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Fellowship Programmes

There are two fellowship programmes at the BfR.

Maria Sibylla Merian Fellowship (senior fellowship)

Within the scope of the Maria Sibylla Merian Fellowship, leading scientists are invited to come and stay as guests of the BfR. By doing so, the BfR is honoured by people who have distinguished themselves towards the BfR through exceptional scientific performance or special commitment.

The name was given by the BfR in honour of the natural scientist and artist Maria Sibylla Merian (born 1647 in Frankfurt a. M.; died 1717 in Amsterdam), who distinguished herself through her extraordinary pioneering spirit in the life sciences at the turn of the 18^th century. Merian’s independent scientific achievements are an inspiration for the mission of the BfR in the field of consumer health protection.

The Maria Sibylla Merian Fellowship was awarded for the first time in 2017 to mark the occasion of the 15^th anniversary of the BfR, as well as the 300^th anniversary of Merian’s death.

Werner Baltes Fellowship (junior fellowship)

Within the scope of the Werner Baltes Fellowship, ten qualified and committed young scientists from the new EU member states and non-European countries are given the opportunity of a three-month stay as guests of the BfR. Through this support, the fellows are able to gain an insight into the diverse tasks of the BfR in the field of consumer health protection and are encouraged to acquire further qualifications at the Institute at the same time.

The food chemist Professor Dr. Werner Baltes was an internationally renowned scientist whose main areas of research intersected at many points with the work of the BfR and its predecessor institutions in the field of consumer health protection. In addition to this, Baltes can be seen as the ideal namesake for the junior fellowship programme of the BfR to promote up-and-coming talent, as he accompanied generations of students, doctoral candidates and post-docs as a mentor.

Every year in September, you will find the latest invitation for the following year in this space (application deadline is the beginning of December).

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