Federal Ministry of Education and Research is awarding Sofja Kovalevskaja Award for Scientists and scholars from all countries and disciplines who completed their doctorates with distinction less than six years ago. The Foundation particularly welcomes applications from qualified, female junior researchers. This international award is granted to young exceptionally promising researchers from abroad to enable them to embark on academic careers in Germany by establishing their own junior research groups at research institutions in Germany. The Humboldt Foundation plans to grant up to eight Sofja Kovalevskaja Awards. The award is valued at up to 1.65 million EUR. The application deadline is September 1, 2014.
Study Subject(s): Awards are available to carry out approved research project of his or her own choice in Germany.
Course Level: Awards are available for undertaking research project at a research institution of applicant’s own choice in Germany.
Scholarship Provider: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Scholarship can be taken at: Germany
Eligibility:
1. Doctorate or comparable academic degree (PhD., C.Sc. or equivalent), completed with distinction less than six years prior to the application submission deadline.
2. Career level: the award would enable the successful applicant to take on a leadership position (e.g. head of a junior research group) in Germany for the first time. Moreover, the applicant must not have held or accepted an offer of permanent employment in Germany prior to the selection date.
3. Cutting-edge academic achievements documented by a comprehensive list of independent academic publications reviewed according to international standards and printed in journals and / or by publishing houses.
4. Support of the German host institution, evidenced by a detailed expert’s report from the academic host as well as the host’s agreement and the confirmation from the administration at the host institution.
5. Three supporting expert reviews from academics (at the applicant’s own institute or other institutes, where possible including some outside the applicant’s country of origin).
6. Language skills: scholars in the humanities or social sciences and physicians must have a good knowledge of German if it is necessary to carry out the project successfully; otherwise a good knowledge of English; scientists and engineers must have a good knowledge of German or English.
7. No previous Sofja Kovalevskaja Award.
8. Origin: Foreign academics staying in Germany are eligible to apply if they been in Germany for less than six months at the application submission deadline. Educational residents are subject to the regulations governing Germans. German academics are eligible to apply if they have been working in an academic capacity abroad for a longer time.
Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: The programme is open to scientists and scholars from all countries.
Scholarship Description: 
The Sofja Kovalevskaja Award allows you to spend five years building up a working group and working on a high-profile, innovative research project of your own choice at a research institution of your own choice in Germany. Scientists and scholars from all disciplines may apply directly to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
Number of award(s): The Humboldt Foundation plans to grant up to eight Sofja Kovalevskaja Awards.
Duration of award(s): The Sofja Kovalevskaja Award allows you to spend five years building up a working group and working on a high-profile, innovative research project of your own choice at a research institution of your own choice in Germany.
What does it cover? The award winner is entitled to the award funds of up to 1.65 million EUR. The award funds may be used to cover all expenses serving this 2 purpose (including the necessary equipment and material, personnel, travel expenses, etc.). The award funds must be used economically and prudently. Scientific equipment financed by the award will become the property of the host institution immediately upon purchase. Part of the award may be used to cover the award winner’s living expenses.
Selection Criteria: Award winners will be selected solely on the basis of their academic qualifications. There are no quotas for individual disciplines or countries. The most important assessment criteria are:
- academic publications in internationally reviewed journals and / or publishing houses
- statements on the candidate’s academic profile and potential in the form of expert reviews, requested by the candidate, from different institutions and, where possible, from different countries.
- the academic quality and feasibility of the research project proposed by the candidate.
Notification: The selection committee which makes the final decision on Sofja Kovalevskaja award winners is scheduled to meet at the end of March 2014. You will be informed about the outcome of the meeting immediately afterwards.
How to Apply: Please send your application directly to the Selection Department of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation by air mail or surface mail.
Scholarship Application Deadline: The application submission deadline is September 1, 2014.
Further Official Scholarship Information and Application