Volkswagen Foundation 2023 Norbert Elias Fellowships for African Researchers – Germany

Published: 16 Nov 2022 2,078 views

Are you interested in interdisciplinary cooperation? Do you want to be part of a high-level international team of researchers? If so, we invite you to apply for a Norbert Elias Fellowship at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Bielefeld, Germany.

ZiF is the Institute for Advanced Study of Bielefeld University and has been fostering outstanding interdisciplinary research groups for more than 50 years.

The fellowship is part of the ZiF Research Group working on on “Internalizing Borders: The Social and Normative Consequences of the European Border Regime”, convened by PD Dr. Frank Wolff (Osnabrück), Dr. Dana Schmalz (Jena), Prof. Dr. Sabine Hess (Göttingen) and Prof. Dr. Volker M. Heins (Essen). International fellows from different disciplines will work together at ZiF from October 2023 to July 2024. The research group’s working language is English. Further information about the research group can be found here.

Volkswagen Foundation Norbert Elias Fellowships

Benefits of Volkswagen Foundation Norbert Elias Fellowships

• The ZiF offers a monthly stipend of 2400 Euro plus free accommodation at the ZiF’s campus and travel expenses.
• The ZiF will also contribute to health insurance costs.
• Fellows are very welcome to bring their families with them. The ZiF campus comprises flats from single room to family size to provide suitable accommodation.
• Fellows will also receive an additional allowance of 200 Euro per month per accompanying child.
• We will be happy to assist with finding appropriate childcare and educational facilities.

Requirements for Volkswagen Foundation Norbert Elias Fellowships

• The fellowship is directed at senior and postdoctoral researchers from African universities whose research and publications are closely linked to the research group’s topic.
• We are looking for applicants from backgrounds in social sciences, history and law who have worked in Border and Migration Studies or related research fields.
• Experience of interdisciplinary research or working experience in two or more of the above fields will be an advantage.
• Applicants should be interested in interdisciplinary collaboration and willing to engage in the activities of the research group.
• Since one of our goals is to extend our interdisciplinary networks across the African continent, we are looking especially for researchers who plan to continue their careers at African institutions.

Selection Process

Selection Criteria: 

Selection criteria are academic excellence, relevance of the research for the research group’s topic, and a strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration. The decision will be taken by the ZiF and the research group conveners. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a Skype interview.

Application Documents

• CV 
• A letter of motivation (maximum three pages, CV excluded) describing your research and how you intend to contribute to the research group.
• One or two relevant publications.

Application Deadline

How to Apply