Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung
Universität Bielefeld Methoden 1
33615 Bielefeld
Germany
uni-bielefeld [dot] de
The Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF: Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung) is Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study. It offers time, space, and funding for interdisciplinary research. ZiF is an independent, thematically unbound research institution and is open to scholars from all countries and disciplines.
Free from everyday academic duties, researchers have the chance to realise an interdisciplinary project at ZiF, together with international colleagues.
The ZiF's central funding format is Research in Groups. It is open to scholars from all disciplines post-PhD, based in Germany and abroad. They can propose a research project to be conducted with a curated group of (preferably) international colleagues. If their collaborative application is successful, ZiF will host the group on its campus, offering ideal working conditions. There are three different group formats with varying time span and funding options:
- Visiting Groups
Duration: 1 to 3 months
Visiting Groups can, for example, explore new research topics and partnerships, finalise interdisciplinary publications or conduct small research projects during a joint stay at ZiF.
- Resident Groups
Duration: 4 to 6 months
Resident Groups may conduct more extensive research projects, which require intensive collaboration over an extended period, during a joint stay at ZiF.
- Long-Term Groups
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.
Long-Term Groups offer great organisational freedom and flexibility to meet the needs of long-term projects; 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.
You can find information on all of our funding opportunities, ranging from "Research in Groups", to the postdoc network "Das Junge ZiF" and the Workshop format, on the ZiF's Website.
The ZiF was founded in 1968 as the first university-based Institute for Advanced Study worldwide and as a key element of the emerging Bielefeld University. The ZiF is located on a green campus close to Bielefeld University at the edge of the Teutoburg Forest. It comprises conference and meeting rooms as well as apartments of different sizes and sports facilities like an indoor swimming pool with sauna for ZiF fellows and their families.