Einstein Postdoctoral Grant
Program for the recruitment and retention of excellent postdocs in Berlin in three funding variants (Starting Researcher, Independent Researcher, Professorship Track). Applications can be submitted at any time through the eligible Berlin institutions.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The Einstein Postdoctoral Grant enables the Einstein Foundation Berlin to support outstanding postdocs in a critical career phase with independent research work in Berlin, strengthens their scientific ties to the location, and increases the likelihood of their remaining within the Berlin scientific community.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses (TV-L E13–E15 or W2 equivalent)
- Material resources
- Minor investments
- Training measures (language courses, training sessions)
- Travel expenses
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Non-eligible expenses
- Basic equipment (office/laboratory equipment)
- Overhead costs
- Incidental costs of scholarships
- Moving expenses
- Childcare flat rate
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Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Application only through eligible institutions (FU Berlin, HU Berlin, TU Berlin, UdK Berlin, Charité)
- Candidates from domestic and international
- PhD completed max. four years ago (Starting Researcher)
- PhD completed four to twelve years ago (Independent Researcher)
- PhD completed four to eight years ago (Professorship Track)
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Documents required for application
- Application form (Word/PDF)
- Financial plan (Excel)
- Usage guidelines (PDF)
- Code of the Einstein Foundation (PDF)
- Guidelines on equality and diversity
- Candidate's curriculum vitae
- Project description
- Letter of support from the institution
- Budget and financing plan
Evaluation criteria
- Scientific excellence of the candidate
- Relevance and viability of the research project
- Career prospects and connection to Berlin
- Quality of institutional support
Description
The Einstein Postdoctoral Grant is aimed at outstanding postdoctoral researchers who wish to commence independent project work at Berlin research institutions during a critical career phase. In the three funding variants Einstein Starting Researcher, Einstein Independent Researcher, and Einstein Professorship Track, up to 72 months of funding is available: personnel costs (TV-L E13–E15 or W2-equivalent), project-related material resources and minor investments, travel expenses, organization of scientific exchange formats, as well as training measures. The Einstein Foundation Berlin aims to strengthen the scientific excellence and institutional affiliation of the grantees and to increase their long-term retention probability within the Berlin science system. Applications can be submitted continuously through one of the eligible institutions – Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Universität der Künste Berlin, or Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
English-language application documents are required, including an application form with a detailed funding plan, project description, and a letter of support from the institution. Funding prerequisites include a doctoral degree and career stage classification (maximum four years since completion for Starting Researchers, four to twelve years for Independent Researchers, four to eight years for the Professorship Track), as well as participation in equality and diversity guidelines. Evaluation criteria are scientific excellence, feasibility of the research project, career prospects, and the quality of institutional support. Excluded from funding are overhead costs, basic equipment, major equipment over €500,000, as well as relocation costs, incidental scholarship expenses, and childcare allowances. The Einstein Foundation Berlin continuously supports excellent early-career researchers and thus contributes to the profiling and networking of Berlin as an international research location.
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