Region

Germany

Award

Up to EUR 2.2 Million

Deadline

Closed

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About The Program

Volkswagen Stiftung Freigeist Fellowship 2018 is inviting applications from early career researchers who hold a PhD degree in any discipline for no longer than 4 years. The fellowship aims at providing complete financial support to exceptional research personalities to carry out risk-taking and visionary research projects at the intersections between established fields of research.

EligibilityDeadline Date: Closed
  • Students, who have completed their PhD not more than four years ago but also, at least one year ago at the time of application deadline.
  • The applicant is willing to get integrated into a university or an extra-mural research institution in Germany from the beginning of the fellowship.
  • The applicant had previously completed a research with temporary stay in abroad, at the latest integrated with the proposed research project.
  • The applicant has to change his academic environment and move to a new location by the time of commencement of fellowship. The applicants have to emancipate themselves from their doctoral supervisor to get ready to develop an individual research profile.
Benefits
  • A total of 10 to 15 fellowships will be awarded that encompasses two different funding phases with a maximum funding of up to EUR 2.2 million for up to eight years. 
  • The first phase of funding encompasses either five or six years with maximum funding of EUR 1.8 million.
  • The second phase of funding encompasses either two or three years with funding ranging from EUR 0.5 million to EUR 1 million.

Click here, for more information on fellowship award.

Documents
  • Cover letter of maximum two pages including the self-assessment: "Why Freigeist?" 
  • Summary of the project in English (max. one page)
  • Summary of the project in Germany (max. one page)
  • Illustrative and creative presentation of the project in layman’s terms (e.g. video, podcast, newspaper article etc., max. 2 minutes/1 page).
  • Self-assessment: “Why Freigeist?“ – Explanation of how the proposal fits with the aims and character of the funding initiative (max. one page).
  • A project proposal, in not more than 15 pages containing 
  • List of references/bibliography
  • Justification of the budget
  • An updated CV and list of publications
  • Copy of doctoral degree award/PhD certificate
  • Binding declaration on the part of the host institution in English (if possible)
How can you apply?

Step 1: Click here, to open the application registration page.
Step 2: Fill in the required details and click on register to complete the process.
Step 3: Please click on the activation link sent to applicant's registered email address to register successfully.
Step 4: Log in to the registered account when directed to login page after clicking the activation link.
Step 5: Click on new application tab on the right side to start the application.
Step 6: Fill and upload the required details and click submit to complete the application.

More Details
Important Dates

Application Deadline: October 11, 2018

Announcement of Results: Within 9 months from deadline

Selection Criteria

The fellows will be selected on the basis of following criteria -

  • Applicant’s personal qualifications.
  • The scientific quality and originality of the project.
  • The accuracy of fit between the project proposal, applicant’s personal profile and aims of the funding initiative.
  • Capability for independent research.
  • The potential for breakthroughs, new methodological approaches, interdisciplinary cooperation.
  • A constructive approach to possible risks.

Note: The number of grants depends on the quality of the applications and the project matching the aims of the funding initiative.

Important documents
FAQsFellowship Information
Terms and Conditions
  • The fellowship will be given to the host research institution on behalf of the selected candidate.
  • Applications have to be submitted in English, as the review panel is recruited internationally.
  • The selected fellows are expected to participate in academic teaching (including examinations), involving generally a teaching load of between two and four weekly hours per semester.
  • They are also expected to participate in academic self-administration. This is also applicable for fellows affiliated to extramural research institutions.

Click here, for more information.

Contact Details

Volkswagen Stiftung,
Kastanienallee 35 30519,
Hannover, Germany
Humanities and Social Sciences: brumberg@volkswagenstiftung.de
Natural and Engineering Sciences/Medicine: grewe@volkswagenstiftung.de

Important Links
FAQ's

Q: How is the four-year period calculated?
A: At least one year and no more than four years should have elapsed since the award of the applicant’s PhD degree. The four-year period is calculated by considering the date of the thesis defence or doctoral viva in relation to the application deadline.

Q: Can periods of parental leave or non-academic employment be credited to the four-year deadline?
A: Yes, time for parental leave or for non-academic employment can be added to the four-year period after completion of the doctoral dissertation. Applicants are advised to seek clarification before submitting their proposals.

Q: Is one eligible to apply if one is already a junior group leader or holds a junior professorship?
A: An application of junior group leaders or junior professors is only possible if he/she resigns from his/her current position to start a completely new ‘Freigeist’ project at a new institution. The funding, enlargement or extension of an existing junior research group is not possible.

Q: What are the rules regarding travel expenses connected with attending conferences?
A: Fellows can apply for a maximum amount of EUR 2,000 p.a. to cover travel expenses incurred in connection with attending conferences; the maximum amount for Postdoctoral is EUR 1,500 p.a.; for PhD candidates, it is EUR 1,000 p.a.

Click here, for more information.

Disclaimer

  • Source of Information: Buddy4Study app compiles details on scholarships/fellowships from government websites and private scholarship sources. Links to the official sources accompany each listing detail pages.
  • Non-affiliation: The Buddy4Study app is not associated with any government entity in India or elsewhere. When featuring government scholarships, we rely on publicly accessible information from central and state government websites in India.
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