Joint Fellowship Program of HIAS and IFSH – Call for Applications in Hamburg, Deutschland

Forschung für Frieden und Sicherheit

The joint fellowship program of HIAS and IFSH invites outstanding scholars (minimum requirement: doctorate) to apply for a research stay at one of Germany’s leading research institutions in the field of peace and security studies. Based in Hamburg, IFSH offers a unique environment to foster innovative and interdisciplinary research combined with the intellectual and professional experience of spending time in a group of internationally renowned fellows from a broad range of disciplines at HIAS.  

The program welcomes applicants with substantial academic achievements, intellectual curiosity, and an above-average interest in inter- and transdisciplinary exchange. Ideal candidates are willing to cooperate with scholars at IFSH and fellows at HIAS. Applicants should also consider how their project might foster a broader public understanding of the topic. 

This fellowship program particularly welcomes projects which address or are adjacent to the following research topics: 

• Societal perspectives on peace and security, political violence, fascism, polarisation, radicalisation, and counterterrorism
• Great power conflict, arms dynamics and deterrence, strategic stability, emerging technologies and cybersecurity
• European security architecture, European regional security organizations, future of European security
• Climate change and security, polycrisis, disaster response and preparedness, crisis resilience and civil protection.

Projects that connect such topics with interdisciplinary perspectives are especially welcome. 

Applications from artists, policy makers, and other professionals may also be considered if their work is closely related to the program’s research focus and engages substantively with scholarly inquiry. 

As HIAS and IFSH are committed to equal opportunities, the fellowship program particularly welcomes applications from female and non-binary scholars, early career researchers and from individuals from regions that are usually underrepresented in research and academia. 

During their fellowship, fellows live and work in Hamburg. Therefore, only projects that can be carried out on-site at HIAS and IFSH are suitable. 

Applicants from within the metropolitan region of Hamburg are not eligible. All fellows are expected to collaborate with a tandem partner from IFSH. 

Possible financial contributions from the applicant’s home institution, for example through a sabbatical or paid leave, are highly encouraged and should be mentioned in the application. 

The academic year usually begins on October 1 and ends on June 30 of the following year. The earliest possible start date for the fellowship is in October 2027. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred period, which must consist of at least three and no more than nine months. July, August and September are not fellowship months.

Ihr Profil

Evaluation criteria 

Selection is based on: 

• doctorate (minimum) in the humanities, social sciences, or natural/life sciences
• publications in relevant academic journals or comparable publication outlets
• interdisciplinary and international research profile
• relevant experience in research on the fellowship program’s core research topics
• prestigious prizes and awards
• very good command of English

HIAS and IFSH take career stage into account and pay particular attention to the future potential of early career researchers. A doctorate is required for fellows working in academia. 

  

Project evaluation criteria 

• Does the project open up new questions and ways of thinking?
• Does it benefit from interaction with other disciplines?
• Does it address questions relevant to the fellowship program’s core research topics?
• Does it fit an Institute for Advanced Study environment?
• Can a suitable tandem partner at IFSH be identified?
• Is the project feasible within HIAS, IFSH, and Hamburg’s research environment?

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Utmost freedom and flexibility  

Fellows can pursue their own research projects independently while benefiting from interdisciplinary exchange in the intellectual environment of HIAS and IFSH. The fellowship is funded by IFSH either through a stipend to the fellow or by reimbursement of the home institution’s costs of a teaching replacement.

Excellent working conditions  

Fellows are offered a fully equipped workspace in central Hamburg and continuous assistance by the HIAS and IFSH teams. Each fellow is accompanied by an IFSH-based academic tandem partner. Through this tandem structure, fellows gain access to relevant local research networks and infrastructure. Furthermore, HIAS will support fellows in identifying and connecting with potential cooperation partners at one of HIAS’ ten member institutions.

Academic program  

Fellows are expected to attend the weekly lunches and colloquia/dinners at HIAS and may participate in additional excursions. Active participation in the academic program is mandatory.

Family-friendly living conditions   

Fellows may be housed in the centrally located guesthouse of the University of Hamburg, which offers fully furnished apartments with cooking facilities. HIAS and IFSH welcome accompanying life partners and children and assist in finding suitable accommodation, schools, and day care facilities.

In addition, diversity in terms of disciplines, countries of origin, gender, and career stages is taken into account with regard to the group of scholars at IFSH and the respective cohort of fellows at HIAS.

We look forward to receiving your application. 

By submitting an application, you consent to the purpose-related processing of your personal data. The data will be shared with the HIAS and IFSH committees and, if necessary, with external reviewers.

Application

Applications can be uploaded in English as a single PDF file via the application form by November 16, 2026.  

An application should include:

• Cover letter stating:
  • desired period of stay
  • possible academic tandem partner(s) from IFSH
  • possible (partial) financing through sabbatical or paid leave, if applicable
  • how your research profile would enrich the fellow group, IFSH, and the Hamburg research environment
• Letter of intent from your prospective tandem partner, if already available (1 page)*  
• List of most important publications (max. 2 pages)  
• CV including prizes and awards  
• Description of the planned project (max. 3 pages)  
• Project description for a non-specialist audience (max. 1 page)  
• Optional link to an online video/talk/lecture  

* A letter of intent is only requested if applicant and prospective tandem partner are already acquainted and intend to collaborate. Naming a potential tandem partner is sufficient; no prior contact is required.

Contact person for your application

If you have any questions about the application or required documents, please contact Dr. Kerstin Bischl at [email protected].

Ansprechpartner:in für Ihre Bewerbung

If you have any questions about the application or required documents, please contact Dr. Kerstin Bischl at [email protected].