The highly anticipated call for international research fellows has officially opened at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg at RWTH Aachen University. This German fellowship opportunity welcomes postdoctoral and senior-level scholars from around the world to join an interdisciplinary hub dedicated to exploring the evolving cultures of science and technology.
This news post outlines everything you need to know: what this fellowship offers, who can apply, research themes for 2026–2027, and the complete deadlines.
What Is This Opportunity About?
The Käte Hamburger Kolleg: Cultures of Research (c:o/re) is an international center for advanced studies funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Each year, it brings together distinguished researchers from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, life sciences, and engineering to explore how scientific cultures differ across countries, disciplines, and contexts.
For the 2026–2027 cohort, the center will focus on the theme “Varieties of Science”, encouraging scholars to investigate how science is shaped by cultural, institutional, methodological, and global influences.
What This Fellowship Offers?
Selected fellows will benefit from a fully supported academic stay at RWTH Aachen University, one of Europe’s leading institutions for science and technology. Key offerings include:
Full Fellowship Support
- A full grant tailored to the applicant’s academic seniority.
- Monthly stipend for fellows without other income sources.
- Option for c:o/re to fund a teaching replacement at the fellow’s home institution.
Research Infrastructure
- A fully equipped workspace in the center.
- Access to RWTH Aachen’s interdisciplinary research landscape, labs, and partner institutes in Maastricht, Liège, and the Jülich Research Center.
Academic Engagement
- Participation in weekly seminars, collaborative events, and intellectual exchanges with leading international scholars.
- Opportunity to contribute to the center’s core research areas, especially:
- Digitality and complexity
- Globality and varieties of science
- Expanded Science & Technology Studies (STS).
Living Support
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Residency in Aachen is required; the center assists fellows in finding accommodation.
Eligibility Checks
Applicants must meet the following conditions:
Academic Level
- Open to postdoctoral researchers (PhD must be fully completed before applying).
- Open to senior researchers with an established record of excellence relevant to the center’s thematic focus.
Research Relevance
- Proposed projects must relate to c:o/re’s 2026–2027 theme “Varieties of Science.”
- Topics may include:
- Comparative studies of national research cultures
- Methodological approaches to analyzing scientific contexts
- In-depth exploration of a specific scientific culture in a selected country
- Interdisciplinary orientation is considered an advantage.
Apply: https://khk.rwth-aachen.de/call-for-applications-2026-27/
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the Käte Hamburger Kolleg Fellowship 2026–2027 is December 31, 2025.