Jewish life between the early modern period and the present time is researched in all its diversity at the Institute for the History of the German Jews in Hamburg (IGdJ). Ever since its foundation in 1966, not only has the field of Jewish Studies developed, but also become differentiated in terms of methodology and disciplinarity. While the historical focus on the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry remains, questions about Jewish life in the present, remembrance and commemoration as well as modern media and digital technologies open up new research perspectives and areas for discussion.
Therefore, the IGdJ has been awarding annual research grants since 2022, which are intended to promote innovative academic projects in the field of Jewish studies and deepen national and international exchange at the IGdJ. The research fellowship programme was initiated thanks to the generous donation by the physician Dr Gabriele Meyer (1938–2018), who was born and grew up in Tel Aviv and subsequently worked in Malmö, Munich and Hamburg. The programme is aimed at academics who wish to conduct research along the lines of the Institute’s research profile and use the extensive library or the holdings in the various archives in the region for their studies.
Thanks to new collaborations, three fellowships can be advertised for 2026, thus expanding the IGdJ research funding programme:
Dr Gabriele Meyer Fellowship (2 fellowships in total)
Named after the founder, two Dr Gabriele Meyer Fellowships will be awarded for the year 2026 and offer a research stay up to four months each in Hamburg. The programme welcomes scholars working on themes and approaches anchored in the Institute’s research profile – projects in the field of #DigitalJewishHistory are particularly welcome. A presentation of the funded project at the research colloquium and the organisation of a one-day workshop in Hamburg is planned in order to discuss the research topic on a larger scale and to provide valuable networking opportunities in the wider (northern) German research landscape. Attendance in Hamburg is therefore expected during the fellowship and participation in IGdJ events is a prerequisite.
The scholarship amounts to 2,500 euros per month for doctoral candidates, 3,000 euros for postdocs (up to 5 years after completion of the doctorate) and 3,500 euros for established researchers. In addition, the costs for non-recurring travel to and from Hamburg will be covered up to 300 Euro for travel in German, up to 750 Euro for Europe and up to 1,500 Euro for non-European countries. The fellowship also includes an allowance of 500 euros per month towards the cost of accommodation in Hamburg. Fellows are obliged to take care of any necessary visa and/or international health insurance in good time.
The application should include the following:
- a letter of motivation,
- a project outline of up to 3 pages including an idea for a one-day workshop,
- Curriculum vitae and list of publications (5 pages maximum),
- Names and contact details of two academics who can be asked for a letter of recommendation (only for doctoral students)
Hamburg Stipendium – Writing in Residence (1 fellowship in total)
In cooperation with the Alfred Toepfer Foundation F.V.S., the fellowship "Hamburg Stipendium – Writing in Residence" will be advertised for the second time and enables researchers to spend two months in Hamburg. The call for applications specifically aims at researchers who wish to concentrate during their residency in the Elbehaus of the Alfred Toepfer Foundation F.V.S. (single flat) on an academic project, be it on a conceptual level or for writing purposes in the context of a planned publication. The project topic should be orientated towards the research fields of the IGdJ and a presentation in the research colloquium is desired. Attendance in Hamburg is also expected during the fellowship.
The scholarship amounts to 1,500 euros per month. In addition, the costs for non-recurring travel to and from Hamburg will be covered up to 300 Euro for travel in German, up to 750 Euro for Europe; and up to 1,500 Euro for non-European countries. Thanks to the cooperation with the Alfred Toepfer Foundation F.V.S., accommodation in the Elbehaus (see https://www.toepfer-stiftung.de/de/was-wir-tun/hamburg-stipendium) is guaranteed and covered. Fellows are obliged to take care of any necessary visa and/or international health insurance in good time.
The application should include the following:
- a letter of motivation,
- a project outline of up to 2 pages,
- Curriculum vitae and list of publications (5 pages maximum),
- the name and contact details of a researcher who can be asked for a letter of recommendation (only for doctoral students).
Applications for the fellowships can be submitted in German or English until 16 February 2025. Please send an application in electronic form and as one PDF file to: kontakt@igdj-hh.de und bjoern.siegel@igdj-hh.de
Enquiries about the Fellowship Programme should be directed to:
Dr Björn Siegel
Institute for the History of German Jews
Beim Schlump 83
20144 Hamburg
bjoern.siegel@igdj-hh.de