Funding Line 2 | Start-up Funding (Emmy Noether or ERC Starting Grant)

Researchers at Saarland University with completed doctorate with an excellent degree:

• Up to 3 years (Emmy Noether) after the doctorate. Extended periods of absence are considered in accordance with DFG guidelines.
• 2 to 6 years (ERC Starting Grant) after the doctorate. The decisive date is the successful defence of the first PhD degree or an equivalent doctoral degree. We kindly ask scientists with a Dr. med. degree to contact the Research Management Division (Dezernat Forschungsmanagement) in advance to clarify their eligibility to apply. Extended periods of absence are considered in accordance with the relevant  European Commission guidelines.
• The declaration of extended periods of absence is based on trust; individual supporting documents are not required.
• Applicants holding fixed-term junior or comparable qualification professorships (W1/W2) are eligible to apply. The eligibility criteria set out by the Emmy Noether Program and the ERC Starting Grant apply in full.

• Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages), incl. top publications (max. 5)
• Description of the proposed research project (max. 3 pages):
  • Abstract (max. ½ page)
  • Key objectives and methods
  • Explanation of the innovative / excellent character for START
  • Relevance of START Funding for subsequent Emmy Noether or ERC Starting Grant application
  • Commitment / motivation to carrying out the planned project at Saarland University
• Budget plan (table) (max. ½ page)

• Letter of recommendation from your superior (250-300 words). If the applicant holds a (junior) professorship, no letter of recommendation is required.

   

• Font: Arial
• Font size: Minimum 11
• Line spacing: Minimum 1.2
• Page margins: Top 2.5 cm | Bottom 2 cm | Left 2.5 cm | Right 2 cm
• The application may be submitted in either German or English
• Citation format: There are no formal requirements; hyperlinks/DOIs used as in‑text references are permitted.
• Publications that are not available as open access do not need to be included in the application.

The complete documents (one single PDF file) must be submitted exclusively via email to: 

forschung(at)uni-saarland.de

Only the provided templates may be used, and the specified style sheet must be followed. Save the document under the name: START_F2_Start Up Funding_<Your last name>.

Any modification or alteration of the provided templates and/or any failure to comply with the prescribed style sheet may result in your application not being considered.

• March 15, 2026
• Notice:
  • Submission of ERC Starting Grant application no later than October 2027 (please check EU deadlines)
  • Submission of the Emmy Noether application to the DFG within one year upon completion of the START funding period

• Up to 6 months
• Earliest possible start of funding: July 1, 2026
• Maximum duration of funding: December 31, 2026
• The decision and notification will be communicated promptly

• Travel costs: Funding for active participation in conferences, archival work, or summer schools (up to two months, either continuously or in segments)
• Direct project costs: Usable for license/software fees, publication fees, literature, editing, graphic designer, etc.
• Consumables
• Student / research assistants (“Wissenschaftliche Hilfskräfte”)
• Unspent funds will expire

According to the resolution of the Research Committee dated 12 February 2004, members of the Medical Faculty may submit funding applications to only one internal body (either HOMFOR or the Research Committee). This regulation applies equally to members of all faculties with regard to the START funding program. Identical or substantively similar applications may not be submitted simultaneously to HOMFOR, the Research Committee or the START funding program.