In the context of the Excellence Strategy, the University of Konstanz would especially like to improve the working conditions for its early career researchers. For this purpose, the Young Scholar Fund (YSF) has a limited amount of funding available for postdoctoral researchers.
The three YSF funding lines address different stages and/or requirements during the time between completing a doctorate and becoming a professor. If you are unsure whether you may apply, please contact the Committee on Research (AFF).
YSF co-funding for research projects: apply by 15 June + 15 October
The YSF accepts applications from experienced early career researchers who have secured personnel funds within the framework of an externally funded research project twice a year in its co-funding for research projects call.
Applications in all other YSF funding lines can be submitted at any time.
Calls and application
Research Seed Capital (RISC)
The RISC-programme facilitates risky endeavours (Blue Skies Research) and preliminary research in support of highly innovative applications for third-party funded projects in the future. Eligible are researchers who hold a doctoral degree, but have not yet build a comprehensive record of research successes. The programme especially aims at opening new research fields beyond the mainstream.
For further details and submitting an application before 29 February 2024, please log in by clicking on the icon "My University" in the upper right-hand corner.
YSF open start-up funding and co-funding for research projects
The open start-up funding and co-funding call is designed to support the implementation of research projects that promote the acquisition or consolidation of the applicants’ research independence. In particular, material and travel funds as well as funds for scientific assistants can be applied for in order to carry out preliminary work for external project applications or to support already ongoing third-party funded projects.
All early career researchers with a doctorate as well as junior professors are invited to apply for funding as long as they are connected with the university via an employment contract or scholarship. It is possible to submit several applications for different projects, but not more than 15,000 euros will be allocated to an applicant within a period of three years.
For submitting an application, please log in by clicking on the icon "My University" in the upper right-hand corner.
YSF co-funding for research projects
The YSF supports experienced early career researchers who have secured personnel funds within the framework of an externally funded research project by co-funding the project for a period of up to two years. The maximum funding amount is 50,000 euros per year.
Junior professors, junior research group leaders and early career researchers with a doctorate who are connected with the university via an employment contract or scholarship and who can present an ongoing externally funded project in which they have secured funds for their own position or at least an academic staff position independently, i.e. generally not along with a professor, are eligible to apply.
The call for proposals opens twice each year with deadlines on 15 June and 15 October. Please log in by clicking on the icon "My University" in the upper right-hand corner for more detailed information on the application process and the application template.
YSF Bridge Fellowship
With the Bridge Fellowship, the Young Scholar Fund supports excellent postdoctoral researchers who have submitted an application for external funding for their own position at the University of Konstanz. To cover the waiting period until the funding decision is made, you may apply for up to 6 months of interim funding for your own position (100%, TVL 13 salary scale). Applications for the Bridge Fellowship are not tied to any deadlines, however, the funding decision by the external funding institution may not have already been made and the application for external funding may not have been submitted more than three months ago. Funding decisions will be made within 3 months on the basis of scientific criteria. The AFF awards Bridge Fellowships in line with the legal requirements for fixed-term employment.
This funding instrument, in particular, will help acquire researchers for Konstanz who are candidates for the ERC, Freigeist, Emmy Noether and Heisenberg programmes.
Application: Please submit the following documents as one single PDF file to the Committee on Research (aff@uni-konstanz.de):
- Brief statement on the necessity of funding including a work programme for the funding period and a statement concerning the possibility for your temporary (further) employment or the status of the consultation with the Department of Human Resources (max. 2 pages).
- Current CV with information on earlier employments and the duration of the current employment contract.
- Confirmation of the university’s Division of Human Resources concerning the legal possibility of a temporary (further) employment at the University of Konstanz.
- Confirmation of the department concerning the need for funding and the provision of a working space and resources in case of a successful application. Please download the mandatory Departmental approval form, fill it in and have it signed by your departmental officer ("FachbereichsreferentIn").
- Copy of the submitted application for third-party funding and the confirmation of receipt from the funding organisation (the application must have been submitted within the last 3 months and the funding decision must still be open).
For questions please get in touch with the Research Support team.
For further information, please check the YSF guidelines 2024.