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A Postdoc at the Berlin University Alliance

Postdoc Academy Annual Kick Off

Postdoc Academy Annual Kick Off
Image Credit: Berlin University Alliance / Simon Brunel

Doing a postdoc in Berlin offers international researchers a range of exciting options across universities, research institutes and industry actors. At universities, postdoctoral positions are typically focused on research, teaching and building academic independence, often as part of a professorial chair or third-party funded project. These roles are stepping stones toward a professorship or other academic leadership position and generally consist of limited-term employment contracts.

Postdoc roles can take on many forms, though the most common are:

  • Research Associate (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter) position for a university- or third-party funded project
  • Junior research group leader (commonly with third-party funding)
  • Postdoc fellowship for independent research (commonly with third-party funding)
  • Obtaining a habilitation (higher teaching qualification)
Eligibility requirements vary depending on the role or program, though a completed PhD with good standing and a record of publications and conference proceedings are generally prerequisites. For some opportunities, you will need to secure your own host institution and prepare a research proposal to apply for funding. Postdocs in Germany benefit from strong social security, competitive salaries and structured application and career development processes. The institutions of the Berlin University Alliance offer a wealth of postdoc opportunities that serve as a gateway to building a successful research career in Berlin and beyond and the BUA Postdoc Academy can support you along the way.

BUA Job Portal

Check here for paid postdoc positions at FU, HU, TU or Charité Berlin.

Institutional Postdoc Structures and Networks

To better understand the concrete opportunities available to postdoctoral researchers in Berlin, it is useful to look at the individual offerings of each university:

Freie Universität Berlin hosts a broad portfolio of junior research groups supported by major funding bodies, offering group leaders autonomy to build teams and pursue original research. The university also supports early-career researchers via the Dahlem Research School, providing professional development and career mentoring.

The Research Service Centre provides targeted consultation on national and international funding options, personalized funding strategies and guidance for securing third-party funding. A central offering is the Humboldt Research Fellowship, intended to facilitate the transition from PhD to postdoc.

Take a look at more funding opportunities for postdocs.

Postdoctoral roles at TU Berlin can be funded either through the university budget—typically for five years with teaching requirements and the opportunity to pursue a Habilitation—or through third-party grants, with more flexible terms. TU Berlin also offers opportunities to lead junior research groups and the Center for Junior Scholars supports applications for a diverse array of postdoc funding lines.

Europe’s largest university hospital provides a dynamic environment for postdoctoral researchers in clinical and biomedical fields. Rahel Hirsch Scholarships are a great opportunity for postdocs seeking a professorship track while the BIH Charité Clinician Scientist Program aims to integrate research and practice. Charité publishes regular calls for applications on its website.

Visiting Opportunities for Postdoctoral Researchers

The BUA institutions regularly host visiting postdoctoral researchers. Such visitations are generally tailored to the individual needs of host faculties and visitors and are best arranged in direct inquiry with your academic host:

Administered by the Berlin Center for Global Engagement, Flexible Travel Funds support short-term research mobility between Berlin University Alliance institutions and partners in the Global South. Applicants must be postdocs or professors affiliated with a Berlin University Alliance university and are expected to pursue joint outcomes such as co-authored publications or third-party funding proposals.

Consult with the HU Research Service Centre to explore current funding options available to visiting researchers

The Center for Junior Scholars provides tailored advice to researchers interested in spending time as a visiting scholar at TU Berlin

Learn about visiting internships and clinical shadowing exchanges at Charité

Postdocs At Risk

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative, launched in 2015 by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German Federal Foreign Office, offers fellowships to researchers who face serious personal threats in their home countries. Interested researchers cannot apply directly but must be nominated by eligible German institutions; those seeking placement should approach a potential host university to explore nomination possibilities.

Einstein Program for Academic Freedom

The Einstein Guest Researcher Program, funded by the Einstein Foundation Berlin, provides support to researchers whose academic freedom is restricted or who face threats to their safety. To apply, prospective fellows must secure a host at one of the eligible Berlin institutions, including those in the Berlin University Alliance. Applications are submitted through the host university, not directly to the Einstein Foundation.

External Funding Opportunities

In addition to institutional support, postdoctoral researchers in Germany benefit from a wide range of national and international funding programs. These fellowships and grants, offered by the German Research Foundation, the European Commission, and other public agencies, provide generous support for independent research, international mobility, and academic career development. Below is an overview of some of the most relevant external funding opportunities available to international researchers planning a postdoc in Germany — particularly at one of Berlin’s major universities or affiliated institutes.

Several prestigious funding instruments support postdoctoral researchers working across Europe, including Germany. These include the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and the European Research Council (ERC) Grants.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships support researchers who hold a PhD and wish to carry out their research abroad. Applicants must meet mobility requirements and have no more than eight years of postdoctoral experience.

Complementing this are the European Research Council Grants, which are among the most competitive and prestigious in Europe. They support high-potential researchers to establish and lead independent projects at a host institution in the EU or associated countries.

  • ERC Starting Grants are for researchers 2–7 years post-PhD with a promising track record and an ambitious, ground-breaking proposal. Grants offer up to €1.5 million over five years.
  • ERC Consolidator Grants target researchers 7–12 years post-PhD who have already demonstrated independence. Funding can reach up to €2 million over five years.
  • ERC Synergy Grants support small groups (2–4 researchers) tackling complex research questions together. These grants offer up to €10 million (or €14 million in exceptional cases) over six years and encourage interdisciplinary and collaborative work.

All ERC grants require a letter of commitment from the host institution and are applied for via the EU’s Funding & Tenders Portal.

The German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft or DFG) offers several pathways for postdoctoral researchers to develop their careers within Germany's research landscape. These include funding for individual research projects, participation in collaborative research networks and long-term academic career development programs.

Postdocs may apply for positions in existing DFG-funded structures, such as Collaborative Research Centers, Research Training Groups and Priority Programs. Another route is the Research Grant, which funds postdoctoral researchers to conduct their own project with a host institution.

For those planning a longer-term academic career in Germany, the DFG offers prestigious programs aimed at supporting academic independence and progression toward professorships:

  • The Walter Benjamin Program supports postdocs who have completed their PhD, providing them with the opportunity to conduct an independent research project in a new research environment, either in Germany or abroad. This program is particularly valuable for early-career researchers seeking to build their academic profile and enhance their research independence, with funding typically provided for up to two years.
  • The Emmy Noether Program supports outstanding postdocs with 2–4 years of research experience (up to 6 years for medical doctors), allowing them to lead an independent junior research group for up to six years. This program is especially valuable for researchers aiming to meet the requirements for a university professorship in Germany.
  • The Heisenberg Program is intended for researchers who already meet the formal requirements for a professorship. It provides up to five years of flexible funding through various formats — including fellowships, research positions, or Heisenberg professorships — to help candidates consolidate their academic profile and prepare for leadership roles in academia.

These DFG schemes provide robust support for both early-career and advanced postdocs and are highly regarded pathways for entering the German academic system.