Mind and Brain: DAAD doctoral scholarships 2026-2030

DAAD doctoral scholarships 2026-2030

Please select a topic/supervisor and follow the instructions below on how to apply for the topic of your choice!

Topics - Supervisors

Topic 1 - Marcel Brass
Social cognition in multi-agent virtual environments: a multi-method approach

Topic 2 - Isabel Dziobek
2a: Understanding Breathwork in Mental Disorders: Neural, Autonomic, and Behavioral Pathways
or:
2b: Mechanisms of Therapeutic Change in Autism: Clinical, Neurological, and Psychophysiological Perspectives

Topic 3 - Carsten Finke
Quantitative MRI markers of hippocampal pathology and limbic network dysfunction in autoimmune encephalitis

Topic 4 - Christine Heim
Early-Life Stress and Brain Ageing: Developmental Origins of Late-Life Brain Health

Topic 5 - Arno Villringer
Heart and Brain: How does heart function impact on cognition and emotion?

Topic 6 - Verena Wagner
The Zetetic Turn in Epistemology

Please save: Possible interview dates for all topics (video/online)

Dates for interviews - t.b.c. after application deadline and with invitations for interview:

Tuesday, 21 April 2026, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 22 April 2026, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

About these scholarships: general information and rules for eligibility

(I) The Max Planck School of Cognition, through its cooperation partner, the Berlin School of Mind and Brain (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), advertises two four-year doctoral scholarships for doctoral projects conducted through the Max Planck School of Cognition (MPSCog). These two doctoral positions, in two of the seven specific fields of research selected for 2026 (see descriptions below) will be funded for up to four years by the Graduate School Scholarship Programme 2026 (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

(II) Successful candidates are expected to initiate their doctoral research work in Germany in September 2026 in one of the advertised projects (below) supervised by MPSCog Fellows. During their research, candidates will benefit from well-established doctoral research, education, and training programs. A selection of courses which will address candidates' individual needs and interests will be available.
(If you are not interested in our topics, but interested in the DAAD’s doctoral scholarship program in general, please check the DAAD’s doctoral scholarship webpage - external link!)

(III) The advertized scholarships are available to international applicants only (all non-German nationalties) - see also below under (V).

(IV) Though it is the DAAD's main goal to provide funding and support for international students who will be in Germany for the first time, it is admissible to have resided in Germany previously or to have completed a degree in Germany - see details below under (V).

(V) Before applying, applicants must ensure they meet the DAAD's general eligibility criteria:

(1) Excellent academic profile.
(2) International background, i.e. non-German nationality.
The DAAD wishes to support primarily those international students who will be in Germany for the first time. However, there are the following exceptions:
     (a) Already in Germany? International applicants are eligible if their Master's degree is from abroad and they have not been resident in Germany for longer than 15 months immediately prior to nomination in May 2026, i.e. not before March 2025. => In cases of doubt, the DAAD will review each case individually.
     (b) German degree? Although the DAAD primarily supports international students who are or will be in Germany for the first time, a previous study stay or completed Bachelor's degree in Germany is permitted if (i) applicants have conducted their subsequent Master's degree abroad and are now applying from abroad, and (ii) they have not had a place of residence or study in Germany at least 15 months immediately prior to nomination in May 2026 (i.e. not since March 2025). => In cases of doubt, the DAAD will review each case individually.
     (c) Dual citizenship? Internationals with dual citizenship must apply from their country of origin. As a rule, the "country of origin" is the country in which the applicant has spent the majority of their life. If the second citizenship is German, the applicant should have lived abroad (i.e. not in Germany) for at least 10 years or for at least five years in the case of strong ties (e.g. through a permanent employment contract, a second citizenship, an unlimited residence permit) to the country of residence - and if they fulfill the application requirements for that respective country (type of degree, etc.). => In cases of doubt, the DAAD will review each case individually.
(3) At the starting date of the scholarship in September 2026 (or voluntary preparatory German course before that date), applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent.
(4) Applicants Master's degrees must not be older than six years (i.e. not completed before September 2020).
(5) Applicants must not have completed a PhD or any other doctoral degree previously.

(VI) The four-year DAAD-GSSP scholarships include:

Scholarship payments of currently € 1,400 a month;
A travel allowance from their home address to Germany and back;
Payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance cover;
A research allowance of currently € 460 per year (for scholarship holders from countries listed in the DAC List of ODA recipients), or € 260 per year (for scholarship holders from other countries);
A material resources and supervision allowance of currently € 1,000 per year (to be paid out upon application by the supervisor to the host institution, for use for the candidate's doctoral project).

