Baden-Württemberg Early Career Rescue Fellowships (2026–2028)

Imagine you’re a promising early-career researcher in the U.S., but the political landscape is increasingly restrictive — funding drying up, travel limitations, or institutional pressures making your work untenable. The Baden-Württemberg Early Career Rescue Fellowship is designed precisely for scholars like you: offering a haven to continue your research unhindered, within an international, interdisciplinary, and highly supportive environment in Germany.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Germany (Baden-Württemberg) — at one of three Institutes for Advanced Studies:

  • Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS)

  • Zukunftskolleg (ZuKo), University of Konstanz

  • College of Fellows (CoF), University of Tübingen

• Host Institutions: FRIAS (Freiburg), ZuKo (Konstanz), CoF (Tübingen)

• Research Level: Postdoctoral (early career)

• Target Group: Researchers (of any nationality) whose work in the USA is restricted due to political pressure

• Fields of Focus: All disciplines represented at the three host universities; the call is thematically open

• Value / Salary: Up to an E14-level monthly salary (about €6,000 before tax and mandatory German social and health contributions)

• Duration: 2 years, between July 2026 and November 2028 

• Application Deadline: 9 January 2026, 11:00 AM (CET)

• Start Date: Fellowship begins in summer/fall 2026 (between July and November)

• Eligibility:

  • Postdoc experience: minimum 1 year, maximum 7 years after PhD.

  • Researchers who “cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure.”

  • Open to applicants from all over the world, any discipline.

    
    

📚 Programme Overview

This fellowship is a joint initiative by three Baden-Württemberg-based Institutes for Advanced Studies (IAS): FRIAS (Freiburg), ZuKo (Konstanz), and CoF (Tübingen). Together, they offer 14 postdoctoral positions.

The goal: to provide a "rescue haven" for academic freedom — preserving the continuity of high-quality research that is being endangered due to political restrictions in the USA.

As a fellow, you will:

• Conduct your two-year research at your choice of one of the three institutes.

• Be part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary community with international peers.

• Gain access to a local network of collaboration, plus structured support (workshops, training, language courses) across all three locations.

💲 Benefits

• Financial Support: Monthly salary of ~€6,000 (pre-tax), plus German employee benefits.

• Freedom & Security: A safe academic environment when free research is under threat.

• Professional Development: Access to cross-institute workshops, continuing education, and networking.

• Mobility & Travel: Depending on terms, there may be support for travel, relocation, and possibly mobility allowances (check application manual).

• Visibility & Career Trajectory: Being affiliated with a German IAS, plus having a stable postdoc position, can increase your academic prospects in Europe and beyond.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must:

1. Hold a PhD (or equivalent) and preferably have 1 to 7 years of postdoc experience.

2. Be unable to properly continue your work in the USA due to “actual political pressure” (such as funding cuts, travel bans, restricted academic freedom, etc.).

3. Be willing to conduct the fellowship at one of the three Baden-Württemberg institutes (Freiburg, Konstanz, or Tübingen).

4. Submit all required application materials by 9 January 2026, 11:00 AM CET.

📝 Application Procedure

Here’s how to apply and what you’ll likely need:

1. Read the Application Manual carefully. The program has a Programme and Application Manual (PDF) that explains all the rules, evaluation criteria, and required materials.

2. Fill out the Application Form via the dedicated application platform before the deadline.

3. Prepare your project proposal, which should detail:

   • Your research question, methodology, and objectives

   • Why this fellowship (and location) is crucial for continuing your work

   • The broader impact or relevance of your work

4. Provide CV / academic track record, including publications, past positions, and funding history.

5. Letters of recommendation / references: Most postdoc fellowship calls require at least two or three referee statements. (Check manual.)

6. Proof of postdoc experience (e.g., your PhD diploma, employment certificates).

7. Statement on your current constraints in the USA: articulate clearly how political pressure affects your work and why you need this fellowship.

8. (Possible) Budget / cost plan, if required, especially for travel or relocation.

9. Any additional institutional documents – depending on the institute you choose (FRIAS, ZuKo, CoF) there may be slight variations.

👌🏻 Tips for Applicants

• Be clear and honest: The fellowship is specifically for scholars under political pressure — make a compelling case for how your situation aligns with that mission.

• Choose your institute wisely: While you can pick among the three, think about where your research fits best (discipline, network, resources).

• Highlight interdisciplinarity: IAS environments thrive on cross-disciplinary exchanges — emphasize how your work can contribute.

• Leverage the support program: The cross-location training, workshops, and language courses are a big plus — show in your proposal how you intend to engage with them.

• Get strong references: Secure recommenders who know your research deeply and can speak to both your academic quality and your need for such a rescue fellowship.

• Plan relocation: If you are not currently in Germany or Europe, prepare for logistics (visa, housing). Use the application manual’s (or IAS’s) guidance on possible mobility support.

📞 Contact Information

For further questions, you can reach out to the contacts at the three participating institutes:

• Zukunftskolleg (Konstanz): Mihaela Mihaylova — zuko-application@uni-konstanz.de 

• FRIAS (Freiburg): Annette Doll — fellowships@frias.uni-freiburg.de 

• College of Fellows (Tübingen): Niels Weidtmann — info@cof.uni-tuebingen.de 

🚀 Why This Fellowship Matters

• Defending academic freedom: At a time when research in certain fields or topics is under political scrutiny, this fellowship is more than just financial support — it’s a statement for the value of free inquiry.

• Supporting vulnerable career stages: The postdoc phase is notoriously precarious; offering a stable, funded position helps sustain scholars at a critical juncture of their career.

• Building global networks: By joining one of these Institutes for Advanced Studies, fellows enter a rich, interdisciplinary community that can catalyze future collaborations.

• Strategic regional investment: The State of Baden-Württemberg is investing significantly (e.g., ~€ 3.6 million for this program) to create a global academic haven.

🔗 Apply Now

🔗 Official Website

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