WiRe - Women in Research Fellowship Programme

The WiRe Fellowship Programme at the University of Münster has been supporting excellent international postdoctoral women scientists in their research and career development since 2018/19. Developed by the Department of Researchers & Staff at the International Office, the programme aims to address the specific needs of early-career researchers during the "rush hour of life". In addition to promoting their research and careers, WiRe also takes into account the challenges that female researchers often face in balancing work and family life.

Our program supports the implementation of a research project at our university and offers a comprehensive accompanying programme to promote the career and skills of our fellows in effective science communication. The fellowships have a duration of 4-12 months; a term of up to 12 months is possible within the framework of the matching option, provided that the host chair at the University of Münster finances at least two additional fellowship months.

During their fellowships, WiRe fellows work closely with a professor at the University of Münster and have the opportunity to get to know the research and development opportunities for excellent young researchers in Münster. Our goal is not only to promote the research and careers of our fellows but also to open up opportunities for further professional perspectives at our university and to initiate and strengthen collaborations.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated challenges for the international scientific community, we established the WiRe Remote Fellowship in 2020. To support the compatibility of work and family life, we continue to offer this opportunity, but encourage our fellows to conduct their research projects on site in Münster whenever possible.

A key focus of WiRe lies in science communication: We offer our fellows training workshops and expect their active participation in our digital science communication formats. Another central goal of WiRe is to provide future generations of researchers with exciting and inspiring insights into the world of science and the lives of researchers at the University of Münster.

Our Fellowship offer

We usually offer one call per year, in late summer. It is advisable to contact possible scientific cooperation partners - professors of our University – some time before the next call.

• What can be funded?

  • Fellowship for a period of at least 4 but up to 8 months,

  Periods of up to 12 months are possible with the matching option: If your host department at the University of Münster funds at least two additional fellowship months, WiRe funds one additional month

  • On-site and remote options available
  • Fellowship sum of 2800€ per month for on-site fellowships, 2200€ for remote fellowships.**
  • Family bonus: Child allowance of 200€ for each child*
  • On-site and remote option
  • Excellent research and career development opportunities
  • Access to all communication channels, networks and research infrastructure of the University of Münster
  • Comprehensive Fellowship programme: Network possibilities, career advice and workshops with a focus on research communication

  *For on-site stays, the child allowance can only be awarded in the case that you are NOT entitled to the German governmental “Kindergeld” (approximately 200€ per month).

  **If Fellows have additional income, the funding may be adjusted.

• Who is eligible?

  You are eligible to apply if you:

  • have obtained or are about to earn your PhD (you must have submitted your PhD theses it by the start of your fellowship),
  • have not done research at a German higher education institution in the past six months, and
  • have completed the majority of your academic qualifications outside of Germany.

• How to apply?

  For your WiRe application, please make sure that

  • You have a research project or an idea for a research project in cooperation with a professor of the University of Münster, which can be completed within 4 - 8 months with a presentable result. (up to 12 months with the matching-option)

  A hint regarding finding your future host: The Universit of Münster offers a broad spectrum of research fields. You can find an overview of our departments here.

  Since you are the expert in your subject, you can best judge for yourself which department at our university accommodates your research / research idea best. If you do not find what you are looking for via the respective departments‘ websites, we recommend that you continue your search via one of the popular search engines on the web.

  • Your cooperation partner at the University of Münster must submit a WiRe Letter of Recommendation for your WiRe application. Please note: a scientific host may support a maximum of 2 candidates. Further information see WiRe Letter of Recommendation.
  • You have ideas for strategy regarding how to best spread awareness of your research & experiences at our university.
  • You are willing to participate in our creative science communication activities.
  • You are able to submit a detailed project schedule,
  • You are able to submit a short video application. Tips on how to create your video may be found here.

  When we have an active call, you can access the application portal via this website. In the application portal you can save your application and return to the site to edit it until you have submitted it.

  
  In case you want to apply for a fellowship period of 11 or 12 months utilizing the matching-option, please talk to your cooperation partner at the University of Münster directly about departmental funding possibilities before submitting your WiRe application.

Cohort 2024

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WiRe Fellows

The University of Münster has been able to attract some outstanding female postdocs from all over the world as WiRe - Women in Research Fellows. Learn more about them here and on our blog  WiRe Fellows and their research.