How to Apply

At TUM-IAS, distinguished researchers are given the necessary time and financial support to explore novel branches of science. Whether they spend their time planning ahead future research or finishing up large book projects, whether fellows stick to their original plans or discover new, promising leads – they are encouraged and endowed with the necessary support to advance the state of the art in their fields.

We strongly promote the formation of thematic focus research-groups of fellows, consisting of scientists from TUM but also including external fellows, relying on the experience of established researchers but also involving young fellows. Ideally, these teams would furthermore be diverse in terms of disciplines and gender aspects. Focus research-groups are gathered at TUM-IAS for a period of at least 6 months and reconvene frequently afterwards in order to continue their research projects. Joint nominations are thus welcome!

The Fellowships offered by TUM-IAS can be grouped into six categories. With these programs, we seek to attract scholarly talent on senior- and early career-level both from inside of TUM and from around the globe, as well as researchers from industry.

The IAS awards a significant amount of research money (1.5 million € p.a. total) in addition to the funding via fellowships as a “start-up” support for high-risk, high-potential research projects. This funding is available in flexible ways for issues such as instrumentation, organization of larger conferences etc.

Qualified candidates for IAS Fellowships must be nominated, either by their Department Dean or, in the case of an external candidate, by the Department Dean of the host institute, at which the fellow spends his or her extended stay. Eligible for nominating candidates are also all further members of the so called Extended Board of Management of TUM, as well as all Members of the Board of Trustees of TUM-IAS. Candidates who are to expand an existing focus research-group are indicated by the members of the focus group directly to the management of TUM-IAS. The institute director appoints all IAS Fellows and is advised in his/her choice by the Advisory Council.

Alexander von Humboldt prizewinners automatically become members of the TUM-IAS, not least in order to have them participate in the high-level scholarly community as the main mission of the Institute.

Nomination Guidelines for Fellows PDF