Hans Fischer Fellowship

Target Group

Outstanding early-career (doctorate completed within the past 12 years) international scientists from outside TUM who intend to explore innovative, high-risk topics in their scientific research areas together with a TUM research group are eligible for a TUM-IAS Hans Fischer Fellowship. It is not possible to apply for the Fellowship on one's own, but a nomination must be made by a TUM professor who acts as a host and close collaboration partner at TUM. At the time of nomination, nominees should expect to remain employed at their home institution for the duration of their Fellowship. The proposal is to be submitted jointly by the nominee and the planned TUM host.

Duration/Stays at TUM

The Fellowships last three years with the expectation that the Fellow will spend a total of at least nine months at TUM (which can be divided individually into several stays). In this way, the TUM-IAS intends to further a lasting and productive connection on an international level.

Hans Fischer Fellows will automatically receive the benefits of a TUM-IAS Visiting Fellow for the year following the end of their tenure. Support includes up to €10,000 for non-European or up to €5,000 for European travel to TUM and accommodation expenses. Afterwards Alumni Fellows may apply for a Visiting Fellowship, depending on the availability of funds.

Funding

Hans Fischer Fellows receive an award of €30,000 plus €50,000 for travel, accommodation and research related costs, such as the organization of workshops etc. Further funding of up to €30,000 can be allocated to the Fellowship if required (e.g. for projects with special experimental needs). This further funding requires an application to the TUM-IAS office and will be granted on the basis of quality, need and availability of funds. Fellows will be given a maximum degree of freedom as to how they utilize these funds (within bounds set by funding agencies; the funds are administered by the TUM-IAS) and their time. The award will be transferred to the Fellow typically in two to three installments.

Doctoral candidate

Hans Fischer Fellows receive support for one doctoral candidate at TUM (TV-L E13 position (max. 75%) for three years), who will be co-advised by the TUM host professor and the Hans Fischer Fellow. Hans Fischer Fellows have the right to award doctorates (Promotionsrecht). The doctoral candidate is encouraged to spend a significant part of their studies abroad at the home institute of the TUM-IAS Fellow. The doctoral work should be performed mainly during the Fellowship time, therefore the search and hiring process of a candidate should be accomplished within six months after the Fellowship appointment. In exceptional cases TUM-IAS may also consider a limited post-doc position, within the same financial framework.

Tandem nomination

Nominations for Hans Fischer and Hans Fischer Senior Fellowships require a tandem nomination, i.e. each prospective host must nominate two potential Fellows, at least one of whom must be a female scientist. Both nominations will be evaluated individually according to our usual multi-stage evaluation procedure (please see here for further details). Tandem nominations can be for the same or for several Fellowship categories (options: Hans Fischer Fellowship candidate plus Hans Fischer (Senior) Fellowship candidate, Hans Fischer Fellowship candidate plus Dieter Schwarz Fellowship candidate, or Hans Fischer Fellowship candidate plus Rudolf Diesel Industry Fellowship candidate). From the proposed tandem, both nominees may be successful, or one, or none. (Please note: A combination with the Anna Boyksen Fellowship is no longer possible, as no applications are currently being accepted for this program).

How to apply

• Please submit the following application documents:

  • a cover page (available for download),
  • a nomination letter (1-2 pages) by a TUM professor (host), including a description of the facilities provided for the Fellow by the TUM host institute as well as a confirmation from the host that he/she expects to hold a professorship at TUM for the duration of the Fellowship (if not, please indicate an additional host who would then take over),
  • a nomination letter (1-2 pages) by the dean of the hosting school or another member of the TUM Extended Board of Management (EHP) or TUM-IAS Board of Trustees,
  • a CV (no more than 5 pages),
  • a list of major publications (please highlight the 3-5 most important publications of the past five years),
  • a statement of purpose (no more than 5-10 pages) jointly signed by the nominee and the hosting professor, describing how the Fellowship would contribute to the innovation of the scientific or technological environment at TUM, and the specific goals to be achieved. The statement of purpose should also include the following elements:
    • an abstract,
    • a budget plan,
    • a time plan regarding the nominee’s projected periods of stay at TUM,
    • an identification of possible additional (interdisciplinary) collaboration partners both within TUM-IAS and within TUM as well as a short explanation as to why this collaboration would be beneficial for the outlined research project,
    • an outline for an international, ideally interdisciplinary workshop/colloquium, to be organized during the active Fellowship period,
  • a list of 4-6 international peer-reviewers without any conflict of interest (definition: please see here) – if applicable, also a list of persons who should be excluded from reviewing the proposal.
• Proposed Fellows have to have completed their doctorate within the last 12 years (allowance can be made for special circumstances like parental leave). Candidates may be asked to provide evidence of employment at their home institute for the duration of the Fellowship.