The Institute promotes historical and theological research on the foundations of Europe – comparative or transnational resp. transcultural projects dealing with European communication and transfer processes as well as projects on concepts and perceptions of »Europe« and »Europeaness« in the period from c. 1450 until c. 1950. This expressly includes projects on intellectual, religious and philosophical dimensions of European history, e.g. church history of the Reformation and early modern period.

Applications for to the Institute’s research units are particularly welcome because fellows can then work closely together with the academic staff of the Institute. The IEG's senior researchers are happy to assist fellows during their research stay in Mainz as mentors.

Funding ranges from 6 months up to two years. Researchers live and work in the Institute’s building in Mainz, but may carry out shorter trips to archives, libraries, and conferences. The IEG has a library with rich holdings in European social, political, religious, theological and church history. The linguae academicae at the IEG are German and English; fellows must have a passive command of both and an active command of at least one of the two languages so as to participate in the discussions at the Institute.

Doctoral fellowships

Applications for doctoral fellowships (€ 1.000/month) are invited from doctoral candidates of any national background. Applicants must have a first degree in history or theology. They should not be older than 32 years and should not have pursued their PhD-work for more than three years when taking up the fellowship, but well-founded exceptions are possible.

As an independant research institute the IEG does not confer academic degrees. As a general rule, PhDs-theses are being supervised and completed at the fellows' home universities.

Postdoctoral fellowships

The IEG also awards postdoctoral fellowships (€ 1.600/month) for young researchers who want to embark upon a new research project after the completion of their PhD. At the IEG they can prepare the ground for their future academic career as independant senior researchers. The close and constant dialogue with historians and theologians of the IEG's research units may yield new insights and perspectives on individual projects.

Candidates take up their postdoctorial fellowship within the three years following the completion of their PhD (work experience outside academia NOT included). The PhD-thesis must be handed in when applying. A joint application for the completion of the PhD and a subsequent postdoctorial fellowship is not possible.

How to apply []

Applications are accepted twice a year, im spring and in autumn. The deadline for the next selection session of the fellowship committee in April 2009 is August 22nd, 2009. At this meeting fellowships will be awarded for a research stay in Mainz from January 2010.

Please direct applications via e-mail to:
Institut für Europäische Geschichte
Die Direktoren
Prof. Dr. Irene Dingel und Prof. Dr. Heinz Duchhardt
Betreff: Stipendienbewerbung
ieg3@ieg-mainz.de

Please attach to your application the application form for doctoral fellowships  or for postdoctoral fellowships, containing

a curriculum vitae
a list of publications (if available)
a brief description of the proposed research topic with a working plan and schedule for the intended stay at the Institute (5–6 pages, up to 1.500 words)
the name and contact details of two senior academic scholars to be asked by the applicant for an expertise on the proposed research project

the name and contact details of an external academic expert not affiliated to the applicant's institution, who may be contacted by the IEG  
Please submit also via air mail

copies of university transcripts
two expertises on the proposed research project by two senior academic scholars (in closed envelope or to be sent directly by the referee to the IEG)
(postdoctorial applicants only) one copy of the PhD-thesis (CD-R or published version)

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