IScO Newsletter May 2025

News and Announcements from IScO

• IScO´s International BBQ at KIT International Guesthouse 
• IScO´s Frühjahrsmess (Spring Fair) "Get Together"
• IScO´s excursion to Strasbourg
• Empowerment Workshop for Students and Doctoral Candidates with Experiences of Racism

News and Announcements from KIT

• International Excellence Talk: Urban Forestry in Service to Society and Education - Building Mutual Pathways of Learning by Colleen Murphy Dunning
• International Excellence Talk: New perspectives on electro-optic electron beam diagnostics at accelerators by Prof. Ingrid Wilke
• E-Learning Courses: FIT-Career Modules
• Agile Project Management Online Workshop
• From Postdoc to Professorship!? Academic Career Options, Requirements, and Strategies for Your Next Steps (Online)
• Welcome Event for Doctoral Researchers
• Dissertation Prize of the Friedrich and Elisabeth Boysen Foundation
• Shut Up and Write! (10-week on-site writing course)
• Events organized by PEBA-CDM
• KHYS - Aspirant Grant

External News and Announcements 

• Events in Karlsruhe
• HUMANE - Study Visit Southeast Asia 2025
• STEP USA - Female Founders Program
• DAAD Visiting Lecturer Program - Online Info Session
• DAAD - Congress Travel Program
• Helmholtz office Beijing - Online Consultation 
• Helmholtz Associate Postdoc Network 
• DFG funding opportunities - Info Talks
• DFG Information for the science community

Current Calls for Proposal

• Université Franco-Allemande (UFA) – Deutsch-Französische Hochschule (DFH) 
• Ambassade de France en Allemagne / DAAD
• DAAD-Postdoc-Program PRIME – Call for Applications
• Digital GreenTalents Award 2025
• Technologies of the Future - Call for Applications
• Eucor - Seed Money 2025
• EPICUR Seed Funding
• KHYS - Research Travel Grant
• Scholarship program of the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament - 2nd Call for Applications
• JSPS-DFG-2025: Japanese-German Joint Call for Proposals in "Condensed Matter Physics"
• Azrieli International Fellowships
• AvH - Henriette Herz Scouting Program 

International BBQ at KIT International Guesthouse 

We would like to invite you and your friends, family and colleagues to our 
International BBQ on the roof top terrace of our KIT Guesthouse.
 
Enjoy a relaxed get-together where cultures, conversations, and cuisines come together!
Bring your favorite dish, enjoy grilled food, and connect with fellow researchers from around the world. Whether you're new in town or just love a good barbecue, this is the perfect chance to meet, mingle, and celebrate summer in an international atmosphere.

Event details: 

• Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
• Time: from 05:00 PM
• Venue: KIT International Guesthouse, (Reinhold Frank Str. 48c), 4th floor (rooftop)
• Costs: We provide the drinks (sold at very moderate prices) and some basic side dishes. Please bring your own food to put onto the BBQ! Salads or typical food from your home country are also very welcome!
• Registration: Registration required. Please also register any friends, colleagues or children that you plan to bring along. The event only takes place in good weather conditions. In case of bad weather, we have to cancel the event since it´s a outdoor place.

If questions arise, please write us an e-mail. 
Please feel free to share this offer among your network!

IScO's excursion to the Spring Fair in Karlsruhe

We’re excited to invite you to a quintessential German experience: the Frühjahrsmess in Karlsruhe on May 31, 2025! This vibrant spring fair is a beloved tradition, offering a perfect blend of fun, food, and festivities.​

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 2 PM.
• Location: Messplatz, Durlacher Allee, Karlsruhe
• Admission: Free entry! Please note that all attendees are responsible for their own expenses at the fair.​
• Registration: Required

What to Expect:

• Thrilling Rides: Experience the excitement of roller coasters, the Ferris wheel, and the "Airborne" ride, which spins riders 65 meters above the ground at speeds up to 120 km/h. ​
• Classic Attractions: Enjoy traditional fair rides like bumper cars and carousels.
• Delicious Food Stalls: Savor local specialties such as bratwurst, langos, and sweet treats like cotton candy and gingerbread hearts. ​
• Fun Games: Try your luck at various game booths and win prizes. ​
• Festive Atmosphere: Immerse yourself in the lively ambiance with music and entertainment throughout the day.​

We are looking forward to meeting you!

If questions arise, please write us an e-mail. 
Please feel free to share this offer among your network!

IScO´s excursion to Strasbourg

Join IScO’s excursion to Strasbourg for a guided walking tour through the historic heart of the city – a city where French and German culture blend beautifully! Strasbourg is not only famous for its stunning UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, but also for its role as the seat of the European Parliament.

