Einstein Professorship

I. Objective

The aim of the programme is to provide support for recruiting top international researchers at Berlin universities. Such support is only available if the universities are unable to finance the appointment independently, and their own offers have already reached their financial limits. 

The programme also seeks to discourage leading Berlin researchers from accepting offers from universities outside of the city. 

After consultation with the Foundation’s head office, the programme can also explicitly be used as a keystone for a broad variety of international recruitments, e.g. for regular appointments or in collaboration with other research funding organization by providing additional appointment funds. Special rules apply to these cases (see below).

II. Eligibility

The following institutions are eligible to apply: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Universität der Künste Berlin and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

With respect to international recruitments applications can only be submitted for candidates who currently are and have been working abroad (outside of the European Union) within at least the last three years when applying.

III. Funding

The Einstein Foundation supports the appointment of eminent researchers to a Berlin university (including “S”-professorships), or efforts to prevent a researcher from accepting an offer at another university, by awarding a single grant towards the professorship. 

Whilst working in Berlin, the respective professor will hold the title of “Einstein Professor.”

Funds from the Einstein Foundation may be used for:

• Financing an appointment bonus in accordance with federal and state regulations
• Costs for equipment, including large-scale instrumentation and devices up to 500.000 Euro; but not building work
• Material resources (e.g. library materials, IT expenses, travel expenses – including invitations)
• Personnel expenses (for researchers and technicians as well as student assistants over the course of up to two years). 

In well-justified cases of international recruitments financed via other third parties the Einstein Foundation is also able to cover the full personal salary of the professor to, for instance, stretch the total third-party funded funding period.

IV. FUNDING PERIOD

The maximum funding period for the EP is (as a rule) two years.

V. Application Process

Applications are made by the heads of the universities or the Charité-Universitätsmedizin and may be submitted in all disciplines at any time. Applicants are required to use the application forms provided by the Einstein Foundation and should submit their applications in English.

Researchers for whom this support is requested must have an international reputation and will generally be expected to have spent one year or longer engaged in scientific research outside of their home countries. 

In the application, the university should emphasize the expected impact of the position to be filled on the university’s research profile. It must state the sum of the funding sought, provide a breakdown of figures showing how the funding will be used, and declare the amount of its own offer to the researcher.

If the objective is to dissuade a professor from accepting an offer from another university, the offer from the other institution should be enclosed. 

The same rules generally apply to international recruitments related to appointment negotiations for regular professorships (from the eligible institution’s own funds). The Foundation’s Executive Board might, in certain cases, allow exceptions from this application process when it comes to additional support for third-party funded professorships (e.g. to extend the third-party funding, boost the infrastructure, or provide additional resources)

VI. USE OF FUNDS

The approved funds may only be drawn through the university or Charité-Universitätsmedizin in accordance with the regulations on third party funding. The funds must be drawn and accounts filed no longer than two years after receipt of approval.

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