IfL Fellowship Programme

IfL Fellowship Programme

IfL Fellowship Programme

Stellenbeschreibung

The Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography in Leipzig, Germany, invites candidates to submit applications for its IfL Fellowship Programme 2026/2027 with the aim of initiating and deepening international collaboration.

IfL Fellowship Call 2026/2027 for established researchers

The IfL conducts basic research on the regional geography of Germany and Europe, and communicates its research findings to a wider public. The institute develops interdisciplinary perspectives on socio-spatial processes in a globalised society, which is increasingly characterised by differences, diversity and complexity. The research at IfL is organised into three departments, each handling specific thematic foci. The infrastructure also includes the Central Geography Library with the Archive. A cross-cutting attention to questions of visuality permeates research work in each department.

• The Department of Regional Geography of Europe (Regionale Geographie Europas) addresses contested politics, economies and mobilities of local and regional development in the context of changing systems of order.

• The Department of Theory, Methodology and History of Geography (Theorie, Methodik und Geschichte der Geographie) works on historical and political geographies, as well as methodologies of qualitative fieldwork.

• The Department of Cartography and Visual Communication (Kartographie und Visuelle Kommunikation) combines basic research, technological and methodological development, and knowledge transfer in a unique and mutually reinforcing way.

• The Central Geographical Library/Archive for Geography (GZB/Archiv) makes geographic literature and archival materials – historic photos, expedition journals, and the papers of more than 200 geographers and explorers – accessible to the scientific community and the general public. Its research activities show how practices of collecting and categorising shape geographic knowledge.

Open call

The current call addresses international established researchers (typically more than 12 years of research experience after PhD) with a research track record in a field related to the IfL research agenda. Candidates based outside of Germany are encouraged to submit applications for the fellowship scheme. No regional or disciplinary restrictions apply.

Fellowships are meant to support the continuation, publication or establishment of innovative research led by the applicant. Activities should relate to IfL key research themes, or a combination of those:

• Global Geographies in Flux

• Negotiating the Local

• Knowledge, Space, Practice

Type and Extent of Funding

During their tenure, fellows are invited to spend a research period of one to three months as in person residence at IfL. The institute provides fellowship stipends of 2,250 € per month. A limited number of travel grants for economy class tickets up to 400 € are available upon request. An own working desk and access to all institute facilities, such as the cartography group, and the Central Geographical Library and Archives will be provided, as well as assistance to arrange for accommodation and plan local field trips.

The fellowships may take place any time between 1 December 2026 and 31 October 2027. Applicants are encouraged to participate in events at the hosting institution, and expected to deliver one public talk during the fellowship.