Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship

Fellowship for researchers from Germany at all career levels and in all disciplines

Attention, researchers from Germany! The Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship supports you – postdoctoral and experienced researchers– with your research abroad.

As president of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, biochemist and Nobel Laureate Feodor Lynen advocated opening up the international Humboldt Network to junior researchers from Germany. The fellowship named after him is granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation with funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and enables researchers with above-average qualifications from Germany at all career levels and in all disciplines to conduct research with members of the Humboldt Network around the world.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation aims to achieve a good balance between genders and a high level of diversity among its fellows in all areas. We therefore expressly invite female scientists and members of underrepresented groups to apply.

We welcome all applications, regardless of ethnic, cultural or social background, gender identity, age, religion, worldview, disability or sexual orientation.

As a Feodor Lynen Research Fellow you will benefit from individual support from the Humboldt Foundation and our diverse sponsorship portfolio. If you would like to apply for a Lynen Fellowship, your first step is to choose one of the around 25,000 potential academic hosts worldwide. Your host must be either a member of the Humboldt Network abroad, or the recipient of one of a select range of international academic awards and working abroad. Feel free to use our search tool to find suitable hosts.

The Humboldt Foundation expects that academic hosts participate in funding this fellowship. Their contribution should amount to approximately one third of the fellowship amount. We waive the requirement for this financial contribution for hosts from certain countries (see list of countries). In the event of documented funding issues the Humboldt Foundation is also willing to explore individual solutions and potentially agree exceptions also with hosts in other countries.

• Programme information for postdocs (PDF, 132 KB)
• Programme information for experienced researchers (PDF, 138 KB)
• Search for potential hosts in the Humboldt Network (German only)
• Information for academic hosts
• Information for expert reviewers
• Information for independent peer reviewers
• Recently selected fellows
• Virtual information event

What we offer

The Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship enables researchers at various stages of their career to conduct their research abroad in cooperation with a host of their choice from the Humboldt Network worldwide.

Postdocs may apply for a 6- to 24-month fellowship, experienced researchers for a 6- to 18-month fellowship that can be split into up to three stays over the course of three years.

The fellowship amount varies by target country and life situation. To calculate this amount individually please use our fellowship calculator. Travel expenses are reimbursed in addition.

• Information on sponsorship during the research stay
• Information on sponsorship for alumni in Germany
• Fellowship calculator (German only)

General conditions and family allowances

In addition to the fellowship amount, you will also receive personal support throughout your sponsorship. You can set the start date of your fellowship flexibly.

We offer additional funding for academics from Germany who are accompanied by their family during their research stay abroad. As well as a family allowance for your accompanying marital partner, we also provide a child allowance if your children are staying with you. Furthermore, in such cases you can apply for childcare support such as a subsidy for childcare costs. For more information about these and other family benefits please see our fellowship calculator and the programme guidelines.

Alumni programmes

We will also assist you in reintegrating in Germany, e.g. with subsidies for job interviews or the possibility of a twelve-month return fellowship. We stay in contact even after your research stay has come to an end: Our alumni sponsorship measures flexibly support every Humboldtian’s individual journey through life, in both their career and their future collaborations.

You must meet the following criteria

The Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship addresses post-doctoral researchers with above-average qualifications from Germany – regardless of their research discipline.

Postdocs

Did you complete your doctorate during the last four years? Or are you within six months of completing your doctorate and can already provide a written summary of your findings? Have you been published in academic journals and by publishing houses that are reviewed according tointernational standards? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “General requirements” section, we invite you to apply for a Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers.

Experienced researchers

Did you complete your doctorate during the last twelve years? Have you been published extensively in academic journals and by academic publishers peer reviewed to international standards, and does your prior work demonstrate a clearly evident, independent academic profile? If so, and if you fulfil the criteria under the “General requirements” section, we invite you to apply for a Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for experienced researchers.

General requirements

You must fulfil the following criteria to successfully apply for the Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship:

Nationality/stay 

You hold German citizenship. If you are currently not in Germany, please refer to our FAQ.

If you are a citizen of a country other than Germany, you are eligible to apply if you are working academically in Germany at the time of application. You should already be integrated into the German academic system and intend to come back into the German academic system after your planned stay abroad. For more information please see the FAQ.

Please note: To successfully apply, you must not have spent more than 6 months in total in the selected host country within the 18-month period prior to submitting your application.

Confirmation that research facilities are available/host’s statement 

An academic of your choice who is either a member of the Humboldt Network abroad or a recipient of a selected international science award working abroad must provide you with written confirmation that research facilities are available, submit a mentoring agreement and compile a detailed review for you. Feel free to use our search tool to find suitable hosts.

Please note: Fellowships for researchers from Germany who want to conduct research in Ukraine, Russia or Belarus have been suspended. Applications for a research stay in one of these countries are not possible at the present time.

Expert reviews 

You can provide two expert reviews.

Postdocs: Your doctoral supervisor and one other researcher – from outside of your institute, if possible – should provide well-grounded information on your qualifications.

Experienced researchers: The reviews should be provided by important collaborative partners and/or researchers at your own institute as well as other institutes, including collaborators from outside Germany if possible.

Language skills 

We expect you to abide by the rules of good scientific practice (PDF) and the principles of scientific ethics. The foundation provides information on dealing with generative AI in the selection area.

You may not apply for the Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship if you have already received sponsorship from the Humboldt Foundation. In such cases, our alumni programmes are open to you.

How to apply

Before applying, you should discuss the details of your independently developed research outline with your chosen academic host.

Please apply to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online only.

If you have any doubts or questions, please contact us (info[at]avh.de). before submitting your application. We are happy to help.

What we need from you

Please note that you may only submit your application once you have uploaded the following documents in the application form:

• curriculum vitae (two pages max)
• research outline (five pages max)
• complete list of your publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
• list of selected key publications (cf. sample list, PDF)
• key publications
• doctoral certificate or proof that your doctorate has been completed successfully, or confirmation that this will be the case within the next six months
• if required: Acceptance form and/or publisher’s acknowledgement of receipt and summaries/translations of key publications that are not available in German or English
• In addition: Host’s statement and confirmation that research facilities are available, as well as two expert reviews. Please note that these documentscan only be uploaded in a protected area by the host(s) and expert reviewers personally. You can only submit your application once these documents have been uploaded. Further information and explanations can be found on the application form.

As soon as we have received your online application, we will send you written confirmation by email. After reviewing your documents, we will notify you of the expected selection date.

Apply online

Continue application

Deadlines

The Selection Committee responsible for reviewing applications to this programme meets every February, June and October. Please submit your completed application form, including any additional documents required, well in advance of the desired selection date. Applications are usually processed within four to seven months.

Incomplete or inaccurate applications take longer to process and often have to be postponed to a later Selection Committee meeting.

The deadline for meeting certain formal conditions – in particular those relating to limitations on career stages and previous stays in your host country – is the date on which we receive your application.

After the selection meeting we will inform you of the outcome as quickly aspossible by email.If your application is successful, you may begin your fellowship between two and twelve months after being selected.

If your application is unsuccessful, we may provide you with the reasons for our decision. Please request this information informally by email. You and your host will receive a letter with the outcome of your application approximately five weeks after the decision is made. Decisions cannot be appealed. You can, however, re-apply if you significantly improve crucial aspects of the rejected application.