The "Henriette Herz Scouting Programme" initiated by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation opened up a new way of accessing the Humboldt Research Fellowship. This new, active scouting procedure enables successful academics in Germany to directly approach highly sought candidates from abroad who have so far not applied to the Foundation and invite them to conduct joint research at their institutions. After successful application as a scout, Prof. Dr. Michela Mapelli, Professor for Astrophysics at the Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (ITA) at the Center for Astronomy of Heidelberg University (ZAH), now has the opportunity to identify three excellent researchers in the early stages of their careers and recommend them directly for a Humboldt Fellowship. Humboldt Scouts are selected based on their outstanding research achievements and excellence in mentoring.
Michela Mapelli has led the DEMOBLACK group at the Center for Astronomy of Heidelberg University (ZAH) since July 2023 and is a member of the STRUCTURES Excellence Cluster. Her main research focus is understanding the formation of astrophysical black holes. "I am very excited to become a Humboldt Scout. My priority will be to bring to Heidelberg outstanding early-career scientists who show promise of becoming leaders in the fields of Computational Astrophysics and Gravitational-Wave Astronomy," says Michela Mapelli. "I will focus on identifying excellent female young researchers as well as candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented minorities." The Henriette Herz Scouting-Program enables Mapelli to recommend three international scientists to do research at the ZAH with a Humboldt Fellowship. Young talents as well as experienced researchers are eligible. The sponsorship period is 24 months for postdocs and 18 months for experienced researchers. After formal approval, the fellowships will be granted directly.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE HENRIETTE HERZ SCOUTING PRROGRAMME
By introducing the Henriette Herz Scouting Programme, financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has opened up a new way of accessing the Humboldt Research Fellowship. This new, active scouting procedure enables successful academics in Germany to directly approach highly sought-after candidates from abroad who have so far not applied to the Foundation and invite them to conduct joint research at their institutions. Both in terms of subject and region, the programme thus recruits new collaborative partners for Germany. It also seeks to increase the percentage of women sponsored under the Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme. In order to recruit these scientific talents, who must have completed their doctorates within the last 12 years, for a research stay in Germany, the Humboldt Foundation wants to utilise the knowledge, international connections and commitment of selected researchers in Germany: every year, in a competitive peer-review process, the Humboldt Foundation will select up to 40 scouts who will then themselves identify junior researchers abroad and recommend them to the Foundation. In this way, up to 100 additional Humboldt Research Fellowships will be granted annually. More information can be found at https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/apply/sponsorship-programmes/henriette-herz-scouting-programme
SCIENTIFIC CONTACT
Prof. Dr. Michela Mapelli
Centre for Astronomy of Heidelberg University (ZAH)
Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (ITA)
mapelli@uni-heidelberg.de
