with subject-specific funding options.
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Additional support for academic staff members with a doctoral degree:
- The general conditions (e.g. amount of the fellowship, duration of the fellowship, opportunities to earn additional income) are based on the guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and therefore differ only slightly between the foundations.
- Doctoral candidates of all nationalities can apply (in some cases there are special programs for international doctoral candidates). However, many foundations expect a good knowledge of German.
- The application to a foundation should be well prepared together with the supervisor, as it is often not possible to reapply to the same foundation. In addition, attention should be paid to impeccable external and linguistic form and compliance with the requirements of the respective foundation.
- In the case of denominational foundations, membership of the respective denomination is generally required.
- Membership of the respective party is not required for party-affiliated foundations. However, you should be familiar with the foundation’s basic political values and be able to identify with them.
- Applications to different foundations are possible, but should not be made indiscriminately (e.g. no applications to foundations with opposing political tendencies).
- As a rule, social commitment is expected in addition to scientific excellence.
- Many foundations have age limits or limits for academic age (i.e. the time that has passed since the completion of the master’s degree). However, extesnions due to family time, illness or similar can usually be taken into account.
Topic: fellowship, overview
Target group: R1
- e-fellows
- myScholarship
- Stipendiumplus: The 13 major organizations for the promotion of young talent in Germany
- ELFI: Electronic Research Funding Information – a comprehensive solution
- FIT: Research, International, Transfer – customized newsletter
- DAAD scholarship database: DAAD fellowships and some foreign-related funding opportunities from other funding bodies
Topic: fellowship, overview
Target group: R1
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
The DFG supports the organization of scientific events in Germany. These include international congresses, symposia, colloquia and workshops, international conferences and annual meetings of German scientific societies.
Topic: Conferences, organization
Target group: R2, R3
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers various funding opportunities for research projects and teaching abroad. The requirements depend on the respective program.
Topic: Stays abroad
Target group: R1, R2, R3
ERC Starting Grants
The ERC (European Research Council) Starting Grants support scientists in all faculties between 2 and 7 years after their doctorate. The grant is used to build up your own independent career and work group for a maximum period of five years.
ERC Consolidator Grants
The ERC Consolidator Grants support scientists in all fields of research between 7 and 12 years after their doctorate whose own independent work group is in the consolidation phase. The maximum duration is five years.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
- Equality and Diversity Office (calls for proposals and awards on equality and diversity topics)
- Startup Center (Funding opportunities for those interested in entrepreneurship)
JGU’s office for Internal University Research Funding supports a wide range of internal research projects and initiatives that are intended to boost third-party funded projects. Networking events, conference trips and publication projects are also supported.
Topic: research, teaching
Target group: R1, R2
Stays abroad during your doctorate if you have enrolled as a doctoral candidate: Overview of funding options
JGU’s International Office provides information on opportunities for international mobility for researchers at all stages of their careers.
Topic: overview, fellowship, stays abroad
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The IJCP Fellowship, as part of the Irène Joliot-Curie Program, supports transition phases between different scientific career stages and, in justified exceptional cases, can also be used for re-entry after an interruption in a scientific career due to parental leave or caregiver leave. The fellowships are not called for proposals, but are awarded by nomination.
Topic: Career and family, women
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The Gutenberg Teaching Council (GTC) enables all full-time teaching staff at JGU, especially young researchers, to gain experience in teaching at another, preferably foreign, higher education institution. In addition, innovative teaching projects (both individual and focus projects) that sustainably develop and improve teaching in the subject or beyond are funded.
Topic: Stays abroad, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
Faculty 10 (Biology) promotes the compatibility of family and job/science with its own resources, for example through
- the subsidization of childcare costs during conference trips,
- the financing of auxiliary staff during pregnancy, or
- childcare options during committee meetings or colloquiums and much more.
Topic: Career and family, women, travel expenses
Target group: R1, R2, R3
JGU’s Family Services Center provides fellowships for students/doctoral candidates with family responsibilities, as well as funds for spontaneous support as part of an emergency fund intended for acute, short-term needs.
The two grant options are intended to help students and doctoral candidates in exceptional financial situations, who are taking on family responsibilities in the context of parenting and/or caring for a relative.
Topic: fellowship, career and family, emergency situation
Target group: R1
Open Access article processing charges can be financed by the Publication Fund of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the University Medical Center of JGU under certain conditions. ECRs are given preferential treatment in the allocation of funding.
Topic: publication
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The Mainz Physics Academy(MPA) offers several PhD Fellowships for outstanding graduates in an attractive and international research environment as part of the PRISMA+ cluster of excellence.
The Irène Joliot-Curie Program focuses on the grant of women in all scientific career phases in the cluster and its research environment. The IJCP Fellowships support transition phases between different career stages.
