CALL FOR NOMINATIONS┋ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT AWARD
Every year, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants up to 100 Humboldt Research Awards to internationally leading researchers of all disciplines from abroad in recognition of their academic record to date.
For more information please see the Humboldt Research Award programme information.
Online info event: If you would like to learn more about this research award programme, come to our online event and get information on the award and the application process from us directly. Click here for the next events.
Our sponsorship
The award amount is €60,000. Award winners are also invited to conduct a research project of their choice at a research institution in Germany in cooperation with specialist colleagues there. The award enables a total stay of between six months and a full year, which can be split into multiple stays.
We strive to offer our guest researchers individualised support and funding. Amongst the benefits available to award winners are invitations to numerous events and the opportunity to attend language courses. Our alumni sponsorship measures flexibly support every Humboldtian’s individual journey through life, in both their careers and their future collaborations.
- Support during your research stay
- Sponsorship for alumni abroad
- General Regulations and Information for Research Awards of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (PDF, 358 KB)
Who may submit a nomination?
Nominations for a Humboldt Research Award may be initiated by established researchers at research institutions in Germany. Humboldt Foundation award winners working abroad are also eligible to submit nominations jointly with a researcher working in Germany.
For details of the nomination process please see the web page Information for nominators for the Humboldt Research Award. As soon as we receive all the necessary documents, we will confirm receipt of the nomination by e-mail and initiate the review process. All information will of course be treated as strictly confidential. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (info[at]avh.de). We are happy to help.
Who may be nominated?
Eligible for nomination are researchers whose fundamental discoveries, new theories or findings have had a lasting effect on their discipline beyond their immediate research area and who are expected, moreover, to continue producing outstanding research in the future. The individual nominated must additionally meet the following criteria:
- The nominee’s academic achievements must be internationally recognised and proven by corresponding successes in research.
- The nominee may not previously have received an award from the Humboldt Foundation for their academic work.
- At the time of nomination, the nominee must have been predominantly living and working outside Germany for at least five years.
- The nominee must not yet have entered permanent employment in Germany at the time of selection.
Self-nominations are not possible, nor may you nominate close relatives or your marital/registered partner. We especially welcome the nomination of qualified female researchers.
The selection procedure
The review process takes approximately six months. The independent body that selects the award winners is composed of approximately 22 academics of all disciplines; it meets twice a year and makes its decision based on the independent peer reviews and the nominees’ academic qualifications.
The main selection criteria include:
- the nominee’s outstanding international reputation as a researcher
- publications with a demonstrable impact that extend beyond the nominee’s immediate field of work
- the significance of the awarding of a research prize in relation to the position of the recipient’s field of work in Germany
The competition between nominations is independent of discipline. There are no quotas for countries, research areas or the gender of the individuals nominated.
We will inform nominators of the selection decision immediately after the meeting. If your nomination is unsuccessful, we will be happy to provide information on the level of competition and the selection criteria on request.
- Information on independent peer reviews
- Members of the Committee for the Allocation of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Awards
Other
Nominees and nominators must always abide by the rules of good scientific practice (PDF) and the principles of scientific ethics. More information about the foundation's approach to generative AI in the selection area can be found here.
