Funding organisations: Postdocs

Academies of science and humanities support young researchers with scholarships and prizes.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation supports cooperation between excellent international and German researchers. It awards various scholarships, such as the Humboldt research fellowship, as well as research grants.

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG) is the most important funder of research for postdoctoral researchers in Germany. The DFG supports research projects with funding for personnel and equipment, as well as for research cooperation.

The European Union funds research in many different ways. This includes the measures of the multi-billion-euro Horizon Europe framework programme and support of basic research by the European Research Council.

Many of Germany’s non-profit foundations engage in science and research and offer scholarships and prizes to support young researchers.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft offers international researchers an outstanding working environment for applied research.

The German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD) runs a large number of programmes to help familiarise international postdocs and researchers with the German science and research landscape.

More than 2,500 postdocs conduct research at the Helmholtz Centres. They have access to an excellent research infrastructure and enjoy attractive working conditions.

At the Leibniz Association, postdocs have the chance to advance their own research in a creative and interdisciplinary environment. The institutes of the Leibniz Association offer their staff opportunities for further training, opening up a variety of career paths to them.

The Max Planck Society offers postdocs the chance to establish a research profile and obtain qualifications by taking part in exciting research projects, publishing important papers and spending time at renowned institutions.