Through its funding initiative "Postdoctoral Fellowships in the Humanities at Universities and Research Institutes in Germany and the USA,” the Volkswagen Foundation aims to strengthen transatlantic academic relations, especially in the field of the Humanities. In this funding initiative, the Volkswagen Foundation works closely with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, New York.

The Volkswagen Foundation offers postdoctoral fellowships in the humanities to enable postdoctoral fellows based in Germany to conduct studies at institutions in the U.S . and Canada. Applicants can either select an institution of their own choice for their fellowship or, alternatively, apply to one of the cooperating institutions in the U.S . and Canada. The fellowships are usually granted for a period of 9 to up to 12 months, although in exceptional cases a funding period of 18 months is also possible.

This call addresses promising young scholars in their postdoctoral research phase currently based at German institutions (via employment), who wish to strengthen their research capacity in the humanities. Scholars who work in an interdisciplinary field are especially encouraged to apply. To be eligible, applicants should have finished their PhD after October 1st, 2012.