RUB Research School

Gateway Fellowship

Postdoc Stipend for Your Research Experience abroad

Make your first international research experience as a postdoc funded by a Gateway Fellowship (GF). With this funding line, Research School supports the first postdoc career steps for those who just obtained their doctorate from RUB. The fellowships grant an individual stipend for a period of up to 9 months. This bridge financing provide early career researchers with the opportunity to go to outstanding international host institutions for preliminary studies or preparing a postdoc project. In this way, a GF fosters the development of your research profile and enables you to collaborate with the world’s best in your field of interest.

Read more about the Gateway Fellows who have been funded since 2013 and their projects and get inspired.

Funding

GFs support research stays at renowned international universities, institutes, or other organizations for six to nine months. You will receive a monthly stipend, depending on the host country, your age, marital status and children. Check this website to calculate your amount. Travel costs are reimbursed separately.

From a legal point of view, it is not possible to receive a scholarship form RUB and be employed by RUB at the same time. In case you are employed at RUB, please inform your chair about the Gateway Fellowship once it is granted. Please take a look at our Rules for Supplementary Work during the time of Gateway Fellowship.


Eligibility

Applicants must obtain or have recently obtained their doctoral degree from RUB . You can hand in your GF application prior to submitting/defending your dissertation. However, you must have submitted your thesis by the time the GF selection colloquium takes place. The final doctoral examination/defence must take place before the start of your GF project. The time period between obtaining your doctoral degree (date of final examination/defence) and the start of your intended fellowship project at the host institution must be in a time frame of 12 months and may not exceed this frame.

Any exceptions concerning the above regulations will only be conceded due to social criteria.


Review Criteria

The reviewers will evaluate all applications according to the following criteria:

  • Formal completeness of the application
  • Comprehensibility of the application to a general audience
  • International and scientific profile of the applicant
  • Scientific quality and innovation of the project
  • Fitting of the host (institution) to the research project
  • Importance of the project for the international network 
  • Importance for career perspectives beyond the Gateway Fellowship
  • Relationship between the project and the candidate’s previous research:The GF is not intended to fund incremental continuation or completion of your previous work.
  • Sustainable impact of the project on RUB’s international network

The aim of the Gateway Fellowship is to serve as bridge financing to provide early career researchers with the opportunity to go to outstanding international host institutions. For the application and selection process, it is necessary to explain and present your research project and your further postdoc career plans. For those who plan to hand in a Gateway Fellowship application, our managing director, Dr. Christiane Wüllner, offers an informative exchange about strategic planning for your research career. Before handing in your application, we highly recommend to take this opportunity to discuss with her on a ZOOM meeting on the 31st of January 2024, 10:00 AM. For registration, please send her an email until the 24th of January 2024.


Review Process

The review process lasts around 4 months and consists of two steps. Two experts will be asked to review the written application. On the basis of the written applications and expert reviews, the Executive Board of Research School selects outstanding candidates for an oral presentation of their proposed projects. This colloquium takes place in front of members of the Early Career Researchers Board and representatives from the Executive Board. The colloquium will be announced at the RS website and will be open to RUB members. Taking the written applications, reviews, and the oral presentation into account, the Executive Board will make the final decision.

The next Gateway Fellowship Colloquium will take place in June 2024.


Application

For the preparation of your application, please take a look at the information on the review procedure, in particular the review criteria. Please fill out the PDF application form, which you can download here. Your application must contain the following documents in addition to the application form:

  • Doctoral certificate OR confirmation of thesis submission OR your supervisor’s confirmation that the thesis will be submitted prior to the selection colloquium
  • Two letters of recommendation (one from your first PhD supervisor and from another experienced researcher in your field)
  • An invitation letter from the prospective host organization
  • References/literature
  • Not mandatory: Document for illustration of research (e.g. charts, figures)

To apply, please send the PDF application form as well as the required documents via email to Dr. Nicolas Lindner in time before the deadline of the corresponding call. Please do not send print outs or original documents by post. You will receive a confirmation email for your application.

For planning your potential research stay for a Gateway Fellowship, please take a look at the information on funding as well as restrictions on additional income during the time of the Gateway Fellowship. Here you can also take a look on additional information for GF grantees.

The aim of the Gateway Fellowship is to serve as bridge financing to provide early career researchers with the opportunity to go to outstanding international host institutions. For the application and selection process it is necessary to explain and present your research project and your further postdoc career plans. For those who plan to hand in a Gateway Fellowship application, our managing director, Dr. Christiane Wüllner, offers an informative exchange about strategic planning for your research career. Before handing in your application, we highly recommend to take this opportunity to discuss with her on a ZOOM meeting on the 31st of January 2024, 10:00 AM. For registration, please send her an email until the 24th of January 2024.


Deadlines

Information 22nd Call

 

  • Open: November 2023
  • Submission deadline: 29. February 2024
  • Colloquium & final decision: Beginning of June 2024
  • Start of possible Gateway Fellowship: 4 weeks after the colloquium or later

Information 23rd Call

  • Open: April 2024
  • Submission deadline: 31. August 2024
  • Colloquium & final decision: Beginning of December 2024
  • Start of possible Gateway Fellowship: 6 weeks after the colloquium or later