I welcome enquiries from excellent international PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and experienced scholars who would like to spend time in my research group at the University of Bonn. Possible topics should fit broadly with my research interests in English linguistics, corpus linguistics, World Englishes, language variation and change, learner English, language attitudes, sociolinguistics, and the use of computational and AI-based methods in linguistics.
Please note that prospective visitors will need to apply for external funding (see list below). If there is a strong fit with my research profile and the proposed project is well developed, I can usually provide a host statement or invitation letter for suitable fellowship applications.
The following programmes may fund temporary research stays in Germany. They do not provide employment or a route to a professorial appointment. Before contacting me, please check that you meet all formal eligibility requirements, particularly those concerning the date of your doctorate, career stage, nationality and country of residence.
DAAD Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists
This is the most relevant DAAD programme for established academics. It supports research visits of one to three months by international university teachers and researchers who normally hold a doctorate, work at a university or research institution in their home country, and have recent publications. Applicants require a clearly defined project agreed with a German host. Eligibility and deadlines vary by country.
Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship
This programme supports highly qualified researchers from abroad. Postdoctoral applicants must normally have completed their doctorate within the previous four years; experienced researchers must normally be within twelve years of completing their doctorate. Recognised career interruptions may be taken into account. Fellowships last 6–24 months for postdoctoral researchers and 6–18 months for experienced researchers.
Link: https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/apply/sponsorship-programmes/humboldt-research-fellowship
DAAD GROW – Global Research Opportunities for the South
This programme funds development-related research and cooperation involving researchers from countries on the programme’s current eligibility list. Preparatory and cooperation visits last one to two months, while research stays last two to six months. Applicants must be employed at a university or research institute and propose a project with a clear connection to the Sustainable Development Goals and concrete benefits for their home region.
Link: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=57862427
DAAD Research Grants in Germany
This programme supports doctoral candidates and researchers in the early postdoctoral phase. Doctoral candidates can receive funding for two to twelve months; postdoctoral researchers can receive funding for two to six months. Postdoctoral applicants must normally have completed their doctorate no more than four years before the application deadline. The programme is therefore not suitable for established senior researchers.
Link: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=57742121
DAAD Bilateral Exchange of Academics
This programme supports research stays of fourteen days to three months by university teachers and experienced researchers from participating countries and institutions. It is available only where the DAAD has a current bilateral agreement with the applicant’s country or institution.
Link: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=50015508
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships
European Postdoctoral Fellowships support research at a European host institution for 12-24 months. Applicants must normally have no more than eight years of research experience following their doctorate, subject to specified exclusions for career breaks and periods outside research. Applications are prepared jointly by the researcher and the host institution.
Link: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships
Philipp Schwartz Initiative for researchers at risk
Researchers facing political persecution, war or serious threats to academic freedom may be eligible for funding for up to twenty-four months, with a possible extension of up to twelve additional months under the programme’s co-financing model. Applications are submitted by German host institutions and require documentation of the individual risk situation.
Link: https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/apply/sponsorship-programmes/philipp-schwartz-initiative
DAAD Research Grants in Germany
This is a good option for doctoral candidates who are already enrolled in a PhD programme outside Germany and would like to spend part of their doctoral research period at the University of Bonn. DAAD lists research stays of 2–12 months for doctoral students.
Link: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=57742121
DAAD Grant for Ukrainian PhD students
Duration: 1-6 months (in my group, we would prefer a longer stay in order to permit focussed work)
https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=57650857
HEC International Research Support Initiative Program, Pakistan
Pakistani PhD students may be eligible for the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan’s International Research Support Initiative Program. HEC describes this as a six-month research fellowship abroad for students enrolled in full-time PhD programmes in Pakistan.
Link: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/IRSIP/Pages/default.aspx
DAAD Doctoral Programmes in Germany
This route may be relevant for applicants who want to complete a full doctoral project in Germany and need external scholarship funding. Applicants should check the country-specific DAAD rules and deadlines carefully.
Link: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=57135739
DAAD Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees / Cotutelle
This programme may be relevant for doctoral candidates who want to pursue a bi-national doctoral project involving their home university and the University of Bonn. It supports doctoral projects carried out under joint supervision, including cotutelle arrangements or other structured forms of international co-supervision.
Link: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=57507783
German political and academic foundations
Some international doctoral candidates may be eligible for doctoral scholarships from German foundations, for example the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, or Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes. These scholarships are usually competitive and often require a strong academic profile, social or civic engagement, and a good fit with the foundation’s profile.
Link: https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships/
Fulbright Open Study/Research Award, United States
US students and doctoral candidates may be eligible for Fulbright funding to conduct research in Germany. Fulbright Germany describes the Open Study/Research Award as a six- to ten-month grant requiring formal matriculation at a German university or affiliation with a German research institution.
Link: https://fulbright.de/en/grants/program/open-study-research-award
China Scholarship Council
Chinese doctoral candidates may be able to apply for funding through the China Scholarship Council for a full PhD or a research stay abroad. Eligibility and procedures depend on the specific CSC route and institutional arrangements.
Link: https://www.csc.edu.cn/
HEC Overseas Scholarships for PhD, Pakistan
Pakistani applicants may also be eligible for HEC funding to complete an entire PhD abroad, including in Germany. This is different from the HEC IRSIP scheme, which only funds a six-month research stay for PhD students already enrolled in Pakistan. The HEC Overseas Scholarship Programme is intended for Pakistani candidates seeking full doctoral training overseas, subject to HEC eligibility rules, selected countries/universities, and the current call conditions. Applicants should check the HEC and DAAD Pakistan pages carefully before contacting a potential supervisor.
Link: https://www.daad.pk/en/find-funding/hec-scholarship-applicants/hec-overseas-scholarship-scheme/
DAAD Re-invitation Programme for Former Scholarship Holders
Former DAAD scholarship holders may be eligible to return to Germany for a further research or working stay. This can be useful for maintaining collaboration after an earlier DAAD-funded visit or doctoral/postdoctoral stay.
Link: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=50015492
Fulbright Scholar Program, United States
US postdoctoral researchers and professors may be eligible for Fulbright Scholar funding for research or teaching stays in Germany.
Link: https://fulbright.de/en/grants/program/fulbright-scholar-grant-including-inter-country-travel-grant
If you are interested in applying for one of these schemes with me as your host, please send the following documents:
a CV, including your current institutional affiliation
a list of publications
writing samples (for doctoral candidates and postdocs)
a short description of the fellowship scheme you plan to apply for
a preliminary research proposal of 2–4 pages
a short explanation of why your project fits my research profile
the relevant deadline and any host documents required by the funding body
Please contact me well before the funding deadline. For competitive schemes such as Humboldt or Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships, the proposal normally needs substantial preparation, and I can only support applications that are a strong fit with my research areas and have realistic chances of success.
For guidance on writing a research proposal, please also consult my notes here:
Link: https://sites.google.com/view/rflinguistics/resources/research-skills/research-proposals