Research Fellowship Competition

The KIU Research Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies supports innovative and significant research on topics related to Ukraine. Researchers from various disciplines such as history, cultural studies, social sciences, economics, legal studies, conflict studies and related fields are invited to intensively advance their research, broaden their networks and contribute to an emerging vibrant Ukraine-related research environment located at the European University Viadrina, in cooperation with its excellent partner institutions in Berlin. Fellows will enjoy intellectual exchange and international inspiration from the interwoven Polish-German Border region, plus access to the vast resources within the competence network, including the Centre for East European and International Studies Berlin (ZOiS), the Humboldt University Berlin, the Free University Berlin, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin.

For the summer term 2025 we are offering both on-site and non-residential fellowships for committed scientists from all the above-mentioned disciplines. Research topics should be related to, but are not limited on our recent umbrella topic:

Ukraine in Europe:
Controversies, complexities and agency of a multifaceted interconnection

Europe and Ukrainian European identity have long been an important topic in Ukraine, especially in view of the many political, social, economic and cultural interdependencies in the past and present. On the other hand, Ukraine has been in a marginal position for a long time, at least from a Western European perspective. Today, Ukrainian-European entanglements are being researched more and more intensively, not least with a view to Ukraine's European integration.

However, with the Russian War of aggression against Ukraine entering its fourth year in 2025, and new political leadership in the United States as well as in some European countries, the issue of Ukrainian membership in the European Union has gained new momentum. More imminent than previously, EU membership for Ukraine could be part of a broader deal to end the war, but integration is not a foregone conclusion either. Against this background, the analysis of Ukrainian-European relations, cooperation, conflicts, cultural references and dynamics, both in relation to Europe as a whole and to the European Union, is the focus of research at the KIU in the summer semester of 2025.

We invite scholars from the broad field of humanities, social sciences, economic sciences, legal studies and related fields to join our research network and contribute to the debate.

The KIU Research Fellowships are intended to bring together scientists of all career stages from 2 years after completing their doctorate. Fellows are expected to focus on a project, contribute to regular academic of the KIU with at least one presentation of their own work, and to explore the potential of joint research work both with other fellows and with KIU members. Fellows will closely cooperate and enjoy intellectual exchange with their academic hosts from within the KIU.

The residential research fellowship at European University Viadrina provides a monthly stipend of 2000 € up to 2300 € (depending on the career level) for a period of 3 months plus a one-time travel allowance of up to 600 €. Fellows are offered a workplace in the co-working office of the KIU in Frankfurt (Oder). Fellows are expected to conduct their research on site at the KIU and thus in intensive exchange with other fellows and scholars at the KIU. In addition, fellows will attend the weekly research colloquium and the KIU lecture series, a weekly KIU lunch meeting and are invited to present their own work in the colloquium and at other events. The Viadrina provides support in the search for accommodation in Frankfurt (Oder). The fellowship will start in May 2025 and last until July 2025.

The non-residential (sur-place) research fellowship provides a monthly stipend of 450 €  for a period of up to 4 months for committed scientists from all the above-mentioned disciplines who stay in Ukraine for various reasons.  Fellows are expected to closely cooperate with their academic hosts on a joined project and to participate in virtual meetings with KIU on-site fellows. The fellowship will start in July 2025.

Expected outcomes of the fellowship – particular publications, project proposals, conference panels and the like – should be indicated in the application. We welcome all fellows to collaborate with other fellows and with their academic hosts and to develop project proposals or publication projects developed during their stay. Proposals and ideas outlining this continued cooperation will be positively considered in the application.

Fellowship applicants will need a recommendation by their future host, a member of the KIU, who will facilitate mutually beneficial interactions between the fellow, faculty colleagues, and students. Therefore, applicants should start by finding their academic host within KIU. Interested applicants may approach scientists from the KIU institutions in their respective discipline for potential cooperation.

Interested candidates should apply online through the KIU application portal by the following dates:

• For residential research fellowships: by 28 February 2025
• For non-residential (sur-place) research fellowships: by 31 March 2025

Applicants first need to register on the portal. The application portal is now open: KIU Application Portal.

Download programme as PDF.

• Personal (CV) data, including copies of your ID document (jpg), your photo (jpg), degree certificates (jpg or pdf) and language certificates (jpg or pdf)

• A short summary (max. 350 words)

• A project proposal of max. 2,000 words, describing your research project including research question and design, work plan and intended outcomes to be implemented during your fellowship.

• A list of publications – please highlight your five most relevant publications for the planned project.

• A letter of recomendation from your academic host. It should include information about the extent to which you have already worked together with your future host and what joint projects or publications are already planned.