Promoting interdisciplinary mathematical research lies at the core of the current funding initiative at the KIT-Center MathSEE. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between mathematicians and applied scientists and while doing this, it wants to accomplish an increased visibility for the KIT-Center MathSEE as a strategic and interdisciplinary platform within and outside of KIT. This current call includes PhD and Postdoc positions funded by (and associated with) the KIT-Center MathSEE directly, and the KIT Graduate School Computational and Data Science (KCDS) within MathSEE.
The current call for MathSEE and KCDS Bridge PhDs, as well as MathSEE Bridge Postdocs aims to ensure that a problem-solving idea, which goes beyond the boundaries of any one discipline, is funded and that the possibility for it to develop into a larger externally funded initiative is enabled. Passion for science, for mathematical research, for solving problems and a clear value-addition to the society will be financially supported. Both scientific excellence and innovation potential will be considered in funding evaluations.
For the KCDS Bridge PhDs, it is expected that the doctoral researchers will become members of the KIT Graduate School on Computational & Data Science (KCDS). For the MathSEE Bridge PhDs, this is optional and depends on the topic of the doctoral project.
It is possible to submit a Bridge PhD funding proposal to both calls at MathSEE and KCDS if the prerequisites in research field and matching funding are met.
The KIT-Center MathSEE supports research ideas of women scientists and young researchers and therefore encourages them explicitly to apply. The funding scheme shall enable these groups into acquiring outstanding individual grants.
Prerequisites
- Applications are required to come from tandems of researchers such that one of them engages in research in mathematical methods and the other one in application areas.
- For the Bridge PhDs, the project work culminates in doctoral theses that are supervised by the interdisciplinary research tandems. For the KCDS Bridge PhDs in particular, the project work should be in the field of computational and data science.
- For the MathSEE Bridge Postdoc, the project work should culminate in a proposal for third-party funding.
- The funds come from the KIT Centers Matching Funds program. Therefore, projects require an equal co-funding of the total incurred costs, split between the applicant’s Institute and KIT Center MathSEE.
- The application must not be submitted elsewhere for funding until the selection process is completed (April 10, 2023).
Selection Criteria
- Applications for research projects in the current MathSEE Bridge PhD / MathSEE Bridge Postdoc / KCDS Bridge PhD call “Promotion of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Research” will be evaluated according to the following selection criteria, which are oriented towards the Excellence Cluster funding criteria:
- Potential of the proposed activity to serve as a nucleus for sustainable, long-term coordinated research projects at the KIT MathSEE center
- Potential of the planned activity to contribute towards the development of the KIT Center as a strategic partner within and outside of KIT
- Coherence and feasibility of the research program
- Scientific profile of the participating scientists
- Adequacy of the requested funds; resource and time planning
- International competitiveness
- Diversity of the group composition
- Promotion of equal opportunities
Funding
MathSEE Bridge PhD
For a period of 36 months, non-repayable grants up to maximum eligible costs of EUR 27,000 per project per year for personnel and material expenses can be awarded under the current MathSEE funding announcement. A matching co-financing of the eligible costs of EUR 27,000 shall be provided by the applicant’s institute. There are many possibilities to realize the co-funding. Please contact the MathSEE office at mathsee∂kit edu for help in this matter. In justified exceptional cases it is possible that MathSEE Bridge PhD positions are fully funded by MathSEE. The funding is guaranteed for the period of May 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025. A flexible start between May 2023 and July 2023 can be accommodated.
Funding for a total of up to three (3) such grants is available.
KCDS Bridge PhD
For a period of 36 months, non-repayable grants up to maximum eligible costs of EUR 27,000 per project per year for personnel and material expenses can be awarded under the current MathSEE funding announcement. A matching co-financing of the eligible costs of EUR 27,000 shall be provided by the applicant’s institute. There are no exceptions to the co-funding rule for KCDS Bridge PhDs.
The funding is guaranteed for the period of May 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025. A flexible start between May 2023 and July 2023 can be accommodated.
Funding for a total of two (2) such grants is available.
MathSEE Bridge Postdoc
For a period of 24 months, non-repayable grants up to maximum eligible costs of EUR 35,000 per project per year for personnel and material expenses can be awarded under the current MathSEE funding announcement. A matching co-financing of the eligible costs of EUR 35,000 shall be provided by the applicant’s institute. There are many possibilities to realize the co-funding. Please contact the MathSEE office at mathsee∂kit edu for help in this matter. There are no exceptions to the co-funding rule for MathSEE Bridge Postdocs.
The funding is guaranteed for the period of May 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025. A flexible start between May 2023 and July 2023 can be accommodated.
Funding for a total of up to four (4) such grants is available.
Procedure
Applicants may apply for funding by submitting a written proposal signed by both the mathematical and application scientist to the MathSEE office at mathsee∂kit edu by February 28, 2023 using the given application template. Funding for applications is granted by decision of the MathSEE Steering Committee (for the KCDS BridgePhDs jointly with the KCDS Steering Committee) according to the above-mentioned selection criteria. Successful candidates will be informed in April, 2023.
Completion of the start-up grant and report
60 days after completion of the funding activity, a written report should be submitted to the MathSEE Steering Committee. A template will be made available to successful projects.
Use of the budget
The start-up funding must be spent within each calendar year and is non-repayable.
Contact persons
For further questions please contact the MathSEE office at mathsee∂kit edu