The FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28 at the University of Freiburg invites researchers with a completed PhD and up to eight years of postdoctoral experience to apply for a 4- to 10-month research fellowship in Germany. Open to researchers of any nationality and discipline, the programme provides research support, travel costs and access to the academic community of the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies. The application deadline is September 18, 2026.
Background & Fellowship Description
The Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) has opened applications for its Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28, offering researchers an opportunity to spend between four and ten months developing their own research projects within the academic environment of the University of Freiburg in Germany.
FRIAS is the international research college of the University of Freiburg. It brings together researchers from Freiburg and around the world through temporary fellowships that provide dedicated time for research within an interdisciplinary academic community.
For the 2027/28 academic year, FRIAS is offering individual Early Career Fellowships to researchers from any nationality and discipline, provided their research area can be supported by the University of Freiburg.
The fellowship period runs between 1 September 2027 and 31 August 2028, with individual fellowships lasting from four to ten months.
The programme is designed to give researchers access to academic resources, networks and new perspectives while allowing them to concentrate on challenging and innovative research projects.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected fellows will receive support designed to facilitate their research stay at FRIAS.
The programme provides:
- A fellowship arrangement lasting between four and ten months.
- A research cost contribution.
- Travel costs for inbound and outbound journeys, where applicable.
- Access to the academic community and resources of the University of Freiburg.
- The opportunity to conduct an independent research project.
- Opportunities for interdisciplinary communication and collaboration.
Depending on the individual circumstances of selected candidates, fellows will either receive a fellowship contract with the University of Freiburg or alternative compensation, with further details provided in the programme’s application manual.
FRIAS also emphasises interdisciplinary interaction. Because fostering cross-disciplinary communication is one of the institute’s aims, full-time presence at FRIAS is mandatory.
Applicants should note that fieldwork conducted outside Freiburg cannot be funded during the fellowship period.
Who Can Apply?
The FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme has specific academic and research requirements.
Applicants must have a completed doctoral degree and no more than eight years of postdoctoral experience.
The programme is open to researchers of any nationality, and applications are welcomed from disciplines that can be supported by the University of Freiburg.
Publication Requirement
Applicants must have at least four peer-reviewed publications since 1 January 2022.
The publication requirement is also reflected in the application documentation. Applicants can submit a publication list containing a maximum of eight publications, with four of those publications required to have been published after 1 January 2022 and to be peer-reviewed.
International Research or Study Experience
Applicants must have completed at least six months of research or study experience at academic institution(s) in a country different from the country of their first academic degree by the time of application.
This requirement is an important part of the eligibility criteria and should be carefully checked before applying.
Selection Criteria
The FRIAS fellowship is highly competitive and follows a strictly merit-based selection process.
The programme seeks applicants with challenging and innovative research projects of high academic quality.
According to the information provided, the expected success rate is approximately 5% of eligible applications.
Applicants should therefore pay close attention to the academic quality, originality and feasibility of their proposed research project.
FRIAS also encourages applicants to learn more about the University of Freiburg’s research strengths and areas of focus when preparing their proposals.
Application Requirements
Applicants must complete several sections of the online application and provide supporting documentation.
The online application requires information about the candidate and proposed research project, including:
- Research abstract
- Layperson’s abstract explaining the project to a general audience
- Ethical issue table
- Motivation statement
Applicants must also provide contact details for two evaluators who know them personally and are willing to provide an evaluation.
Required Documents
Applicants must upload the following documents through the application portal:
1. Project proposal
The research proposal must be submitted as a PDF and may contain a maximum of 3,000 words, including footnotes, headers, footers and bibliographical references.
The proposal may include up to four graphs and must follow the mandatory structure specified in the application manual.
2. Curriculum vitae
Applicants must provide a CV in tabular form using the mandatory template available through the application portal.
3. Publication list
The publication list must be submitted as a PDF and may contain a maximum of eight publications.
Four publications must have been published after 1 January 2022 and must be peer-reviewed.
4. PhD diploma
Applicants must provide a copy of their doctoral diploma in PDF format.
5. Letter of support
Experimental scientists must provide a letter of support identifying a host laboratory in Freiburg where their research project can be conducted.
