St. Petersburg State University and Freie Universität Berlin
Joint Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Second Call for Applications
2020-2021
In the framework of their strategic partnership, St. Petersburg State University and Freie Universität Berlin have
established a Joint Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Annually, two Joint Postdoctoral Fellowships are offered
for highly qualified, early career post-doctoral researchers.
Each fellowship is awarded for 24 months. The first fellowships will be awarded starting on October 1, 2020,
consisting of two phases:
Phase 1: 12 months of research at Freie Universität Berlin
Phase 2: 12 months of research at St. Petersburg State University
(or vice versa)
The call is open to all disciplines, thematic or subject areas that exist at both universities or are complementary.
The applicants must identify and secure the endorsement of two tenured faculty members, one at each
university, who will serve as host supervisors. The Postdoctoral Fellows will conduct their research projects
under the joint supervision of Freie Universität Berlin and St. Petersburg State University experienced
researchers.
Funding:
For the 12-month stay at FUB:
A monthly stipend of 1,853 Euro and a one-time relocation allowance of 1,000 Euro in case the Postdoc has to
move to Berlin for the Postdoc position. The fellows will further have access to the Researcher Development
Program of the Dahlem Research School at FUB.
For the 12-month stay at SPbU:
A monthly stipend of 60,000 roubles and a one-time relocation allowance of 60,000 roubles, in case the Postdoc
has to move to Saint Petersburg for the Postdoc position. Postdoctoral Fellows may pay to live in the SPbU
guesthouse [if available], or choose to receive additional 20,000 roubles per month and find accommodation
themselves. The Postdoctoral Fellows will further be eligible to apply for travel funding and have access to the
Resource Centers of SPbU. The scientific supervisors at SPbU have the right to offer their Postdoctoral Fellows
additional funding from their grants.
Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria:
The Fellowship is open to highly qualified researchers of all nationalities who received their Ph.D. no more than
three years prior to the deadline of this call. Candidates who acquired their Ph.D. prior to that date may also
apply if there was an eligible lapse in their research activity (e.g. family responsibilities). The program is open to
both internal and external candidates. Applicants holding a tenure or tenure-track faculty position are not
eligible.
2
Selection criteria are based on the academic excellence of the applicant, the quality of the proposed research
project, the compelling demonstration of the anticipated synergy of a joint Postdoc, the expected number of
publications with co-affiliation with SPbU and FUB, and the commitment of the respective supervisors at both
universities.
The excellent research proposal should include a research plan that indicates where the Fellow will commence
the postdoctoral research and how the project will profit from the research environments of both institutions.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2020 (Applications submitted after this date will not be considered).
Applications have to be prepared in English and must include:
 Research proposal and time plan (max. 10 pages in total including all references/figures/tables), including
information on expected number of publications with co-affiliation with SPbU und FUB in international peerreviewed journals.
 Concise Curriculum Vitae with a list of principal publications (max. 4 pages in total).
 A clear plan how the candidate wants to structure the 24-month fellowship and where he/she wants to start
(St. Petersburg or Berlin).
 Two recommendation letters (including one from the applicant’s doctoral supervisor) – can be sent directly
to the below coordinators if the referees prefer.
 Two explicit endorsement letters by the potential host supervisors at Freie Universität Berlin and St.
Petersburg State University, including detailed reference to the added value for the research project, the
benefits stemming from their joint supervision, and a clear statement of commitment regarding the physical
and intellectual research environment that the supervisors will provide to the fellow.
Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Applicants can consult SPbU’s website and FUB’s departmental websites to research potential hosts.
Freie Universität Berlin and St. Petersburg State University will inform the candidates on the selection
committee’s decision within three months of the application deadline.
Submission:
Candidates are asked to submit their applications to both FUB and SPbU. For registration and application at FUB
please use the application form at Dahlem Research School. For SPbU, applicants must apply through the SPbU
PURE system. Please follow the according instructions on how to register and apply.
For questions regarding the program and application procedure please contact the staff in charge at both
universities:
Hans-Martin Meis,
Center for International Cooperation, Freie Universität Berlin
hans-martin.meis@fu-berlin.de
and
Nikita Brinev,
International Research & Technology Department, St. Petersburg State University
n.brinev@spbu.ru