The
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Connecting
academic excellence
worldwide
Knowledge transfer
and cooperation at
the highest level
Introduction
Purpose:
Inform the gathering of the Alexander von Humboldt PostDoctoral Fellowships in Germany.
Objectives:
By the end of the presentation, Research Club members
will:
1. Identify the different Alexander von Humboldt
Fellowship types and benefits, and
2. Be informed about application requirements, host
Institutions and how to apply for Fellowships, and
3. Be informed about other benefits for Fellows/Humboldt
Research Club members
Who is Alexander von Humboldt?
Alexander von Humboldt was a royal
born in 1769, in Germany;
His Father died when Alexander was 9.
He was level-headed and acquired
knowledge in several disciplines:
economics, botany (under Greek
scientist), archeology, geology,
physics and chemistry (all in
Germany).
Met with Georg Forster (a Scottish)
and proceeded to England to learn
exploration.
Alexander began World Sojourn
Returned to University of
Freiberg, Germany to study
mining engineering became
Inspector of mines in 1792.
Learned Danish and Spanish
and became top mines
businessman in Europe
Alexander teamed up with a
friend Bompland and
explored nature in South
America.
They researched in botany,
archeology, science, and
geology,
Alexander and Bompland
(friend) in Jungle Laboratory
Works of Alexander
Authored many books, scrolls and set
up scientific body in Berlin
Mentored many world renowned
scientists including: Justus von Liebig
(father of modern chemistry), Leopold
von Buch (father of modern geology)
Alexander at 26
Hosted one of the first scientific
conferences in the world – 600 scientists
met in Berlin in 1822.
Believed in Networking and contact with
other academics.
Died at age 90 (1859) in Berlin.
Alexander at 90
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
● In 1953 a foundation was established in honour of Alexander
von Humboldt .
● This is in recognition of Humboldt’s work (as discoverer and
cosmopolitan) in building international network of academic
cooperation and trust.
● In 1997, a new Fellowship established in the name of Georg
Foster (Alex’s mentor).
● Foundation Office is based in Bonn Bad-Godesberg, Germany
To be part of a worldwide network
The Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation
awards
 Research
Fellowships and
 Research Awards to
highly qualified
researchers
• from all countries
and from all
academic
disciplines
Principles of the Foundation
● sole selection criterion: academic excellence
● no quotas for countries or disciplines
● sponsorship of people, not projects
● free choice of academic host/collaborative partner in Germany
● independent scientific research, not stipulated by the Foundation
Female-sympathetic Fellowship
● equal opportunities is an important issue for the Foundation
● sponsoring of women:
● sponsoring of women according to age, career stage and geographical
origin
● measures supplementing standard sponsorship opportunities:
fellowship extension or interruption, allowances, targeted counselling
Statiatics: Breakdown of the origin of
guest researchers
2005–2009:
2,889 research fellowships granted to academics from abroad
Statistics: Disciplines
2005–2009:
2,889 research fellowships granted to academics from abroad
Types of Fellowships at a glance
Origin
Suitable Fellowship
Career stages
Postdoctoral researchers
● Humboldt Fellowship
up to 4 years after PhD
● (Georg Forster Fellowship)
Experienced researchers
● (Humboldt Fellowship)
up to 12 years after PhD
● Georg Forster Fellowship
up to 18 years after PhD
● Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel
Research Award
Research fellowships for research stays in
Germany
Postdoc Researchers
(Less than 4 years after
PhD completion)
Experienced researchers
(6 to 12 years after PhD
completion)
(Humboldt Awards)
(Georg Forster Awards)
Duration of
sponsorship
● 6 to 24 months
● 6 to 18 months, may be
divided up into 3 stays
Application
period
● applications at any time, ● applications at any time,
Fellowship
amount
● 2,650 EUR per month
● 3,150 EUR per month
(plus additional benefits) (plus additional benefits)
Equipment subsidies (up to 20,000 EURO)
Benefits provided
● fellowship, travel lump sum, family allowance
● language courses
● allowance for research costs for the host institute
● intensive and individual mentoring in Germany and abroad by personal
contacts at the Foundation
● study tour, network meeting, annual meeting
● return fellowships for specific regions
● alumni sponsorship
Number of Fellowships per year
● sponsorship for foreign and German top-flight academics to collaborate with
specialist colleagues
● more than 800 prestigious research fellowships and awards annually
● flexible sponsorship options for different career stages
● individual and personal mentoring for those sponsored and their families
● the success rate for applications and nominations is between 30% and 40%
Host Institutions/Where to do Research in
Germany
Research locations Germany
Universities
Kiel
Leibniz Institutes
Rostock
Greifswald
Hamburg
Max Planck Institutes
Bremen
Helmholtz Centres
Berlin
Fraunhofer Institutes
Hannover
Magdeburg
Münster
Dortmund
Göttingen
Halle
Leipzig
Aachen
Köln
Bonn
Marburg
Mainz
Jena
Frankfurt a. M.
