SUPPORTING THE SPECIALISED FUNDS Young Researchers Fund
The University awards travel allowances and completion grants to help young researchers focus on their research or clear financial hurdles during the doctoral or postdoctoral phase. Your donations to the Young Researchers Fund help make such allowances possible.
Science and research thrive on exchange. The sooner young researchers personally experience international conferences, summer schools, and research sojourns, the better. Thanks to donations and endowment contributions to the Young Researchers Fund, multiple travel and completion grants have already been awarded to young researchers at Heidelberg University over the last several years. These grants not only give young researchers the opportunity to network with other young researchers early on, but also afford them key insights into the future of research in their field. In addition to travel allowances, the Young Researchers Fund also offers other funding options such as completion grants. It wants to give impulses that enable doctoral candidates to actively shape science, economy and society in the short or long term.
Travel Grants Awarded From the Young Researchers Fund
A COMMITMENT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
I believe that every PhD student should attend an international conference at least once. Fundings like the Young Researchers Fund make it possible for students to not miss out on such a valuable experience. Without this support, I would not have been able to attend the conference, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.
Adelya G. (Faculty of Biosciences)
About her doctorate:
I study genetic alterations in heart disease, with a focus on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Specifically, I investigate novel genomic rearrangements in genes linked to DCM and their potential impact on the cardiac transcriptome. I analyze these rearrangements in human explanted heart samples and conduct functional studies using stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes and in vitro models. Additionally, I explore whether certain pharmacological treatments can contribute to these alterations. My goal is to uncover their role in disease progression and their potential as new diagnostic or therapeutic targets.
About attending the conference:
Attending the Gordon Research Conference on Cardiac Regulatory Mechanisms was a very valuable experience. During my poster session and networking events, I had in-depth discussions about my work and received structured feedback from researchers at various career stages, along with suggestions for experiments. I returned with three new experimental ideas and a broader perspective on the biological significance and potential roles of my findings.
About the importance of networking:
Networking is essential for researchers. It provides opportunities to refine ideas, and sometimes challenge them, receive constructive feedback, and establish collaborations. At this conference, I met incredible scientists, learned about exciting unpublished projects being pursued worldwide, and gained a deeper understanding of different perspectives and methodologies in the field. Presenting my findings also helped increase the visibility of our project within the global cardiac research community.
About her decision to pursue her doctorate at Heidelberg University:
I chose to pursue my PhD at Heidelberg University primarily because of its strong research environment and the exciting work being done by my PI’s research group at the University Hospital. Their focus on translational research, with direct access to human patient data and samples, offers a unique opportunity to produce clinically relevant results. When I visited for my interview, I was impressed by the well-connected research centers and hospitals, the excellent facilities, and the overall academic atmosphere. The combination of cutting-edge research, real-world clinical applications, and the supportive environment made Heidelberg University the perfect place for me.
Support opportunities such as the Young Researchers Fund offer young researchers Unterstützungsmöglichkeiten wie der Young Researchers Fund bieten jungen Forschenden einen einzigartigen Zugang zu Reisebeihilfen bei kürzeren Auslandsaufenthalten.
Laura Brandt (Institute for Religious Studies)
About her doctorate:
My PhD project in religious studies focuses on Japanese art museums founded and curated by new religious organisations. What makes these museums special is that they do not exhibit religious objects in order to retell the teachings and history of a religion. Instead, prestigious architecture and are are the top prioritites. My research focuses on the goals new religious movements are pursuing with these kind of museums, how religious content is conveyed in a subtle and innovative way and how a form of presentation that is generally classified as secular is adapted and transformed by religious movements.
About her research stay:
It is essential form research te be there in person. An important source for my work is also the materials that are only available on site, especially brochures and flyers. In addition to my museum visits, I have also been able to make contact with representatives of the museum management as well as the new religion movement. I visited the headquarters or officies and conducted severeal formal interviews. Auf diese Kontakte kann ich nun bei künftigen Forschungsreisen zurückgreifen. These contacts can now be useful for future research trips.
On the importance of the Young Researchers Fund:
Field research stays are essential to young researchers in religious sciences subjects but at the same time are a major financial burden. This especially applies to self-organised short stays like mine since funding opportunities are limited.
About her decision to pursue her doctorate at Heidelberg University:
I have already done my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Religious Studies at Heidelberg University as well as a Bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies (Japanese Studies). Both the academic environment in Heidelberg, which I now help tp shape as a research assistant and teacher, as well as the opportunities to supervice doctoral projects have kept me here.
Current funding instruments
- Completion grants for a maximum of 1,000 euros a month for up to six months
- Travel allowances of up to 1,500 euros to make possible research stays or participation in international conferences and workshops.
Networked from the start
Travel allowances are an important funding part of the Young Researchers Fund. They help clear financial hurdles to make participation in scientific exchange possible.
Your contact for the Young Researchers Fund
Division for Foundations and Assets
T: +49 6221 54-12801
F: +49 6221 54-12980
Postal address
Division for Foundations and Assets
Universität Heidelberg
Seminarstr. 2
69117 Heidelberg
