FRIAS Cofund Fellowship Programme (FCFP)
With the Marie Skłodowska-Curie FRIAS COFUND Fellowship Programme about 15 fellows per year (juniors and seniors) from all disciplines are given the opportunity of spending three to twelve months working on their own research project at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), the international research college of the University of Freiburg.
Through the programme, the institute supports internationally outstanding researchers with academically excellent and innovative research projects through individual fellowships. The university welcomes top researchers from abroad to give their input to its scholarly community, both in terms of research expertise and benefitting the university’s vibrant research culture and diversity. The determining selection criteria in the merit-based, internationally oriented, peer-review selection procedure are the academic excellence of both the applicant and the project proposal. All fellows funded by the FCFP distinguish themselves by qualifying as Marie S. Curie Fellows.
The Marie S. Curie FCFP is intended for current or future leaders in their fields. The fellowships are awarded through a highly competitive, strictly merit-based selection process (expected success rate: ~15% of eligible applications). Applications are invited from academics of all nationalities. Note, however, that applicants may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the three years immediately preceding the call deadline. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
For the fellows, the programme offers outstanding research opportunities, not only in the research environment of an internationally highly competitive university, but also with the added advantage of being part of a community of fellows from different disciplines at FRIAS. Furthermore, they receive support for research mobility and become more familiar with the German and Upper Rhine research landscapes, thus enhancing their opportunities for continuing their career in the heart of Europe.
The University of Freiburg is one of the strongest research universities in Germany and member of LERU (the League of European Research Universities). FRIAS unites research in the humanities and social sciences, the natural and life sciences, engineering and medicine. Both the University of Freiburg and FRIAS take pride in a specific institutional culture that encourages and supports exchange and collaboration. It is the philosophy of FRIAS to support the career development of its fellows by integrating them into ambitious research communities here in Freiburg, as well as by supporting the international network of FRIAS fellows and alumni, such as through its FRIAS almuni club.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie FRIAS COFUND Fellowship Programme is co-financed by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, People, Co-funding of regional, national and international programs (COFUND) and the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg.
THE FREIBURG INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES IS OFFERING INDIVIDUAL FCFP FELLOWSHIPS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/24
Up to 15 FCFP fellowships are available to researchers from all nationalities and disciplines.
- Junior fellowships (completed PhD plus one to six years of post-doctoral experience) (12-month fellowships between September 1st, 2023 and August 31st, 2024)
- Senior fellowships (completed PhD plus a minimum of six years of post-doctoral experience or a tenured professorship or equivalent permanent position) (3- to 10-month fellowships between September 1st, 2023 and August 31st, 2024)
Fellowships of 3 to 10 months in the Senior scheme and of 12 months in the Junior scheme may be applied for. They will allow researchers to conduct their own research projects. FRIAS offers the opportunity for FCFP Junior Fellows to prolong the fellowship for up to three months for secondments in and collaboration with non-academic partner institutions in Freiburg and the region. Junior Fellows must apply for this option eight months into their fellowship.
SELECTION CRITERIA
In general, all fellowships will be awarded to individuals with challenging and innovative research projects of top academic quality through a highly competitive, strictly merit-based selection process (expected success rate: ~15% of eligible applications). The all-important selection criterion is the academic excellence of both the applicant and the project proposal. Personal qualifications with regard to experience and capability to conduct the research project will also be taken into account during the evaluation of the applications.
Applications are welcome from all disciplines that can be supported at the University of Freiburg. Applicants are encouraged to learn about the University of Freiburg’s profile of particular research strengths: https://uni-freiburg.de/research/research-profile/.
According to the EU mobility rule, applicants may not (a) have resided or (b) have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than a total of 12 months during the 3-year period prior to the application deadline. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
FELLOWSHIP FUNDING
Successful applicants will become FRIAS fellows with all the corresponding rights and obligations for the requested funding period. Fellows without a work contract at their home institution will obtain an attractive salary (Junior: ca. 4.600 € per month pre-tax; Senior: W3-equivalent professorial salary, ca. 7.000 € per month pre-tax). Senior fellows who stay on paid leave of absence from their home institution during the time of the fellowship will instead receive an additional contract as a guest professor at the University of Freiburg (ca. 3.050 € per month pre-tax) to compensate them for the extra costs of their stay in Freiburg. Fellows accompanied by at least one child receive an additional monthly family allowance of 250 €. Each fellow will receive a research cost contribution (theoretical sciences: up to 450 € per month, experimental sciences: up to 1.050 € per month). All fellows will have at their disposal a budget for individual training, a travel allowance to cover the costs of the inbound and outbound journey and a mobility allowance to cover relocation costs.
Career guidance is offered to each Junior fellow. Since one of the aims of FRIAS is to foster cross-disciplinary communication, full-time presence at FRIAS is mandatory.
The FCFP call for applications is co-financed by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme “Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action, People, Co-funding of regional, national and international programs (COFUND)" and the State of Baden-Württemberg. The rules and ethical principles for Horizon 2020 and the state regulations apply.
The Marie S. Curie Actions pay particular attention to physical accessibility and inclusion of researchers and provide financial support by means of a Special Needs Lump Sum Allowance (SNLS) for recruited researchers with disabilities whose long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments are such that their participation in the FCFP would not be possible without extra financial support.
APPLICATION & CONTACT
Please upload the completed FCFP application form together with the required documents via the application portal for Senior fellowships (https://www.frias.uni-freiburg.de/fcfp-senior-fellowships) or Junior fellowships ( https://www.frias.uni-freiburg.de/fcfp-junior-fellowships) and submit the complete application by August 15 th, 2022; 24.00 h CET.
Information on the programme, the application and the selection process (required documents, guidelines on eligibility, evaluation criteria, timeline and stages of the selection process) is provided at: https://www.frias.uni-freiburg.de/en/funding-programmes/cofund.
For further details please contact us at FRIAS via e-mail fcfp-fellowships@frias.uni-freiburg.de.
