Call for Applications: Postdoctoral Fellowships at Zukunftskolleg

Call for application for four 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Zukunftskolleg. Deadline: 12 October 2026, 11:00 am CET.

About the role

The Zukunftskolleg offers postdoctoral researchers independence for their research, interdisciplinary and intergenerational exchange, as well as intra-university integration and international contacts. The working language is English. Each fellow is a member of both a university department and the Zukunftskolleg. Additionally, fellows can be affiliated to the Clusters of Excellence at the University of Konstanz: "Politics of Inequality" or the "Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour".

The target group consists of excellent early career postdoctoral researchers who demonstrate scientific excellence, research independence, and a strong capacity for teamwork, indicating high potential for a successful academic career.

The applications are evaluated in a two-stage process by international reviewers. Candidates will be informed about the decision around mid-February 2027.

Support Measures

• Annual research allowance (e.g., for funding research assistants or equipment)
• Eligibility to apply for co-funding
• Senior Fellowships and the Mentorship Programme to invite distinguished colleagues to Konstanz
• Opportunity for a temporary Research Visit abroad or to nominate international early career researchers for a Research Visit at the Zukunftskolleg
• Eligibility to apply for funding for cooperative initiatives or for particular career stages
• Non-monetary support like coaching, professional career counseling, or grant proposal writing
• Financial support to organise and run a scientific retreat

Eligibility Requirements

• Possession of a doctoral degree granted between 30 September 2024 and 1 October 2026 (earlier graduation dates may be accepted in case of maternity/paternity leave or working contracts outside academia)
• Candidates must not hold a permanent professorship, or have a habilitation or equivalent (Venia legendi)
• Candidates with their own position funded by another programme, which can be transferred to Konstanz, are eligible
• Applicants must propose a research project that ties in with a discipline represented at the University of Konstanz
• Applicants are invited to include in their motivation letter a reflection note on how their research relates to the 17 SDGs of the UN
• Applicants should contact a potential local host among the researchers at the University of Konstanz to ensure appropriate affiliation (support from a department strengthens the application)
• International experience in teaching or research, and a strong interest in interdisciplinary topics are assets

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement your research project
• Build up your own research profile
• Participate actively in the regular weekly meetings of the Zukunftskolleg and contribute to creating a team of exciting interdisciplinary postdoctoral researchers
• Have your place of residence in Konstanz or its surroundings

Application

All applications should contain the following supporting materials:

• Letter of motivation (1 page max, eligibility criterion)
• Research proposal (5 pages max, including references, eligibility criterion)
• Curriculum vitae
• Writing sample (30 single pages max, eligibility criterion)
• Two letters of reference

If the length of the letter of motivation, research proposal, or writing sample exceeds the maximum allowed pages, the application will be ineligible.

Follow-up Prospects

To support career reintegration after the initial fellowship, all 2-year Postdoctoral Fellows are encouraged to apply for external funding during their stay. The Zukunftskolleg provides financial support for one additional fellowship year (2+1) to Postdoctoral Fellows who have submitted an external funding application to cover their own position and are awaiting results.