On this two hour English-language tour, you’ll discover the charming old town, admire the impressive Strasbourg Cathedral, and learn about the city’s unique political and cultural history at the crossroads of Europe.

Whether you’re new to the region or simply curious to learn more, this tour offers fresh perspectives and local insights.

• Date & Time: June 14, 2025, the tour in Strasbourg starts at noon, but we will meet at 8:30 AM at the Karlsruhe main station. We will take the train from Karlsruhe at 09:07 AM.
• Venue: Strasbourg
• Cost: 10 € per person for the guided tour. No train ticket is included in this price.

  • If you have a Deutschlandticket, you can use it up to Appenweier, where we will change trains.
    From Appenweier to Strasbourg, you will need to buy a separate ticket. This currently costs around €10 one way.
    The same applies for the return journey (local train, no TGV).

  • If you do not have a Deutschlandticket, a single train ticket from Karlsruhe to Strasbourg currently costs around €28 one way.
    The same applies for the return journey (local train, no TGV).

• Registration: Registration required. Please also register any friends, colleagues or children that you plan to bring along in a separate form (for organizational reasons). 

We are looking forward to meeting you!

If questions arise, please write us an e-mail. 
Please feel free to share this offer among your network!

Empowerment Workshop for Students and Doctoral Candidates with Experiences of Racism

Are you a student or doctoral candidate affected by (institutional) racism or micro aggressions?
Then this workshop could be exactly what you need to empower yourself and exchange ideas with other people affected in a safe space.

Do you sometimes feel alone or isolated with your experiences of racism?
Then this empowerment workshop could be an opportunity to connect with others who have had similar experiences.

Would you like to learn how to activate your existing resources and use your strengths to set effective boundaries and demand respect?
Then this workshop could help you to develop strategies to strengthen your self-awareness and make you more self-confident.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, June 6, 2025 from 1:30 PM to 5 PM 
• Location: KIT Campus South
• Workshop Language: German, but contributions in English will be understood
• Registration: Required via e-mail.

For further questions, please contact Daniela Rüden. 
Please feel free to share this offer among your network!

International Excellence Talk: New perspectives on electro-optic electron beam diagnostics at accelerators by Prof. Dr. Ingrid Wilke, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA)

As International Excellence Fellow of KIT, Prof. Dr. Ingrid Wilke will give an overview in her International Excellence Talk on electro-optic detection of electric fields from relativistic electron beams using a novel LNOI-THz sensor.

Electro-optic detection of electric fields from relativistic electron beams is key for diagnostics in advanced accelerators. This presentation introduces a compact, thin-film lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) time-domain THz sensor. Using microfabricated optical waveguides in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer with oppositely poled arms, the device efficiently detects transient fields. Its fully dielectric, fiber-integrated design enables high-level functionality in a miniaturized format, replacing conventional bulk optics.

Event details:

• Date: May 27, 2025
• Time: 3 PM (CEST)
  Location: KIT Campus North, Building KARA 348,  Room 4.2.06 or join with Zoom
• Language: English
• Registration: Registration is not required for this event.

Learn more about the talk on "New perspectives on electro-optic electron beam diagnostics at accelerators". 
If you have any questions, please contact Elena Pfeifer.

International Excellence Talk: Urban Forestry in Service to Society and Education - Building Mutual Pathways of Learning by Colleen Murphy Dunning, Yale School of Environment (YSE), USA

As International Excellence Fellow of KIT, Colleen Murphy-Dunning presents the community-based urban forestry model of the Urban Resources Initiative in New Haven, Connecticut, as the subject of her International Excellence Talk.

The Urban Resources Initiative (URI) based at the Yale School of the Environment engages Yale students in a community-driven urban forestry approach to plant trees, restore green spaces, and invest in green infrastructure in New Haven, CT. Colleen Murphy-Dunning will discuss their model of community-centered urban forestry as both an educational opportunity and means of substantive local partnership with local government and civil society. The cornerstone of URI’s approach is listening and responding to community identified needs, such as responding to a call for employment and creating a garden of healing to counter the pain of gun violence. Central to this work are environmental stressors such as stormwater-related flooding and urban heat islands, which disproportionately affect underserved neighborhoods.

Event details:

• Date: June 30, 2025
• Time: 09:45 AM  to 12:00 AM (CEST)
• Location: Seminar Room 418, ITAS-KIT, Karlstr. 11, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany or join with Zoom
• Language: English
• Registration: Registration is not required for this event.