Topic: Fellowship
Target group: R1
As a virtual department across the MPIs for Polymer Research and Chemistry and all four faculties of natural and life sciences, the MPGC offers an interdisciplinary doctoral program for outstanding candidates from all over the world,
Topic: Fellowship
Target group: R1
The Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) support the establishment and further development of cross-RMU collaborations through calls for proposals for their initiative funds in research and teaching.
Topic: research, teaching
Target group: R1, R2, R3
Numerous foundations support research projects and doctoral dissertations at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. In addition, there is the awarding of material and excursion funds, one-time grants or study trip subsidies.
Topic: fellowship, overview
Target group: R1, R2, R3
- Grants for travel expenses for doctoral candidates and academic staff members with a doctoral degree to support active participation in international scientific events.
- Grant for events for and by doctoral students; grant for the organization of international scientific conferences at JGU.
Topic: conferences, participation, organization, travel expenses
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The foundation supports a wide range of scientific projects and research projects and is aimed at young scientists of all disciplines and nationalities. Funding is provided for stays in Germany and abroad, individual projects and the establishment of research groups.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
The Boehringer Ingelheim Fund awards PhD fellowships and travel grants to outstanding young scientists who wish to spend around three years carrying out an ambitious natural sciences doctoral project in basic biomedical research in a leading international laboratory. The foundation supports participation in practice-oriented courses or research stays in another laboratory.
Topic: fellowship, participation, travel expenses
Target group: R1, R2
The CZS Nexus program aims to support young scientists on their path to a scientific career. It offers postdocs the opportunity to set up their own interdisciplinary STEM research group. The funding amounts to up to 1,500,000 euros per junior research group over a period of five to six years.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers various funding opportunities for research projects and teaching abroad. The requirements depend on the respective program.
Topic: Stays abroad
Target group: R1, R2, R3
Congress and lecture travel program:The program promotes the active participation of German scientists in congresses abroad as well as lecture travel abroad.
Topic: conferences, participation, travel expenses
Target group: R1, R2, R3
Every year, the Daimler and Benz Foundation awards ten fellowships to selected postdocs, junior professors or heads of young research groups. The annual funding amount is 20,000 euros per fellowship, which is granted for a period of two years.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
In addition to special programs and awards, the DFG supports all persons with completed scientific training, regardless of the topic, to carry out an individual, thematically and temporally limited research project at any time through research grants or material subsidies.
Topic: research, teaching
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The DFG also supports the organization of scientific events in Germany. These include international congresses, symposia, colloquia and workshops, international conferences and annual meetings of German scientific societies.
Topic: Conferences, organization
Target group: R2, R3
ERC Starting Grants
The ERC Starting Grants support scientists in all faculties between 2 and 7 years after their doctorate. The grant serves to build up your own independent career and work group for a maximum period of five years.
ERC Consolidator Grants
The ERC Consolidator Grants support scientists in all fields of research between 7 and 12 years after their doctorate whose own independent work group is in the consolidation phase. The maximum duration is five years.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
The FAZIT Foundation grants a printing cost subsidy for the mandatory copies of the doctoral dissertation if funding from other sources is not possible. This is limited to the number of copies that are customary for dissertation editions.
Topic: Publication
Target group: R1
It is possible to apply for a grant for travel expenses as part of the habilitation. As a rule, grants for travel expenses are only awarded if funding from other sources (e.g. parents/life partner/institute) is not possible. There must therefore be a financial emergency in which travel for the habilitation would be impossible without a grant.
Topic: Travel expenses, emergency situation
Target group: R2, R3
The Fritz Thyssen Foundation supports a broad spectrum of scientific fields.
Funding is available for scientific events, in particular smaller national and international conferences with the aim of discussion and networking within the field or between different fields. Proposals can only be submitted from a higher education institution or non-profit research institution. Applicants must have obtained a doctorate.
Topic: Conferences, organization
Target group: R2, R3
Proposals for project funding can be submitted to the foundation by one or more academic staff members with a doctoral or habilitation degree. The planned project can cover a period of up to three years. ECRs with a doctoral degree can apply for their own position (usually according to TVL-E13) as part of a project.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
The Feodor Lynen Research Scholarship for postdocs and experienced researchers of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation makes it possible to carry out a long-term research project (6 to 24 months) of your choice in cooperation with an academic host of your choice at a research institution abroad. The prerequisites are above-average qualifications and the completion of a doctorate within a maximum of four (R2) or seven (R3) years.
Topic: Stays abroad
Target group: R2, R3
The Fulbright Commission promotes academic and cultural exchange between Germany and the USA. Funding is provided for research and teaching stays during the doctorate and postdoctoral researcher phase as well as for professors.
