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Applications are for the Research Institute for Sustainability - Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) Fellow Programme 2025 are now open.
Opportunity Details
RIFS conducts research with the aim of investigating, identifying, and advancing development pathways for transformations towards sustainability. Its research approach is transdisciplinary, transformative, and co-creative. The Institute cooperates with partners in science, political and administrative institutions, the business community, and civil society to develop solutions for sustainability challenges.
The Fellow Programme is among RIFS defining features: each year, around 20 people are invited from across the world to join the Institute. Working closely with their research groups, projects and other fellows, they pursue innovative ideas and topics to advance sustainability transformations.
Supported by the Institute in their work and aspirations, fellows are invited to develop their ideas in a supportive international community drawn from all sectors of society. RIFS helps fellows to extend their networks at the national and international levels and provides organizational and financial support for their activities. Fellows will join an ever-growing network of over 300 former fellows from over 50 countries.
The proposed research or other activities must be complementary to the Institute's research programme. The thematic focus of the proposed project should engage with topics addressed by at least one of the Institute's research groups.
Applicants are otherwise free in their choice of topic and activities, which may include scientific investigation, the development of policy recommendations or business models, contributing to public discourses and debates, art-making, education and public outreach, or other activities. They strongly encourage applicants to contact relevant research groups before submitting their application in order to gain a better understanding of our research and align their proposal with the work of the group(s).
Your application must include the following documents as individual PDF files, each not exceeding 5MB:
An application will only be considered complete, if all of the above documents are submitted.
You may also submit an optional annex(single PDF, max. 10MB), containing any additional information you wish to provide, such as a list of publications, portfolio of artistic output, or other work relevant to the proposal, etc.
All documents must be submitted in English.
If an application does not conform to the structure set out above, it may be rejected without review. The deadline for applications is 23:59 Central European Standard Time on 14th July 2024.
Applications are reviewed in a three-stage process: In a first step, applications are reviewed internally. The Institute will select a shortlist of applications for external review (incl. motivation, professional background, quality and complementarity of proposal to our work). In the second step, only the project proposals from the shortlist are subject to a double-blind external review. In the third step, interviews may be conducted with the most promising candidates. This last stage is scheduled to take place in November 2024. A decision will be made in December 2024. Successful candidates will begin their fellowships approx. in Spring 2025.
RIFS holds two webinars to provide additional guidance for applicants. These will take place on 10th June and 1st July 2024 and will also be announced on our website. Please check their FAQ and their overview videobefore joining the webinars, as they may provide most answers already.
Should you experience technical difficulties with the application portal, you can also send your application directly to [email protected].
Apply for Research Institute for Sustainability - Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) Fellow Programme