As member of the Network of European Institutes for Advanced Study (Netias) HIAS joins the Open Call for the CAT Program 2024-26

Deadline October 15, 2023

Goals

The aim of the CAT initiative is to foster networks of excellent early-career researchers dedicated to devising new ideas to understand and to tackle current or emerging societal challenges. Although the programme has a strong focus on the societal relevance of the projects, it is entirely blue sky, bottom-up and non-thematic. CAT encourages a collaboration with stakeholders outside academia (industry, policymakers, NGOs…) who are willing to support or engage in innovative research initiatives.

In order to engage in fruitful discussions and mature their ideas, the groups will be given the opportunity to meet for short stays in different participating institutes, and to be put in contact with the institutes’ fellows and local research communities.

With few guidelines and a very light application process, CAT is designed to maximize the creativity of research groups. This call has been incubated in the Network of European Institutes for Advanced Study (NETIAS) and also involves institutes beyond the network. The collaboration between several institutes in different countries aims at giving these groups access to a great variety of high-level thinkers and researchers in order to go beyond the current frontiers of knowledge and to develop highly innovative ideas on how to address very complex societal issues.

Support

CAT will provide teams of early-career researchers (three to five persons) time and space for thought and discussion in the best research environments Europe has to offer. The groups may include one representative of a stakeholder organization related to the theme of the project. During a period of up to three years, teams will benefit from a series of short stays (i.e. between one and two weeks, two to three times a year, for a maximum of six stays) in institutes participating in the program (see list below). Online meetings and digital research stays at the institutes are possible alternatives to onsite stays and can complete the work and time plan of CAT groups.

CAT will cover travel and accommodation expenses for the team meetings/short work stays in the participating institutes. CAT will not fund salaries or research related expenses.

The participating institutes will support the teams by connecting them with the most knowledgeable and experienced researchers onsite as well as digitally, and by helping them valorise the obtained results through their legitimating channels. During their stay, CAT teams will benefit from the institutes’ amenities and conviviality for work and exchanges. Discussions at the institutes will provide a unique sounding board for innovative ideas and will give valuable feedback.

Obligations for CAT groups

At mid-term, the continuation of the institute’s support to the team’s work will be subject to approval after evaluation of a short progress report.

At the end of their project, in addition to the organization of (a) final meeting(s) presenting the results, the CAT teams will be expected to produce a final report in the form of a text, video, website or other media, that will be made public.

In keeping with the policies of the participating institutes, the researchers keep the intellectual property rights to their work.

Eligibility criteria

The project must address emergent societal issues.

• The Principal Investigator (team leader) must have a stable research position in a European (EU as well as UK and associated countries) higher education and/or research institution for the entire duration of the project.
• S/he must have obtained a PhD between January 2013 and December 2021.
• No team member should have obtained his/her PhD before January 2013. Doctoral researchers may also participate.
• The eligibility can be extended beyond 10 years after the PhD for any member of the group for certain properly documented circumstances such as maternity and paternity leaves, clinical training, long-term illness, national service, natural disaster or seeking asylum.
• There is no specific diploma or age requirement for representatives of stakeholder organizations.
• Each team should include participants from at least two different countries (current workplace, including non-European countries; any nationality).
• The team of 3 to 5 persons (stakeholders included) must be fully constituted, with CVs of all members named in the proposa

Applications

Please submit your application documents in English as PDF files (the various parts of the application may be sent as one PDF) here. Applications should include the following materials:

• a 300-word abstract;
• a 3000-word max project proposal (references not included in the count) OR a video of 15 min max (in this case, please include the web link in the abstract), describing the team’s research question and how it plans to address it. The team’s motivation as well as the societal issues addressed and the interdisciplinary aspects of the project should be specified;
• a work plan for the whole project duration, including meetings (tentative dates and possibly preferred hosting IAS) and activities with an indicative calendar;
• a short description of the team
• CVs for each participant and an indication of where they will travel from to the meetings;
• letters of support: at least two letters from academic researchers; additional letters from a stakeholders outside academia are encouraged.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Deadline for applications: 15 October 2023, 15:00 CET

Here is the link to the application plattform.

