Background Information for Grants and Applications

Call for Short-Term Fellowship Applications 2027

CRC 1412 „Register“ – Collaborative Research Center
Humboldt-Universität Berlin and Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics (ZAS)

Are you an MA graduate planning to do or already pursuing a PhD in linguistics or a related field? Would you like to spend a few months doing linguistic research with us in Berlin? Apply for a short-term visiting fellowship of 3-12 months in 2027!

Application Deadline: [DATE]
Earliest Fellowship Start: [DATE]
Contact: MGK Coordinator – anne.temme@hu-berlin.de (English or German)

About the Program

The Collaborative Research Center (CRC or in German SFB) 1412 „Register: Language Users‘ Knowledge of Situational-Functional Variation“ is a joint research project of Humboldt-Universität Berlin (HU) and the Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics (ZAS).

Eighteen sub-projects investigate intra-speaker variation driven by situational and functional factors at all language levels. Register research examines how language users adjust their communication to different contexts—who speaks to whom, about what, how, and why—and what knowledge underlies these choices.

More information: https://sfb1412.hu-berlin.de/

The Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG/MGK) of the CRC offers several short-term visiting fellowships each year to support emerging researchers in conducting research related to the CRC’s research agenda.

Who Should Apply?

Eligibility

  • You hold an MA degree (or equivalent) in linguistics or a related field
  • You are enrolled in a PhD program OR planning to pursue one
  • You have not yet completed your doctorate
  • Your research project is related to CRC 1412’s focus on register and situational-functional variation

Before applying: You must contact the principal investigator (PI) of your chosen CRC sub-project and obtain confirmation of their willingness to supervise your project. Include this confirmation in your application. Without PI confirmation, your application cannot be considered.

We strongly recommend sending your project proposal to the relevant PI(s) in advance to allow time for feedback and assessment.

Fellowship Details

Duration: 3 to 12 months; earliest start date January 1, 2027

Monthly stipend: €1,468 (tax-free)

Additional support may include:

  • Child allowance (if applicable)
  • Funding for soft skills workshops and training
  • Travel costs within reasonable limits
  • Research expenses (e.g., experiments, data collection)

Health insurance: Fellows must either arrange their own health insurance or provide proof of existing coverage.

Work location: Berlin (Humboldt-Universität Berlin or Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics)

Expected participation: Fellows are expected to participate actively in CRC training and networking activities, including:

  • CRC research colloquium
  • Methods schools and workshops
  • CRC retreats
  • Peer-to-peer networking events

Important notes:

  • We cannot cover travel costs to come to Berlin or provide university accommodation
  • Additional income must be declared and will be deducted from the fellowship amount
  • During the fellowship period, fellows become members of HU Berlin or ZAS

How to Apply

Application deadline: [DATE]
Submission: Send as a single PDF file to anne.temme@hu-berlin.de

Your application must include:

1. Project Proposal (maximum 3 pages, excluding references)

Your proposal should clearly address the following elements:

  • Research question and significance: What is the title of your project? What are you investigating and why does it matter for the field?
  • Theoretical framework and methodology: What theoretical approaches will you use? What methods will you employ?
  • Connection to CRC 1412: How does your project engage with register and situational-functional variation? How does it contribute to the CRC research agenda?
  • Integration with CRC sub-project: Which sub-project will you be affiliated with? Include the name of the PI who has confirmed their involvement.
  • Work plan and timeline: What will you accomplish during the fellowship period (3-12 months)? Provide a realistic timeline with achievable milestones. Is this feasible within your proposed duration?
  • Expected outputs and outcomes: What do you expect to produce? (e.g., publications, data collection, findings, skills development, collaborations)
  • Rationale for this fellowship: Why is this fellowship essential for your project? What can you accomplish here?

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Include a complete list of your qualifications, academic positions, publications, presentations, grants, and other relevant academic activities. Format according to your discipline’s conventions.

3. Academic Certificates

  • Your MA certificate (or official transcript showing degree completion)
  • PhD program enrollment confirmation (if applicable)
  • Any other relevant academic transcripts or degree certificates

Submit in electronic form as single PDF.

4. Writing Samples (up to 2)

Submit up to two representative examples of your academic writing. These might be:

  • Published or accepted journal articles or book chapters
  • Substantial thesis chapters (MA or earlier)
  • Conference papers
  • Other substantial written work demonstrating your writing quality

5. Context and Background (OPTIONAL)

This optional form allows you to provide information about your educational path and circumstances that may help us understand your achievements in context.

Your context matters. Research excellence emerges from diverse paths. Information about educational barriers you may have faced, resources available to you, or other circumstances helps us evaluate your accomplishments more fairly and understand the developmental value this fellowship represents for you.

Leaving this form blank will not disadvantage your application in any way. We include this information only when evaluating applications with equivalent academic merit, to understand achievement-in-context and developmental benefit.

