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SCHMIDT SCIENCE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (SSF) PROGRAM 

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Application Period: May 19 through June 1, 2026.

LOCATION: Germany

The Schmidt Science Fellows (SSF) Program aims to expand the horizons of the next generation of leaders and innovators in the natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computing. The program is administrated by Schmidt Futures, an organization established by Google’s former CEO Eric Schmidt, in partnership with the Rhodes Trust and is supported by many of the world’s leading scientific thinkers, industry leaders, and institutions.

ELIGIBILITY:

The program addresses outstanding doctoral researchers who combine keen scientific curiosity with the capability of cooperation, wish to make a major contribution to science and society by their work, and are ready to focus on a discipline that is different from their existing area of expertise during the funding period.

Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, parental status, marital or civil partner status, race, color, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion, or belief.

The doctorate should be completed between May 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

The program addresses outstanding doctoral researchers who combine keen scientific curiosity with the capability of cooperation,  wish to make a major contribution to science and the society by their work, and are ready to focus on a discipline that is different from their existing area of expertise during the funding period.

Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, parental status, marital or civil partner status, race, color, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief.

The doctorate should be completed between May 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.Scientists of KIT who supervise doctoral candidates are requested to propose qualified candidates to the International Affairs Business Unit by April 24, 2026 (Contact Person: Oliver Kaas)

In order to be eligible for nomination and potential selection as a Schmidt Science Fellow, candidates must meet the following requirements:

Be able to start their fellowship in July 2027 or October 2027 and available from April 2027 to July 2028 to attend onboarding activities, the in-person Science Leadership Program convenings, and the annual Schmidt Science Fellows Interdisciplinary Science Summit

Graduate degree in the natural sciences, Engineering, Mathematics or Computing with a commitment to interdisciplinary science

The program addresses outstanding doctoral candidates from selected institutions who combine a strong scientific curiosity with the ability to collaborate and who are willing to work in a scientific field outside their previous research activities during the funding period.

Have completed or expect to complete all of the requirements for the conferral of their doctorate in one of these fields between May 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027

KIT can submit up to seven nominations in this call.

BENEFIT:

Stipend of US $110,000 per year  (for up to two years, a total of up to $220,000 of support during their fellowship) for research

Participation in leadership and innovation trainings at a self-chosen leading academic institution worldwide

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Opportunities, PhD/post doctoral, Scholarships

GROW – GLOBAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SOUTH • DAAD

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LOCATION: Germany

The programme is aimed at early-career researchers as well as established academics and scientists from countries on the OECD DAC list in Sub Saharan Africa: Latin America and Asia are additionally envisaged as target regions. It funds short research stays in Germany as well as preparatory and cooperation visits to support the implementation of development-related research projects and the establishment of international scientific collaborations.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applications are open to doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, university teachers and established academics and scientists from countries on the OECD DAC list—primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, but also in Latin America and Asia—who are employed at a university or a research institute.

Women, socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, and persons from disadvantaged regions or groups are especially encouraged to apply.
You are not eligible to apply if you are already in Germany at the time of application or are conducting your entire doctoral or postdoctoral research at a German higher education institution.

The funding period in both programme lines cannot be split into multiple segments. Stays conducted in different countries outside Germany are not eligible for funding. Please indicate your desired funding period in the application form. The funding period will be determined by the selection committee during the selection process, taking your work schedule into account.

The period of funding must begin in 2026 (in July/August – depends on the programme region) and be completed by 31 January 2027. Funding or extension beyond 31 January 2027 is not possible.
Scholarships cannot be extended.

Funding Contingency
The implementation of the scholarship programme and the awarding of scholarships are subject to the approval of the requested funding by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Until a legally binding grant notification has been issued by the BMZ, there is no entitlement to funding. No legal claims can be derived from the application or any selection decision, in particular no claims to the conclusion of a scholarship agreement or the payment of scholarship funds.

BENEFIT:

Monthly scholarship payments of 1.400 euros for doctoral candidates and postdocs, 2.000 euros for assistant professors and lecturers, and 2.150 euros for full professors
(Definition of postdoctoral researchers: the PhD must have been completed no more than four years before the application deadline.)

Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover (see also our important information for scholarship applicants / section F, point 4)

Travel allowance

Under certain circumstances, you can apply for the following additional benefits after the start of funding:

In case of a disability or chronic illness: on application, a subsidy may be provided for justified additional costs incurred abroad that are necessary to realise the project in Germany and that are not covered by a third party; whether and to what extent a subsidy will be paid, will be reviewed and determined on an individual basis (see important information for scholarship applicants, section F, point 8)

Benefits from third parties are partially credited towards the DAAD scholarship. Information on this can be found in the important scholarship information in section F, point 6.

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