IWO Newsletter August 2026

Good Morning, Karlsruhe

What?
Good Morning, Karlsruhe is a welcome series by the International Welcome Office (IWO). It offers international academics and researchers a warm, personal point of contact at KIT and will be hosted every other week. Meet the IWO team in person, ask questions, get orientation on institutional and practical matters, and connect with fellow international scholars in an informal and welcoming setting. Light refreshments will be provided. Please note that photos may be taken for communication and documentation purposes. If you prefer not to be photographed, please inform the organizers in advance.

Goals of the events 

• Form a foundational pillar of a strong international welcoming culture at KIT
• Serve as an approachable and reliable reference point between international scholars and their new academic and social environment.
• Appreciate the diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences of international visitors.

Target group
Newly arrived international researchers and visitors at KIT. International academics who are already at KIT are also welcome to join.

Upcoming event
KIT-Campus South, Adenauerring 2, Room 005: 21st of September, 2026. From 9:00 am till 11:00 am.

Registration

IWO's International BBQ in September

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. This barbecue will be Oktoberfest-Themed. 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.

Date: Thursday, September 10th, 2026

Time: from 5:00 to 9:00 PM

Venue: KIT International Guesthouse, (Reinhold Frank Str. 48c), 4th floor (rooftop)

What to bring: 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!  Of course you don´t have to eat anything, just join us and socialize.

Registration: Until Wednesday, September 9th, 2026. 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.

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!

IWO's July Excursion: Gasometer in Pforzheim

The 3,000 m² panoramic painting AMAZONIA artistically condenses the diverse forms of vegetation found in the Amazon Basin and its complex ecosystem. The panorama can be viewed from several levels of the observation tower. Like a clearing in the rainforest, the view opens up across the landscape of the Amazon, revealing the crowns of gigantic, majestic rainforest trees, colorful plants, and exotic animals.

• Date and Time: September 12th. Time and whereabouts to be announced.
• Venue: Gasometer Pforzheim, Hohwiesenweg 6 75175 Pforzheim
• Cost: 10€
• Meeting point: Kalrsuhe Hbf, Main station, south entrance. 

Registration: Registration required. Please also register any friends, children, or colleagues 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!

The Postdoc Appreciation Week Germany

This September 21st–25th, 2026, KHYS invites you to participate in the Postdoc Appreciation Week Germany - a nationwide event celebrating postdoctoral researchers with inspiring lectures, workshops, and networking opportunities.

KHYS Postdoc Office will host three online events tailored to your career stage, offering insights into funding, leadership, and career development.

Program @ KHYS:

Funding Options for Postdocs (Sept 21, 2026; 12-1:30 p.m.)

Learn about key funding schemes and services for your next career step.

Your Postdoc at KIT (Sept 23, 2026; 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)

Discover how to become a Postdoc at KIT, explore support structures, and get introduced to funding programs for international researchers.

Boost Your Leadership Skills (Sept 24, 2026; 12-1:30 p.m.)

Develop modern, efficient leadership strategies to excel in your career.

 

You’ll gain valuable knowledge, connect with peers, and explore opportunities to shape your academic or non-academic career—all while being part of a vibrant community of researchers.

Whether you’re at KIT or another institution, you’re welcome to join, registration for the KHYS events is now open!

Welcome Event for Doctoral Researchers

What?
Have you just started your doctoral research period? And would you like to know more about the services offered at KIT for doctoral researchers? Then come and join other German and international KIT PhD students at the next Welcome Event for Doctoral Researchers that takes place on Wednesday, September 16 (5–7 p.m.) on Campus North.

In a presentation, KHYS will give you plenty of information on how to best profit from the doctoral research period (including information on research stays abroad and services offered at KIT). In addition, there will be two brief testimonials by more advanced fellow researchers. They will share their experiences with you concerning doing the PhD at KIT and will be happy to answer your questions. At the end of the English-language event, there will be time for some networking during a get-together involving snacks and drinks.

Target group: All German and international KIT doctoral researchers, in particular those who have recently started their doctorate
Costs: Free of charge
Date: Wednesday, September 16th, 2026, 5–7 p.m.
Venue: KIT Campus North, Building 640, Lecture Hall 0-167

If you would like to register for the event, please do so online. For any questions regarding the event please contact the organizing team at weiterbildung@khys.kit.edu.

DAAD Visiting Distinguished Chair at Emory University, Atlanta

The DAAD Visiting Professorship at Emory University is aimed at particularly qualified scholars from German higher education institutions in all academic disciplines who wish to teach and conduct research at Emory University as part of a short-term visiting professorship.

Depending on the faculty, the visiting professors teach up to two courses or lead other forms of instruction, including workshops, seminars, and other forms of direct collaboration with students. The holder of the professorship is also expected to participate in activities that foster the long-standing academic relations between Emory University and Germany.

