Postdoctoral Fellowship for Leading Early Career Researchers ("Eliteprogramm")

This fellowship is financed by the Baden-Württemberg Foundation and aims to support postdoctoral researchers and strengthen transnational mobility.

Target group

• Postdoctoral researchers who demonstrate clearly above-average qualifications for an academic career (for example an outstanding doctorate, research activities abroad, participation in teaching and research management at the university and in academic affairs) and who are seeking a professorship.
• Foreign and German scientists who wish to return to a university in Baden-Württemberg or who have moved to a university in the state a maximum of 12 months ago are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Applicants must conduct research at a university in Baden-Württemberg and live in Baden-Württemberg during the duration of the project.

Program details

• Candidates must submit an application proposing a research project of outstanding quality.
• Funding may be used to hire and instruct a doctoral candidate, for example.
• Budget up to €150,000 over three years.
• At least 10% must be co-financed by the university department.
• Applicants may apply for funding for staff resources (for example one doctoral candidate), assistants, equipment, shared investments, travel funds.

Application process and deadlines

• The call for proposals is usually announced in January.
• Applications are subject to an internal review by the faculties and the President’s Office by the end of March (the University may submit a maximum of six applications to the BW foundation).
• The submission deadline for the university is in May.

Internal Deadline

The next call for the "Eliteprogramm" will presumably open at the beginning of 2023.

Further Information at the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung

• www.bwstiftung.de/de/bereiche-programme/bildung/eliteprogramm-fuer-postdoktorandinnen-und-postdoktoranden (in German only)