Preconditions
Intellectual curiosity, interest in disciplines other than one’s own, and readiness to discuss also beyond one’s own disciplinary interest are decisive preconditions for a fruitful Fellow residency. We regard researchers who reflect on and theoretically or conceptually work on the basic assumptions of their discipline as the ideal candidates for a fellowship. Creativity is an important asset, it should, however, not be achieved at the expense of thoroughness – or vice versa.
Applications from young researchers are welcome. It is expected that they have published at least one monograph (especially in the humanities) or were able to place several articles in respected publications (natural and social sciences).
Early-career life scientists are fostered in particular in the framework of the College for Life Sciences (CfLS) and in this context can apply in a separate procedure.
In general, candidates who apply with an academic/scientific project must have completed a doctorate. Passive knowledge of English is required.
The Fellows live and work on the Wissenschaftskolleg’s small campus in Grunewald district; this includes a common meal on weekdays. Research that requires constant absence (in labs, archives, or other facilities outside Berlin) is thus unsuitable for a fellowship.
One aspect of the Wissenschaftskolleg’s mode of operation is to separate the invited researchers from their routines and accustomed surroundings and to expose them to new experiences. For this reason, researchers from Berlin research institutes or Institutes of higher learning are not considered for fellowships.
Applications should include the following documents:
a current curriculum vitae with a list of publications;
one or two recent articles (in German, English, or French if at all possible) that are characteristic of the applicant’s most significant research work and/or related to the proposed research topic;
a description of the project planned for the applicant’s stay in Berlin (3-5 pages); an introductory section (max. 200 words) should explain the project’s significance to readers from other disciplines. The description should also briefly summarize extant work in this area of research (state of the art) and how the project would advance the current state of knowledge.
Applications can be submitted via the Wissenschaftskolleg's electronic platform.