Funding

Long- and Short-Term Fellowships for Non-Tenured Research Group Leaders

Schaller fellowships are a funding opportunity available to non-tenured group leaders working on biomedically relevant research in Heidelberg who fulfill the requirements for the appointment to professorships. The awardee’s appointment as Professor or similar tenured position should be imminent and the fellowship typically serves a bridging function. Long-term fellowships are awarded for up to three years with a salary compatible with the corresponding TV-L tariff classification. Short-Term fellowships are awarded for six to nine months, and in exceptional cases for up to one year.

Requirements

Applications are open to junior scientists (typically up to 40 years of age) at the Heidelberg University who fulfill the criteria for an appointment as Professor. Applicants should have successfully led an independent research group with own research funds. The Foundation supports the group leader’s salary during the bridging period between ending of group leader salary funding and attainment of a tenured position.

A single pdf file of the application (11-point-type) should be submitted via email to info@chs-stiftung.org:

  • Work plan (five pages for long-term fellowship applications and two pages for short-term fellowship applications, 1.5 line spacing).
  • Summary of current scientific achievements (one page).
  • Confirmation of laboratory space and basic equipment.
  • CV (one – two pages).
  • List of publications (divided into original papers and reviews, omit meeting abstracts and talks).
  • Prizes and awards.
  • Third-party funding (submitter, funding organization, duration, amount).
  • Composition of the workgroup including financing for workgroup members.
  • Signed privacy policy statement (Download here)

Please, no reprints, preprints or academic certificates.

For more information, please contact info@chs-stiftung.org

Long-Term Fellowships

1. Current Longterm Fellowships

 

Dr. Daniela Mauceri, Neurobiology, Heidelberg University.

Daniela’s main focus is the investigation of molecular and transcriptional events governing neuronal structural and functional plasticity. She explores the translational aspects of her findings using diverse models of disease.

Link to her own homepage.

 

2. Past Long-Term Fellowships

 

Dr. Kevin Allen, Department of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Heidelberg and DKFZ

Another recipient of the Long-Term Fellowship in 2017 was Kevin. His main focus is to study neuronal processing of spatial information by different classes of spatially selective cells in the brain. Due to his outstanding scientific achievements in this field, he receives the Fellowship of the Foundation.

 

Dr. Frederik Graw, BioQuant-Center, Heidelberg University

Frederik’s research interests lie on the development of mathematical and computational methods to analyse how pathogens spread within different tissue environments and how effective immune responses develop.

Dr. Stefan G. Lechner, Pharmacology Institute, Heidelberg University

Stefan’s research interest revolves around mechanosensation and his group uses modern molecular as well as electrophysiological techniques to elucidate how we perceive “touch”. Due to his excellent past research and convincing concept, his application for a Long-Term Fellowship for non-tenured research group leaders in 2018 was positively evaluated. Dr. Lechner has been appointed Professor in the Department of Anaesthesiology in Hamburg.
Link to his own homepage.

Dr. Steeve Boulant, Virology, Heidelberg University

Steeve’s lab utilizes viruses as a model system to understand cellular mechanisms, from intracellular trafficking to antiviral innate immune response. Link to his own homepage

Dr. Carmen Ruiz de Almodovar, Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University

SCarmen’s research interest focusses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that control vascular and nervous system development, and the cross-talk between these two systems. Due to her excellent research, her application for a Long-Term Fellowship for non-tenured research group leaders in 2017 was positively evaluated.
Shortly thereafter Carmen was appointed full professor at the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and is now heading the Department for Vascular Dysfunction.

2010: Dr. Friedrich Frischknecht, Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, University Hospital Heidelberg.

In 2014, Dr. Frischknecht was appointed Professor at the University of Heidelberg.

2009: Dr. Robert Grosse, Institute for Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg.

2004-2007: PD Dr. Oliver T. Fackler, Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital of Heidelberg.

In 2007, Dr. Fackler was appointed Professor at the University of Heidelberg.

Short-Term Fellowships

2024

Dr. Venera Weinhardt, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS)

Research:
X-ray imaging technologies for biomedical applications
Venera’s research group is developing X-ray-based imaging techniques, including correlative approaches, to understand structural changes in pathological conditions. They are focusing on novel sample preparation pipelines, imaging methods, and algorithms for quantitative analysis, including AI-driven segmentation methods. Their approaches cover the nanoscale for analysis of cell anatomy up to the macroscale imaging of whole organisms. They are tailoring their developments in imaging technologies to understand developmental biology, mechanisms of viral infections, and activation of immune cells.

2021

Dr. Julieta Alfonso , Division of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Heidelberg and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).

2020

Dr. Ana M.M. Oliveira, Neurobiology Institute, Heidelberg University.

2020

Dr. Anne Schlaitz, ZMBH, Heidelberg University.

2020

Dr. Eleonora Russo, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University.

2019

Dr. Sandra Hoffmann, Genetics, Heidelberg University.

2015

Dr. Wolfgang Kelsch, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University.

2010

Dr. Hans-Christian Kornau, ZMNH Hamburg, now at the Institute of Biochemistry, Charité – University of Berlin

2005

Prof. Dr. Catherina G. Becker, formerly ZMNH, University of Hamburg, formerly Director and Professor of Neural Development and Regeneration at the Centre for Neuroregeneration, University of Edinburgh, UK; today Alexander von Humboldt Professor and Professor for Neural Development and Regeneration at Technical University Dresden, Germany

2005

PD Dr. Ingolf Bach, formerly ZMNH, University of Hamburg, today Professor at University of Massachusetts Medical School.