Jacobs Fellowship Program for Research on Child and Youth Development

The Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship Program is a globally competitive fellowship program for early and mid-career researchers aiming at improving the learning, development and living conditions of children and youth or contributing to one of the Jacobs Foundation’s thematic priorities. This includes, but is not limited to educational sciences, psychology, economics, sociology, family studies, media studies, political sciences, linguistics, neurosciences, and medical sciences.

Fellowships are awarded to the most highly talented and innovative young scholars and mid-career researchers. Funds from Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowships are awarded directly to the fellow’s institution and may be used over a three-year period by the fellow to partially cover the fellow’s salary and for any activity supporting the fellow’s research, such as assistant salaries, equipment, technical assistance, professional travel, or trainee support.

Scholars who engage in interdisciplinary work on individual development and learning of children and youth, and who seek to combine genetic, epigenetic, neurobiological, behavioral and social levels of analysis, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Besides providing fellows with independent and competitive funding, the program offers a wide range of non-financial benefits. Fellows are encouraged to interact with each other and make use of the Jacobs Foundation’s Conference Center Marbach Castle at Lake Constance (Germany) for short-term group retreats and workshops. Networking and alumni events will enrich the fellowships.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are weighted equally.

  • Past research accomplishments and publication record
  • Creativity and potential to become a leader in the scientific community
  • Scientific quality: methods and data
  • International relevance of the fellow’s planned work
  • Potential for application in supporting human development and learning
  • Alignment of planned projects with the goals of the Jacobs Foundation
  • Willingness to identify with the Foundation’s aims and to engage with us

How to Apply

The following two documents must be submitted online in one PDF document until  17 March 2019, 23.59 CET for an eligible candidate to be considered for a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship:

  • The candidate’s curriculum vitae including a list of the candidate’s scientific publications;
  • A statement by the candidate describing his or her significant scientific work and immediate research plans, and how these relate to the mission of the Jacobs Foundation (2 pages, 10pt, incl. references).

A confidential recommendation letter from a department head or other senior researcher supporting the candidate and describing his or her qualifications, initiative, and research, should be sent directly to fellowship@jacobsfoundation.org.

After review of preliminary applications, a selected number of candidates will be asked to submit a detailed full application by 30 June 2019. Candidates will be interviewed via Skype in September 2019, and selected candidates will be notified in December 2019.

Please submit your application using the Online Application Form 2020-2022.  Incomplete applications and applications not submitted via the online application form will not be considered.

Institution
Application date
Duration
3 years
Discipline
Humanities : Architecture and urbanism, Linguistics, Philosophy, Theology and religion, Anthropology & Ethnology
Social sciences : Information and Communication Sciences, Demography, Economy, Environmental Sciences, Gender studies, Identities, gender and sexuality, Law, Pedagogic & Education Research, Political science, Psychology & Cognitive Sciences, Sociology
Other : Medicine