Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowships , Germany (€30,000 Funding for Global Sustainability Professionals)

The Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences awards the Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship as part of its Fellow Programme. RIFS wants to support individuals committed to sustainable development and building bridges across society, reflecting the commitment of Prof. Dr Klaus Töpfer.

RIFS is looking for applications from highly talented mid-career professionals who have worked for at least ten years on issues related to sustainable development and have the potential to serve as change agents. The proposed project should have long-term impact beyond the Fellowship. Applicants are expected to bring innovative ideas from fields such as science, the arts, civil society, business, politics, or other areas of society.

The fellowship is awarded for up to one year and can be flexibly adapted to the candidate’s life situation, for example divided into intervals. The chosen candidate is expected to pursue the project on site in Potsdam during the entire term and to contribute to the work of the institute. A selection committee including external advisors evaluates applications.

RIFS states that the fellowship is supported by a discretionary budget of up to €30,000, which can be applied to cover travel expenses, publication fees, support for organizing workshops, or production costs for artistic work. The fellowship benefits include a monthly stipend and financial compensation to cover additional living costs during the stay in Germany.

• Mid-career professionals
• At least ten years of work on issues related to sustainable development
• Potential to serve as change agents
• Commitment to sustainable development and building bridges across society
• Ability to propose innovative ideas from their respective fields (science, arts, civil society, business, politics, or other areas of society)
• Professional experience in different countries and cultures
• English application
• Submit applications using the online application form only
• Declare any use of AI in preparing the application
• Letter of motivation must outline prior experience at the interface of science and another sector of society
• Project proposal must specify a project title, activities, research fields, expected outputs/aims, work plan, financial and/or physical resources and timeline, and highlight intended long term impacts

• Discretionary budget up to €30,000 for travel expenses, publication fees, support for organizing workshops, or production costs for artistic work
• Monthly stipend
• Financial compensation to cover additional living costs during the stay in Germany

1. Use the online application form only.
2. Prepare an application in English and declare any use of AI in preparing the application.
3. Submit the application by the deadline, including the listed documents: letter of motivation, project proposal, current CV, and two letters of recommendation.

• A letter of motivation (6,500 characters max.)
• A project proposal (15,000 characters max., plus references)
• A current CV (10,000 characters max., plus key publications)
• Two letters of recommendation (including the names and contact details of referees)