Learn more about the talk on "Urban Forestry in Service to Society and Education - Building Mutual Pathways of Learning".
If you have any questions, please contact Elena Pfeifer.

E-Learning Courses: FIT-Career Modules

Expand your academic and professional skill set with the ongoing FIT-Career modules offered by Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS). The modules are designed specifically for doctoral researchers and postdocs. These workshops offer valuable insights into publishing, science communication, industry, and leadership.

Available Courses: 

Module: Getting Published
Language: English
Target Group: Doctoral researchers and postdocs

Module: Basics of Science Communication
Language: German and English
Target Group: Doctoral researchers and postdocs

Module: Conferences, Presenting and Networking. Communicating Your Research with Impact
Language: English
Target Group: Doctoral researchers and postdocs

Module: Short-Cuts to Industry: Initial Insights into Communication
(including Moderating, Negotiations, Storytelling etc.)
Language: German and English
Target Group: Doctoral researchers and postdocs

Module: Short-Cuts to Industry: Initial Insights into Management Methods
(including Project Managing, Design Thinking etc.)
Language: German and English
Target Group: Doctoral researchers and postdocs

Module: Short-Cuts to Industry: Initial Insights into Leadership
(including New to the Leadership Role, Giving Feedback, Team Development etc.)
Language: German and English
Target Group: Doctoral researchers and postdocs

Learn more about the E-Learning Courses of the KHYS.  

Agile Project Management Online Workshop

This event is open to doctoral researchers and postdocs at KIT who are KHYS members. If you are currently not yet a member of KHYS, you can register here.

Agile project management allows running projects in changing and uncertain environments. Originally developed in the IT sector, agile project management is now widely used across various fields to respond flexibly and effectively to evolving conditions.

This one-day workshop introduces participants to the core ideas and principles of agile project management. The workshop offers the opportunity to use specific tools in practice to better understand the agile project management approach by using these applications. Additionally, you’ll explore IT tools such as Jira and Trello. Beyond theoretical input, the workshop emphasizes practical application through hands-on exercises, enabling participants to actively engage and apply what they learn.

The workshop will also provide a better understanding of SCRUM as a framework in the agile cosmos and its specifics. After the workshop participants will have the opportunity to further explore the workshop contents through a provided podcast and a topic-specific GPT, allowing for independent learning.

Event details

• Date: June 5, 2025
• Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Location: Online. Participants will receive further detailed information regarding the online-platform prior to the event.
• Language: English
• Costs: For KHYS members, KHYS covers the costs that incur for holding this event.
• Registration: Online registration is required for this event. 

Learn more about the online workshop on "Agile Project Management".  

From Postdoc to Professorship!? Academic Career Options, Requirements, and Strategies for Your Next Steps (Online)

This event is aimed at postdocs at KIT who are members of KHYS. If you are currently not yet a member of KHYS, you can register here.

Academic careers are risky business: as a postdoc, you have to make wide-ranging decisions about how to develop your research and your career. This workshop will help you plan your next steps.

Through short impulses from the trainer, individual research and reflection, and group discussions, the workshop will deepen your understanding of both the conditions that shape academic careers in Germany and of the opportunities and challenges of international academic careers.

Event details

• Date: May 27 & 28, 2025
• Time: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
• Location: Online. Participants will receive further detailed information regarding the online-platform prior to the event.
• Costs: For KHYS members, KHYS covers the costs that incur for holding this event.
• Registration: Online registration is required for this event. 

Learn more about the online workshop on "From Postdoc to Professorship!?".  

Dissertation Prize of the Friedrich and Elisabeth Boysen Foundation

The non-profit Friedrich and Elisabeth Boysen Foundation supports science and research, with a particular focus on environmental protection. Each year, the foundation honors an outstanding dissertation by a young researcher at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in the field of environmental technology, with a particular focus on engineering solutions aimed at optimizing energy consumption and reducing pollutants and noise. 

Who can apply?

• Early-career researchers who have completed their doctorate at a KIT department between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024 (date of the defense).
• Nominations for the award must be submitted by KIT department members. Self-nominations are not permitted.

What does the funding include?

• The prizewinner receives a one-time cash prize in the amount of EUR 5,000. Please note that the prize money may be subject to income tax and social security contributions. 

Deadline and Submission: Proposals of excellent candidates can be submitted by June 6, 2025, by e-mail to auszeichnungen@khys.kit.edu. Your contact person is Nadja Mazko.

For further information please check this Website.

Welcome Event for Doctoral Researchers

Are you a new doctoral researcher at KIT or just starting your PhD journey? This Welcome Event is the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with the services available to you and to connect with other German and international PhD students.

