Greetings,
We are excited to share this funding opportunity from the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS). The CAIS Fellowship program allows scholars and practitioners to spend time at the Center in Bochum, Germany, conducting research on societal impacts of the digital transformation and participating in a vibrant interdisciplinary community. More information about the award can be found in the synopsis and links below. For a full list of currently open opportunities that have been announced through our office, please visit our new Current Opportunities web page. As a reminder, our Research Development team is available to provide proposal development support to FAS ladder faculty.
- OSP Deadline: Review not required for awards made to individuals
- Sponsor Deadline: August 31, 2026
- Award Amount: Fellows will receive a stipend or salary replacement (see the Funding and Facilities tab on the program's website for additional details). Fellows spend either three or six months at CAIS in Bochum, Germany. CAIS provides accommodations, office space, and support for travel costs.
Program Overview
Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS) Fellowships support a three or six month residency at the Center in Bochum, Germany, for researchers with innovative projects that contribute to interdisciplinary and international debates on the societal impact of digital transformation. Projects should advance theory-building and methodological development or generate practical approaches to shaping digital transformation. In addition to its general open call, CAIS invites researchers to submit proposals on the following topic: Futures of Work: Shaping Human-Centered Digital Transformation.
Fellowship projects may be part of a larger research endeavor, but they must be clearly defined and self-contained, with specific milestones and objectives. They must be feasible during the fellowship period and should produce a distinct publication-ready output in a timely manner. Projects based on regionally or locally focused case studies are welcome, if they contribute to broader debates on digital transformation and can be meaningfully carried out within the framework of a residency-based fellowship at CAIS in Bochum, Germany. The three or six month residency at CAIS should provide a clear benefit to the project and offer concrete opportunities for exchange with researchers at CAIS or its partner institutions.
Fellows are expected to work full-time on their research project during their funded term. They are required to be present at CAIS from Tuesday to Thursday, to take part in regular joint activities, and to actively contribute to the interdisciplinary exchange on site. Fellows who are employed are required to take leave from their regular professional duties for the duration of the fellowship. Fellows can invite guests for collaboration and receive financial support for their research expenses.
Eligibility Criteria
- Experts in academia and professional practice across all disciplines are eligible to apply.
- Applicants from academia must demonstrate a publication record relevant to the proposed project and the research profile of CAIS. Applicants from professional practice must demonstrate relevant expertise in the field of the proposed project and the research profile of CAIS.
- All applicants must hold at least a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification and have a very good command of English.
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Postdoctoral researchers must have at least two relevant academic publications. Senior researchers must have at least three relevant academic publications and demonstrated experience in securing competitive research funding. Senior researchers are established researchers, typically at the level of tenured faculty or equivalent positions.
Application Materials
- Personal information and requested funding
- Project description, written for an interdisciplinary and international audience
- Abstract (max. 150 words)
- Research topic and research question(s) (max. 1,500 words)
- Methods (max. 300 words)
- Work plan (max. 300 words)
- Connection to the research environment at CAIS (max. 300 words)
- References (max. 1,500 words)
- Request to invite a visiting fellow or experts for workshops (optional)
- CV (max. 2 pages, including up to 5 relevant publications, preferably with DOI or URL links)
- With regard to the use of generative AI, CAIS follows the guidelines of the German Research Foundation (DFG). Applicants remain fully responsible for the content and form of their application. They are required to critically review AI-generated content and to appropriately acknowledge the intellectual property of others. Applicants are also required to transparently disclose which generative models were used for which purposes and to what extent in the preparation of the application. This information must be provided in the “references” section. Violations of these requirements will result in the rejection of the application.
Selection Criteria
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All submitted applications are initially reviewed with regard to the formal eligibility requirements, their thematic fit with the research profile of CAIS and its partner institutions, as well as the profile of the applicants. Based on this preliminary review, the program committee decides on a shortlist of applications to be sent for review.
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Applications on the shortlist are reviewed by two experts each according to the following criteria:
- Applicant’s professional expertise and qualification
- Topicality and social relevance
- Originality and innovative potential
- Theories and methods
- Projected results
- Potential for interdisciplinary and international exchange
- Feasibility of the work plan
- Based on the reviews and with consideration of diversity criteria, exchange potentials, and available capacities, the Program Committee makes the final funding decisions.
Additional Information and Resources
Applicants are encouraged to review the CAIS Fellows Directory.
Proposals must be submitted via the CAIS application form. Applicants will learn the outcome of their application by the end of January 2027. The earliest possible start date for new fellowships is October 2027. Fellowships of six months usually start in October or April. Fellowships of three months can start in October, January, April, or July. Exceptions are possible after consultation.
In addition to Fellowships, CAIS is also accepting applications through August 31, 2026 for Working Groups. International groups of two through ten members can spend three weeks in Bochum or convene for up to three shorter meetings. CAIS provides modern meeting facilities and catering, plus up to €15.000 for travel and accommodation expenses. At least one group member must be affiliated with CAIS or one of its shareholder institutions and must have agreed to participate at the time of application.
Questions from FAS or SEAS faculty about this opportunity may be directed to FAS Research Development. |