6. Experiment sketch and timetable
Experimental scientists must also provide an experiment sketch and timetable describing the experiments they intend to conduct in Freiburg.
The additional documents concerning a host laboratory and experimental plans apply specifically to experimental scientists.
Research Proposal Guidance
The research proposal is one of the central components of the FRIAS application.
Applicants should ensure that their proposed project clearly communicates the research question, academic relevance and innovative aspects of the work while following the structure specified in the application manual.
The requirement for both a standard abstract and a layperson’s abstract means applicants should be able to communicate the significance of their research to both specialist and broader audiences.
Applicants should also consider the interdisciplinary environment of FRIAS when presenting their project.
The institute’s emphasis on cross-disciplinary communication means that researchers will join an academic community involving scholars from different disciplines and backgrounds.
Fellowship Duration and Important Dates
The FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28 will operate during the following period:
Fellowship period: 1 September 2027 – 31 August 2028
Fellowship duration: 4 to 10 months
Application deadline: 18 September 2026 at 13:00 CET
Applicants should submit their applications before the stated deadline and allow sufficient time to prepare the required documents and contact their evaluators.
FRIAS Early Career Fellowship 2027/28: Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28 |
| Institution | Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies |
| University | University of Freiburg |
| Location | Freiburg, Germany |
| Fellowship duration | 4–10 months |
| Fellowship period | 1 September 2027 – 31 August 2028 |
| Eligible nationality | Any nationality |
| Eligible disciplines | Any discipline supported by the University of Freiburg |
| Academic requirement | Completed doctoral degree |
| Postdoctoral experience | Maximum of 8 years |
| Publications | At least 4 peer-reviewed publications since 1 January 2022 |
| International experience | At least 6 months in an academic institution outside the country of first academic degree |
| Research cost support | Provided |
| Travel support | Inbound and outbound travel costs, where applicable |
| Deadline | 18 September 2026, 13:00 CET |
| Selection | Highly competitive, merit-based |
| Expected success rate | Approximately 5% of eligible applications |
How to Apply
Interested researchers should prepare their application through the FRIAS application portal and carefully follow the requirements in the application manual.
Before submitting, applicants should ensure that they meet the doctoral degree, postdoctoral experience, publication and international research or study experience requirements.
Applicants should also prepare their project proposal, CV, publication list and PhD diploma. Where applicable, experimental scientists must arrange the required host laboratory support letter and experiment timetable.
Because applicants are required to provide contact details for two evaluators, candidates should contact their proposed evaluators early enough to ensure they are willing and available to provide an evaluation.
The application deadline is 18 September 2026 at 13:00 CET.
Why This Fellowship May Be Valuable for Early Career Researchers
The FRIAS Early Career Fellowship is structured around the idea of giving researchers dedicated time and an academic environment in which to advance their own research.
Rather than being limited to a single research discipline, the programme welcomes applications across disciplines that can be supported by the University of Freiburg.
The international composition of the FRIAS community can also provide opportunities for researchers to encounter different academic perspectives and develop new collaborations.
The combination of research support, travel assistance, academic resources and an interdisciplinary research environment makes the fellowship potentially valuable for researchers looking to strengthen an existing research programme.
However, applicants should be aware that the selection process is highly competitive and that the programme expects a strong academic record and an innovative research project.
Final Thoughts
The FRIAS Early Career Fellowship Programme 2027/28 provides an opportunity for researchers with completed doctoral degrees to pursue their own research projects at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies in Germany.
The programme accepts researchers from any nationality and discipline, provided their research can be supported by the University of Freiburg. Applicants must have a completed PhD, no more than eight years of postdoctoral experience, at least four peer-reviewed publications since January 2022 and at least six months of research or study experience outside the country where they obtained their first academic degree.
Fellowships last between four and ten months and take place between September 2027 and August 2028. Selected researchers receive a research cost contribution and applicable travel support, with the exact compensation arrangement depending on their circumstances.
With an expected success rate of approximately 5% of eligible applications, prospective candidates should prepare their research proposals and supporting documents carefully.
The application deadline is 18 September 2026 at 13:00 CET.
Disclaimer: This article is an independent informational publication based on the fellowship information provided by the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by FRIAS or the University of Freiburg. Applicants should consult the official application manual and application portal for the latest requirements, compensation details and submission instructions.
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