(VII) Under certain circumstances, grant holders may receive the following additional benefits:

Monthly rent subsidy (calculated individually, usually about € 50 to € 125 per month), if applicable;
Monthly allowance for accompanying family members (about € 200 child allowance per child and about € 275 marriage allowance);
In the case of a disability or chronic illness: subsidy for additional costs which result from the disability or chronic illness and are not covered by other funding providers;
A preparatory German language course (if available, applicable and feasible, taking into account the starting date of the scholarship); proficiency in German is not required for most of these projects.

(VIII) For the difference between doctoral scholarships and salaried doctoral positions, please see here (internal link).

SCHOLARSHIP TOPIC 1 (2026-2030)

Doctoral Research Topic 1:
Social cognition in multi-agent virtual environments: a multi-method approach

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Marcel Brass
Contact: marcel.brass@hu-berlin.de
Website: https://social-intelligence-group.github.io

Description of Topic 1:
Social cognition in multi-agent virtual environments: a multi-method approach:
Understanding the social dynamics of multi-agent settings has long been a focus of social psychology. However, elucidating the basic social-cognitive processes that underlie such group dynamics remains a significant challenge. Multi-participant studies inherently increase experimental degrees of freedom, complicating systematic control and analysis.

Two recent technological advances now facilitate more rigorous multi-agent experimentation:
(1) Immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), allow for complete recording and control of shared environments.
(2) Multimodal and mobile measurements, including motion capture, eye tracking, and physiological monitoring, enable the analysis of behavioral and psychophysiological alignment between interaction partners with high spatial and temporal precision.

In this project, we will investigate naturalistic multi-agent interactions within a shared virtual environment using a multimodal array of dependent measures. Data will be analyzed through multivariate approaches integrating behavioral, psychological/subjective, and physiological measures. The project will be a tight collaboration between the Social Intelligence Lab (Marcel Brass) and the Mind-Body Emotion Group (Michael Gaebler).

Academic requirements for Topic 1:
Applicants should have:
(1) A strong background in social-cognitive neuroscience,
(2) Experience with methods such as EEG, motion tracking, eye-tracking and peripheral physiology
(3) Strong background in the analysis of complex data
(4) Experience with VR or the willingness to acquire this experience
(5) Willingness to work in a strongly multidisciplinary and highly team-oriented environment
(6) Proficiency in English

DAAD requirements, terms and conditions:
see above under “About these scholarships”: requirements (II) to (V)

Applications for Topic 1 must include:
(1) A Proposal for a doctoral project in research topic 1 (max. 5 pages in Arial 11, single spaced, plus max. 3 pages references);
(2) Meaningful Letter of Motivation (max. 2 pages);
(3) Full academic Curriculum Vitae, including the names of two referees - see also (11) below;
(4) Copies/scans of Bachelor's and Master's certificates + certificates for annual examinations taken at the home university (transcript of records) including grades + explanation for the home university’s grading system;
(5) If still incomplete Master's degree: Please provide Transcript of records from your current Master's degree program - at the starting date of the scholarship (and/or preparatory German course) in September 2026, applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent.
(6) Copies/scans of your passport / identity card;
(7) List of publications (if applicable);
(8) Non-native English-speaking applicants must provide evidence of their English language proficiency (see FAQs 1.11-1.12) (external link);
(9) Schedule for the planned research work including information about possible field studies/stays outside Germany;
(10) Any documents certifying completed practical work (internships, etc.) - optional.

Please send the above in one PDF file of no more than 7 MB.

Please name the file as follows: YourLastName_DAAD_Topic1

Application address: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for applicants: Friday, 13 March 2026 — Save the date: Interviews (video/virtual): t.b.a. (April 2026)

(11) Two letters of reference
Referees should send their letters of reference directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Guidelines for references Applicants: Please download, send to your referees, ask them to: (1) fill in the form and (2) send the form back to us at mb-admission@hu-berlin.de: Guidelines (docx) / Guidelines (pdf)

Deadline for referees: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
References to be sent directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

SCHOLARSHIP TOPIC 2 (2026-2030)

Doctoral Research Topic 2a:
Understanding Breathwork in Mental Disorders: Neural, Autonomic, and Behavioral Pathways

or:

Doctoral Research Topic 2b:
Mechanisms of Therapeutic Change in Autism: Clinical, Neurological, and Psychophysiological Perspectives

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Isabel Dziobek
Contact: isabel.dziobek@hu-berlin.de
Website: psy.sekr.klin.soz@hu-berlin.de

