WZB Early Career Visiting Scholars
The Early Career Visiting Scholar Program is designed for postdoctoral researchers with completed PhD and non-tenured Assistant Professors. It welcomes promising early career scholars from all disciplines represented at the WZB, who seek to further develop their research profile and contribute new perspectives and methodological approaches to the WZB’s research areas.
WZB Visiting Scholars Program
The WZB Berlin Social Science Center is Germany’s largest publicly funded social science research institute, with a long-standing tradition of welcoming both international and German researchers and scholarship holders. In addition to visitors hosted by individual research units, the institute offers an institute-wide Visiting Scholars Program.
Through this Program, the WZB actively promotes national and international collaboration by inviting outstanding researchers at different career stages to engage in academic dialogue and initiate new collaborations. The program fosters intellectual exchange and supports the development of lasting scholarly networks.
The program offers funded short‑term research visits of up to two months at the WZB in Berlin. It is highly competitive: up to 20 funded visits are awarded annually across junior and senior career levels. Applications are assessed on academic excellence and their fit with ongoing research at the WZB.
The WZB Early Career Visiting Scholars are expected to
- teach a mini-course (half or full day) or lead a workshop (e.g. where WZB early-career researchers present their work and receive feedback);
- hold weekly consultation hours, especially for PhD students and other early career scholars.
Expense Allowance
Visiting fellows receive an expense allowance to support their stay. The allowance is granted in accordance with the German Federal Travel Expenses Act (Bundesreisekostengesetz). The expense allowance consists of two components:
- a monthly basic rate to cover living expenses ─ graded according to career level (senior and early-career visitors) ─ during the period of attendance at the WZB; and
- travel expenses, which are reimbursed in accordance with the provisions of the Bundesreisekostengesetz.
Please note that the granting of this allowance does not establish an employment or service relationship. Visitors are responsible for independently verifying with their home institution whether any secondary employment or reporting obligations apply and whether the allowance must, if applicable, be offset against their monthly salary.
How to apply:
Applications must be submitted online using the "Apply now" bottom below.
Required application documents:
- A motivation letter
- outlining the planned research to be conducted during the stay at the WZB;
- indicating the preferred WZB research unit(s) where they wish to be hosted. Final placement will depend on the research unit’s interest and capacity, so this information is required.
- explaining the interest in the hosting research unit, and how both the applicant and WZB will benefit from the collaboration;
- indicating the envisaged period and preferred duration of the stay (up to two months);
- Curriculum Vitae, with a comprehensive publication list.
Spring Deadline for WZB Senior and Early Career Visiting Scholars is 2 March 2026.
Decisions are expected by April/May 2026. Visits may begin from June/July 2026 onwards.
For questions, please contact: Katinka von Kovatsits (katinka.kovatsits[at]wzb.eu)
