Special Call "Practices of Interdisciplinary Research"
Special Call for Proposals
Fellowships in the ZiF Group on "Practices of Interdisciplinary Research"
Group Residency at ZiF: October 2028 – March 2029
Marking its 60th anniversary in 2028, ZiF will turn its attention to its own institutional mission by making interdisciplinarity itself the object of reflection. We are offering 8 to 10 fellowships for researchers whose work advances the study of interdisciplinary research. Fellows will spend six months at ZiF as members of the ZiF-curated research group “Practices of Interdisciplinary Research“.
Deadline for Application: 9 February 2027
Since its founding, ZiF has fostered collaboration among researchers from different disciplines within thematically focused research groups. On the occasion of its 60th anniversary in 2028, ZiF will curate a collaborative group of fellows who make interdisciplinarity the object of systematic scholarly reflection.
With this Interdisciplinarity Group, ZiF aims to advance outstanding research on the practices, conditions, and epistemic foundations of interdisciplinary research. At the same time, it seeks to translate theoretical insights into practical approaches for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, including the development of concepts, methods, and institutional support structures that can strengthen interdisciplinary research at ZiF and beyond.
ZiF welcomes applications for individual fellowships from researchers across various disciplinary backgrounds whose work centers on the understanding and advancement of interdisciplinary research.
What is the Interdisciplinarity Group?
6-months residency at ZiF to focus on interdisciplinarity
Individual research meets collaborative activities
Intensive intellectual exchange with fellow researchers
Living and working at ZiF
Organisational support of group activities
What ZiF Offers
What ZiF Expects
We are seeking researchers who:
- propose an independent, reflective research project on the practices of interdisciplinary research;
- are interested in intensive interdisciplinary exchange with others;
- are willing to actively participate in cooperative work phases;
- are willing to contribute to the development of concepts, methods, and institutional support structures that can strengthen interdisciplinary research at ZiF and beyond.
Application Requirements
- To be submitted (click to expand)
Cover Sheet name, affiliation, discipline, contact (email address, physical address)
Summary of project up to 1,500 char., incl. spaces, approx. 1/2 a page Project outline no more than 12,000 characters incl. spaces (approx. four pages with page numbers), plus reference list CV max. 4 pages incl. relevant publications and other additional information
Motivation letter reasons for joining the Interdisciplinarity Group (no more than 6,000 characters incl. spaces; approx. two pages)
Brief responses to all of the questions on the right 6,000 characters incl. spaces, evenly distributed across all questions; approx. two pages
- Reflection: What does reflection on interdisciplinary research mean to you, and how do you implement a reflective approach in your research?
- Collaboration: How do you envision collaborating with other fellows of the group in ways that enrich your project? What forms of exchange or collaboration do you find productive and what would you like to try out during your stay at ZiF?
- Support: What forms of support from ZiF do you need to participate most productively in the Interdisciplinarity Group?
- Workshop participants/collaborators: Name two to three scholars whose input would be particularly relevant for your proposed research project – who are they/what is their disciplinary background? Please briefly explain your selection.
Formal requirements - a doctoral degree
- an affiliation with a university or research institute (especially for the duration of the fellowship)
- confirmation from the home institution of granted leave