Description of Topic 2a:
Understanding Breathwork in Mental Disorders: Neural, Autonomic, and Behavioral Pathways:
This PhD project will be embedded in the largest international randomized clinical trial to date investigating high-ventilatory breathwork (Conscious Connected Breathwork) as a treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. The trial will be conducted within the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) across six partner sites in Germany, with overall coordination at the Chair of Clinical Psychology of Social Interaction at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
The doctoral researcher will investigate mechanisms of therapeutic change across clinical, autonomic, and neurocognitive domains, integrating functional neuroimaging, psychophysiology, behavioral tasks, and clinical assessments to identify predictors and correlates of treatment response. A particular emphasis may be placed on processes related to emotion regulation, psychological flexibility, stress responsivity, interoception, and social–cognitive functioning.

The specific focus of the PhD project will be jointly defined based on the candidate’s interests and methodological expertise, allowing for a flexible and theory-driven dissertation embedded within a large, well-powered clinical framework.

Academic requirements for Topic 2a:
(1) A strong background in clinical psychology and/or (cognitive) neuroscience
(2) Master's degree in a relevant field
(3) Experience with neuroimaging experiments and data analysis
(4) Experience with breathwork and/or altered states of consciousness
(5) Experience of working with people with mental disorders
(6) Very good proficiency in English and at least basic level of German

Description of Topic 2b:
Mechanisms of Therapeutic Change in Autism: Clinical, Neurological, and Psychophysiological Perspectives:
This PhD project is embedded in the first clinical trial of individual cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for autistic adults without intellectual disability, focusing on a manualized short-term intervention (three months) with a primary focus on social interaction difficulties and stress dysregulation. The study is conducted at the University Outpatient Clinic for Psychotherapy and Psychodiagnostics at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and has recently entered the active clinical phase, offering an excellent opportunity to integrate mechanistic research questions from the outset.
The doctoral researcher will investigate psychological, behavioral, neurocognitive and social correlates of autism and mechanisms of therapeutic change. Potential target constructs to investigate include emotion regulation, social–cognitive processing, self-referential processing, and their neurocognitive correlates.

The specific focus of the PhD project will be tailored to the candidate’s background, skills, and scientific interests, allowing for a focused and methodologically rigorous dissertation embedded within a clinically innovative psychotherapy trial.

Academic requirements for Topic 2b:
(1) A strong background in clinical psychology and/or (cognitive) neuroscience
(2) Master's degree in a relevant field
(3) Experience with neuroimaging experiments and data analysis
(4) Experience in working with individuals with autism
(5) Very good proficiency in German and proficiency in English

DAAD requirements, terms and conditions:
see above under “About these scholarships”: requirements (II) to (V)

Applications for Topic 2a or 2b must include:
(1) A Proposal for a doctoral project in research topic 2a or 2b (max. 5 pages in Arial 11, single spaced, plus max. 3 pages references);
(2) Meaningful Letter of Motivation (max. 2 pages);
(3) Full academic Curriculum Vitae, including names of two referees - see also (11) below;
(4) Copies/scans of Bachelor's and Master's certificates + certificates for annual examinations taken at the home university (transcript of records) including grades + explanation for the home university’s grading system;
(5) If still incomplete Master's degree: Please provide Transcript of records from your current Master's degree program - at the starting date of the scholarship (and/or preparatory German course) in September 2026, applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent.
(6) Copies/scans of your passport / identity card;
(7) List of publications (if applicable);
(8) Non-native English-speaking applicants must provide evidence of their English language proficiency (see FAQs 1.11-1.12) (external link);
(9) Schedule for the planned research work including information about possible field studies/stays outside Germany;
(10) Any documents certifying completed practical work (internships, etc.) - optional.

Please send the above in one PDF file of no more than 7 MB.

Please name the file as follows: YourLastName_DAAD_Topic2a
Please name the file as follows: YourLastName_DAAD_Topic2b

Application address: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for applicants: Friday, 13 March 2026 — Save the date: Interviews (video/virtual): t.b.a. (April 2026)

(11) Two letters of reference
Referees should send their letters of reference directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for referees: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
References to be sent directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

SCHOLARSHIP TOPIC 3 (2026-2030)

Doctoral Research Topic 3:
Quantitative MRI markers of hippocampal pathology and limbic network dysfunction in autoimmune encephalitis

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Carsten Finke
Contact: carsten.finke@charite.de
Website: https://cognitive-neurology.com/

Description of Topic 3:
Quantitative MRI markers of hippocampal pathology and limbic network dysfunction in autoimmune encephalitis:
Autoimmune encephalitides are antibody-mediated inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system that frequently target limbic brain regions. Among these, limbic encephalitis associated with LGI1 antibodies (LGI1E) represents a prototypical model of focal medial temporal lobe pathology accompanied by persistent cognitive impairment, particularly affecting memory, attention, and executive functions. While many patients recover from the acute disease phase following immunotherapy, long-term neurocognitive sequelae are common and remain insufficiently explained by conventional imaging markers.