The event will include:

• A presentation with helpful information on how to make the most of your doctoral research period, including opportunities for research stays abroad and services available at KIT.
• Short testimonials from more advanced doctoral researchers, who will share their experiences at KIT and answer any questions you may have.
• A get-together with snacks and drinks, providing time for networking and meeting fellow doctoral researchers.

Event details

• Date: May 26, 2025
• Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
• Location: Seminar Room A+B, Building 30.95
• (Audimax, Str . am Forum 1, 76131 Karlsruhe), KIT Campus South
• Registration: Online registration is required for this event. 

Learn more about the Welcome Event for Doctoral Researchers.

Shut Up and Write! (10-week on-site writing course)

Are you a doctoral researcher or postdoc at KIT looking for dedicated time and space to make real progress on your academic writing? "Shut Up and Write!"offers a quiet, structured environment to help you stay focused and productive—whether you're working on a paper, grant proposal, or dissertation chapter.

What to expect:

• Weekly 90-minute writing sessions in a quiet, focused atmosphere
• Every other week: 15-minute expert input on topics such as writing strategies, time management, or overcoming blocks
• Optional one-on-one coaching sessions (35 minutes) to discuss writing challenges, structure, or clarity
• A space to strengthen your personal writing habits and gain momentum on your project

This is not an academic writing course—it’s a practical support format to help you get words on the page, reflect on your own process, and move your project forward.

Event details

• Date & Time: Mondays, from September 8 to November 10, 2025 from 8:00 – 9:30 Am
• Venue: Language Center (Sprachenzentrum), Room R114, KIT Campus South
• Language: English
• Costs: Covered by KHYS for its members
• Registration: Online registration is required. Due to high demand, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a spot becomes available.

If you are unable to attend a session, please inform the organziers via email so others may take your place.

Learn more about Shut Up and Write!.

If you have further questions, please contact Dr. Claire Earnshaw, Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS), via e-mail.

Events organized by the KIT Research Office 

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: DFG Emmy Noether Program

The Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG) supports early-career researchers at institutions in Germany. Over six years, scholars can qualify for a professorship while leading an independent junior research group to develop their own innovative project.

Location: Online | Information Session

Thursday, June 12, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM: How to Plan and Write a Competitive Proposal for ERC Starting Grants

Online, one-day workshop (9:00–15:30, in English) for 20 early-career researchers aiming at the ERC-2026-StG call (expected deadline: Oct 2025). For researchers 2–7 years post-PhD (extensions possible) with groundbreaking project ideas and the ambition to lead their own team.

Location: Online | Workshop
Facilitators: Dr. Thomas Koch and Dr. Brigitte Weiss-Brummer, academicfutures

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Criteria for a good DFG Proposal

In this online seminar, the KIT Research Office (FOR) will present key principles of DFG funding. A KIT professor will share insights from her experience as both a DFG reviewer and applicant. The session offers targeted guidance on DFG Individual Research Grants and insights into the review process to help align your proposal effectively.

Location: Online | Information Session

Aspirant Grant (Doctoral Researcher/Postdoc) by Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS) 

Asprirant Grant (Doc/Postdoc) enables KIT professors and research group leaders to invite promising scientists who are interested in doing research at KIT as a doctorate researcher/postdoc in the near future to spend one month on-site. During the visit, both parties receive the chance to get to know each other and to discuss the possibility of doing a doctorate/postdoc at KIT. The funding measure is part of the KHYS Postdoc Office and is sponsored by the Initiative and Networking Fund of the Helmholtz Association.

Target group: KIT professors and research group leaders

Funding: KHYS will cover the travel and accommodation expenses for the aspirant’s stay

Deadline: Applications for both measures may be handed in anytime as long as funds are available.

Contact: Denisa Kicmerova (KHYS)

Please feel free to share this offer among your network!

Events in Karlsruhe

Do you want to get in touch with other English Speaking people?:

• English-Speaking Meetup Group: Monthly Stammtisch, plus hikes and concerts. The May Stammtisch is on Tuesday, May 13, at Kaisergarten in Karlsruhe. Anyone can participate or organize, but it helps the organizers if you sign up first – and remove your name if you can no longer attend! 
• American Library Karlsruhe: Events for adults including LitNight on May 6 & 20, New(s) Views on May 13, MovieTalk on May 14 and Poetry?Please! on May 27. Events for kids & teens including Storytime in English for Kids 3 to 5 on May 14 & 28 at 4 pm, Stories for Kids 6 & Up on May 9 & 23 and TeenTime on May 9 & 23.
• Karlsruhe Toastmasters: Practice public speaking in English every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday (7:15–9:15 pm) in a friendly, supportive setting.

