Early Career Rescue Fellowship Programme

The Early Career Rescue Fellowship Programme is a joint initiative by three German Institutes for Advanced Studies — Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz, the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), and the Tübingen College of Fellows (CoF). This Fellowship is designed to support early-career postdoctoral researchers whose academic freedom is under threat due to political pressure in the USA.

Mission & Significance

• In a geopolitical climate where academic freedom faces increasing constraints, this programme aims to create “rescue havens” for free research.
• By offering a supportive, interdisciplinary, and international research environment, the Fellowship seeks to promote independent scholarship and safeguard intellectual autonomy.
• It also opens up long-term international prospects for the fellows, facilitating broader academic careers beyond their immediate contexts. 

Why This Fellowship Matters

• It represents a concrete commitment by German research bodies to support scholars facing political risk and to uphold the values of academic freedom.
• It fosters diversity, resilience, and innovation in research by offering a safe and resource-rich environment.
• For postdoctoral researchers, it's a rare opportunity to conduct independent, high-quality research in a stable and international setting, while building a global academic network.