Scholarship Program (Postdoctoral Researchers/Junior Professors) of the Daimler and Benz Foundation
Annually, the Daimler and Benz Foundation awards twelve discipline-independent scholarships of €50,000 each over two years for postdoctoral researchers and junior professors. Use is flexible, e.g., for assistants, equipment, travel, or conferences. Application portal open from 01.06.2026 to 30.09.2026.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The goal of the program is to strengthen the autonomy and creativity of the next generation of scientists and to facilitate the transition of dedicated researchers into the productive phase after their doctorate by providing financial freedom.
Eligible expenses
- Research trips
- Participation in conferences
- Organization of own conferences
- Employment of scientific assistants
- Computers and laboratory equipment
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Non-eligible expenses
- Coverage of personal living expenses
- Overhead costs of the research institution
- Consumables (basic chemicals, office supplies)
Eligible to apply
- Individuals
Funding requirements
- PhD should have been completed only a few years ago
- Applicants must be postdoctoral researchers or junior professors in a leadership position
- Fixed-term employment contract or other assurance of livelihood
- Institutional affiliation with a German scientific institution
- Application in German or English
Documents required for application
- Proof of institutional affiliation
- Project title and description for expert reviewers
- Brief description for non-specialist reviewers
- Rough project timeline
- Tabular overview of the use of funding
- Tabular CV with academic career
- Copies of master's and doctoral certificates
- Two confidential letters of recommendation
Evaluation criteria
- Proof of scientific autonomy
- Innovation and research quality of the project
- Interdisciplinary exchange within the fellows network
Description
The Daimler and Benz Foundation annually supports twelve outstanding postdoctoral researchers and junior professors in leadership positions at German research institutions with a two-year grant of €50,000 each. The funds can be used flexibly – for example, for temporary employment of scientific assistants, technical equipment, research trips, conference participation, or organizing one’s own conferences. In addition to professional expertise, particular emphasis is placed on demonstrable research autonomy and interdisciplinary exchange within the growing network of fellows, which is fostered through regular meetings in Ladenburg. Applications are open across disciplines and are especially intended to attract candidates from the humanities, social sciences, and cultural studies. Requirements include an institutional affiliation with a scientific institution in Germany, a fixed-term employment contract (or other means of securing living expenses), and an independent research project whose doctoral degree was completed only a few years ago.
The online portal opens on June 1, 2026, and closes on September 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m.). In addition to information on the project title, methodology, and timeline, tabular CVs, concepts for the use of the funding, as well as two confidential letters of recommendation in German or English must be submitted. The selection process includes a pre-selection based on scientific quality and innovation potential, as well as video conferences with reviewers both within and outside the applicant’s field. The fellowships are scheduled to start in March 2027 and enable the funded researchers to fully focus on their research during the productive postdoctoral phase.
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