Einstein Postdoctoral Grant

I. OBJECTIVE

The Einstein Postdoctoral Grant enables excellent postdocs of different career levels (R2 to R3) to establish an initial connection to the Berlin research context, to carry out independent research work or to receive support in the final steps towards being appointed as a professor. In addition to the successful completion of an academic or research project connected to the arts, the programme aims to offer support to grantees in the critical career phase after their doctorate, to strengthen their ties to Berlin and to increase the likelihood of their remaining in the (particularly Berlin) academic system.

II. ELIGIBILITY & FUNDING VARIETIES

Applications for suitable candidates can be submitted by Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Universität der Künste Berlin and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Co-operations with non-university research institutes and/or the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are possible.

Applications can be submitted for candidates from both Germany and abroad.

Funding can be awarded in one of three programme variants:

1. Einstein Starting Researcher

   a) Candidates in the R2 career phase whose doctorate was completed a maximum of four years ago are eligible for an Einstein Starting Research postdoctoral position. The funded Starting Researcher can work on a project in a Berlin research group for four years; no additional personnel expenses and only expenses directly linked to the research project can be covered (consumables, travel costs, etc.).

   b) In addition, the eligible institutions can each submit a maximum of three applications per deadline if these serve a specific strategic interest of the applying institution. For this purpose, the project must fit into a local research context (e.g. ongoing or planned CRC) and be justified separately (e.g. role as sub-project leader); the maximum funding period in this case is six years. Double funding is not permitted. In the case of a new application for collaborative funding (e.g. CRC), the funding is linked to an invitation to submit a full application, but will be continued for the sake of the postdoc as an individual funding if the planned collaborative application ultimately does not materialise.

2. Einstein Independent Researcher 

   Postdocs of proven excellence who want to and/or are able to work independently in science, i.e. who are on the threshold or already in the R3 career phase, can apply for a maximum of four years of funding via the applying institution with an individual career goal (not necessarily, but possibly, for example, a habilitation or increasing the chances of being appointed) and a research project, provided that at the time of application their PhD was generally completed at least four years and no more than twelve years ago and a possible habilitation no more than three years ago. The (formally unlimited) scope of the funding must correlate appropriately with the project, funding period, subject area and career phase and can, for example, include a small group. In the latter case, please contact the head office early.  

3. Einstein Professorship Track

   Experienced applicants who are aiming for a professorship in or outside of Berlin can apply, as long as their PhD was completed at least four years ago, but no longer than eight years ago. Funding will be provided for a maximum of five years, during which time they will complete their habilitation and/or work on a project alone or with a small research group in order to gain a firm qualification for a professorship, to improve their chances of being appointed to a regular professorship and/or to prove their suitability for a professorship through an initially temporary research professorship. It is advantageous if the applying institution has created the prerequisites for the rapid appointment of a temporary professorship (max. W2) by the candidate in the event of funding and/or can provide verifiable commitments or options at the applying institution as a result of funding.

Regardless of gender, the above-mentioned periods are extended by two years per child. Exceptions to the above regulations due to care work, illness, employment outside academic institutions or in particular in the clinical field, or due to personal circumstances are possible following a case-by-case assessment.

For the duration of the funding, the grantees will use the corresponding title mentioned above or, in the case of a W2 professorship in the professorship track, the title ‘Einstein Research Professor’.

III. SCOPE OF FUNDING

The candidate's position will be funded as TV-L E13 to E15 or W2-analogue (professorship track), depending on experience, range of tasks and personnel responsibility. Furthermore, the following items can be funded in the above-mentioned variants 2 and 3:

• additional personnel and material resources and/or smaller investments that are absolutely necessary to achieve the project objective, and
• on separate justification and to an objectively appropriate extent:
  • Training measures (e.g. language courses, specific trainings)
  • Expenses for the independent organisation of a scientific exchange format (workshop, symposium) including travel expenses for guests

The grantee may teach during the entire funding period. A full-time position for the entire funding period is required, but working hours can be reduced on a case-by-case basis.

IV. APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications must be submitted in English using the application forms provided by the Einstein Foundation. Applications can be submitted in all disciplines by the deadlines specified on the Foundation's homepage. Formal applicants are the institutions eligible to apply. If individual eligible institutions have set internal deadlines for applications to the Einstein Foundation, please get in touch with the contact person at your institution listed on the Einstein Foundation's homepage as early as possible.

The application must contain and address:

1. Information about the candidate and his/her scientific reputation in the form of a CV with narrative elements via an online form.
2. A description of the planned research project with classification in the current state of research, presentation of the research question and methods to be used, description of the results to be achieved and publication/outreach strategy as well as the significance of the funding for the candidate's career prospects. If applicable, contributions to teaching, cooperation with other Berlin researchers, research institutions or the public/stakeholders, as well as plans for international networking should also be mentioned here. A detailed work plan and a budget plan (using the provided form) broken down by year with an explanation of the requested funds should be attached to this section.
3. A letter of support from the applying university or Charité (obligatory and from the institute for the Starting Researcher, optional for the Independent Researcher, obligatory and from the university management for the Professorship Track), which justifies the application in one of the three variants, recognises the candidate's achievements in research and teaching and presents the relevance of the proposed research project for the applying institution.

V. USE OF FUNDS

Grants from the Foundation are disbursed through the budget of the host university or Charité – Universitätsmedizin as third-party funding. These institutions act as employer of the person funded by the Einstein Foundation’s grant and will provide the space and infrastructure required. 

In case the Einstein Starting Researcher is appointed to a university outside Berlin, the doctoral or postdoctoral researchers supervised by the Starting Researcher may request a supervision agreement to be signed to ensure completion of the project currently conducted at the host institution.

Version 2.0, 11/24