Download Context and Background Form – PDF

This optional form asks about:

  • First-generation university student status
  • Work obligations during studies
  • Caregiving responsibilities
  • Access to research resources and infrastructure
  • Language background
  • Other circumstances providing context for your achievements

Language: Your proposal, CV, and writing samples must be submitted in English. Academic certificates (MA diploma, transcripts, PhD enrollment confirmation) may be submitted in their original language if English translation is not readily available.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Your application will be evaluated by a committee of CRC researchers using a systematic, transparent process.

The committee considers:

  • Scientific quality and feasibility of your proposed research
  • Your research profile and demonstrated potential
  • Fit with CRC 1412’s focus on register and situational-functional variation
  • Achievement relative to opportunities and resources available to you
  • Why this fellowship is strategic and essential for your development

Committee Composition

Your application will be reviewed by a committee of CRC researchers, including doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers from various CRC projects. Committee decisions are made collectively through discussion and consensus.

Diversity and Inclusion

The CRC values and actively promotes diversity in all its activities. The MGK especially encourages applications from:

  • First-generation university students (first in your family to attend university)
  • Researchers from underrepresented geographic regions or institutional backgrounds
  • Those who have faced barriers in accessing research resources, international opportunities, or academic support
  • Researchers bringing diverse methodological, theoretical, or linguistic perspectives

If you belong to a group historically underrepresented in academic research or leadership in Germany, we especially welcome your application. Your diverse perspectives strengthen our research community.

You may optionally provide information about your background and context using the Context and Background form. This information helps us understand your achievements in context and the developmental value of this fellowship for you.

Important Information

Before you apply:

  • Contact your chosen CRC sub-project PI to confirm they can supervise your project
  • Include PI confirmation in your application
  • Check the documents: You can download an application checklist here.
  • Note on Research Ethics: Your project must operate within CRC 1412’s ethics approval framework and align with the established procedures of your host sub-project (approved consent forms, data protocols, participant materials, etc.). You cannot propose new procedures requiring separate ethics review. High-risk projects that cannot be accommodated within the CRC’s and your sub-project’s approved framework are unsuitable for this program.

Conditions of the fellowship:

  • You must arrange your own health insurance or provide proof of existing coverage
  • Additional income must be declared; any additional income will be deducted from the fellowship amount
  • You are expected to participate actively in CRC training and networking activities
  • During the fellowship, you become a member of HU or ZAS
  • Work location is Berlin

Previous recipients: Applicants who received a CRC 1412 fellowship in previous years are not eligible for this program.

Frequently Asked Questions

I haven’t published yet. Can I still apply?

Yes. Publication record is evaluated relative to your career stage. A strong proposal and writing samples can be more important than publications at the MA/early PhD stage.

I’m still finishing my MA. Can I apply?

Yes, as long as you will have completed your MA before the fellowship start date.

Do I need to speak German?

Not necessarily. The CRC operates in both German and English. However, if your project requires German-language data or archival resources in German, you should address language skills in your proposal.

Can I start the fellowship at a different time than January?

Yes. The earliest start date is January 1, 2027, but you can propose a later start at any time in 2027.

Can I combine this fellowship with other income or scholarships?

Any additional income must be declared and will be deducted from the fellowship amount. Please contact the coordinator (anne.temme@hu-berlin.de) if you have questions about specific situations.

Can I submit my application in German?

Your project proposal, CV, and writing samples must be submitted in English to ensure fair comparison and accessibility for our international committee. However, academic certificates and official transcripts may be submitted in their original language (German, etc.) if English translation is not readily available.

Selection Committee

Your application will be evaluated by a committee of CRC researchers. The committee includes doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers from various CRC projects, bringing diverse expertise across the research program’s different linguistic and methodological perspectives.

Committee decisions are made collectively through discussion and consensus.

Application Timeline

Application deadline: [DATE]

Submissions: Send your complete application as a single PDF file to anne.temme@hu-berlin.de

Timeline:

  • Applications due: [DATE]
  • Committee review period: [MONTHS]
  • Committee meeting: [DATE]
  • Applicants notified: [DATE]
  • Earliest fellowship start: January 1, 2027 (or later date as proposed)

Contact and Questions

MGK Coordinator
Email: anne.temme@hu-berlin.de
Language: English or German

Questions about: Application process, eligibility, fellowship conditions, timeline

Sub-project information: Questions about specific CRC sub-projects: See sub-project descriptions on https://sfb1412.hu-berlin.de/ or contact relevant PIs directly

Data Protection

Your application materials will be handled according to German data protection regulations (DSGVO). Information provided will be used only for evaluation purposes. The selection committee is bound by confidentiality. Upon request and subject to data protection requirements, information about the selection process may be made available to other CRC members.