Junior Research Group Leadership "STEM for the Environment"

The junior research group leadership "STEM for the Environment" of the Vector Foundation is aimed at excellent postdoctoral researchers (PhD completed no more than five years ago) who wish to establish an independent research group at a university in Baden-Württemberg. Over a period of six years, funding of up to €1.5 million is available, covering personnel costs, material and investment expenses, as well as travel and publication costs. The goal is to qualify particularly outstanding early-career researchers for an academic career as university faculty through independent leadership of an autonomous junior research group whose research approach is methodologically innovative and contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the environmental sector.

Eligible for funding are educational institutions affiliated with a university in Baden-Württemberg; applications from domestic and international candidates are possible. Required are a clear project description (max. 5 pages), a motivation letter, a short CV, a budget plan in Excel format, and an official acceptance letter from the host institution. Selection is based on the criteria of independent scientific leadership, degree of innovation, relevance to sustainable development, and integration into research and teaching. The online application must be submitted by July 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. The funding period begins in April 2027. Interested early-career researchers are offered a unique opportunity with this program to build high-caliber STEM environmental research in Baden-Württemberg with long-term support and thus lay the foundation for a professorship.