Gergely Information

Stefan M. Gergely Fellowships for Biodiversity

The fellowships are granted for outstanding dissertation projects on research questions relating to biodiversity.

Application Requirements

Application for a Gergely fellowship is open to highly qualified young researchers at a university on Austria who

• completed their diploma/master’s degree no more than two years prior to applying (dated from 1 July of the year of submission) and
• submit an exposé of their doctoral thesis and a recommendation letter of their doctoral supervisor.

Exceptions

Exceptions must be clarified in consultation with the Department of Fellowships and Awards before the application is submitted.

If the diploma/master’s degree was completed more than two years before the submission deadline, the period can be extended to a maximum of four years. The following reasons for delays/interruptions are accepted: (child) care obligations, military or civilian service, disability, (chronic) illness or in the case of research work with proof through submission of publications.

Students who have not yet completed their studies by the submission deadline are allowed to apply as long as they can submit the official diploma within six weeks of the submission deadline.

Objective

The fellowships recognize achievements in basic research for the understanding of biodiversity and natural ecosystems at all levels. This includes findings on the origin of biological diversity, the description and systematization of its components as well as the functions and interactions in biotic communities, including their abiotic environment.

In particular, the fellowships are intended to give young researchers the opportunity to prepare a competitive application for third-party funding in order to ensure the financing of their doctoral studies.

Duration of the Fellowship

The fellowships are awarded for a period of twelve months and must be started within three months of notification of the grant.

Amount of the Fellowship

The amount of the fellowship is 36.000,- euros (super gross).

The fellowship is intended to help cover living expenses. Further costs, such as travel or printing allowances, cannot be applied for.

Disbursement of the fellowship for a period of time prior to actual commencement is not provided for. 

Compliance with the guidelines for good scientific practice

When drafting the application, the program statutes of the Gergely Fellowships and the guidelines of good scientific practice (https://oeawi.at/en/guidelines/)  must be observed.
By signing the online application form for the Gergely Fellowships, applicants confirm that they have written the submitted project proposal independently.

Conditions

The applicants are at liberty to also apply to other funding agencies. Such applications and information about their outcome must however be reported in writing to the Department for Fellowships and Awards of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Should fellows fail to adhere to the conditions of the fellowship, they must pay back their funding.

Achievement of Objectives

A report on the project progress must be submitted three months before the end of the funding period (via e-mail to stipendien.berichte(at)oeaw.ac.at).  

All publications resulting from the funding must include the note "funded within the framework of a Gergely Fellowship of the OeAW".

Legal position

The Austrian Academy of Sciences has no influence on the content and organization of the dissertation project. The criterion for funding is the fulfillment of the exposé prepared by the recipient of the fellowship.

The Austrian Academy of Sciences does not acquire any rights to the results of the research work through the payment of the fellowship, nor does it exert any influence on the type of cooperation of the recipient(s) with research institutions and research groups.