• a completed doctorate (the dissertation must be submitted and proof of this must be available by the application deadline)
• the doctorate has been completed less than six years prior to the application deadline (starting with the date on the doctoral certificate)
• candidates may not be German citizens
• candidates may not have lived in Germany for more than 6 months within the 24 months prior to the application deadline

Duration

15 months (starting in April 2013)

Funding

The fellows will be employed via full employment contracts according to the current collective agreement for the public sector of Berlin, carrying social benefits such as pension and social security, but also subject to normal taxes. They will receive:

• an annual net salary of approx. 22,700 to 29,400 Euro (depending on experience level and marital status)
• a monthly mobility allowance of 200 Euro (subject to tax and social security contributions)
• a one-off travel allowance of 500 to 2000 Euro (subject to tax and social security contributions and depending on the distance from place of residence to Berlin).
• a monthly research allowance of 1200 Euro for lab-based projects or 300 Euro for non-lab-based projects
• a fully funded intensive German course
• a tailor-made professional development program delivered by Dahlem Research School.

Topoi - The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations

Key topics: The transformation of antique phenomena; Innovations in antiquity; Maps and diagrams; Ancient economy; Water management in antiquity; and Space related identities.

Research fields: The interaction between ancient human communities and the natural environment; The social control mechanisms through which ancient spaces have been constituted, defined, formed and regulated; The perception and representation of spaces in ancient cultures; Ancient theories of space and all forms of ancient science concerned with the concept of space.

For further questions regarding Topoi please contact Regina Attula, regina.attula@topoi.org or go to http://www.topoi.org. 

NeuroCure

Research fields: Immune actions in the healthy and diseased central nervous system; Neurogenetic/neurophysiological contributions to speech and language learning in animal models; The cellular and molecular basis of auditory system function and development.

For further questions regarding NeuroCure please contact Tanja Rohweder, tanja.rohweder@charite.de or go to http://www.neurocure.de. 

Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies

Research fields: From stimulation to control - Using bone morphogenetic protein for controlled regeneration under compromised conditions; Direct cellular migration to sites of injury; Targeting inflammation to support regeneration; Multifunctional and controllable implant systems; From cell therapy to joint function – adaptation in regenerative therapies; Visualisation of regeneration.

For further questions regarding the research of BSRT please contact Sabine Bartosch, info@bsrt.de or go to http://www.bsrt.de. 

Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies

Key topics: The plurality, changeability, and global connectedness of Muslim cultures and societies in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, as well as in Muslim minority communities in Europe and North America.

Research fields: Islamic reform; Education in Muslim majority contexts; Media and communication.

For further details regarding the BGSMCS please contact Gabriele Freitag, md@bgsmcs.fu-berlin.de. 

Berlin Mathematical School

Research fields: Differential and Discrete Geometry, Algebraic Geometry, Algebraic Topology, Discrete Mathematics, Visualization, Numerical Mathematics, Scientific Computing, Geometric Analysis, Differential Equations.

For further details regarding BMS please contact Alexander Schmitt, aschmitt@zedat.fu-berlin.de or go to http://www.math-berlin.de or to the Department of Mathematics at Freie Universität Berlin http://www.math.fu-berlin.de/en/groups. 

Berlin School of Integrative Oncology

Research fields: Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways in carcinogenesis; Cellular stress responses in tumor development and treatment resistance; Cancer immunology; Functional “-omics” and systems biology; Interdisciplinary analysis of pathogenic mechanisms; Translational research and novel treatment options; Stem cells in cancer.

For further details regarding BSIO, its research and training please contact Eleanor Horn, eleanor.horn@charite.de. 

Graduate School for East Asian Studies

Research fields: The interdisciplinary analysis of institutions in East Asia from a social science perspective and historical grounding; Trans-regional phenomena or interregional comparisons.

For further details regarding the GSC East Asian Studies please contact Verena Blechinger, verena.blechinger-talcott@fu-berlin.de. 

Step 1: Please fill out the entire online application form.

Please note that problems can occur when text containing symbols, formulae, and/or any special formatting is copied into the online form. This can be avoided by checking the text first with the standard text editor on your computer.

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Step 2: In order to complete your application you are required to send us further documents:

(1) COFUND CV Template (please download the template here)
(2) Project Summary (5-10 DIN A4-pages, including a work/time schedule, please download template here)
(3) A Letter of Motivation (max. 1 DIN A4-page)
(4) Scanned signed letters from at least 2 of the referees named in the COFUND CV template
(5) A scanned copy of your PhD, MA and BA certificates (or equivalent qualifications)

Note: All application documents must be submitted in English.
For the Project Summary and the Letter of Motivation please use 2 cm top, bottom and side margins, font Arial, font size 10, 1.5 line spacing.

