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Funding

Salary · Grant

Program dates

Apr 1, 2027

2-year Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Zukunftskolleg

FellowshipGermany · Konstanz

Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz

Application Deadline

Closed · October 12, 2026

Expected to reopen

Official Page

The Zukunftskolleg is the University of Konstanz’s Institute for Advanced Study for early-career researchers. Its 2026 call offers four 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowships to pursue an independent research project in Konstanz, Germany.

Fellows belong to both a university department and the Zukunftskolleg, and may affiliate with the Clusters of Excellence on inequality or collective behaviour. The working language is English.

Benefits & funding

  • Full-time employment contract for two years at TV-L E13; the pay step depends on prior work experience.
  • An annual research allowance, plus the right to apply for further Zukunftskolleg funding.
  • A third year is possible once you have submitted an external grant application for your own position.
  • No teaching obligation; the post can be split into two half-time positions.
  • Duties: live in or near Konstanz and take part in the weekly meetings.

Eligibility

  • PhD granted (submitted and defended) between 30 September 2024 and 1 October 2026; earlier dates may be accepted after parental leave or employment outside academia.
  • No permanent professorship, habilitation or equivalent (venia legendi).
  • A research project tied to a discipline represented at the University of Konstanz.
  • Researchers with their own funded position from another programme, transferable to Konstanz, may also apply.
  • No nationality restriction is stated.

Can you apply?

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  • Education required

    PhD

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Application process

  1. 1
    Submit in English via the university’s online portal: a one-page motivation letter, a research proposal of at most 5 pages including references, a CV, degree certificates and a writing sample of at most 30 pages; exceeding any page limit makes the application ineligible.
  2. 2
    Name two peer reviewers and a Local Academic Partner in the form.
  3. 3
    Two reference letters, uploaded by you or emailed by referees, must arrive by the deadline.
  4. 4
    International reviewers assess applications in two stages.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadline

    12 October 2026, 11:00 CET

  2. Decisions

    Mid-February 2027

  3. Preferred start

    1 April 2027

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