Research Pool

The central research pool aims to support applications from Osnabrück University researchers in competitive third-party funding programs. The focus is on collaborative research and support for researchers in the early stages of their careers.

Researchers at Osnabrück University can apply for support from the central research pool for the preparation of externally funded national and international or EU collaborative research proposals. For academics in the early stages of their career at Osnabrück University, the research pool offers support in the preparation of applications for third-party funding and in the transition phase to their own externally funded position.

Funding is available for measures in the application preparation phase (with the exception of funding line II) up to the submission of the application.

Osnabrück University researchers who meet the application requirements for the relevant funding line can apply at any time after consultation with the contact person in Dezernat 7. For applications over €15,000, please note the FNK committee meeting dates.

Prerequisite for all funding lines:

  • High research relevance of the planned third-party funded project
  • An alternative funding option is not fully available
  • It is a promising application project
  • The funding volume should be proportionate to the planned application project.

Please note the specific requirements of the respective funding line.

Funding lines

In terms of academic career support, funding line I supports researchers in early career phases in the preparation of third-party funding applications.

It is aimed at:

  • Researchers in early career phases (especially postdocs and junior professors) from the submission of their dissertation who, as (co-)project leader, wish to raise substantial own funds from a third-party funding body (e.g. DFG in-kind grant, DFG Emmy Noether Program, project funding or multi-year research fellowship from foundations / ministries, DFG Walter Benjamin Program).

Prerequisites:

  • Promising proposal that contributes to the achievement of scientific independence of the researcher
  • Funding of generally over €100,000
  • Advice from the research funding officers in Dezernat 7 before submitting the third-party funding application

Funding is provided:

  • Personnel resources
  • Material resources
  • Travel funds

As a rule, the funding volume should not exceed €15,000.

Funding line II offers postdoctoral researchers who have applied for third-party funding to finance their own position at Osnabrück University support in bridging the review period.

The funding line is initially limited until 31.8.2025.

It is aimed at:

  • Postdoctoral researchers at Osnabrück University who have applied for third-party funding to finance their own position at Osnabrück University for at least 2 years (e.g. DFG Sachbeihilfe mit Eigener Stelle, Thyssen Projektantrag mit Eigener Stelle) and need to bridge the review period.

Prerequisites:

  • Promising application for funding for the own position at Osnabrück University has been submitted
  • Third-party funding application must have been submitted via Administrative Service 7 or a final draft must be available in Dezernat 7
  • It must be ensured that there is no vacant position available in the department in the near future and that central funding is therefore absolutely necessary.
  • The schools must be involved.

To be financed:

  • Personnel funds - Own position for up to 6 months at a rate of up to 65% TVL-13. Participation of the school is required.

Applications over EUR 15,000 must be received by Dezernat 7 at least 1 month before the respective meeting of the FNK.
Applicants are advised to observe the restrictions of the WissZeitVG.

Funding line III supports professors at Osnabrück University who do not have their own staff available from the basic budget, as well as academic staff and teaching staff for special tasks in permanent positions, in submitting research-related applications.

It is aimed at:

  • Professors at Osnabrück University who do not have their own staff available from the basic budget
  • Academic staff and teaching staff for special tasks in permanent positions

Prerequisites:

  • LOM-relevant application to the DFG, foundations, EU, BMBF and other third-party funding bodies is planned
  • Acquisition of generally over €100,000

Please note that competitive funds from the MWK or special funds from the state are not LOM-relevant.

Funding is provided:

  • Funds for auxiliary staff; for particularly extensive (joint) projects, personnel funds for up to 6 months 50% TV-L E13

Funding line IV. supports researchers at Osnabrück University in the preparation of a proposal for a national or international research network.

It is aimed at:

  • Applicants for Collaborative Research Centers, Research Units, Priority Programs and Research Training Groups of the DFG, collaborative projects of a federal ministry as well as foundations, the EU and other third-party funding bodies.

Prerequisites:

  • Significant participation of Osnabrück University in the collaborative project
  • Profile/structure-building significance of the project for Osnabrück University

Funding is provided in multi-stage procedures, preferably for the final application phase (full application); alternative funding for the application in the first phase (outline) is possible in individual cases with special justification.

Funding is available:

  • Personnel resources
  • material resources
  • travel funds

Funding line V. supports researchers at Osnabrück University in the initiation of and (as PI) participation in EU collaborative research projects. Support is provided for activities that serve to prepare a LOM-relevant third-party funding application (e.g. trips to coordination meetings, preparatory workshops or similar to the cooperating institution in another EU country for the preparation of a project application). The involvement of postdoctoral researchers and junior professors at Osnabrück University is desirable; long-term cooperation should be anchored in a school at UOS.

The funding line is aimed at:

  • UOS researchers who are preparing an LOM-relevant third-party funding application for a collaborative research project with one or more research institutions in other EU countries

Please note that competitive funds from the MWK or special funds from the state are not LOM-relevant.

Prerequisites:

  • Activities serve to prepare a LOM-relevant third-party funding application
  • Specification of the program in which a joint application is to be submitted
  • Timetable for the preparation of the application

Funding will be provided:

  • Travel and accommodation costs for Osnabrück researchers for meetings at the cooperating institution in another EU country
  • Material resources
  • Personnel resources: Auxiliary staff

Information on the application process

Please get in touch with the contact person in Administrative Service 7 before submitting your application.

  1. Application form
  2. Statement by the dean or the head of the institute with the dean's signature (template available for download if required) on the eligibility and significance of the planned externally funded project from the perspective of the school / institute and on the possibility of financial participation in the measure applied for from the research pool.
  3. Please attach the following information informally to the application form:

1. funding lines I, III-V: description of the planned externally funded project

  • Description of the project for which an application is to be prepared with the help of funds from the research pool
  • Details of the research funding institution and the date of the planned application
  • Information on the amount requested and the planned duration of the third-party funded project
  • Are other persons / disciplines involved in the externally funded project?
  • Proof of the application requirements according to the funding lines

Funding line II: Description of the research project for which third-party funding is being applied for, including the applicant's own position, with details of the points listed above.

2. explanation of the use of the funds requested from the research pool and the funding requirements

  • What support is required and what will the requested funds be used for? How will this specifically support the development of the third-party funding application?
  • Please prepare a brief financing plan for the funds requested from the research pool, differentiated according to personnel costs, material costs, travel costs
  • If doctoral candidates or postdoctoral researchers are to be funded from the requested measure, please state their name, age, degree and current qualification phase

Administrative Service 7:

Dr. Marie-Kathrin Drauschke, mariekathrin.drauschke@uni-osnabrueck.de (on parental leave)

Dr. Daniel Rüffer, daniel.rueffer@uni-osnabrueck.de

Administrative Service 3:

Rabea Lüken, rabea.lueken@uni-osnabrueck.de

We look forward to hearing from you in advance of submitting your application!

Dr. Daniel Rüffer

Dezernat 7: Hochschulentwicklungsplanung

Neuer Graben 7-9
49074 Osnabrück

Room: 52/409

 +49 541 969-6180
 daniel.rueffer@uni-osnabrueck.de