Research Support

Information on Research Support

The Research Support department provides researchers from all departments with information on third-party funding announcements, support in finding the appropriate funding program and advice during the proposal preparation phase.

Early Career Researchers (ECRs)

Goethe University has made it one of its main strategic goals to expand the sustainable and structured promotion of young scientists in order to provide outstanding scientific talent at every qualification level with all the prerequisites for the best possible education and research and to continuously increase the quality of research.


Goethe University defines Early Career Researchers (ECRs) as scientists who are either currently working on their doctorate (career stage R1), who have already completed their doctorate and are gaining their first professional experience at the university (R2), or who are already independently leading projects or groups as postdocs but have not yet taken up a professorship (R3). Further explanations of the definition and career stages can be found in the ECR concept. Several facilities at GU guide your path throughout this stage of your academic career.



Research Support of ECRs at the Faculty

As part of the professionalization of research activities, a project position was created to develop a concept for research support for ECRs at the faculty. 

The aim of this project is to record the needs specific to the department; one of the results is to be the creation of a guide to best practices for successful scientific careers. You are welcome to bring in your ideas and issues related to the ECR career stage (see box upper right corner for contact information).

International Research Support 

International research support is indispensable in modern social science research. Thanks to ongoing globalization, societal challenges are transnational. Therefore, the internationalization of the social sciences is becoming increasingly important. 

Part of the special profile of the Faculty for Social Sciences is its integration into interdisciplinary contexts through cooperation within and outside the university. The institutes have numerous international contacts and cooperations and aim at the further internationalization of the social sciences. Through the study programs International Peace and Conflict Studies and the study program Comparative Democracies, which was introduced in winter semester 22/23, the faculty has significantly advanced its internationalization. In addition, ERASMUS mobility and exchanges are supported.

Several further funding opportunities are available to scholars who wish to conduct research and cooperate internationally:

Useful Research Tools for Independent Search for Suitable Funding Opportunities

  • ELFI - Service Point for Electronic Research Funding Information

The Service Agency for ELectronic Research Funding Information has set itself the task of compiling information on research funding programs, calls for proposals, grants, competitions, etc. from various sources, keeping it up-to-date and making it available online. The research officers of the universities and research institutions, for whose support this system was developed, can pass on this information specifically to the scientists at their institution. ELFI is also aimed directly at scientists who wish to research funding opportunities themselves.

FIT is an e-mail service that provides you with targeted and specific information on research funding. You can register in FIT with your e-mail address and create an individual user profile: You determine the scientific fields, types of funding as well as funding bodies about which you would like to receive information. At a time of your choice, you will receive an e-mail with the latest funding information that is important to you. All persons who have an e-mail address of the universities cooperating with FIT can subscribe to FIT free of charge.

Here you will find information on funding opportunities for foreign students, doctoral candidates and postdocs from the DAAD and other selected funding organizations. The criteria used to select the programs of other funding organizations can be found here. If you have any questions about these programs, please contact the persons listed in the description directly.

Here you will find information on the various funding opportunities, the information sheets and forms that are important for you, and a discussion forum.

Research Support for ECRs

Muriel Wagner


E-Mail: m.wagner@soz.uni-frankfurt.de

Tel.: +49 69 798-36517

PEG Room 2.G 144


Consultation hour: Thursdays 2-3 pm

Faculty of Social Sciences

Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main

Campus Westend – PEG-Building

Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 6
60323 Frankfurt am Main

Phone: (069) 798-36573
dekanat.fb03@soz.uni-frankfurt.de