Do you want to improve your German?:

• Sprecht miteinander! Speak with each other!: Practice your spoken German in a relaxed atmosphere. People of similar language ability form groups moderated by a volunteer. Free and no registration required. Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Bürgerzentrum Mühlburg (BZM), Weinbrennerstr. 79a, 76185 Karlsruhe.
• The IBZ offers practice in speaking German via Skype on Mondays and in person on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. More informartion can be found on this Website.
• Other opportunities to practice speaking in German can be found on the  Integration page of the City of Karlsruhe. 

What events are coming up in Karlsruhe?:

• May 17 – 25 — EFFEKTE science festival with the motto: “Karlsruhe Visions of the Future”. Lots of free activities relating to science around the Karlsruhe Palace and throughout the city. Basler Tor in the Durlach neighborhood of Karlsruhe.
• May 18 — International Museum Day in Germany. Free admission in many of the local and regional museums including ZKM, Badische Landesmuseum (Karlsruhe Palace), Naturkundemusuem Karlsruhe (Natural History Musuem), Städtische Galerie. Special tours and other activities have been planned.

HUMANE Study Visit Southeast Asia 2025

Driving Success: Strategic Innovation through Transformative Leadership in Southeast Asian Universities

This exclusive study visit offers senior university leaders the opportunity to explore how Southeast Asia’s dynamic economic and social transformations are influencing higher education. The focus is on strategic development, internationalisation, and universities' role in regional talent strategies.

Event Details:

• Date: November 9–14, 2025
• Location: Malaysia (University of Nottingham Malaysia) & Singapore (St. Gallen Institute of Management in Asia)
• Language: English
• Target Group: Senior leaders and professionals in higher education
• Costs: €3,950 (HUMANE members) / €4,450 (non-members)
• Registration: Online registration required

Program Highlights:

• Strategic positioning of universities in the ASEAN region
• Transnational education as a driver of innovation and growth
• Industry-university collaboration for talent development
• Campus visits to institutions such as Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
• Insights into national policy visions such as Singapore’s “Smart Nation” strategy

The detailed program is available on the HUMANE website.

Important Information:

• Confirmation of participation will be sent in late spring 2025. Please do not book travel or accommodation before receiving official confirmation.
• Participants join at their own risk. HUMANE is not responsible for personal loss or damages during the visit.
• Cancellation policy:
• No fee before September 24, 2025
• 50% fee from September 25 to October 8, 2025
• 100% fee after October 9, 2025

Learn more about HUMANE Study Visit Southeast Asia 2025.
For further information, please contact HUMANE via e-mail.

STEP USA: Female Founders Program

One of the standout STEP USA formats is the STEP USA Female Founders Program — a specially curated four-day bootcamp. It will take place from June 23 to 26, 2025, in New York City.

Target group: Female founders and women in leadership from the German startup ecosystem who want to strategically prepare their expansion into the U.S. market.

Program Highlights:

• Workshops and market insight
• Pitch training session
• Networking formats with experts and investors
• A pitch night in front of an international audience in New York City

You can find more details about the program structure, application process, and eligibility criteria on the official STEP USA Female Founders Program page.

DAAD Visiting Lecturer Program: Online Info Session

The application deadline for the DAAD Visiting Lecturer Program for lectureships starting in the summer semester 2026 is approaching: July 15, 2025.

An online info session will be held on May 23, from 11:00 to 12:00 AM (CEST) to provide guidance on the application process. The session is open to all interested applicants and departments.

Interested parties are kindly asked to register informally by May 19, 2025, via e-mail. A link to the session will be sent to all registered participants in advance.

For further information you can contact Sameera Grötsch and Julia Schrey via e-mail.

Congress Travel Program by DAAD 

With funding from the Federal Foreign Office, the program promotes active participation in international scientific congresses and conferences abroad (in person and online). Active participation is encouraged. Active participation is defined as the presentation of one's own scientific contribution (poster, lecture or panel).

Target group: Postdoctoral researchers and doctoral candidates. 

Scholarship benefits:
Depending on the travel distance, you can choose from four categories of funding with different funding benefits: 

• Online participation
• Presence short distance (up to 600 km as the crow flies, excluding the United Kingdom)
• Presence medium distance (601 - 3,700 km as the crow flies, plus the United Kingdom)
• Long-haul presence (from 3,700 km as the crow flies)

These funding categories are designed to make it easier for you to participate in a climate-friendly congress.

Learn more about the Congress Travel Program by DAAD. 

