Germany is
one of the most popular research locations worldwide.
In qualitative surveys, international postdocs
invariably award top scores for the quality of research
and in particular for the funding opportunities.
Research.
Great Bureaucracy.
A problem.
The subtitle of the study on Germany from the Outside,
conducted by the Humboldt Foundation in 2023, might hit the spot there
that Germany is largely seen as a bureaucratic country.
Here you can get the chance to boost your scientific career,
but only if you know how to submit your funding application correctly.
This video series is about the
chances and challenges of handing in grant applications in Germany.
My name is Catrina and on behalf of our Section
I will guide you through the formalities and specifications
during and after the application process in chronological order.
You can skip individual sections and focus only on
what is most relevant for you by using the slider below.
The videos do not offer special grant suggestions or planning advice.
For this you can visit our information events on site.
Please keep in mind that your individual situation
might sometimes differ from the presented examples,
but my colleagues and I are always motivated to help you
just get in touch with us.
You can find our contact details below.
Let's start with some information on how to ensure a successful
You need to present your project
in exactly the format required by the respective funding body.
In concrete terms, please fill in all available
fact sheets and forms of the third-party funders.
This means that headings,
chapter numbering, character formats, page margins, etc.
must not be changed in templates.
Compliance with submission deadlines should be
strictly observed, as should the indicated submission routes.
It is usually clear which attachments should be included.
If in doubt, please direct your queries
to the contact addresses given in the call for submissions
or contact our Research support section for Early Careers.
We can also provide you with feedback on larger proposals
that include, for example, personeel costs for your own position.
Please find additional offers on our website and a checklist
covering all eventualities regarding your application.
Whenever you plan to apply for funding for a research project
at the University of Hamburg, you should fill out and hand
in a so-called external funding notification.
You can find the link below.
The external funding notification is a purely internal document
that is used for budget and capacity planning.
Of course, individual circumstances may change
slightly in the course of finalizing the application.
For example, the amount of funding requested
the project title or even the jobs envisaged.
You do not necessarily have to redo the notification then.
Small deviations are not uncommon.
And again, please inquire if you have any questions or check our website
if you need further clarification in this respect.
When applying for your own position, you will usually need
a second document, a so-called employer's certificate.
With this certificate, The funding bodies ensure
that the university is aware of the planned research project
and agrees to the acquisition of third party funding.
You can find a template
to download from the funding organizations website.
Sometimes it is possible to adapt the content, for instance,
an increase in the teaching load,
but this should always be done
in consultation with a funding organization and the future employer.
The employer certificate
must be signed by the head of the Human Resources Department.
A signature by corporation partners, working
groups, departments or faculties is not sufficient.
Important.
Please note that the approval process takes some time.
At least two weeks.
Some funding bodies allow to file
selected documents subsequently, such as the employer's certificate.
However,
you should always ask about this in advance, and it is often the case
that the application is not processed further
until all documents have actually been submitted.
The funding agencies usually send an acknowledgment of receipt
and an initial estimate of how long the review will take.
Please be patient.
Small foundations sometimes decide quickly,
but in many cases the funding decisions take about half a year
and people are often requested to refrain from any inquiries.
If contrary to expectations, the decision
does not result in an acceptance.
Do not let this discourage you.
The reasons for rejection can be very diverse due to high standards.
Even very good proposals can fall through.
The quality of your proposal alone is not always decisive.
It is worth taking a close look at the reviewer's comments
which are often available
and then resubmit the proposal after revising it.
The funding lines of the German Research Foundation, DFG
in particular, allow this resubmission option.
Striving for transparency and fairness,
the DFG offers extensive
information on the decision making process.
The procedures at other funding organizations are similar
or even more streamlined.
But what they all have in common is that funding
decisions are not made arbitrarily.
At least
two reviewers are usually consulted and several people
make the final decision in a clearly regulated procedure.
When submitting the proposal, you often have the opportunity
to indicate which persons
from your scientific community should not see your proposal.
In addition, you can point out possible biases, and this information
is usually also taken into account by the selection of reviewers.
All participants in the procedure are bound to absolute
confidentiality.
For some funding formats the final decision
is not made solely on the basis of the written application,
but the procedure is supplemented by a personal presentation.
The funding body might invite you to present
your research proposal, either online or in person.
This applies, for example, to Emmy-Noether
or Heisenberg applications.
If you received such an invitation,
you have already achieved a great deal as the written reviews
endorse your project confirming your scientific excellence.
The desired presentation therefore serves to see
whether you meet the expectations
that are attached to a future leadership role in science.
However, you can
prepare well for a challenging, often unfamiliar situation.
We are very happy to support you by organizing mock exams with peers
and researchers
who have already been successful in the respective formats.
The preparation for the presentation is usually complemented
by personal coaching,
which is organized for you with the support of Section 61.
So be sure to contact us when you receive an invitation.