The Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) is Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study. It offers opportunities—with respect to time, space, and funding—for outstanding interdisciplinary reearch. ZiF is open to scholarly applicants from all disciplines post-PhD, based at a university/research institute in Germany or abroad. Applicants may propose a research project to be conucted with a curated group of (preferably) international colleagues. In support of the work of groups on-site in Bielefeld, ZiF allocates financial resources and pro- vides infrastructure as well as organisational assistance. If an application is successful, ZiF then hosts these groups on its campus, offering ideal working conditions.

 Visiting Groups can, for example, explore new research topics and partnerships, finalise inter-disciplinary publications or conduct small research projects during their stay at ZiF. ZiF cannot support projects that require essential fieldwork, nor can it provide laboratory facilities.

WHAT ZIF OFFERS

• Duration: one stay at ZiF; lasting a minimum of one to a maximum of three months
• Funding Amount: up to EUR 50,000 to cover the costs for travel and accommodation, workshops and/or conferences on-site; please note: personnel expenses (buy-outs) cannot be covered, but an allowance of EUR 50 per day will be paid as a compensation for any additional costs
• Timing: Projects can commence approximately 12 months after the deadline. Dates for a stay at ZiF will be finalized once a grant was made, depending on availability.

Group Requirements

• Size: The minimum number of participants required for a group is three.
• Composition: Different disciplines must be involved; international participation is strongly encouraged. Decisions to not include international fellows must be well justified.
• We expect convenors and the majority of a group to be present at ZiF for their collaboration phase. Additional remote participants may be involved.
• The necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration must originate from the research at hand and must be explained in the proposal. The mere involvement of different disciplines does not suffice to meet this criterion.
• The stage of preparation of the proposed project should clearly show its feasibility within the timeframe suggested.
• A gender balance appropriate to the disciplines involved is expected.

Important Selection Criteria

• Interdisciplinarity
• Academic quality
• Originality on an international level

Selection Process and Timing

Proposals will be selected competitively. Complete submissions will be reviewed externally. Decisions will be made approximately 6 months after the deadline.

CHECKLIST FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by a team of two to four persons who also act as convenors of the group they propose. All convenors must have completed a doctorate and must be affiliated with a research institute/university. One of them acts as the main contact person. 

ANSWERS TO BUDGET-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL QUESTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN OUR FAQ.

Please contact us with any questions; we are happy to assist!
Dr. Daniela Noll-Opitz  
Dr. Nadine Sutmöller
Email: zif-proposalsupport uni-bielefeld [dot] de (zif-proposalsupport[at]uni-bielefeld[dot]de)

Please address your application to:
Executive Directors 
Prof. Dr. Marie I. Kaiser
Prof. Dr. Eleonora Rohland

Upload your application IN ONE PDF FILE (including CVs) here.

Find all our funding formats here.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: RESIDENT GROUPS AT ZIF

Deadline for Application: 26 March 2026 (midnight CET)

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) is Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study. It offers opportunities—with respect to time, space, and funding—for outstanding interdisciplinary research. ZiF is open to scholarly applicants from all disciplines post-PhD, based at a university/research institute in Germany or abroad. Applicants may propose a research project to be conducted with a curated group of (preferably) international colleagues.

In support of the work of groups on-site in Bielefeld, ZiF allocates financial resources and pro- vides infrastructure as well as organisational assistance. If an application is successful, ZiF then hosts these groups on its campus, offering ideal working conditions.

Resident Groups may conduct research projects, which require intensive collaboration over an extended period, during a joint stay at ZiF.

Please note: Research projects funded by ZiF are primarily dedicated to theoretical reflection and aim at generating new insights in the disciplines involved, very much in the sense of basic research. ZiF cannot support projects that require essential fieldwork, nor can it provide laboratory facilities.

WHAT ZIF OFFERS

• Duration: one stay at ZiF; lasting a minimum of four to a maximum of six months
• Funding Amount: up to EUR 400,000 to cover costs for travel, accommodation, workshops and/ or conferences (to be held at ZiF), and personnel expenses (e.g. buy-outs)
• Timing: Projects can commence approximately 18 months past the deadline. Dates for the stay at ZiF will be finalized once a grant was made, depending on availability.

Group Requirements

• Size: The minimum number of participants required for a group is three.
• Composition: Different disciplines must be involved; international participation is encouraged. Decisions to not include international fellows must be well justified.
• We expect convenors and the majority of a group to be present at ZiF for their collaboration phase. Additional remote participants may be involved, but must not form the majority.
• The need for interdisciplinary collaboration must originate from the research at hand and must be explained in the proposal. The mere involvement of different disciplines does not suffice.
• The stage of preparation of the proposed project should clearly show its feasibility within the timeframe suggested.
• A gender balance appropriate to the disciplines involved is expected.

