Early Career Excellence Fellowship
Through the Early Career Excellence Fellowship, Ulm University aims to attract outstanding postdoctoral researchers with an established international research profile, support them in further developing an independent academic profile, and inject new thematic impetus into the faculties.
The fellowship is intended for researchers who have already gained initial postdoctoral research experience and wish to take the next step towards scientific independence at Ulm University.
The Fellowship
The Early Career Excellence Fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers in further developing an independent research profile, establishing scientific collaborations, and paving the way for the next step in their academic careers.
A key objective of the fellowship is to prepare and submit a competitive external funding proposal to finance an independent junior research group or obtain comparable funding for independent research. The proposal must be submitted with Ulm University as the host institution.
Who is eligible for nomination for the fellowship?
Scientists may be nominated for the fellowship if they:
• did not obtain their PhD at Ulm University,
• have not previously been employed as postdoctoral researchers at Ulm University,
• will have at least one year of relevant post-doctoral research experience by the nomination deadline of 13 November 2026,
• whose doctoral degree was, as a general rule, awarded no more than three years prior to this date, and
• wish to carry out an independent research project at a host institution at Ulm University.
Documented periods of interruption or extension, in particular due to maternity protection, parental leave, childcare or other caregiving responsibilities, illness or disability, may be taken into account as appropriate.
Having previously completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at Ulm University does not constitute grounds for exclusion.
Individual employment eligibility requirements and the necessary evidence of qualifications will be assessed as part of the recruitment process.
What does the fellowship offer?
The fellowship comprises:
• a full-time position for a fixed term of 24 months remunerated in accordance with TV-L E13,
• project-related funding of up to EUR 30,000 for the entire project period,
• of which up to EUR 5,000 euros is earmarked for measures supporting individual academic career development.
Project funds may be used in particular for consumables and other materials, project-related investments, student research assistants and travel expenses.
Fellows will be integrated into the academic environment of their host institution and supported in their academic and professional development by a mentor. In addition, during the funding period, fellows may benefit from ProTrainU's onboarding and networking activities, individual advice on external funding and grant opportunities provided by Res.UL, coaching and training programmes, as well as teaching development programmes offered by the Centre for Teaching Development (ZLE).
Participating faculties
The following faculties are participating in the current call for applications:
• Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology
• Faculty of Natural Sciences
• Faculty of Mathematics and Economics
One or two fellowships are available in each participating faculty. The faculties may nominate one to two candidates for funding.
Interested in the fellowship?
The participating faculties are responsible for recruiting candidates, evaluating their academic qualifications, and selecting suitable applicants.
Each faculty decides on the selection of candidates and whether to nominate them for the fellowship. Expressing an interest in the fellowship does not confer any entitlement to nomination or funding.
Interested postdoctoral researchers may express their interest to one of the participating faculties. For information on the faculty-specific procedures, please contact the relevant Dean’s Office.
Timeline for the current call
| Deadline for the faculties to submit nominations | 13 November 2026 |
| Notification of the funding decision to the faculties | expected by the end of November 2026 |
| Target start date of employment | 1 March 2027 at the latest |
Further information
Researchers interested in the fellowship should contact one of the participating faculties listed above in the first instance for questions regarding the faculty-specific selection and nomination procedure.
Contact
For general enquiries about the Early Career Excellence Fellowship:
ProTrainU
Graduate & Professional Training Center Ulm
Clarissa Gobiet, managing director
clarissa.gobiet(at)uni-ulm.de
0731/50-36298