Online consultation with the head of the Helmholtz office in Beijing 

This offer is aimed exclusively at researchers and employees of the KIT.

The head of our Helmholtz office in Beijing, Dr. Hong He, will be offering an online information series for all interested parties at the Helmholtz centers from September. As part of this series of events, he will share current impressions from China and information on relevant science policy developments. The format is also explicitly intended to promote a trusting exchange on practical issues and current challenges of bilateral cooperation.

We would therefore like to encourage you to send Dr. He questions, suggestions for topics or concrete case studies in advance of the dates that you are currently working on at your center and which can then be discussed together during the sessions. We apply ‘Chatham House’ rules.

The following dates are planned until the end of the year:

• Wednesday 04, June 2025
• Wednesday 02, July 2025

Zoom-dial-up data:

Time: 4th June 2025 10:00 - 11:00 AM CET
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting-ID: 671 5474 8654
Passcode: 297630

Time: 2nd July 2025 10:00 - 11:00 AM CET
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting-ID: 633 2674 6200
Passcode: 793590

Helmholtz Associate Postdoc Network (HAPN)

The network warmly invites all Helmholtz postdocs to become active members of HAPN.

Working Group 1 Communications – Responsible for fostering open communication within HAPN and with the broader Helmholtz community, ensuring postdocs stay informed about resources, initiatives, and relevant developments.

Working Group 2 Networking – Focused on building connections and organizing events that support collaboration and knowledge-sharing across institutes including career centers and Helmholtz Juniors (HeJus), as well as connecting with external organizations.

Working Group 3 Perspectives – Committed to enhancing the postdoc experience by advocating for fruitful career pathways, effective development opportunities, and consistent standards across Helmholtz Centers.

Join HAPN to build a strong, connected, and supportive network for all Helmholtz postdocs.

Learn more about HAPN.
For further questions, you can contact HAPN via e-mail.  

Info Talks on DFG Funding Opportunities for Research Careers

Germany’s largest independent research funding organisation offers funding opportunities for all career stages between doctorate and professorship. Join their online talk and get to know the DFG and its funding portfolio for postdocs. PhD candidates and postdocs of all disciplines are welcome to join!

Upcoming talks in the Prospects Series (in english):

• 26/05/2025, 03:30 - 05:00 p.m. CET – Walter Benjamin Program
• 18/07/2025, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. CET – Emmy Noether Program 
• 15/09/2025, 02:00 - 03:30 p.m. CET – DFG Funding Opportunities for Postdocs 
• 11/12/2025, 04:00 - 05:30 p.m. CET – DFG Funding Opportunities for Postdocs 

Please check this DFG Website for updates on the individual talks.

DFG Information for the scientific communitiy 

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) continues to support researchers who have fled their home countries. The aim is to enable their short-term integration into the German research system so that they can continue their academic work.

Target group: Doctoral researchers who fled their home country in the last three years can apply for a Walter Benjamin Fellowship.

Funding:

• Gain experience at a German academic institution by supervising a research project to establish a foundation for advancing in the German academic system.
• Receive individual career support from the host institution.
• Integrate into ongoing projects in various DFG funding programs.

Special Program Ukraine:

The DFG is extending the Special Program Ukraine until further notice. Through this funding opportunity, Ukrainian researchers (project leaders) who are in Ukraine and whose research is still possible can receive special support. You can find more information on the Special Program Ukraine here.

Learn more about the program on the DFG Website. 

Université Franco-Allemande (UFA) – Deutsch-Französische Hochschule (DFH) 

Different funding opportunities for double degrees*, PhD-Track programs*, preparatory meetings, doctoral colleges*, joint PhDs*, scientific events, Franco-German chairs.

Some of the funding mechanisms are open all the year.

For further questions, please write an e-mail to Manuella Werp.

Ambassade de France en Allemagne / DAAD

Procope: Franco-German Partenariat Hubert Curien (PHC)

Annual call for proposals supporting the mobility for scientific and technological cooperation between French and German research laboratories. All scientific fields are concerned by this program.

Deadline: July 2nd, 2025

For further questions, please write an e-mail to Manuella Werp.

DAAD-Postdoc-Program PRIME – Call for Applications 

The DAAD PRIME program supports postdoctoral researchers who aim to build a long-term career in Germany by funding international mobility and reintegration. 

Who can apply?
Postdocs from all disciplines with above-average qualifications who have completed their doctorate before the start of funding. There are no restrictions regarding nationality or current residence, though destination countries may be limited based on individual status.

What is funded?
An 18-month full employment contract with a German university, including a 12-month research stay abroad followed by a 6-month reintegration phase in Germany. The stay abroad may include multiple host institutions and countries. Integration into the German social security system is required.

