Successfully Securing Third-Party Funding: Seminar on Research Funding

On June 24, 2026, a seminar on the topic of “Research Funding and Third-Party Acquisition” was held at the Boysen-TU Dresden-Research Training Group. The event was aimed in particular at doctoral students who are nearing the completion of their doctorates and are considering the next steps in their academic careers.

The advisors were Dr. Sebastian Schneider, Project Scout at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Dr. Rico Hickmann, Project Scout at the Faculty of Civil Engineering. Dr. Schneider has been associated with the Boysen-TUD-Research Training Group for several years and, together with Dr. Hickmann, provided valuable insights into the national funding landscape as well as the support services offered by TU Dresden.

The seminar focused on funding opportunities in Germany and the question of which programs are suitable for different career stages. Among other things, the presenters introduced funding opportunities from the German Research Foundation (DFG), funding options from foundations, and career programs such as the Emmy Noether Program. For many doctoral students who will be completing their doctorates in the foreseeable future, the event thus offered helpful guidance for planning the next steps in their academic careers.

In addition, participants received practical advice on the application process, review procedures, and the strategic planning of funding proposals. The advisors also addressed typical pitfalls and critical points in the application process and offered recommendations on how to avoid common mistakes. In addition, they highlighted further support services offered by TU Dresden, particularly grant-writing seminars and individual counseling options.

Another practical element of the seminar was the presentation of the ResearchConnect  tool, which is available through TU Dresden and enables a search in a targeted manner for current national and international funding calls. This provided participants with a helpful tool for identifying suitable funding opportunities for their future research projects.

The Boysen-TU Dresden-Research Training Group extends its sincere thanks to Dr. Sebastian Schneider and Dr. Rico Hickmann for the informative event and for their willingness to support the doctoral students—even beyond the seminar—with questions regarding research funding and third-party grant applications.