If you a mid-career professional passionate about driving sustainable development and bridging the gaps between science, politics, and society, then The Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) at GFZ Potsdam, Germany, is now accepting applications for the Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship 2026. This prestigious fellowship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative sustainability initiatives on a global platform. Let's dig into details!
Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship 2026 Summary
Location: Potsdam, Germany
Host Institution: Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) at GFZ
Seniority Level: Mid-career professionals
Target Group: Individuals from diverse sectors including science, arts, civil society, business, and politics
Fields of Focus: Sustainable development and related disciplines
Funding Type: Stipend + up to €30,000 project funding
Duration: One year, commencing in the first quarter of 2026, with flexible structuring to accommodate individual life situations
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Eligibility: Open to professionals worldwide with a minimum of ten years' experience in sustainability-related fields
Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship 2026 Overview
Named after Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, the founding director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (now RIFS), this fellowship seeks to honor individuals committed to sustainable development. It aims to support those who can act as change agents, bringing innovative ideas and bridging various sectors to address critical sustainability challenges.
Fellowship Benefits
Financial Support: A monthly stipend to cover living expenses during the stay in Germany.
Project Funding: Access to a discretionary budget of up to €30,000 for project-related expenses, including: Travel costs, Publication fees, Workshop organization, and Artistic production costs
Research Environment: Engagement with a vibrant international community at RIFS, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Eligibility Criteria
Professional Experience: At least ten years of work in sustainability-related areas.
Interdisciplinary Skills: Expertise across fields such as science, policy, business, arts, or civil society.
Global Perspective: Significant international exposure across different countries and cultures.
Innovative Thinking: A proposed project addressing sustainability challenges through creative approaches.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates must apply online by March 31, 2025, 23:59 CEST. The application should be submitted in English and include the following documents:
Letter of Motivation: A letter (up to 6,500 characters) outlining your prior experience at the interface of science and another sector of society, explaining how you intend to build a bridge between different sectors and how you became aware of the fellowship.
Curriculum Vitae (CV): A current CV (up to 10,000 characters, plus key publications) outlining your career path and five most important achievements.
Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation, including the names and contact details of referees.
Project Proposal: A detailed proposal (up to 15,000 characters, plus references) outlining the activities you wish to pursue during your fellowship tenure.
💡The proposal should specify:
Project title
Activities
Research fields
Expected outputs/aims
Work plan
Financial and/or physical resources
Timeline
Intended long-term impacts
Applications should be submitted through the RIFS online application form.
Additional Information:
RIFS actively promotes diversity and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age, and physical characteristics. Individuals recognized as severely disabled will be given preferential consideration in accordance with German law.
ℹ️ For further inquiries, contact Christina Camier via email at (christina.camier@gfz.de) or by phone at +49 331-62 64-277 33.
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