Helmholtz Global Fellow Program

Fellows have the opportunity to further develop their profile, collaborate on strategic research priorities at Helmholtz Centers, and build international networks. Funding from the Impulse and Networking Fund amounts to up to €50,000 per year per person, with the host Helmholtz Center providing additional funds. The funding can be used to finance the fellow's position, consumables for research, and travel expenses.

Target Group

The program is aimed at outstanding international scientists and technical experts who are currently working at renowned foreign research institutions outside Europe and would like to complete a fellowship at a Helmholtz Center in Germany for an initial period of up to two years. Applications are welcome from:

Scientists in earlier and middle stages of their careers

• who demonstrate outstanding scientific performance
• who have successfully completed their doctoral phase/ PhD
• who do not yet hold a professorship (full professorship) or equivalent position
• who are in career phase “R2 – Recognized Researcher or R3 – Established Researcher”of the European Framework

Technical staff in infrastructure

• with outstanding technical achievements and their own contributions to technical developments in the past
• with a high level of technical and relevant expertise in the current scientific focus areas at the host Helmholtz Center

Important prerequisite: Applicants must not have German citizenship, must not have completed their school education in Germany to the point of a degree/ no university entrance qualifications acquired in Germany, and must not currently be working in Europe.

Application & Selection Process

It is not the fellows themselves who apply for funding, but the Helmholtz Centers. Interested candidates should therefore contact the center of their choice directly. The center will conduct a selection process and nominate the fellows to the Helmholtz Association.

The following Helmholtz Centers participate in the Helmholtz Global Fellow Program:

CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security

Dr. Peter Haffke
Head of Scientific Talent Acquisition and Management
career@cispa.de
Phone: +49 681 87083 2233

Forschungszentrum Jülich

Tiemo Pokraka
Science Manager
t.pokraka@fz-juelich.de
Phone: +49 2461 61-84668

German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

Dr. Angelika Michel
Helmholtz Programs and Monitoring
a.michel@dkfz-heidelberg.de
Phone: +49 (0)6221 42-1666

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Dr. Eva-Maria Zetsche
Research Funding Advisor in the Research Funding & Transfer Office
zetsche@geomar.de
Phone: +49 431 600-2808

Dr. Anja Wenzel
Research Funding Advisor in the Research Funding & Transfer Office
awenzel@geomar.de
Phone: +49 431 600-4243

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

Dipl.-Kffr. Franziska Alberg
Consultant, Coordinator for PoF IV
franziska.alberg@gfz.de
Phone: +49 331 6264-1311

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ

Ursula Schmitz
Coordinator International Affairs, Centre Development and Scientific Controlling
ursula.schmitz@ufz.de
Phone: +49 341 60251833

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie

Dr. Cécile Dufloux
Officer for Young Investigator Group Leaders
cecile.dufloux@helmholtz-berlin.de
Phone: (030) 8062 - 43833

Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden‑Rossendorf

Dr. Birgit Gross
International Collaboration and Research Funding
b.gross@hzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 3486

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Oliver Kaas
Advisor for internationally mobile researchers
oliver.kaas@kit.edu

Max Delbrück Center

Prof. Dr. Katja Simon
Associate Director Scientific Talent Management
katja.simon@mdc berlin.de
Phone: +49 30 9406 2370

Dr. Jean Yves Tano
Jean Yves.Tano@mdc berlin.de
Phone: +49 30 9406 3353

Dr. Marie Vidal
MDC 2030 Grand Challenge Facilitator
marie.vidal@mdc berlin.de
Phone: +49 30 9406 3301