Timeline:

• Application opens: 12 May 2025
• Deadline: 29 August 2025
• Selection: February 2026
• Start of funding: Between 1 June and 1 November 2026

You can apply via the DAAD scholarship database by selecting your subject, host country, and “Programme für: Promovierte”.

Learn more about the DAAD Postdoc Programme PRIME.
For further questions, you can contact Brid Schenkl via e-mail.

Digital GreenTalents Award 2025

Amid global climate change, digitalization holds key solutions for a sustainable future. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) sponsors the Digital GreenTalents – High Potentials in Sustainable Development Award to harness the potential of digital innovation for sustainability. This award seeks 20 talented young scientists worldwide, promoting international exchange and offering opportunities for long-term collaboration with Germany’s Digital GreenTech community.

Who can apply?

• PhD students (or recent graduates) and students in the final year of a Master's degree
• A strong focus on research topics combining digital technology and sustainability
• Not older than 30 years (time spent on childcare etc. can be considered)
• Very good English skills and above-average grades

What does the funding include?:

• Fully funded research stay in Germany in 2026 (for up to three months)
• SpringSchool in 2026 with workshops, excursions and networking
• Mentoring program
• Becoming part of the Global Digital GreenTalents network

Deadline: June 6, 2025, 02:00 PM, CES

Learn more about the Digital GreenTalents Awards here.
For further questions, you can contact the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA) via e-mail.

Technologies of the Future - Call for Applications

With the Technologies of the Future scholarship program, the French Office for Science and Technology and the Office for Cooperation and Cultural Action support the mobility of young researchers affiliated with universities or research institutions based in Germany. Students enrolled in a research master’s degree are also eligible.

What is funded?
Research stays of 1–3 months at a university or research institute in France. The stay must begin between September 1 and December 31, 2025.

Monthly lump sums:

• €2,100 for postdoctoral researchers
• €1,770 for PhD students
• €1,200 for master’s students (research-oriented)

Bonus: As part of the "Green Embassy" program, awardees using eco-friendly transport can receive: €250 travel allowance (doctoral/postdoctoral level) or €410 travel allowance (master’s level).

Deadline: June 4, 2025

How to apply?
Applications must be submitted via an online form, available on Science Allemagne. For more information, please contact info.berlin@campusfrance.org (master’s level) or attache-science.berlin-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr (doctoral or postdoctoral level).

Eucor - Seed Money 2025

Eucor – The European Campus supports cross-border teaching and research projects between the five Upper Rhine universities through its Seed Money program.

Who can apply?
Projects researchers from at least two Eucor member universities
in at least two different countries. Projects already receiving national or international funding are not eligible.

The annual call offers two funding lines:

• Teaching
• Research, Innovation & Transfer – also open to doctoral training projects

What does the funding include?
Maximum funding per project €60,000.

Deadline: September 8, 2025, 5:00 PM (CEST).
 
Further information can be found on the Eucor Homepage.
For any inquiries, you can contact Felicitas Proksch.

EPICUR Seed Funding

Got a collaborative research idea? EPICUR might fund it. The 2025 edition of the Seed Funding Scheme is now open!

Who can apply?
This seed funding scheme supports the development of ideas for research cooperation, proofs of concept, and collaborative joint research projects, in any scientific field.
Projects aligned with EPICUR's priority areas are especially encouraged. Open to researchers affiliated to one of EPICUR partner universities.

What does the funding include?
Up to 150.000€!

Deadline: September 4, 2025, 23:59 (CET)

Further information:

Join the online info session on May, 23, 2025, from 12:00–13:00 CET to ask your questions.

Learn more about EPICUR Seed Funding and the application process.

KHYS Research Travel Grant

Who can apply?

• KIT doctoral researchers & postdocs.

What does the funding include?

• Three to six-month research stay at a university or company abroad.
• Grant amount is based on the support rates of DAAD and depends on the duration of the research stay as well as the destination
• The Research Travel Grant cannot be used for participation in congresses and conferences.

Deadline: June 4, 2025. 

Learn more about the KHYS Research Travel Grant here.

Scholarship program of the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament 

Who can apply?

• All Baden-Württemberg higher education institutions. They can apply for funding for students, early-stage researchers and interns who are planning a stay in Baden-Württemberg or Israel in the scope of partnerships between higher education institution, as well as for study trips and events in this context.
• Students must be enrolled full-time at a higher education institution in Baden-Württemberg or Israel.
• Interns are eligible to apply if they are enrolled full-time at a higher education institution in Baden-Württemberg or Israel.

