The Wiko Early Career Fellowship 2027/28 for Life and Natural Sciences offers early-career researchers a three- to five-month residential fellowship at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. The programme welcomes researchers from the life and natural sciences, medicine, and psychology who want dedicated time away from routine laboratory or clinical work to develop an independent project. Fellows receive a full stipend based on their previous salary and studio accommodation on campus. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2026, at 23:59 CET.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: College for Life Sciences – Early Career Call
Category: Residential Research Fellowship
Host: Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin – Institute for Advanced Study
Location: Berlin, Germany
Duration: Three to five months
Fellowship Period: September 2027–July 2028
Eligible Fields: Life and natural sciences, medicine, and psychology
Application Deadline: November 1, 2026, at 23:59 CET
About the Wiko Early Career Fellowship 2027/28
The College for Life Sciences is a junior programme of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin – Institute for Advanced Study.
It supports researchers at the beginning of their careers who want time to reflect, develop their own projects, and engage with an interdisciplinary academic community.
The programme is aimed at profiles such as:
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Junior group leaders
• Lecturers
• Assistant professors
• Associate professors
• Junior professors
The fellowship does not provide laboratory space. Instead, it is designed to allow researchers to step away from normal laboratory or clinical routines and concentrate on intellectual development and project work.
Fellowship Duration and Research Environment
Fellowships last between three and five months during the 2027/28 academic year.
Residencies can take place between September 2027 and July 2028.
Fellows become part of the Wissenschaftskolleg’s broader community, which brings together researchers and scholars from different areas of knowledge.
The programme encourages work that crosses disciplinary boundaries and gives Fellows the freedom to pursue a project of their own choice without predetermined thematic restrictions.
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What Fellows Receive
The College for Life Sciences provides financial, residential, and academic support during the fellowship.
Confirmed benefits include:
✓ A three- to five-month residency at the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin
✓ A full stipend based on the Fellow’s previous salary
✓ Studio accommodation on campus
✓ Freedom to pursue a project of the Fellow’s choice
✓ Exposure to new fields of knowledge and research cultures
✓ Integration into the interdisciplinary community of Fellows
✓ Access to Berlin’s scholarly and scientific community
✓ Access to the Wissenschaftskolleg’s library and IT services
Who Can Apply?
The call is intended for early-career researchers working in:
• Life sciences
• Natural sciences
• Medicine
• Psychology
Applicants must have obtained their doctorate by the beginning of the fellowship.
They must also have at least one lead-author publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
The Wissenschaftskolleg notes that successful applicants usually have two or more years of postdoctoral experience.
Nationality, Age and Discipline Requirements
The official call states that there are no restrictions regarding nationality or age.
There are also no restrictions concerning the applicant’s specific discipline of origin, provided it falls within the life sciences, natural sciences, medicine, or psychology.
Researchers from different countries may therefore apply if they satisfy the academic and programme requirements.
Related opportunity on GrantForYouth: Wiko Early Career Call 2027/2028 for Humanities and Social Sciences
Eligibility Restrictions
Researchers working at institutions in Berlin cannot be considered for this fellowship.
Applicants who have already worked as a principal investigator for more than five years are advised to apply instead for a regular Wissenschaftskolleg fellowship.
The College for Life Sciences call is specifically intended to support researchers in the earlier stages of their academic careers.
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Research Project
Applicants have complete freedom to determine the project they want to pursue during their stay at the Wissenschaftskolleg.
The programme does not impose thematic requirements on proposed research projects.
This structure allows Fellows to use the residency for intellectual exploration, project development, reflection, and engagement with researchers from different disciplines.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must prepare the following materials:
• A project outline of approximately 1,000 words
• A motivation letter of approximately 500 words explaining why they want to undertake the fellowship
• A complete curriculum vitae
• A list of publications
Candidates should ensure that their materials clearly present their academic background, research record, proposed project, and motivation for spending time at the Wissenschaftskolleg.
Academic Requirements
Applicants must satisfy two central academic requirements:
• They must have obtained their doctorate by the start of the fellowship.
• They must have at least one lead-author publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Successful candidates usually have two or more years of postdoctoral experience, although the official call presents this as a typical profile rather than an absolute minimum requirement.
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How to Submit an Application
Applications must be submitted through the Wissenschaftskolleg’s official online application platform.
Applicants should:
• Prepare the approximately 1,000-word project outline.
• Prepare the approximately 500-word motivation letter.
• Prepare a complete curriculum vitae.
• Prepare a full publication list.
• Confirm that they meet the doctorate and publication requirements.
• Submit the complete application electronically before the deadline.
Application Deadline
Applications for the College for Life Sciences Early Career Fellowship 2027/28 must be submitted by:
November 1, 2026, at 23:59 CET
The fellowship residency will take place for three to five months during the academic year running from September 2027 to July 2028.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official Wissenschaftskolleg application portal below.
Apply for the College for Life Sciences Early Career Fellowship 2027/28
