To support you in this challenging phase of your academic career, we have developed a TUBAF Posdoc Programme tailored to your needs.

The TUBAF Postdoc Programme consists of three pillars:

1. Workshops and short workshops

You can find numerous topics and dates of the planned workshops here.

2nd Postdoc Week

In the Postdoc Week, postdoctoral researchers and heads of junior research groups have the opportunity to exchange ideas and receive further training in a concentrated and short period of time. The programme includes workshops, lectures, pitches and discussions with experts from the Humboldt Foundation network.

You will soon find the date and programme for the 1st Postdoc Week in 2025 here.

3rd Postdoc Network

In addition to the ongoing workshops and the Postdoc Week, regular postdoc fireside chats take place, in which either an Emeritus Excellence Professor or a recently appointed professor enriches the postdoc network round to talk about challenges and moments of success, exchange ideas and learn from each other.

Participation in the TUBAF Postdoc Programme is open to all postdocs and heads of research groups at TU Bergakademie Freiberg. To become part of the TUBAF postdoc network and to be informed about offers, please register here.

TUBAF Postdoc Network offers a scientifically diverse and multidisciplinary environment in which potential is developed and promoted. Postdocs and heads of research groups can benefit from the network with the aim of personal development, mutual support and a constant exchange of experience.

You can register for the TUBAF Postdoc Network here:

Registration

_{What does the TUBAF Postdoc Network offer?}

• Networking: Network with postdoctoral researchers and heads of research groups as well as other scientists at TUBAF
• Visibility: Represent the interests and make the needs of postdocs and heads of research groups at TUBAF visible.
• Exchange: Exchange ideas with each other and with the invited professors and experts on exciting topics.
• Information: Support and inform each other as a group and share your experiences with others.

In order to give you the opportunity to join other external postdoc networks and to benefit from the constant exchange and offers, we have put together a series of external postdoc networks for you:

• Postdoc-Support-Network

• German Postdoc Network

There are various funding options and scholarship programmes for postdocs. Some support a stay abroad, others a return from abroad, others support a habilitation or a research project and others are specially developed for women.

In general, interested parties should inform themselves in advance about the conditions of the individual funding programmes. These sometimes contain very detailed requirements in terms of time frame, local particularities or specific disciplines. Some of the most important national scholarship programmes are listed below.

The following are the most important national funding programmes for postdocs:

• Daimler Benz Foundation Scholarship Programme for Postdocs and Junior Professors:

The scholarship is granted for a period of two years; the funding amount is €40,000.

• Emmy Noether Programme of the DFG

  The programme is for postdocs who already have at least two years of postdoctoral experience. The programme is intended for a six-year independent junior research group leadership as preparation for a professorship. The programme also aims to attract outstanding scientists back from abroad.

• Evonic Foundation

  Postdocs in the field of chemistry are funded for one year. The funding amount is decided on a case-by-case basis.

• Liebig Scholarship

  Funding is provided for postdocs up to three years after their doctorate in the field of chemistry and related fields for a period of three years with €3,400 per month plus €3,000 for the purchase of specialist literature and attending conferences and €50,000 for material resources.

• Fritz Thyssen Foundation

  The Fritz Thyssen Foundation's project funding is aimed at researchers from the humanities, social sciences and biomedicine. Young postdoctoral researchers are supported for one year within 1 to 2 years of completing their doctorate with €1,800 per month plus funds for the child.

• Hans-Böckler-Stiftung-Maria-Weber-Grant

  Hans-Böckler-Stiftung awards the Maria Weber Grant to outstanding researchers from all disciplines. Applicants can apply for a replacement for up to 12 months to take over some of their teaching duties in order to free up time for their research.

• HIDA Trainee Network

  With this funding programme, the Helmholtz Information & Data Science Academy (HIDA) provides targeted support for young, talented scientists to spend one to three months conducting research at another Helmholtz centre.

• Klaus Tschira Boost Fund

  The career paths of young scientists in the STEM subjects are promoted. Support for establishing international collaborations and networks. Funding of up to €80,000 for up to 2 years.

• Volkswagen-Stiftung-Lichtenberg Professorships

  Outstanding young scientists with 2 to 3 years of research experience after their doctorate as well as those returning from abroad are supported. It is a five-year grant with €0.8-1.5 million per professorship.

• Hermann Credner Scholarship (award)

  The scholarship is awarded annually for outstanding basic geological research to postdoctoral students or early career researchers. The scholarship is endowed with around €5,000 plus funding for conference participation.

The following are the most important national funding programmes for research abroad:

• DAD short-term scholarship

It offers monthly financial support of €1,750 for a period of between three and six months for a stay at a foreign host institute (plus, for example, foreign allowances, child allowances and childcare costs as well as contributions to material costs and travel allowances).

• Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME) Programme of the DAAD

  This does not involve direct monetary payments; instead, the DAAD enables recipients to receive 18 months of employment instead of a scholarship through grant agreements with the host universities.

• Walter Benjamin Programme of the DFG

  This programme supports researchers in the early career phase after their doctorate for up to two years, regardless of whether they wish to complete their research projects in Germany or abroad.

• Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

  Funding is provided for 6 to 24 months of research abroad in all disciplines.

• NSTC Research Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

  Funding is provided for 3 to 12 months of research in Taiwan in all disciplines

• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation/Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS): Research scholarships for postdoctoral students to Japan

  Research stays of 1-12 months in Japan for doctoral students and postdoctoral students of all disciplines are funded.

• Leopoldina Scholarship

  Outstanding doctoral researchers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are supported.

  The funding includes a personalised, individual full scholarship. This includes a basic scholarship, supplements if applicable (depending on marital status and host location), as well as a monthly budget of €250 for material and consumables (travel expenses, laboratory supplies, etc.). A stay at the host institute is supported for projects that can be worked on and completed in one to two years.

• Max Buchner Research Foundation (Dechema e.V.)

  The foundation supports young scientists by awarding travel grants. Habilitation students and junior professors at non-university research institutions are supported with €10,000 for one year.

• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: Forschungsstipendium

  Funding enables early career researchers to carry out a research project at a location of their choice abroad.

The following are the most important national funding programmes for women:

• Zia-Visible Women in Science and Humanities

  The one-year fellowship programme of ZEIT Verlag supports 25 female scientists from all disciplines every year. The aim of Zia - Visible Women in Science and Humanities is to promote and network female scientists and make their achievements more visible.

• Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard-Stiftung

  Foundation is aimed at female doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in a subject of experimental natural sciences or medicine. Funds are made available to relieve the burden of household chores and childcare. These funds can be used, for example, to hire domestic help, purchase appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines and additional childcare (e.g. babysitters in the evenings or while travelling to conferences). The funds are not used to finance the living expenses of the scholarship holder and her family.

• Re-entry Scholarships Saxony

  The Free State of Saxony provides scholarships for re-entry into science for women who have taken a break from scientific work to fulfil family responsibilities. Funding is available for female academics from all disciplines with the aim of a doctorate or habilitation.

The following are the most important European/global funding programmes for postdocs:

• The Marie Curie Fellowship (MSCA)
• Azrieli International Postdoctoral Fellowship
• EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships
• European Research Council (ERC) - ERC Starting Independent Research Grants and ERC Advanced Investigator Grants
• Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP) - Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Society in Science - The Branco Weiss Fellowship

UNIWIND: Promotion of internationalisation in early academic career phases

Guide to the postdoc phase