Previous neuroimaging studies in LGI1E and related autoimmune encephalitides have predominantly relied on volumetric MRI measures, most consistently demonstrating hippocampal and hippocampal subfield atrophy. These findings underscore the focal involvement of medial temporal lobe structures but are difficult to reconcile with the increasingly recognized brain-wide functional and structural network alterations reported in recent studies. In particular, volumetric measures alone appear insufficient to explain extra-limbic cognitive deficits and broader clinical outcomes, suggesting that more sensitive markers of tissue integrity and microstructural organization are required.

Recent advances in quantitative MRI (qMRI) offer new opportunities to bridge this gap. qMRI techniques such quantitative T1 and T2 relaxometry, magnetization transfer, and diffusion-based microstructural metrics provide biologically interpretable markers of myelin content, tissue integrity, and microstructural complexity that go beyond macroscopic volume loss. Importantly, these measures may detect subtle and spatially heterogeneous tissue alterations within the hippocampus and connected limbic structures that precede or extend beyond overt atrophy.

At the same time, network-based approaches have demonstrated widespread alterations of functional and structural connectivity in autoimmune encephalitis, implicating large-scale limbic, default-mode, and frontoparietal networks. However, the relationship between focal hippocampal tissue pathology and distributed network dysfunction remains poorly understood. It is currently unclear to what extent microstructural abnormalities within hippocampal subfields act as a driver of network-level reorganization, whether network changes reflect compensatory versus maladaptive processes, and how these interactions evolve longitudinally after the acute disease phase.

Research objectives
This project conceptualizes LGI1 encephalitis as a network disorder rooted in focal hippocampal pathology and aims to systematically link quantitative markers of hippocampal tissue integrity with large-scale network dysfunction and cognitive outcome.
The specific aims are:
(1) Characterization of focal hippocampal pathology using qMRI
To identify quantitative MRI signatures of hippocampal and parahippocampal tissue alterations in LGI1E, with particular emphasis on hippocampal subfields and anterior–posterior gradients.
(2) Linking focal structural abnormalities to limbic network dysfunction
To investigate how hippocampal qMRI abnormalities relate to alterations in structural and functional connectivity within limbic and extra-limbic networks, testing the hypothesis that focal microstructural damage propagates to large-scale network dysfunction.
(3) Structure-network-cognition relationships
To determine how quantitative hippocampal MRI markers and network alterations jointly explain memory impairment as well as extra-limbic deficits in attention and executive function.
(4) Longitudinal trajectories and clinical relevance
To assess longitudinal changes in qMRI and network measures during the post-acute disease phase and relate these trajectories to clinical variables such as disease duration, relapse, and long-term functional outcome.

Methodological approach
The project will leverage well-characterized cohorts of patients with LGI1 encephalitis and matched healthy controls, including longitudinal MRI data where available. Advanced qMRI protocols will be combined with state-of-the-art network analyses of structural and functional connectivity. Hippocampal subfield segmentation, limbic network mapping, and multimodal integration strategies will be used to directly test structure–network coupling. Imaging findings will be integrated with detailed neuropsychological and clinical assessments.

Scientific significance and outlook
By moving beyond volumetric MRI and focusing on quantitative tissue markers, this project aims to provide a mechanistic link between focal hippocampal pathology and distributed network dysfunction in autoimmune encephalitis. The results are expected to advance our understanding of why localized limbic damage leads to widespread cognitive impairment, identify imaging markers sensitive to disease progression and recovery, and ultimately contribute to improved prognostic stratification and outcome prediction in LGI1 encephalitis.
More broadly, this work will establish qMRI-based structure–network coupling as a transferable framework for studying other neuroimmunological and neurodegenerative disorders characterized by focal pathology and global network disruption.

For this project, you will work with the interdisciplinary and international team of the Cognitive Neurology Lab at Charité Berlin. We have access to large patient cohorts through international collaborations and have established advanced imaging analysis pipelines for structural and functional network studies, including novel and highly promising in house-developed measures of structural topology and functional complexity.

