With the “Career Development Awards for Postdocs”, the Berlin University Alliance created a funding program specifically for the postdoctoral researchers of its member institutions. In total, 22 awardees were granted paid academic leave, allowing them to focus completely on a research project of their choosing. This project had the potential to boost the applicant’s (academic) career.

When working as a Postdoc at a chair, early-career researchers do not always have the time required to focus on their own research. At this crucial stage of their careers, however, it is essential to continue developing a research profile and identity – especially when aiming for a professorship or another academic leadership position. Having more time for research is considered a precious gift, whether to finally finish a paper, learn a new method, or establish a collaboration with a research group abroad. More time, freedom, and sometimes even a change of perspective can have the effect of improving research quality and output.

The Career Development Awards were granted for two successive rounds (fall terms 2021/22 and 2022/23). Please note that this program ends in March 2023.

---

List of awardees

• Fall term 2022/2023
• Fall term 2021/2022