Only complete applications with all requested documents (1-5) will be considered.

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Step 3: Submit your application

(1) Convert your documents into one pdf file, name it “appl.DRS-COFUND-2013.lastname.firstname” and send it by e-mail to fellowship-drs[at]fu-berlin.de. Make sure your file does not exceed 10 MB in size.
(2) E-mail Subject: “Application for DRS-COFUND-2013: lastname firstname”
(3) Deadline for submission: August 31, 2012

Once your application is complete, you will receive an acknowledgement together with an individual code number and login details for a secure web page to be able to view the anonymized selection results. Applicants will be notified by e-mail when new results are announced.   

Topic Links

• COFUND 2013 CV Template
• COFUND 2013 Work/Time Schedule

The review process for the DRS -Fellowship COFUND consists of four phases which are further described below:

I)    Eligibility check

II)    International peer-review

III)    Structured interviews

IV)    Final selection by a supervisory committee.

Each phase must be passed successfully to proceed to the next. Candidates will receive an identification code which will allow anonymised results of each selection phase to be published on a secure website with limited access. After completion of phase 1, applicants will receive login details for the secure site and will from then on be notified by e-mail each time new results are announced.

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I. Eligibility check

The eligibility check is conducted by the project coordinator and managing director of the DRS according to the published eligibility criteria.

Selection criteria:

a) Applications meet the eligibiliy criteria and are complete.

b) Applications are based on the research themes pursued in the relevant excellence program and feasible within the program’s scope.

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II. International peer review

The excellence programs appoint two international peers per application. The selection criteria are weighted differently, in line with the general objectives of the COFUND program, and are as follows:

• Quality and level of innovation of the applicant’s project proposal with regard to the excellence program (30%)
• Convincing statement of purpose with regard to the research fellowship and the applicant’s academic career aspirations (20%)
• Quality and level of innovation of the applicant’s doctoral dissertation, as evidenced by the abstract thereof as part of the evaluation (20%)
• Academic or scientific excellence (in academia and/or industry), proven by way of the applicant’s previous professional experience, peer-reviewed publications, inventions, patents, prizes and awards, distinctions, etc. (20%)
• Previous acquisition of approval for project proposals and/or interdisciplinary cooperative arrangements on innovative research topics, international and interdisciplinary mobility (10%)

Special circumstances and personal commitments (especially family-related career breaks) that place applicants at a disadvantage may be considered.

Applicants who obtain a score of at least 3.75 points (75% of the total points) are recommended for phase III.

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III. Structured interviews conducted by selection boards of the excellence programs

The structured interviews are conducted via Skype or videoconference by an internal selection board consisting of at least three principal investigators from the relevant excellence program. The selection board prepares a list of applicant rankings and issues a recommendation to the external selection committee.

Criteria during the interview are:

• Discussion of the planned research project: convincing defense of the proposed research
• Convincing depiction of how the proposed research fellowship fits into the applicant’s career aspirations
• Convincing presentation of the applicant’s CV
• Candidate’s personal suitability for the relevant excellence program

Applicants who obtain a score of at least 15 out of 20 possible points (75%) are recommended for the final selection phase.

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IV. Final decision by supervisory selection committee

The Competitive Selection and the final decision on admission or rejection will be the responsibility of the Supervisory Selection Committee. The committee will consist of four members of the Excellence Council of Freie Universität, two experts from international research institutions as well as two representatives from German non-university research institutions.

The Supervisory Committee will take the final decision based on the competitive ranking of candidates from phase II and the recommendations of the selection boards from phase III.

For questions regarding the DRS Fellowship COFUND please check our FAQ page or contact the DRS Fellowship Team at fellowship-drs@fu-berlin.de.

Dahlem Research School
Freie Universität Berlin
Hittorfstr. 16
14195 Berlin, Germany

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For further questions regarding

• TOPOI please contact Regina Attula, regina.attula@topoi.org
• NeuroCure please contact Tanja Rohweder, tanja.rohweder@charite.de
• the Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies please contact Sabine Bartosch, info@bsrt.de
• the Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies please contact Gabriele Freitag, md@bgsmcs.fu-berlin.de 
• the Berlin Mathematical School please contact Alexander Schmitt,
  aschmitt@zedat.fu-berlin.de
• the Berlin School of Integrative Oncology please contact Eleanor Horn,
  eleanor.horn@charite.de
• the Graduate School for East Asian Studies please contact Verena Blechinger, verena.blechinger-talcott@fu-berlin.de

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For general information please contact the liaison offices of Freie Universität Berlin:

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