Mercator Fellowship Program
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR OUTSTANDING PERSONALITIES FROM ACADEMIA AND PRACTICE
The Mercator Fellowship Program enables outstanding individuals from all over the world to do research on a specific academic or practice project and pursue explorative and unconventional fellow ideas, which address aspects relevant to the work of Stiftung Mercator.
Target groups:
Mercator Fellows are personalities with a distinct academic or public profile who are eager to work on a self-initiated research or practice-oriented project that is connected to the themes and areas of action of the Stiftung Mercator. The program is open to applicants from all nationalities and disciplines. Substantial academic or work experience and relevant qualifications in the proposed fellowship theme are required. A Mercator Fellowship is not intended to support students at Bachelor’s or Master’s level. It is not awarded as a doctorate or postgraduate scholarship.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time. Please note that selections take place at least 4-6 months prior to the start of a fellowship.
FRESH IMPETUS AND IDEAS FOR THE SOLUTION OF SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
To expand the successful cooperation with individual personalities from academia and practice, the Mercator Foundation established the Mercator Fellowship program in 2013. Through the program we offer outstanding personalities the opportunity and intellectual space to pursue individual research or practice projects beyond their professional commitment or routine. Through their expert knowledge, their academic competence or excellent practical experience, Mercator Fellows are meant to act as significant driving forces in the thematic areas of Stiftung Mercator and help spur the debate and the development of ideas for the solution of key societal challenges.
Fellowships are awarded for at least three and no more than twelve months. Fellows usually complete their fellowship either freely or in an established host institution in Germany or abroad. The Fellowship includes a stipend to cover livelihood and material costs as well as a lump-sum to cover travel, publication and event costs. If the host institution the fellows are working at offers a substantial support, the host institution can receive a fixed flat-rate payment to cover any costs resulting from the use of existing and/or specifically acquired material or specifically created personnel infrastructure to support the work of the Mercator Fellow.
The Foundation selects up to six Mercator Fellows annually. Interested candidates should first consult with the responsible department at Stiftung Mercator before submitting their application. The executive board of Stiftung Mercator reviews the submitted applications in consultation with selected members of the advisory board and decides on the award of the fellowships. Applicants who want to apply for the program will be kindly requested to submit a curriculum vitae, possibly with a list of publications and work samples and a fellowship proposal. The documents may be submitted in German or English.