Topic: Stays abroad
Target group: R1, R2, R3, R4
Fulbright-Cottrell Scholars receive a grant for the realization of a three-year teaching and research project as well as the opportunity to participate in the annual Cottrell Scholars Conferences. Applicants must be affiliated with a German university and have completed a doctorate in the fields of chemistry, physics, astronomy or biochemistry.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
Funding is provided for doctoral training networks, research stays by experienced researchers, staff exchange programs and mobility programs.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
The Bittmann Foundation supports young talents with fellowships of up to 130,000 euros in total per person to help them lay the foundations for their professional careers. Medical students at any stage of their program of study can apply, as can doctors who are training to become general practitioners.
Topic: Fellowship
Target group: R1
The Leopoldina funding program accepts outstanding young researchers under the age of 36 who have obtained a doctorate (from a natural science or medical field). The grant enables them to complete an independent research project at renowned research institutions abroad over a period of two to three consecutive years.
Topic: Stays abroad
Target group: R2
Topic: Career and family, women
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation supports young female scientists with child(ren) from the experimental natural sciences or medicine by providing monthly financial support for household help and additional childcare. In this way, young female scientists are relieved of domestic tasks and are given the opportunity to continue working at a high scientific level despite the double burden.
Topic: Career and family, women
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The Studienstiftung promotes excellent and particularly motivated doctoral candidates with way above average degrees and scientifically demanding dissertation projects from all disciplines. Potential supervisors are invited to draw the attention of suitable candidates to the Studienstiftung’s offers.
- 1,750 euros per month from October 2025, incl. 100 euros lump sum for research costs;
- substantial additional financial support for stays abroad and for doctorate students with child(ren);
- Combination with a quarter-time position in research and teaching, including social security and university affiliation;
- Funding commitment for three years with an option to extend for a further six months if time is needed;
- Additional 12 months grant for parents or persons who are restricted from working on their doctoral dissertation due to chronic illness or disability;
- a comprehensive ideational education and networking program, especially for doctorates (from …).
The Studienstiftung offers digital information evenings twice a year for interested applicants.
Topic: Fellowship
Target group: R1
Twice a year, the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science, Continuing Education and Culture calls for proposals for re-entry scholarships for female researchers. The aim of the re-entry scholarship is to continue and complete a research project that has already begun at a higher education institution in Rhineland-Palatinate with the aim of further qualification for a professorship.
Topic: Fellowship, Women
Target group: R3
The Volkswagen Foundation promotes science and technology in research and teaching. It enables research projects in promising areas and helps scientific institutions to improve the structural conditions for their work.
Topic: Research, teaching
Target group: R2, R3
The funding lines listed are only a selection. You are welcome to recommend any additions you would like (natlife@uni-mainz.de).
Since 1986, the association has honored outstanding young JGU scientists and artists with research prizes of 2,500 euros each. The prizes are awarded as part of JGU’s DIES ACADEMICUS.
Target group: R1
The Teaching Prize of the (University) Senate of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, each endowed with EUR 1,000, is awarded in a rotating procedure among the faculties/higher education institutions. The prizes are awarded at the annual DIES LEGENDI with the participation of the university management.
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The faculties of JGU award the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) Prize for a doctoral dissertation that is well above average.
Target group: R1
Every year, the academics Young Researcher Award honors a person who has had a lasting influence on science and research through outstanding commitment, forward-looking ideas or exemplary actions. The call for proposals is aimed at young scientists from all fields of research worldwide up to the age of 35 at the time of application.
Target group: R2, R3
With its research award, endowed with 100,000 euros each, the Aventis Foundation supports researchers in the life sciences with a doctoral degree or already habilitated scientists, tenure track professors or group leaders at JGU who are pursuing an academic career and do not yet hold a permanent contract.
Target group: R2, R3 [XY University] with a dissertation on …)
Awards will be given for academic papers that have been published in the recent past. The call for proposals is restricted to female scientists at the University Medical Center who have not yet reached the age of 35 at the time of application.
Target group: R1, R2
Every year, the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV), with the support of the ZEIT publishing group, awards prize money of 10,000 euros to the university professor who has rendered outstanding services through exceptional commitment.
Target group: R2, R3
The Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft lists Germany-wide teaching prizes and awards for innovation and improvement in university teaching that are awarded at federal, state or university level.
Target group: R2, R3
The prize, donated by Sibylle Kalkhof-Rose, aims to promote young researchers. The prize is awarded alternately in the natural sciences and the humanities.
Target group: R1, R2, R3
The prizes of the German Research Foundation are awarded for outstanding research achievements. There are different prizes for different disciplines.
Target group: R2, R3
The funding lines listed are only a selection. You are welcome to recommend any additions you would like (natlife@uni-mainz.de).
Grant for female scientists from Faculties 08, 09, 10 and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM). External applications from female scientists, e.g. from the MPIs or the IMB, are also welcome.
