Scholar in Residence Program
The GHI Warsaw, Prague Branch Junior Scholar in Residence Program
Starting September 1, 2025, the Prague branch of the German Historical Institute Warsaw (GHIW) offers research stays at its Prague apartment. Eligible are advanced junior scholars, working on their first or second books, whose projects align with the Institute’s research objectives. With this program, we support research in German and East Central European history that requires a stay in Prague/Czech Republic. The residence program is intended primarily for non-tenured, early-career scholars and is awarded for periods ranging from one to three months (depending on the research project).
The chief criterion for selection is excellence. In addition, we welcome applications from scholars working on topics related to the history of East Central Europe from the Middle Ages to the present, whose research profile corresponds to one or more of the GHIW’s key thematic areas: Memory Culture, Violence, Mobility, and Space. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate an interest in engaging with local academic institutions such as the Czech Academy of Sciences or Charles University.
We particularly draw your attention to the possibility of combining the residency with a short internship at the Institute for Contemporary History of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ÚSD AV ČR), one of the leading institutions in the field of modern history. Applicants interested in this opportunity should indicate it in their application. If selected for the program, they will discuss internship options as part of your individual residency plan.
The residency is designed to supplement additional funding that will not cover housing costs (e.g. Max Weber Foundation’s Gerald D. Feldman Travel Grants, etc.). Individuals residing in the Czech Republic are not eligible. Prospective scholars are obliged to indicate other income or other scholarships related to their research stay. They alone are responsible for meeting any obligations arising from this (e.g., duty to report to employers/ scholarship providers, taxation). They are fully responsible for any damage caused during their stay to the apartment and its furnishings and may be asked to provide financial compensation for any damage resulting from their negligence.
There is no entitlement to granting the residency from the GHIW, and it is contingent upon budgetary and logistical feasibility.
Applications must be submitted to the office of the German Historical Institute Warsaw, subject line “Prague Residency Program”, by July 31 for residencies beginning on or after September 1, 2025, and ending at the latest in January 2026. The application must be sent as a single PDF file (max. 5 MB) to dhi@dhi.waw.pl and should include the following elements:
- Cover letter with information about the desired residency period
- CV
- List of publications
- Project description: maximum five pages (1.5-line spacing, 12-point font) or a maximum of 2,500 words (including topic, research questions, methodological approach, current status of the project, work program, connection to GHIW research, connection to other local institutions, detailed plan for the residency period, sources, and literature).
- Information about previous/current funding of the research stay from third parties
- Consent to data processing
We kindly ask doctoral students to submit the following additional documents:
- Copy of previous university degrees
- Recommendation letter from doctoral advisor/supervisor
- Information on language skills in Czech (as applicable to the proposed research)
Please note that we can only process complete applications.
By submitting your application, you confirm your consent to the processing of personal data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR), and your ability to carry out the residency during the proposed period. The GHIW reserves the right not to select any candidate and to cancel the selection process at any time without providing a reason.
We invite scholars in residence to attend meetings in their respective research areas, participate in GHIW Prague branch events (lectures, colloquia, conferences), and contribute to discussions at the branch and its partner institutions. They are encouraged to provide regular updates to the branch head on the progress of their research and must submit a detailed final report within two months of the residency's conclusion. The GHIW kindly requests a copy of all publications resulting from the funded research project for its library.
