Fellowships
Are you researching the societal impact of digital transformation? Do you need time to focus on your own project and want to exchange ideas with experts from diverse disciplines? A fellowship at CAIS offers you the freedom to dedicate yourself to your research – and the opportunity to become part of a vibrant interdisciplinary community. Step away from daily work routines to gain new perspectives and build lasting connections.
“Coming from academia, where research time is always limited, I found that the fellowship gave me the time, support, and headspace to develop my research further. I was able to connect with an inspiring community of researchers working on a wide range of projects. It was an invaluable experience, both personally and professionally.“
Concentration and Inspiration
Fellows spend either six or three months in Bochum. During this period, CAIS finances their leave from work through compensation or grants. Individual offices and meeting rooms with modern facilities provide optimal working conditions. Comfortable apartments are provided free of charge.
Fellows are members of the vibrant interdisciplinary research community at CAIS and of an international network of alumni, working groups, and affiliates. Regular joint activities foster academic and social exchange at the Center. These activities include breakfast on Tuesdays, colloquium and dinner on Wednesdays, as well as occasional workshops on Thursdays. Fellows can invite guests for collaboration and receive financial support for their research expenses.
Fellowships of six months usually start in October or April. Fellowships of three months can start in October, January, April, or July. Exceptions are possible after consultation.
Funding and Facilities
Fellows should ideally be on sabbatical leave with a full salary. In that case, they will receive an additional grant of €600 per month. Alternatively, reimbursement for the costs of their salary or of a substitute can be paid within reasonable limits.
Fellows with no regular income will receive a grant of €2000 per month. Fellows with a regular income below €1400 will be given a grant that covers the difference to the full grant. Fellows with a full or compensatory grant receive an additional payment of €100 per month for each child under the age of 18. In Germany, full and compensatory grants are not subject to social security contributions and are usually tax-exempt. Fellows are responsible for checking whether they qualify for tax exemption, especially if they reside abroad.
Fellows are provided with private offices at CAIS and rent-free, fully furnished apartments. In addition, CAIS will cover travel expenses for one return-trip to Bochum. Alternatively, CAIS can cover the costs of a daily commute if the Fellow lives close to Bochum.
Fellows can request financial support for research expenses. They can furthermore apply to invite a Visiting Fellow with whom they wish to collaborate for up to three weeks. It is also possible to invite up to three experts based in Europe for half-day workshops. CAIS will cover travel and accommodation expenses for these guests and pay them a daily allowance of up to €24.
Requirements
We fund innovative projects that contribute to the interdisciplinary and international discourse on the societal impact of digital transformation. They should advance the development of theories and methods in the field or develop perspectives for practice.
The funding program is open to outstanding scholars and practitioners from all disciplines and at all career stages. It welcomes both basic research and application-oriented projects. An academic degree is not required, if applicants demonstrate an outstanding level of qualification relative to their career status.
Regionally or locally focused case studies are welcome if they are used as analytical tools to address more general questions of digitalization research. Research questions should focus on socio-technical aspects of the research subject, for example the societal consequences of specific technological affordances. In addition, there should be a clear benefit to conducting the project at CAIS, as well as a strong potential for exchange with researchers affiliated with CAIS or its shareholder institutions.
A fellowship project may be part of a larger research endeavor, but it must be clearly defined as a self-contained project with specific milestones and objectives. In addition, it should produce an independent output suitable for publication within a short timeframe – for example, a submission to a peer-reviewed journal or a relevant academic conference, a book chapter, a policy paper, or a prototype.
Fellows are expected to dedicate their full working capacity to the funded project. They are also required to be present at CAIS from Tuesday to Thursday, to take part in regular joint activities, and to actively contribute to interdisciplinary exchange. Fellows who are employed during their fellowship have to take leave from their regular professional duties.
The working language at CAIS is English. Fellows should therefore have a very good command of English.
To qualify for peer-review, applications must meet the above requirements and demonstrate clarity for a general academic audience, a well-defined focus, and a sufficient level of detail and care.
Application
You can currently apply for a fellowship taking place between October 2026 and March 2027. The application deadline is 31 July 2025. We will inform you of the outcome of your application by the end of January 2026.
Fellowships are usually awarded to applicants working on individual projects. However, joint applications for collaborative projects are also possible.
Applications must be submitted in English via the application form. Please familiarize yourself with the form before filling it out and consider the information provided in the individual sections.
An application consists of the following elements:
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- Personal data and funds requested
- Outline of proposal
– Abstract (max. 300 words)
– Subject and lines of research (max. 1500 words)
– Literature review/ State of the Art (max. 700 words)
– Theories and methods (max. 700 words)
– Projected results (max. 300 words)
– Social relevance (max. 300 words)
– Preliminary work (max. 300 words)
– Potential for interdisciplinary and international exchange (max. 300 words)
– Work plan (max. 300 words)
– Bibliographical references (max. 1500 words) - Request to invite a Visiting Fellow or experts for workshops (optional)
- Curriculum Vitae (PDF, max. two pages with no more than five publication references)
- One relevant publication (PDF, max. 5 MB – optional)
Please refrain from submitting multiple application forms. If you do not receive an automated confirmation e-mail, contact us.
Selection
Applications that meet the above requirements are assessed by two reviewers. The evaluation criteria are:
- Applicant’s professional expertise and qualification
- Topicality and social relevance
- Originality and innovative potential
- Theories and methods
- Projected results
- Potential for interdisciplinary and international exchange
- Feasibility of the work plan
Based on the reviews and with consideration of diversity criteria, exchange potentials, and available capacities, the Program Committee makes the final funding decisions.
Further questions?
We are happy to help:
Dr. Esther Laufer
Director CAIS College
+49 234 95315029
esther.laufer@cais-research.de
Special Call
In addition to our general open call for fellowships, we invite researchers to submit proposals that focus on the following topic:
Creating a Human-Centered Future: Exploring the Promise of Industry 5.0
Stay informed
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Impressions
Application
Application Form Fellowship
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If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Esther Laufer.