6-month Postdoc Fellowships
For four years, the Fedor Stepun Fellowship has been successfully supporting postdoctoral researchers who are unable to continue their scientific work in their countries of origin as a result of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine or political persecution in authoritarian contexts. The programme is funded by the Zimin Foundation and implemented at Ruhr University Bochum in close cooperation with the RUB Research School.
The Research School is responsible for implementing the programme, supervising the fellows and integrating them into the research environment of the university and the University Alliance Ruhr.
The fellowship is strategically supported by the liaison office of the University Alliance Ruhr for Eastern Europe/Central Asia (OEZA).
The fellowship is aimed at postdoctoral researchers from all disciplines who are unable to continue their academic work in their countries of origin due to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine or as a result of political repression. This includes, in particular, Ukrainian scientists whose academic work has been interrupted by war and displacement, as well as researchers from Russia and Belarus who are subject to repression or persecution due to their scientific activities, public positioning or political stance. The programme offers them the opportunity to continue their research in an international and interdisciplinary environment at Ruhr University Bochum and within the University Alliance Ruhr.
Aim of the program
The fellowship offers a protected academic framework in which fellows can
- further develop their own research ideas,
- prepare funding and third-party funding applications for longer-term research projects,
- connect to the European academic system,
- stabilize their academic career in the long term.
During the funding phase, fellows receive support from the RUB Research School as well as from university advisory and support structures.
Fellowship at a glance
- Duration: 6 months
- Funding amount: 1,800 € per month
- Number of fellowships per year: up to 8
- Possible hosts: Professors / Principal Investigators of the UA Ruhr
- Ruhr University Bochum
- TU Dortmund University
- University of Duisburg-Essen
Applicants should indicate their desired host in the application form.
Direct contact with potential hosts is not intended.
Current call for applications 2026
The new application round for the Fedor Stepun Fellowship starts on March 1, 2026.
Application period
- March 1, 2026 - Opening of the call for applications
- April 15, 2026 - Application deadline
Start of the fellowship
- Online onboarding: July 2026
- Earliest possible start: August 2026
A later start (e.g. October) is possible, provided this is agreed with the respective host
Funding
The duration of each fellowship is 6 months. Each of the eight fellowships is endowed with 1,800 € per month, i.e., a total of 10,800 €.
Eligibilty
The program will provide eight (8) postdoctoral fellowships for researchers from all scientific fields who are unable to continue their scientific work in their countries of origin as a result of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine or political persecution in authoritarian contexts.
Review Criteria
Evaluation criteria include
Group 1: Personal Risk Situation (to be considered first)
- If you are in current danger, e.g., live in Ukraine, Russia, we ask you to hand in an official Proof of Risk.
Group 2: Scientific Potential (considered thereafter)
- Quality of Postdoc Project, incl. potential to receive further funding
- Commitment of Potential Host
- Availability and Urgency
The joint work on a research proposal and the eventual application to a postdoc funding (DAAD, Humboldt Foundation, Foundations) is expected. Depending on their career status, we recognize that applicants may not have a fully developed research proposal at the time of application.
Review Process
The Early Career Researcher Board of the University Alliance Ruhr decides on all applications. For the decision on the Stepun Fellowships, it will be complemented by a representative of the Liaison Office Eastern Europe/Central Asia of the University Alliance Ruhr. The decision is expected for June 27 (estimated). Earliest start of the fellowship is August 2025.
Deadlines
The current call ends on April 15. 2026.
Application
Please use this link to reach the online application form.
You will not be able to temporarily save the data online. Please use this PDF as a reference and overview.
Testimonials from Former Fellows
Ivan Fomin
After my hasty departure from Russia, I was not at all sure that I would be able to continue my research work. In this situation, the Fyodor Stepun Program was a real salvation for me. It was thanks to it that I was able to regain some ground under my feet, catch my breath, and return to academia
Valeriy Zolotukhin
In the difficult situation caused by the outbreak of the war, the Fyodor Stepun Fellowship gave me the opportunity to return to sharply interrupted work. It helped me, above all, that when I came to Ruhr, I found myself within the wonderful community that had developed at the University of Bochum - attentive, interested, and united beyond professional interests by shared values, views, and a search for answers to the challenges that the war in Ukraine had brought
Anna Gerasimova
The fellowship allowed me, first, to develop my own project on the study of reading practices, which existed only in draft form. Second, I got to know the German academic system and the system for funding science. And thirdly, the fellowship helped me to make many new connections with my colleagues and expanded my opportunities for collaboration, both in academia and as a volunteer.”
Anonymous
The Stepun fellowship allowed me to finalise my research proposal, handle different academic systems and communicate with people interested in my topic. As a result, I got a half-year fellowship at the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO) in Leipzig and was made a fully-funded PhD offer in Slavonic Studies at Cambridge University.
Anonymous
The Fyodor Stepun Fellowship Program allowed me to acclimatize initially to the space of European academia and to map out my future academic trajectory. The Stepun Program proved to be an important element linking my previous experience of academic work in Russia with my upcoming projects
