NOTE: This grant has been temporarily suspended for the 2025 calendar year.
The Friedrich Schiller University Jena, founded in 1558, is situated in Thuringia—the green heart of Germany. It offers a wide range of over 200 courses, out of 18,000 students, 2,300 come to study in Jena from abroad. The FSU is distinguished by its high-level research dynamic. It cultivates an interdisciplinary working style as well as intensive networking with other universities, external research institutes and industry - not only locally, but worldwide: over 150 collaboration agreements with renowned partners from all around the world highlight the international standing of the FSU. Under the motto LIGHT, LIFE, LIBERTY, the FSU has divided its research into three interdisciplinary areas. LIGHT covers optics, photonics, innovative materials and energy research, LIFE covers microbiology, research into infectious diseases, biodiversity and ageing, and LIBERTY covers the Enlightenment, Romanticism, contemporary history, Eastern Europe and social change.
The FSU particularly promotes opportunities for young scientists and researchers. With a graduate academy which is nationally recognised to conform to best practice, the FSU places great emphasis on high quality standards and providing the best possible qualifications graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral students.
The partnership between UC Berkeley and FSU was established in 2011. Both universities are now seeking to intensify their collaboration, and FSU is pleased to announce a scholarship opportunity for Berkeley graduate students wishing to explore dissertation research opportunities in Germany.
The scholarship has a duration of three months minimum up to 4 months maximum. Students are entitled to audit courses at FSU.
This grant can be combined with other IES grants/fellowships.
PLEASE NOTE: Grant recipients are expected to complete their research stay in residence at the designated partner university during the calendar year they applied for (not the end of the school year).
Award amount: The fellowship offered by FSU is EUR 850 per month and will be paid upon arrival in Jena. In addition, the selected student will receive a reimbursement for flight costs of up to EUR 820. FSU will offer the selected candidate guest-student status.
Eligibility: UC Berkeley graduate students from all fields can apply. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate in their application that they already have a faculty supervisor/contact at Jena University. Upon request, Jena can help the selected student to obtain residency in a student dorm (to be paid for by the student). Students who wish to have residency in a student dorm are encouraged to schedule their arrival for April or October.
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- A one-page cover letter
- A 100-word (maximum) abstract of your research
- A research statement (max. 3 pages)
- One letter of recommendation from a UC Berkeley faculty member; this letter should be sent to ies@berkeley.edu
- One short confirmation letter or e-mail from your research supervisor at Jena University, indicating the duration of your stay
- A short CV
Deadline: November 1
For more information about FSU, please contact Sophie Schwarz at incoming@uni-jena.de
For additional information on this fellowship opportunity, please contact ies@berkeley.edu