Responsibilities

Depending on the faculty, visiting professors teach up to two courses or lead other forms of instruction, including workshops, seminars, and other forms of direct collaboration with students.

The holder of the professorship is also expected to participate in activities that foster the long-standing academic relations between Emory University and Germany.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have gained extensive experience as university lecturers and/or researchers since completing their doctorate (at least 5–10 years after obtaining their doctorate) and must be employed at a German higher education institution.

More information here!

FA(ST)2Africa

„With the start of the FA(ST)2Africa project, Africa-related research and scientific activities at KIT are intended to be made visible and expanded. KIT's strategy is to gain sustainable insights through interdisciplinary approaches and close collaboration with local partners that contribute to overcoming the challenges.  

FA(ST)2Africa is an association of KIT institutes that carry out Africa-related research and scientific activities. The network aims to coordinate and further develop activities through its work. Especially in the research areas of energy, water, raw materials and climate, there are collaborations and work at KIT that provide a basis for innovative research approaches.  

The aim of FA(ST)2Africa is to increase the impact of research and teaching and to encourage other actors to undertake projects and collaboration. Interdisciplinary debates on current scientific topics should be organized, and national and international networking and cooperation should be initiated. In this way, FA(ST)2-Africa not only creates funding and career opportunities but also contributes to the scientific profile of KIT”

You can find further information here: KIT - INTL - Cooperations & Projects - International Cooperations - Africa - FA(ST)2Africa 

 

Baden-Württemberg State-to-State Programs

To promote international exchange, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science has established cooperation agreements with state higher education systems in several U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

The Baden-Württemberg State Programs are special exchange programs because, in these cases, the partnership is not between two individual universities, but rather between the state of Baden-Württemberg and a higher education consortium of a U.S. state or Canadian province.


USA:

University of Massachusetts

North Carolina

University of Connecticut

California State University

Canada:

Ontario

Events in Karlsruhe

What events are coming up in Karlsruhe?

• 5th of September: WissenSchafftKultur-Festival
• Till September 13th: Schlosslichtspiele
• Till September 13th: Media art is here
• 13th of September: Tag des offenen Denkmals (Open Monument Day)

Seed Money of EUCOR – The European Campus

What?
The Seed Money scheme aims to provide initial financial support for innovative cross-border projects within EUCOR – The European Campus. Created by the universities to promote the exchange and networking of teachers and researchers from member institutions, it consists of an annual call for projects divided into two funding streams, namely the “Teaching” stream on the one hand, and the “Research, Innovation and Transfer” stream (which covers doctoral training programs) on the other.

Funding
Currently, Seed Money is endowed with 300,000 euros per year, the maximum funding for any project being 60,000 euros.

Who can apply?
Only project consortia that actively involve at least two member universities of EUCOR from at least two countries in the project are eligible to apply. It is also essential that no grant – national or international – has already been granted to the project.

Deadline
September 24, 2026

If you have any further questions, please visit the EUCOR website.

Opportunities for Doctoral Researchers: Research in the USA with Fulbright

What?

Are you planning a research stay in the USA as part of your doctoral studies?

The Fulbright Doctoral Research Program offers you the opportunity to receive a grant for a research project at a university or academic institution in the USA.

We support research projects lasting four to six months that begin between August 1 and December 31, 2027.

The grant provides €2,400 per month towards living expenses in the USA, as well as, where applicable, allowances for accompanying family members. It also includes health and accident insurance, Fulbright J-1 visa sponsorship at no cost, participation in the Fulbright Seminar from April 22–25, 2027, and membership in the international Fulbright network.

Apply now: https://fulbright.de/stipendien/programm/doktorandinnenprogramm
The application deadline is October 7, 2026, at 1:59 p.m. CEST.

You can reach us by email at: doktoranden@fulbright.de.

Opportunities for Postdoctoral Researchers: Research and/or Teaching in the USA with Fulbright

What?

Are you planning a research or teaching stay in the USA after completing your doctorate?

The “Research & Teaching” Program offers you the opportunity to receive a grant for a research or teaching project at a university or academic institution in the USA.

We support research and teaching projects lasting three to nine months that begin between August 1, 2027, and May 31, 2028.

The grant provides €3,000 per month towards living expenses in the USA, as well as, where applicable, allowances for accompanying family members. It also includes health and accident insurance, Fulbright J-1 visa sponsorship at no cost, participation in the Fulbright Seminar from April 22–25, 2027, and membership in the international Fulbright network.

Apply now: https://fulbright.de/stipendien/programm/forschung-lehre-uni-und-fh
The application deadline is October 7, 2026, at 1:59 p.m. CEST.

You can reach us by email at: germanscholars@fulbright.de.