How to Apply

Do you plan to apply for admission to the Freiburg Rising Stars Academy 2023-24? That’s great! Make sure you have read “About the Freiburg Rising Stars Academy” and the “Time Table” before you proceed. We advise you to also read the step-by-step instructions below carefully. If you still have questions after reading this page, don’t hesitate to send us an email before applying.

We offer two different Tracks to apply for admission to the Freiburg Rising Stars Academy.

If you choose Track 1, you will apply directly for collaboration with one of our Host Principle Investigators. It is important to familiarise yourself with the specific requirements of the Host Principle Investigator that match your scientific background best.

Only a few of our partner institutions offer Track 2, which is a topic-based application if you are generally interested in the research areas these Host Institutions represent. Track 2 allows for an application without choosing a particular Host Principle Investigator; however, it is highly recommended that you indicate the researchers you wish to work with in particular during your tenure as Rising Star.

Please note: Admission to the Freiburg Rising Stars Academy does not automatically lead to employment at the University of Freiburg. The Freiburg Rising Star Academy is not a PhD programme nor does it provide PhD positions.

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Eligible for Track 1 are Doctoral Candidates, PostDocs and other experienced researchers. Students who are well-advanced in their Master’s programme but have not yet completed their Master’s degree may be eligible under special circumstances – please inquire with us or the contact at the partner institution if you seek admission as an advanced master student. This may be the case for students who directly moved into a PhD programme without having a separate Master program etc.

Step 1: Choose your Host Principle Investigator in order to apply to them.

(Should you not find a good match, please move on to Track 2. If your desired partner institution does not offer Track 2, please consider contacting the institutional contact listed on here.)

Step 2: Prepare your application!

Only complete applications that provide good documentation of the applicant’s qualification and suitability will be considered.

Your application should include the following documents as pdf files:

1. Letter of motivation (1 page max.).
   You should
   • a. indicate your motivation for joining the Freiburg Rising Stars Academy,
   • b. describe the goal you wish to achieve as a Rising Star,
   • c. and include a brief proposal of collaboration with the Host Principle Investigator of your choice, also describing why you believe that you would be a good match
2. Application form (Please download here.)
3. Certificates documenting your degree(s).

Step 3: Upload your documents.

Upload-Link

Applications for additional slots will be accepted on a rolling basis from August 15, 2023 until filled.

Please note, ONLY applications to Host-PIs from the following partners will be accepted at that time: CIBSS, BIOSS, IMBIT

For any questions regarding Track 1, send us an email.

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Some of our partners in the Freiburg Rising Stars Academy offer Track 2: Open Application to a Host Institution. This Track targets candidates who have a more general interest in the University of Freiburg’s collaborative research efforts comprised in our partner institutions and may wish to work with a particular lab or researcher more closely, who is currently not listed among the designated Host-PIs. The partners offering this track are:

• Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems (livMatS)
• BrainLinks-BrainTools / Intelligent Machine-Brain Interfacing Technology (IMBIT)
• Freiburg Institute for Basic Income Studies

Please consult our dedicated Track 2 Page to learn more about the partners offering Track 2.

PLEASE NOTE: This track requires close familiarisation of the applicants with the individual collaborative research center / cluster before applying. Interdisciplinary research is highly encouraged at the University of Freiburg and most researchers will be willing to work with excellent researchers from other fields. However, a prospective rising star should ensure that there are points of interconnection with their own expertise if they seek to work with someone outside their field. Please indicate ways your research will be complemented by the working in this particular collaborative center and with at least one of the researchers associated with it (this can be anyone from a group leader to a full professor).

Step 1: Prepare your application for one of the Host Institutions

Only complete applications that provide good documentation of the applicant’s qualification and suitability will be considered.

Your application should include the following documents as pdf files:

1. Letter of motivation (1-2 pages)
   You should
   • a) indicate your motivation for joining the Freiburg Rising Stars Academy and the particular host institution,
   • b) describe the goal you wish to achieve as a Rising Star,
   • c) provide a detailed proposal of collaboration with one of the host institutions. Ideally, this includes groups or individuals with whom you wish to collaborate within the field. Please also indicate possible funding schemes for such future collaborations after successful completion of the Rising Stars Academy.
2. Application form (Please download here.)
3. Certificates documenting your degrees.
4. Please note that not all partners of the Freiburg Rising Stars Academy offer Track 2.

Step 2: Upload your documents.

Upload-Link

Applications for the IMBIT will be accepted on a rolling basis from August 15, 2023 until additional slots have been filled.

Please direct any questions about the application to risingstars@mail.uni-freiburg.de Your contacts for specific questions and advice on Track 2 within the different partner institutions are listed below: