Lab Visits in the USA

Financial Support for Lab Visits at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and the Universities in the Boston Metropolitan Area to support PhD and postdoc researchers in learning new methods and scientific techniques, or to enable the initiation of new pilot studies.

This format is supported by the Reinhard Frank Foundation.

Eligible Partnerships

The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and the Universities in the Boston Metropolitan Area

Target Group

PhD or postdoc researchers of the University of Tübingen

Requirements

The visit lasts at least 4 weeks.
The Applicant already holds an invitation of the lab or institute that will be visited.
Endorsement by the applicant’s academic supervisor at the University of Tübingen.
The applicant provides a justification for the lab visit including motivation, project description and timeline (max. 2 pages, see application)

Selection Criteria

Funding applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Criterion	Weighting
1. The scientific quality of the research project, including the expertise of the hosting laboratory and the hosting academic supervisor, as well as the expected added value in terms of building a scientific profile and career development, particularly through the acquisition of new methods and scientific techniques	40%
2. Clarity of objectives and project planning	40%
3. Potential for long term research cooperation between the host laboratory/supervisor and the sending department/chair/laboratory at the University of Tübingen	10%
4. Alignment with the strategic research priorities of the University of Tübingen (core research areas and profile areas)	10%

Scope of Funding

Travel costs: max. 1500 Euro
Accommodation/ Living Expenses: up to EUR 2500/month (UNC Chapel Hill) and up to EUR 3000/month (Boston)
Duration: 4-12 Weeks

Only actual expenses will be reimbursed. The provisions of the State Travel Expenses Law (Landesreisekostengesetz) and the University of Tübingen’s internal regulations governing business travel and travel expenses apply.

Tender Cycle

Twice per year

Application Deadlines

Exception: for the 2026 call, the deadline is 31 May; project activities must be implemented by November 2026.

15 April for activities to be implemented between September and February of the following year
15 October for activities to be implemented between March and August of the following year

Application

Please submit the following documents in a single PDF file by email to:

international.researchspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

Statement of objectives, motivation, project description, and timeline for the lab visit (maximum 2 pages)
Invitation letter from the laboratory or institute to be visited
Informal written endorsement of the planned lab visit by the applicant’s academic supervisor at the University of Tübingen

If you have used “artificial intelligence” (AI) in the form of generative models for text and image generation when preparing your application for funding from the Excellence Strategy, please disclose this in your application in a manner appropriate to academic standards and taking into account the specific characteristics of your field. The use of AI in the application will not be viewed as either an advantage or a disadvantage. Applicants remain fully responsible for all AI‑generated content. Further information is available at https://wissenschaftliche-integritaet.de/en/use-generative-models/

Review Process

First, the project proposals are checked for completeness and compliance with the formal criteria. Eligible applications are then reviewed for scientific quality by the dean’s office of the applicant’s faculty. Project and budget planning, the potential for long term cooperation, and alignment with the University of Tübingen’s research priorities are assessed by at least two experts from the Research Division. Evaluation is based on the selection criteria listed above and a grading scale. Based on the consolidated reviews, a funding recommendation is prepared in consultation with the Head of the Research Division. The final funding decision is made by the President’s Office.