Successful applications will be notified by the end of January, 2024

Stays in participating institutes will take place between January 2024 and December 2026.

For further information on the application process and the participating Institutes for Advanced Studies please click here.

In cooperation with HIAS, the Research Center for Contemporary History in Hamburg (FZH) invites applications for 2 or 3 fellowships in 2024 on urbanity and urban history in a contemporary historical perspective.

Deadline August 10, 2023

We offer scholars with a track record of relevant research the opportunity to work on their own project in this field in Hamburg. The call is primarily aimed at scholars (PostDoc / Professor) working at universities or research institutions outside of Germany. The duration of the fellowships is up to four months.

We offer Fellows the opportunity to work on their individual research projects and actively engage with the scholarly community at the FZH, the HIAS, and other academic institutions in Hamburg. They participate in public events and colloquia at the FZH and the HIAS and benefit from various opportunities for transdisciplinary exchange and networking. The FZH encourages the use of its research library and its archive as well as other libraries, archives, and research institutions in Hamburg. There are no teaching obligations.

The fellowships entail roundtrip economy travel to Hamburg, a monthly stipend based on current salary, housing at the guesthouse of the Hamburg University – subject to availability – or a housing allowance, and office space. Health insurance assistance can be provided.

Applications inlcuding the following documents may be submitted as a single PDF and in English to strupp@zeitgeschichte-hamburg.de until August 10, 2023:

• A cover letter outlining the applicant’s motivation and the link between his or her research and the thematic focus of the FZH as well as information on the preferred date of the research visit.#
• Description of the planned research project (max. 1,000 words).
• CV including a list of relevant publications

Click here for the entire call.

For further information on the coorperation with FZH, click here.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Christoph Strupp (Email: strupp@zeitgeschichte-hamburg.de; Tel.: ++49 40 43139732).

*** Currently this call is paused until further notice ***

HIAS supports the initiative Science Bridge for Ukraine of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and awards with immediate effect

up to 3 Fellowships for

Ukrainian Scholars / Cultural Professionals at Risk

€ 2,000  / month I Duration 3 – 10 months

As a Fellow, the academic or cultural professional will join the ongoing interdisciplinary and international fellowship programme, which includes the following services:

• an office space in the centre of Hamburg
• technical equipment
• support in research or other tasks
• participation in interdisciplinary colloquia and events
• integration into Hamburg’s scientific or cultural community through a cooperation with Hamburg based colleagues
• advice and support regarding accommodation, childcare and  administrative tasks.

In addition, HIAS pays a monthly stipend of about € 2,000 (depending on family status).

The following conditions must be met:

• the applicant is a scientist (from postdoc onwards) or a cultural professional (with a Master’s degree) and can speak English (level B)
• the applicant lives in Ukraine at risk due to the political situation (and has no other residence in Hamburg)
• the applicant has already fled Ukraine or will have to flee Ukraine
• the applicant does not have any employer in Hamburg
• the applicant is willing to continue his/her work in a safe environment and in active exchange with international colleagues.

In order to react as quickly as possible to the political situation, the applicant is not required to submit a detailed application.

Please send the following documents and information informally and in English by e-mail with reference “Ukraine” to application@hias-hamburg.de:

• CV incl. proof of academic degree (scientists from postdoc onwards; cultural professionals from Master’s degree onwards)
• information on a planned scientific or cultural project/ topic at HIAS (maximum one page)
• name of a desired cooperation partner in Hamburg (a scientist or cultural worker from one of Hamburg’s institutions, possible institutions here)
• information about accompanying family members
• information about the current stay
• indication of the desired fellowship period

If you have any questions or require advice, please contact us at geschaeftsstelle@hias-hamburg.de.