The WiRe-Women in Research fellowship programme of the University of Münster’s International Office, Dep. for Researchers & Staff is delighted to offer again several WiRe Fellowships for international female postdoctoral researchers from all over the world. WiRe was founded in 2018 to address the unique challenges facing women in research with a special focus on female Postdocs. Throughout the duration of the fellowship, participants conduct their research in cooperation with a professor at the University of Münster in Germany. Applications are open to women across all research fields represented at the University of Münster.

WiRe fellowships provide an opportunity for international postdoctoral female researchers to conduct research for a self-selected time frame of 4 to 8 months, made possible through the support of the University of Münster. Longer funding periods of up to a year are possible within the framework of a matching option. Selected WiRe Fellows are awarded the opportunity to explore research and development possibilities while having access and insight into the funding, support structures, mentoring and workshops made available to top female academics in Münster.

The research project may be conducted on-site in Münster or remotely from your home base (for family- or research-related reasons).

An essential part of the WiRe – Women in Research programme is communication. Together with our fellows, we develop innovative formats for communicating and explaining research and providing insights into life as a researcher. In this way, we show that WiRe Fellows are inspiring role models for future generations of female researchers.

For research projects in 2025, the University of Münster’s International Office, Dep. for Researchers & Staff awards

WiRe Postdoc Fellowships for International Female Researchers

We are looking for:
Excellent international female researchers doing postdoctoral research, specifically those who

• have secured an involvement with a professor at the University of Münster with the desire to pursue a collaborative research project
  
• are willing to promote their own work via our creative digital channels
  
• demonstrate enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and providing insight into fascinating research and life as a researcher
  
• can be ready to conduct and finish their research project in 2025
  

We offer:

• Funding for a period of at least 4 but up to 8 months.
  Periods of up to a year are possible with our matching option: The WiRe programme funds one additional month if the host department at the University of Münster finances at least two additional fellowship months. Please arrange the latter directly with your University of Münster host.
  
• Fellowship of 2800€ per month for on-site stays, fellowship of 2200€ per month for the remote option. (Please note that in accordance with our policy, we may adjust the stipend amount if a fellow pursues another job/employment during the WiRe Fellowship or has an additional income through another stipend.)
  
• Family bonus: Child allowance of approx. 200€ for each child per month
  
• Excellent research and career development opportunities
  
• Access to all University of Münster's communication channels, networks and research infrastructure
  
• Collective fellowship meetings, workshops and mentoring
  
• Comprehensive support in the promotion of your research and your personal development as a researcher via research communication and outreach.
  

Fellowship conditions:
You are eligible to apply if you:

• have obtained or are about to earn your PhD (you must have finished your PhD by the start of the WiRe Fellowship)
  
• have not worked at a German higher education institution in the past six months
  
• have completed the majority of your academic qualifications outside of Germany
  
• have a research project or an idea for a research project in cooperation with a professor at the University of Münster, which can be completed within 4 to 8 months with a presentable result
  
• have ideas for communicating your research and experiences at the University of Münster to a broader community
  
• are willing to participate in our digital communication activities
  

If granted a fellowship, we expect you to


• join our regular (virtual) WiRe meetings
  
• engage actively in our research communication projects
  
• submit 1-2 short progress reports (depending on the length of your Fellowship)
  

For your application, please be prepared to
1. fill in our application form by September 20th 2024, including
                       i. a detailed project description
                       ii. project schedule
2. upload a short application video (here are some tips on how to create your video)
3. have your cooperation partner at the University of Münster prepare the WiRe Letter of Recommendation and send it to wire AT uni-muenster DOT de by September 20th 2024.


If you are interested in extending your fellowship period through the matching option, please discuss and plan with your University of Münster host the timing and funding possibilities before submitting your WiRe application.


The selection committee's decision is expected to be announced in the last week of October 2024. 
To start with your application, please click here.


You can find more information regarding the application process, finding a research cooperation partner at the University of Münster as well as the WiRe programme on our university website: www.uni-muenster.de/forschung/en/wissenschaftler/wire/index.html or get a sense of who we are as an organization and what we expect from research communication on our blog: www.wire-uni-muenster.de.


If you have questions concerning the application process or fellowship conditions, please write to us at wire AT uni-muester DOT de.


University of Münster – International Office – Department for Researchers & Staff
WiRe programme Office
wire AT uni-muenster DOT de