Advice for doctoral students
Postdocs | Junior Research Groups
Permanent funding programmes for Postdocs
A large number of foundations and funding organizations offer many different funding opportunities for the post-doctoral phase.
DFG Info Events on Scientific Careers
Prospects: Lecture Series on the DFG funding instruments for early career researchers
Join the online talk and get to know the DFG and its funding portfolio for postdocs. An overview of all funding instruments for the time after the PhD is offered, as well as specific focus talks on the Walter Benjamin Programme, the Emmy Noether Programme and the Heisenberg Programme. Advice is provided on how to prepare your proposal for the review process and your questions will be answered. PhD candidates and postdocs of all disciplines are welcome to join!
The Webex participation link will be published on the website shortly before the event. Registration is not necessary and not possible. Please note that the possible number of participants is technically limited to 1,000 people.
PostDoc in the USA? Yes, please!
Seize the opportunity and experience the USA with the Fulbright Research and Teaching Program.
Postdoctoral scholars interested in a three- to nine-month teaching or research stay at an academic institution in the U.S. are invited to apply. Apply now and become part of the worldwide Fulbright network.
Applications can be submitted at any time, but at least nine months before the planned start of the stay.
For questions about the Research and Teaching program, please contact germanscholars@fulbright.de.
Call for Applications: Postdoc Network "Young ZiF" at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF), Bielefeld University
The Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) at Bielefeld University invites postdoctoral researchers from all disciplines to apply for the "Young ZiF" network. Successful applicants will be admitted for a four-year period starting on October 1, 2025. In addition to scientific excellence, a strong interest in and ability for interdisciplinary collaboration are key selection criteria.
This offer might be of interest to some members of your institution, and I would be grateful if you could share this call for applications with the relevant departments or individuals within your institution.
For more details and to apply, please refer to the full announcement here: Call for Applications: Young ZiF 2025
College for Life Sciences, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin:
"Gain time to think" Fellowships for Early-Career Postdocs in the Life Sciences and Medicine**
If you're an early-career researcher in the life sciences, medicine, or psychology, chances are you're deeply immersed in lab routines, clinical work, funding deadlines, and the pressure to publish. The College for Life Sciences, a junior program of the renowned Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin – Institute for Advanced Study, offers a rare opportunity to step back and rethink.
The program gives early-career postdocs the space and time to pause, reflect, and reframe their scientific journey – in line with its core idea: "Gain time to think."
What’s on offer?
Fellowships are available for residencies of 3 to 5 months during the academic year 2026/27 (September 2026 – July 2027) at the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin. Fellows receive:
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a full stipend based on their previous salary,
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a studio apartment on the campus in Berlin-Grunewald,
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and additional benefits that allow for a focused, uninterrupted stay.
Importantly, no lab facilities are provided – this is an intentional pause from hands-on research to allow for deeper intellectual engagement. Fellows are free to choose any project they wish to pursue during their time at the Kolleg.
Who is eligible?
The program is open to early-career researchers from around the world who:
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will have completed their doctorate before the start of the fellowship,
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have at least one lead-author publication in a peer-reviewed journal,
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and usually have two or more years of postdoctoral experience.
All disciplines within the life and natural sciences, medicine, and psychology are welcome. There are no restrictions based on nationality, field, or age. Researchers who have been serving as a principal investigator for more than five years are advised to apply for a regular fellowship at the Wissenschaftskolleg.
Please note: Researchers currently affiliated with institutions in Berlin are not eligible to apply.
Application deadline: November 1, 2025
For detailed information on the program and the application process, visit:
👉 https://www.wiko-berlin.de/en/becoming-a-fellow/fellowships/college-for-life-sciences
