Postdoc

Focus: Promotion of Independent Grant Proposals

>>> Application Deadline: July 16, 2026 <<<

The program Focus aims at high qualified early career researchers of Goethe University up to 6 years after finishing their PhD*, who have an innovative research idea and are currently preparing their own independent grant proposal. who are currently preparing their own independent grant proposal.

Focus aims to increase the chances of successful extramural funding when future research independence is observable, and strengthening the visibility in the research community.

The program includes:

  • participation in a grant application workshop
  • flexible funding up to EUR 10,000 (in particularly justified cases up to EUR 20,000) and
  • additional support by an academic mentor during the application phase.

* Parental leave is taken into account (up to 2 years per child).

Application

Please submit the following documents by email to fokus@grade.uni-frankfurt.de

  • completed online application form
  • a short, generally comprehensible, and precisely written description of the grant proposal you plan to submit to a third-party funding agency at the end of the focus period (3 pages max.):
    - outline what kind of grant proposal is being planned and how the selected funding line aligns with your current and planned future career path
    - describe current research, planned cooperation projects, and goals
    - point out how the funds applied for contribute to or enhance the chances of a successful grant proposal
  • summary of the planned expenditure of the Focus funds
  • time schedule for the duration of the Focus program
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • list of publications
  • letter from your department/institute verifying the institutional support (infrastructure like rooms, computers, necessary facilities), and the affiliation with Goethe University by employment or scholarship for the duration of the Focus program (see template)