FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28

Description

The Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) at the University of Freiburg is accepting applications for the FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme for the 2027/28 academic year. Designed to support postdoctoral scholars across various disciplines, this initiative offers researchers dedicated time and institutional resources to pursue independent, high-impact research projects.

Selected fellows become part of a vibrant, international academic community in Germany. The programme fosters interdisciplinary communication and provides full access to university libraries, advanced research facilities, and collaborative networks.

Fellowship Value and Benefits

The FRIAS Early Career Fellowship provides a comprehensive financial and operational support package tailored to the fellow's employment situation.
Employment or Financial Compensation: Selected candidates will receive a university employment contract or alternative financial compensation based on individual circumstances.
Research Funding: A dedicated research allowance is granted to cover project-related costs.
Travel Coverage: Funding includes reimbursement for inbound and outbound travel expenses to and from Freiburg, where applicable.
Institutional Support: Access to dedicated office space, university libraries, research equipment, and academic networking opportunities.

Qualification & Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the fellowship, applicants must fulfill every item in the following criteria:
Degree & Experience: Hold a completed PhD degree with a maximum of eight years of post-doctoral research experience.
Publication Record: Must have published at least four peer-reviewed scientific works since 1 January 2022.
International Mobility: Candidates must have completed at least six months of academic study or research at an institution in a country different from where they obtained their first degree.
Eligible Fields & Citizenship: Open to researchers of all nationalities and across all academic disciplines supported by the University of Freiburg.
Presence Requirement: Full-time physical presence in Freiburg is required throughout the duration of the fellowship, as external fieldwork cannot be funded.

Key Details & Structure

Target Audience: Postdoctoral and early-career researchers.
Fellowship Duration: 4 to 10 months between 1 September 2027 and 31 August 2028.
Selection Rate: Highly competitive, merit-based selection process with an estimated 5% success rate.
Application Deadline: 18 September 2026 at 13:00 CET.

Application Procedure

Prospective fellows must apply directly through the FRIAS online portal using the following process:

Prepare Application Materials:
- Updated CV in tabular form using the mandatory FRIAS template.
- Detailed project proposal (maximum 3,000 words including footnotes and references, with up to 4 graphs/figures) adhering to the portal structure.
- A publication list (maximum 8 publications total), explicitly including 4 peer-reviewed works published after 1 January 2022.
- Copy of the doctoral diploma.
- Contact details of two academic evaluators personally familiar with the applicant's work.
- For Experimental Scientists: A formal letter of support from a host laboratory at the University of Freiburg, alongside an experimental sketch and timeline.
Complete Online Submission:
- Fill in personal details, abstract, layperson summary, motivation statement, and ethics declaration in the application portal, then upload all required PDF attachments.
- Submit Prior to Deadline:
- Ensure all materials are finalized and submitted before 18 September 2026, 13:00 CET.