Financing your Postdoc

Academic chairs at TU Berlin regularly advertise fixed-term as well as permanent positions. Details of currently available positions can be found on the TU Berlin Department of Human Resources website.

Depending on requirements, these are advertised as pay scale E13 or E14 positions. The personnel department’s list of requirements, including details of pay scales assigned to tasks, is also available online. 

As part of its internal measures for promoting research, TU Berlin can help you prepare an application for third-party funding from the DFG or similar programs for a temporary principal investigator position.

If you have received approval for a junior research group from a funding program such as the Emmy Noether Programme, the BMBF, or the Helmholtz Foundation, TU Berlin will provide you with additional funding should you decide to establish your junior research group at the University.

Further information on internal measures for promoting research can be found on the website of TU Berlin’s Research Department.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is particularly strong in providing assistance in the form of grants, measures, and programs for the advancement of postdocs. These include fellowships for research abroad, positions within research training groups, the possibility to apply for a temporary position as a principal investigator as well as funding to develop a junior research group within the Emmy Noether Programme. 

The Fritz Thyssen Foundation finances junior scholars in temporary positions as principal investigators for a maximum of 3 years. 

There are also a number of funding options available at European level. In addition to the Horizon 2020 Framework Program for Research and Technological Development, excellent funding options for junior scholars are also provided by Marie Curie Individual Fellowships and ERC Starting Grants.

A number of organizations provide funding for junior research groups:

DFG: Emmy Noether Programme

Funding type —  independent leadership of a junior research group to acquire leadership experience and skills as well as eligibility for appointment to a professorship

Duration and scope — max. 6 years

Application — no deadlines; processing takes 6 months

Further information — doctorate 2-4 years prior to submission of application; not for projects at the institution where applicants completed their doctorate; significant international research experience including publications; excellent research project

Federal Ministry of Eduction and Research - BMBF: Junior research groups

Funding type — leadership of a junior research group to gain experience of conducting independent research work at an early stage of career development

Duration and scope — staff and equipment for a maximum of 5 years (evaluation after 3 years)

Application — funding announced in specific calls

Further information — specific calls in various fields of research; please subscribe to the appropriate BMBF newsletter

Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups

Funding type — individual funding for young, talented researchers to lead a research group, enabling them to acquire the skills and experience for a university career

Duration and scope — at least EUR 300,000/year for staff, equipment and research over a maximum period of 6 years (evaluation after 3-4 years)

Application — annual call

Further information — doctorate 2-6 years prior to submission of application 

Robert Bosch Junior Professorship for Research into the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Funding type — leadership of a junior research group

Duration and scope — up to EUR 1 million for staff and equipment over a period of 5 years

Application — annual call

Further information — doctorate 5 years prior to submission of application; research topics: agriculture and forestry, biology and environmental sciences, economics, politics, sociology, medicine, public health

Volkswagen Foundation Freigeist Fellowships

Funding type — leadership of a junior research group; funding is available for outstanding junior researchers looking to carry out innovative research at the boundaries between established fields

Duration and scope — 5+3 years; staff and equipment; second funding period possible on the basis of a positive evaluation and a clear intention for the continuation of the position on the part of the host institution 

Application — annual call

Further information — doctorate no longer than 4 years prior to submission; host institution expected to contribute own funding 

ERC Starting Grant

Funding type — setting up a junior research group in Europe (excellence program)

Duration and scope — 5 years; max. EUR 1.5 million (possibly + EUR 500,000)

Application — annual call in July; submission deadline usually in the fall

Further information — doctorate 2-7 years prior to submission
TUB advising: www.forschung.tu-berlin.de   

The DAAD offers a postdoc program co-financed by the EU’s Marie Curie Program. The Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (P.R.I.M.E) program supports international mobility by funding fixed-term employment positions during the postdoc phase. Funding is for 18 months, the first 12 of which are to be completed at a university abroad, with the remaining six months spent at a university in Germany. This year's call for application you can find here.

End of Application August 31 2020.

The duration of the application can take up to three weeks. See here for important information for applicants.

TU-DOC – Office for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Services can assist you with all your inquiries about P.R.I.M.E.

New information from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): For all university teachers who are available as hosts for a prime applicant: For sending your letter of invitation please use this DAAD template.
The central prerequisite for the application is still the completion of the doctorate at the beginning of the sponsorship. In principle, an application is possible regardless of nationality and current place of residence, but there may be restrictions in the choice of destination countries depending on nationality and current place of residence. Details can be found in the announcement. In the FAQ section we provide answers to the most common questions