Important Selection Criteria

• Interdisciplinarity
• Academic quality
• Originality on an international level
   

Selection Process and Timing

Proposals will be selected competitively. Complete submissions will be reviewed externally. Upon positive assessment, applicants will be invited to an interview by ZiF’s Academic Advisory Board approximately 6 to 8 months past the deadline. The final decisions will be made by the Board of Directors shortly thereafter.

ANSWERS TO BUDGET-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL QUESTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN OUR FAQ.

Please contact us with any questions; we are happy to assist!
Dr. Daniela Noll-Opitz 
Dr. Nadine Sutmöller
Email: zif-proposalsupport uni-bielefeld [dot] de (zif-proposalsupport[at]uni-bielefeld[dot]de)
 

Please address your application to:
Executive Directors 
Prof. Dr. Marie I. Kaiser
Prof. Dr. Eleonora Rohland
 

Upload your application IN ONE PDF FILE (including CVs) here.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: LONG-TERM GROUPS AT ZIF

Deadline for Application: 26 March 2026 (midnight CET)

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) is Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study. It offers opportunities—with respect to time, space, and funding—for outstanding interdisciplinary research. ZiF is open to scholarly applicants from all disciplines post-PhD, based at a university/research institute in Germany or abroad. Applicants may propose a research project to be conducted with a curated group of (preferably) international colleagues. In support of the work of groups on-site in Bielefeld, ZiF allocates financial resources and provides infrastructure as well as organisational assistance. If an application is successful, ZiF then hosts these groups on its campus, offering ideal working conditions.

Long-Term Groups offer great organisational freedom and flexibility to meet the needs of various types of long-term projects in several stays; the set-up of the group work is based on the needs of the individual project idea. An overarching project design and coherent approach to planning the group are essential for a successful application.

A Long-Term Group must not consist of a series of individual events. Questions or topics should be addressed in a series of coherent, interrelated meetings. A substantial share of the members of a Long-Term Group should participate in all events; varying experts can be invited if required for the discussion.

Please note: Research projects funded by ZiF are primarily dedicated to theoretical reflection and aim at generating new insights in the disciplines involved, very much in the sense of basic research. ZiF cannot support projects that require essential fieldwork, nor can it provide laboratory facilities.

WHAT ZIF OFFERS

• Duration: several visits to ZiF over a period of up to three years; these recurring visits may add up to a total of ten months
• Funding Amount: up to EUR 200,000 to cover costs for travel, accommodation, workshops and/ or conferences (to be held at ZiF); personnel expenses (e.g. buy-outs) cannot be covered
• Timing: Projects can commence approximately 18 months past the deadline. Dates for visits to ZiF will be finalized once a grant was made, depending on availability.

Group Requirements

• Size: The minimum number of participants required for a group is three.
• Composition: Different disciplines must be involved; international participation is encouraged. Decisions to not include international fellows must be well justified.
• We expect convenors and the majority of a group to be present at ZiF for their collaboration
• phases. Additional remote participants may be involved.
• The need for interdisciplinary collaboration must originate from the research at hand and must be explained in the proposal. The mere involvement of different disciplines does not suffice to meet this criterion.
• The stage of preparation of the proposed project should clearly show its feasibility within the timeframe suggested.
• A gender balance appropriate to the disciplines involved is expected.

Important Selection Criteria

• Interdisciplinarity
• Academic quality
• Originality on an international level

Selection Process and Timing

Proposals will be selected competitively. Complete submissions will be reviewed externally. Upon positive assessment, applicants will be invited to an interview by ZiF’s Academic Advisory Board approximately 6 to 8 months past the deadline. The final decisions will be made shortly thereafter.

CHECKLIST FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by a team of two to four persons who also act as convenors of the group they propose. All convenors must have completed a doctorate and must be affiliated with a research institute/university. One of them acts as the main contact person. 

ANSWERS TO BUDGET-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL QUESTIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN OUR FAQ.

Please contact us with any questions; we are happy to assist!
Dr. Daniela Noll-Opitz  
Dr. Nadine Sutmöller
Email: zif-proposalsupport uni-bielefeld [dot] de (zif-proposalsupport[at]uni-bielefeld[dot]de)

Please address your application to:
Executive Directors 
Prof. Dr. Marie I. Kaiser
Prof. Dr. Eleonora Rohland
Upload your application IN ONE PDF FILE (including CVs) here.

Find all our funding formats here.