Research Stays

for PhD-candidates

Typical Length: 3–12 months (short or extended research visits)

Possible Funding Sources:

• DAAD Research Grants in Germany: One of the most common funding routes for international doctoral candidates planning a research stay in Germany.

• Governmental Fellowships or grants from your home institution or national funding agencies.

• Erasmus+ (doctoral mobility): Relevant for doctoral candidates whose universities participate in Erasmus+ mobility agreements with TU Dresden.

• Saxon Student Mobility Program (SSMP) – Incoming: Supports research stays of enrolled doctoral students from Chile, India, Taiwan, and Vietnam at Saxon universities, including TU Dresden.

• COST Actions – Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSM): Mobility grants supporting short research visits within European research networks. Our institution participates, for example, in the GOBLIN COST Action.

• Industry-funded doctoral fellowships: Some doctoral students can be funded through competitive industry PhD fellowships and receive travel or collaboration funding that allows them to spend several months abroad with a host research group.

• JSPS Overseas Challenge Program for Young Researchers: A programme of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) supporting Japanese doctoral students conducting collaborative research abroad for 3–12 months.

How to Proceed:

• Check eligibility and deadlines for the relevant fellowship.
• Send an e-mail to  with a short summary of your research topic, funding plans, preferred dates, and current academic status.
• Please include a brief explanation of how your work connects to our research areas.

Preference is given to candidates whose research interests closely match the chair's work and who have already gained experience in research (e.g., publications, open-source contributions, or prior research internships).

Postdocs

If you completed your PhD within the past few years, the following programmes may be relevant for you. Some funding routes listed above for PhD students (e.g., DAAD research grants, COST STSM, or JSPS mobility programmes) may also support postdoctoral research visits, depending on the scheme.

• Humboldt Research Fellowship (Postdoc Track)
  Who’s Eligible: Outstanding researchers from all countries who recently completed their doctorate.
  What’s Offered: A prestigious fellowship supporting research stays in Germany (typically 6–24 months).
  When to Apply: Rolling basis.
• Philipp Schwatz-Initiative makes it possible for German universities and research institutions to employ vulnerable researchers for a period of up to 24 months.
• Georg Forster Research Fellowship (Postdoc Track)
  Who’s Eligible: Researchers from developing or transition countries whose work contributes to sustainable development in their home region.
  What’s Offered: Fellowship support for research stays in Germany.
• DAAD Research Grants in Germany
  Depending on the specific scheme and your career stage, DAAD programs may also support shorter postdoctoral research stays.
• COST Actions – Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSM)
  Mobility grants supporting collaborative research visits within European research networks. 
• JSPS Overseas Research Fellowships
  A JSPS fellowship supporting Japanese postdoctoral researchers conducting research abroad, typically for up to two years.
• Dresden Fellowship Programme
  A TU Dresden-hosted fellowship format for international researchers, particularly suitable for shorter collaborative visits.

Established Researchers

For those with substantial postdoctoral experience—or who are already internationally recognized in their field—consider these programs:

• Humboldt Research Fellowship (Experienced Researchers): A prestigious fellowship supporting research stays in Germany (typically 6–24 months)
• Philipp Schwatz-Initiative makes it possible for German universities and research institutions to employ vulnerable researchers for a period of up to 24 months
• Research Awards (e.g., Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel, Humboldt, Georg Forster Research Prizes)
• Dresden Fellowship Program
• Eleonore-Trefftz-Program

Living in Dresden: DRESDEN-concept Welcome Center

For practical support regarding visas, housing, health insurance, language courses, and more, the DRESDEN-concept Welcome Center is an excellent resource for international researchers. They also offer family support, events, and integration projects. A useful additional resource is the Welcome Guide for Researchers.

What to Send Us

If you are interested in a research stay at the Chair of Transport Ecology, please email us:

• your CV
• a short description of your research interests
• your current academic status (Master’s student / PhD student / postdoc / professor)
• your preferred dates and duration
• the funding program you plan to apply for (if already known)
• optionally, a short research proposal explaining how your work connects to our research topics

Please contact us well in advance of your intended stay, since many funding programmes have long lead times and require prior host confirmation.