MWS-Networking Fellowships

Max Weber Stiftung; Bonn; Hybrid; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A prominent research foundation in Bonn is inviting applications for two MWS Networking Fellowships aimed at enhancing qualifications and promoting networking among staff. Eligible candidates include academic and non-academic staff. Selected fellows will receive support for research and training at different MWS locations. The application deadline is January 6, 2026.

Qualifikationen

• Eligible candidates include academic and non-academic staff from various fields.
• A multi-year employment contract is required.

Aufgaben

• Conduct research at MWS locations for up to three months.
• Gain relevant experience at MWS locations for non-academic staff.

Jobbeschreibung

The Max Weber Foundation – German Humanities Institutes Abroad (MWS) Networking Fellowships

The Max Weber Foundation – German Humanities Institutes Abroad (MWS) invites applications for two MWS Networking Fellowships within the Foundation for academic and non-academic staff. The fellowships are intended to increase the qualifications of staff and promote networking between the locations (institutes, branch offices and the central office). A stay is exclusively possible at another MWS location (institutes, branch offices or the Central Office).

The fellowships should:

• offer academic staff the opportunity to conduct research at other MWS locations. The funding is limited to a maximum of three months and can be used for a residency at one and a maximum of three MWS locations (e.g., archives and libraries, preparation of cooperation projects and projects funded by third parties).
• enable non-academic staff to gain relevant experience at other MWS locations for up to one month and use it for their work at their own location (e.g., application measures and training, possibly also in connection with language learning).
• offer sending institutes and other branches incentives to network even better by temporarily seconding their staff within the foundation or to improve their administrative and controlling processes by discussing best practice models.

MWS-Networking Fellowships

Eligibility to apply

All academic staff and non-academic employees in the areas of academic management, public relations, library, Digital Humanities, editorial offices, IT and administration are eligible to apply. The invitation for applications is aimed at staff working abroad and local employees. A multi-year employment contract is required. Scholarship holders and trainees may not apply. In addition to further personal qualification, the networking fellowship also serves the goal of connecting the various locations and different functional groups equally with one another. If there are several applications of equal value, the applications that are most conducive to this purpose will be considered accordingly.

Application

The deadline for applications is January 6, 2026. The application must be sent to the Selection Committee (the two spokespersons of the Directors’ Meeting, Executive Director, Staff Council, Equal Opportunities Officer). The application must include:

• letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) with reason for the application and description of the intended activity at the host institute as well as an explanation of how the experience gained during the funding period can be used at the employee’s own location
• statement by the sending location which also shows which organizational measures are planned to compensate for the absence of the sponsored person for several weeks
• statement by the host location.

In submitting the application, the employee commits to composing a report on his or her experience for the foundation magazine and/or a blog for the MWS at the end of the residency.

Selection

The Selection Committee is expected to meet in March 2026. Selection criteria are:

• connection between the project and the applicant’s own workplace and career plans
• contribution to internal networking (e.g. by initiating cooperation projects, etc.)
• contribution to improving administrative and controlling processes by discussing best practice models.

The fellows will continue to receive their salary from their own institution. In addition, they will receive a one-time reimbursement of proven travel expenses (max. €2,000) and proven additional expenses for accommodation at their destination. The choice of accommodation must be made in consultation with the central office. Local employees also receive daily lump sums to cover increased costs in line with the German Federal Travel Expense Act [BRKG]. For the per diems, please contact Thomas Schweda at the central office (email: [e-mail]). The fellows undertake to select the means of transport in accordance with sustainability criteria and within the bounds of reasonableness. The accommodations at the intended place of deployment are to be organized by the fellows themselves.

Funding period
The fellowships can be started individually in agreement between the sending and the host institute from July 2026 until the end of the following year at the latest. An earlier start of fellowships (before July 2026) is possible in exceptional cases in consultation with the central office.

Applications can only be submitted via the application portal. We cannot consider applications sent by email.

Contact person at the central office for further inquiries:

Dr. Johanna Beamish ([e-mail])