Heidelberg
Saarbrücken
Nürnberg
Karlsruhe
Stuttgart
Freiburg
München
Dresden
Research institutions
● approximately 300 universities: research in all disciplines
● 81 Max Planck Institutes: basic research, especially in the natural and
biosciences but also in the humanities and social sciences
● 59 Fraunhofer Institutes: applied research
● 17 Helmholtz Centres: technical-scientific and biomedical research
● 87 Leibniz Institutes: research ranging from knowledge-oriented basic
research to applied research
Application requirements
Postdoctoral researchers
Experienced researchers
(Humboldt Awards)
(Georg Foster Awards)
● above average doctorate
● independent academic activity,
e.g. as an assistant professor
● academic publications
● agreement by academic host
● independent research project
● knowledge of German and/or
English
● comprehensive list of academic
publications with own, clearly
defined academic profile
● agreement by academic host
● independent research project
● knowledge of German and/or
English
How do I apply?
1. First, you need to find a German Host Professor or
Academic willing to accept you into his/her research
2. You need to apply on-line to Humboldt Foundation
Office with the necessary requirements (proposal,
completed application forms, letter from host, etc.)
www.avh.de
How do I find a German Host?
What Other Fields of Activity are There?
How do I find a scientific host in Germany?
• The Online-Research Directory Research Explorer has been
launched by our partner-organizations, the DAAD (German
Academic Exchange Service), and the DFG (Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft).
• The Research Explorer contains over 19,000 institutes at
German universities and non-university research institutions,
searchable by geographic location, subject and other structural
criteria.
• Go to:
http://research-explorer.dfg.de
• Or search for “Research explorer” and “DFG”.
• http://research-explorer.dfg.de/research_explorer.en.html.
How do I Apply for Fellowship?
Go to:
www.avh.de
Create a login and password,
Follow the directions to get to application forms,
Complete them and upload all the necessary documents (proposal,
time-table, letter of acceptance by host, etc.).
Upload application and keep praying
NB: Apply any time, results will be out within 6 months
http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/humboldt-award.html
Other Programmes
International Climate Protection Fellowships
- for prospective leaders from emerging and developing countries, who
● are engaged in climate protection and resource conservation;
● are working in academia, business, governmental or non-governmental
organisations;
● would like to conduct an independent project agreed with a host in Germany
Application requirements
● Bachelor's or equivalent academic degree + further academic or
professional qualification or extensive, theme-related professional
experience + leadership potential
Benefits provided
● 12-month fellowship in Germany,
● introductory seminar, training courses,
● final meeting, language course (optional), travel lump sum,
● family allowances
AGNES:
African-German Network of Excellence in
Science
New initiative since 2012
Best PhD Award Grants
Rapid Publication Award Grants
Website: www.agnes-h.org
See Newsletter
Ambassador Scientists of the Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation in Africa
1
Cameroon
1
Egypt
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
1
1
1
1
Morocco
Nigeria
1
2
South Africa
Ghana – Statistics
● Since its inception (in 1953): ***
● > 21 applications for Humboldt research fellowship were received from
Ghana
● 17 fellowships were granted
● > 6 applications for Georg Forster fellowship were received, 2 granted
● only male applicants sponsored so far
● majority of the fellows are from the natural sciences (77%),
major discipline: agricultural and forest sciences (24%)
● alumni sponsorship: 5 of the fellows returned to Germany (renewed
research stays)
● *** Data will be updated soon
Ghana Statistics
10
Number of Awards
8
6
4
2
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Ghana Statistics
Alexander von Humboldt
Georg Forster
Year
Ghana
Appl Award
Nigeria
Ghana
Appl Award Appl Award
Nigeria
Appl Award
2006
0
0
5
1
0
0
23
7
2007
0
0
9
2
0
0
16
5
2008
0
0
6
3
0
0
25
6
2009
0
0
1
0
0
0
27
10
2010
0
0
1
1
0
0
33
14
2013
2
1
Humboldt Research Clubs in Ghana
● Objectives
● 1. Create a point of contact for the discourse on the development
of scientific linkages between researchers in Ghana and Germany
● 2. introduce young scientists to the Humboldt Network
Eligibility:
Humboldtianner, Young PhDs, PhD Students, Masters
holders/Students
Contact:
Why Do we Need a Humboldt Research Club in
Ghana?
Current research output rate is too low for Ghanaian Researchers:
UG, Legon: 0.13 papers/person/year: 7 years to publish 1 paper;
compare Univ of Cape Town: 2 papers/person/year
1. Need to improve our research output to compete effectively for
Humboldt Awards
2. Need to improve our research profile in general
3. Contribute to knowledge both locally and internationally
Scientific publications in sub-Saharan
Africa, 2000–2008
For those countries that produced more than 100
publications in 2008
32
Scientific publications in sub-Saharan
Africa, 2000–2008
For those countries that produced more than 100
publications in 2008
33
Humboldt Research Club
At least ONE paper published every year
Contact
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is available to answer
your questions at any time:
[email protected]
www.humboldt-foundation.de
Jean-Paul-Straße 12
53173 Bonn
Germany
Tel: +49 228 833-0
Fax: +49 228 833-199
THANK YOU