New Cooperation Agreement Ensures Continuation of the Leibniz-DAAD Scholarship Programme
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Joint press release with the Leibniz Association
Bonn, 27 June 2014. The Leibniz Association and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offer a joint funding programme for outstanding international junior researchers. The ''Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellowship Programme'' is targeted at qualified postdocs from around the world who have earned their doctorate within the past two years. The scholarship enables them to conduct research at one of 89 institutes of the Leibniz Association for one year. The experience they gain can open the door to an international career.
In the fourth year of the programme, the Leibniz Association and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) have jointly awarded scholarships to 15 Leibniz-DAAD postdocs from Europe and overseas to finance research visits at Leibniz institutes. On this occasion, President of the Leibniz Association Prof. Dr. Karl Ulrich Mayer and DAAD General Secretary Dr. Dorothea Rüland have affirmed their commitment to this successful partnership by signing a permanent cooperation agreement.
The agreement ensures that excellent international junior researchers will continue receiving scholarships to conduct research for one year at a Leibniz institute of their choice in the future. A total of 62 researchers have been awarded scholarships since the programme began in 2010. The majority of them come from Europe (21), followed by India (11), the USA (4) and China (5). The scholarships, totalling around 400,000 euros per year, are financed through the Leibniz Association’s “Impulse Fund” for special strategic projects. The DAAD provides additional support and marketing measures.
This year the programme received just under 200 applications from 53 countries worldwide. Compared to the 117 applications the previous year, this indicates interest in the programme is rapidly increasing. The selection committee, which reviews the applications according to criteria of academic excellence, chose 15 candidates who had passed prior evaluation by the respective Leibniz institutes with respect to their suitability and the feasibility of their proposed research.
“I am delighted that so many top-notch junior researchers from around the world have shown interest once again in the Leibniz Association this year,” said Leibniz President Prof. Karl Ulrich Mayer. “The Leibniz-DAAD scholarship programme benefits international junior researchers and the institutes of the Leibniz Association to an equal degree. Not only do the scholarship recipients profit directly, they also become important mediators for international contacts in their home countries.”
According to DAAD President Prof. Margret Wintermantel, “the Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellowship Programme is a major driver of internationalisation in the German science and research sector. It establishes a connection between the extremely dense international academic network of the DAAD and the outstanding working conditions at the institutes of the Leibniz Association. By ensuring the continuation of the programme, we will be able to attract especially talented foreign junior researchers as friends and partners for Germany in the future.”
Applicants, who negotiate the terms of their research proposal with the Leibniz institute of their choice in advance and on their own initiative, have the best chances of being selected for a Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellowship.
Contact:
Dr. Joachim Schneider, Fach- und Sonderprogramme,
Tel.: 0228 / 882-331
E-Mail: schneider@daad.de
Pressekontakt für die Leibniz-Gemeinschaft
Christian Walther
Tel.: 030 / 20 60 49-42
Mobil: 0173 / 513 56 69
walther@leibniz-gemeinschaft.de
Please direct any questions to:
Anke Sobieraj
Head of Press Relations
DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service
Tel.: +49 (0)228 882-454
presse@daad.de