Funding can be requested for the following purposes:

• for studies, research projects and internships abroad of one to six months (including examination periods, provided that credits for examinations are recognized at the home institution),
• for events (workshops, symposia, conferences, etc.) and
• for study trips. 

If the application is approved, funding will be provided in 2025.

Deadline: June 16, 2025, but the call remains open until the budget is exhausted.

Application Process:
The application documents must be submitted via e-mail by the higher education institution’s rectorate or central administration with reference to the “Scholarship program of the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament”.

If you have any questions regarding the call for applications, please contact Ms. Mareen Knappe.

JSPS-DFG-2025: Japanese-German Joint Call for Proposals in "Condensed Matter Physics"

To facilitate the support of collaborative work between German and Japanese
research groups, the DFG and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
(JSPS) have opened the possibility for joint Japanese-German project
proposals in the research fields Condensed Matter Physics and Statistical
Physics, Soft Matter and Biological Physics. Joint projects within the scope of this call can only be funded if both, JSPS and DFG, finance their national parts. Up to ten projects can be funded within this call.

Who can apply?
The principal investigators on each side must be eligible to apply to their respective funding agency.

Applicants in Germany:

• The eligibility to submit a proposal follows the regulations for the DFG “Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants” funding program (DFG form 50.01).
• For members of non-university institutions with permanent positions, this includes the duty to cooperate (“Kooperationspflicht”) with a partner at a German university (DFG form 55.01).

 Applicants in Japan:

• The eligibility to submit a proposal follows the requirements of the JSPS International Joint Research Programs.
• All prospective Japanese applicants must be eligible to apply for a Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research – KAKENHI, and their affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.

Deadline:

• Please submit your English-language proposal to the DFG by June 3, 2025, following the DFG research grants program guidelines.
• First-time applicants must register in the elan portal by May 27, 2025.
• Japanese principal investigators must also send the proposal, CVs, and financial form to the JSPS by June 11, 2025, as specified by JSPS.

Learn more about JSPS-DFG-2025.

Azrieli International Fellowships Call for Applications

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Azrieli International 2026–27

The fellowship supports exceptional postdocs across all disciplines at Israeli academic institutions. Fellows receive a monthly stipend of 14,000 ILS for a duration of up to three years.

Who can apply?

• PhD awarded on or after Nov 1, 2022 (except in Israel).
• PhD candidates eligible if defense is completed by June 1, 2026.
• No academic degrees (BA, MA, PhD) from Israeli institutions allowed. Exception: former visiting or exchange students.
• Not eligible if a postdoc or academic position in Israel began before Sep 1, 2025.

Applications open on September 1, 2025, and close on November 19, 2025.

Please note that candidates for the fellowship must secure an academic sponsor in Israel before applying.

Learn more about the Azrieli International Fellowship.

DAAD - ERA Fellowships: Green Hydrogen 

The DAAD scholarship program “ERA Fellowships – Green Hydrogen” provides support for German and international PhD students and postdocs working on topics related to Green Hydrogen. It funds studies, research, and internships both in Germany and internationally.

The following funding program's are available:

• PhD students: Funding for research or training projects on Green Hydrogen at universities, research institutes, or companies (including self-organized internships). Further Information can be found on this Website.
• PostDocs: Research fellowships provide funding for a research stay abroad or a part of a research project. Further Information can be found on this Website.

Who can apply?:

• PhD students currently enrolled in a German university, university of applied sciences, or non-university research institutions) 
• PostDocs (currently conducting research in Germany) interested in Green Hydrogen topics can apply. 

Participants will engage in one of four working groups: Production, Transport and Infrastructure, Market Stimulation (development of the hydrogen market), or Cross-Cutting Issues (regulation, socio-economic, and legal frameworks).

Duration of the funding:

• for PhD students: 1 to 18 months for research fellowships and 2 to 3 months for internships.
• for PostDocs: 1 to 18 months.

If you are interested you can apply directly through the DAAD scholarship database. 

Learn more about the DAAD - ERA Fellowships: Green Hydrogen.

Henriette Herz Scouting Program by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Have you long since made a name for yourself in your discipline? Or are you at the beginning of a promising executive research career? Are you also well-connected internationally and have already mentored junior researchers?

Then the Henriette Herz Scouting Program could be the right one for you. They specifically want to recruit researchers as scouts who already have their own international network and would like to expand their team to include an excellent Humboldt Research Fellow. 

Two program lines invite applications from both up-and-coming academics, who are (junior) professors or group leaders, as well as established researchers.

Learn more about the Henriette Herz Scouting Program.