Instrument 1 Type B

Start Up Postdoc Fellowship

Funding for young scientists to establish their research direction:
Non-clinical career - scientists, medics

The aim of this instrument is to give promising young scientists the opportunity to further develop or newly develop their own field of research in order to be able to acquire a junior research group (Instr. 2) and extramural third-party funding following the BONFOR funding period.
It is expected that the applicant is responsible for the use of funds and scientific planning of the project. This project responsibility should also be reflected in the publication of the data in the order of authors. A last authorship is considered a significant success of the project.

Application & Deadlines

For who?

Natural scientists in the postdoc phase

Medics in specialization training

Upper limit years after completed doctorate: Limitation to usually 4-6 years after doctorate, exceptions are possible and will be reviewed/decided individually. Parental leave is taken into account.
Scientists with their own extramural third-party funding are no longer eligible for this funding arm (exception: doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships).
Leaders of a working group are excluded from submitting an application.

Requirements

Required Qualification

Above average doctorate¹ (magna or summa cum laude)

At least 2 years of postdoctoral experience at time of application submission.
(the date of the doctoral certificate is decisive)

¹Notw: Above average doctorate

In the case of a doctorate not recognized in Germany (including a professional doctorate acquired abroad), an application may be admitted in justified individual cases. An application may be admitted despite the absence of a doctorate if proof of doctorate-equivalent achievements can be provided in the form of a publication as first author in a quality-assured journal and the applicant can clearly demonstrate the share of his or her independent scientific work in this (listing of those results of the publication that were generated by the applicant and confirmation by signature that he or she carried out these results himself or herself).

Award Criteria

Evidence of first own publications:

At least one original paper with first authorship in a peer-reviewed international English-language journal recognized in the field, or equivalent achievement.
Evidence of first own publications in an English-language peer-reviewed journal recognized in the field from which the application topic is derived.

Workplace²

Applicants do not need to have an employment contract at UKB at the time of application.
The host institution is expected to contribute to the costs with a share of 15% of the funding amount.

²Note: Workplace

In the case of family-related part-time employment, different arrangements can be made. Please contact the BONFOR Coordination Office in good time before submitting your application.

Grants

Personnel funds
Financing of own position at 100%, remunerated according to TV-L

Core Facility Services
max. 3,000 € per year (exclusively CF established at UCB)

Materials
max. 15.000 € per year (incl. animal costs and computer software; hardware support and technical equipment are excluded)

Travel and publication costs
Application for funding to cover travel and publication costs is excluded.

Duration of Funding

12 to 24 months

Continuation Funding

Evaluation after the first 9 months of funding
Funding for months 13-24 after positive evaluation and, if necessary, interview with BONFOR commissioner. The decision on the continuation of funding is made independently of the meeting

Combination Possibilities and Follow-up Funding

If the relevant requirements are met:

After the first year of funding
Change of instrument: application for a junior research group (Instr. 2) for max. 24 months, no parallel funding possible

After the second funding year Follow-up funding
Application for a junior research group (Instr. 2) for max. 12 months

Procedure

Step 1

Project Application

Contacting the Coordination office
Consultation by the Team Internal Funding
Getting Access to the BONFOR eApplication system
Submission of the project application via the BONFOR eApplication system.

Step 2

Appraisal & Decision

One internal and one external expert opinion, commission consultation

Step 3

Project Execution

12 to 24 months

Step 4

Evaluation & Project Presentation

Final report to the date of account closure
Documentation of external follow-up financing and publications achieved
Presentation of the research project at the BONFOR symposium

Application & Deadlines

Submission of the project application in English including mandatory and additional documents via the BONFOR eApplication portal.

BONFOR eApplication

Checklist

Project Application

Please use the following template to describe your project proposal (in English language):

Project proposal 2024 (EN)

Please use the following document for your project proposal:

Project proposal (EN)

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your application:

Mandatory Documents

Project Application in english language (s. template)
One page of summary of the research project
Curriculum vitae and scientific background of the applicant (with examination grades)
Doctoral Certificate
List of publications of the applicant (proof of first own publications according to the above-mentioned award criteria)
Publication List of the Supervising work group
Signed guidelines for the use of BONFOR funds
Declaration Bonfor-applicant

Additional Documents

Cooperation agreement(s)
Votum of the Ethics commission
Animal Testing Permit
Further Documentation

Commitment Statements

Declaration of commitment

Support of the research project by the management of the clinic or institute, documented by:

Workplace agreement (external and internal applicants)
of the responsible working group management for the requested BONFOR funding period and declaration of acceptance of the 15% share of the funding amount by the host institution
Employment contract (internal applicant)
This contract must cover the requested BONFOR funding period. A possible extension of the employment contract can be applied for at the GB1 under the condition of the BONFOR funding agreement (please clarify details with the BONFOR office in due time and before submitting the BONFOR application).

Deadlines

Grant applications may be submitted at any time, but must be submitted via the BONFOR eApplication system no later than the application deadline for the respective meeting date.

Application Deadlines