Academic requirements for Topic 3:

Required:
(1) Master’s degree in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, Biology, Computer Science or related disciplines with excellent results
(2) Proficiency in English

Desirable:
(3) Programming skills (e.g., Matlab, Python or R)
(4) Experience with acquisition and analysis of MRI data, e.g. using tools like FSL, SPM, or Freesurfer

DAAD requirements, terms and conditions:
see above under “About these scholarships”: requirements (II) to (V)

Applications for Topic 3 must include:
(1) A Proposal for a doctoral project in research topic 3 (max. 5 pages in Arial 11, single spaced, plus max. 3 pages references);
(2) Meaningful Letter of Motivation (max. 2 pages);
(3) Full academic Curriculum Vitae, including names of two referees - see also (11) below;
(4) Copies/scans of Bachelor's and Master's certificates + certificates for annual examinations taken at the home university (transcript of records) including grades + explanation for the home university’s grading system;
(5) If still incomplete Master's degree: Please provide Transcript of records from your current Master's degree program - at the starting date of the scholarship (and/or preparatory German course) in September 2026, applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent.
(6) Copies/scans of your passport / identity card;
(7) List of publications (if applicable);
(8) Non-native English-speaking applicants must provide evidence of their English language proficiency (see FAQs 1.11-1.12) (external link);
(9) Schedule for the planned research work including information about possible field studies/stays outside Germany;
(10) Any documents certifying completed practical work (internships, etc.) - optional.

Please send the above in one PDF file of no more than 7 MB.

Please name the file as follows: YourLastName_DAAD_Topic3

Application address: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for applicants: Friday, 13 March 2026 — Save the date: Interviews (video/virtual): t.b.a. (April 2026)

(11) Two letters of reference
Referees should send their letters of reference directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for referees: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
References to be sent directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

SCHOLARSHIP TOPIC 4 (2026-2030)

Doctoral Research Topic 4:
Early-Life Stress and Brain Ageing: Developmental Origins of Late-Life Brain Health

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Christine Heim
Contact:
Website:

Description of Topic 4:
Early-Life Stress and Brain Ageing: Developmental Origins of Late-Life Brain Health:
This PhD project will investigate how early-life stress shapes the brain and immune system to increase lifelong risk for depression, cognitive decline, and age-related brain disease. The doctoral candidate will contribute to studies examining whether childhood adversity is associated with neuroinflammation and accelerated brain ageing in humans, using state-of-the-art multimodal MRI, computational brain-age modeling, and markers of inflammation and immunosenescence. The project will integrate neuroimaging, psychoneuroimmunology, and advanced statistical approaches in a deeply phenotyped adult cohort. The successful applicant will receive interdisciplinary training at the interface of neuroscience, psychiatry, and immunology. The findings are expected to advance mechanistic understanding and inform the future development of biologically grounded, developmentally sensitive interventions.

Academic requirements for Topic 4:
(1) Master’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related discipline with excellent results
(2) Good statistical skills
(3) Wet lab experience or experience with neuroimaging are a plus
(4) Proficiency in English

DAAD requirements, terms and conditions:
see above under “About these scholarships”: requirements (II) to (V)

Applications for Topic 4 must include:
(1) A Proposal for a doctoral project in research topic 4 (max. 5 pages in Arial 11, single spaced, plus max. 3 pages references);
(2) Meaningful Letter of Motivation (max. 2 pages);
(3) Full academic Curriculum Vitae, including names of two referees - see also (11) below;
(4) Copies/scans of Bachelor's and Master's certificates + certificates for annual examinations taken at the home university (transcript of records) including grades + explanation for the home university’s grading system;
(5) If still incomplete Master's degree: Please provide Transcript of records from your current Master's degree program - at the starting date of the scholarship (and/or preparatory German course) in September 2026, applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent.
(6) Copies/scans of your passport / identity card;
(7) List of publications (if applicable);
(8) Non-native English-speaking applicants must provide evidence of their English language proficiency (see FAQs 1.11-1.12) (external link);
(9) Schedule for the planned research work including information about possible field studies/stays outside Germany;
(10) Any documents certifying completed practical work (internships, etc.) - optional.

Please send the above in one PDF file of no more than 7 MB.

Please name the file as follows: YourLastName_DAAD_Topic4

Application address: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for applicants: Friday, 13 March 2026 — Save the date: Interviews (video/virtual): t.b.a. (April 2026)

(11) Two letters of reference
Referees should send their letters of reference directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for referees: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
References to be sent directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

SCHOLARSHIP TOPIC 5 (2026-2030)

Doctoral Research Topic 5:
Heart and Brain: How does heart function impact on cognition and emotion?

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Arno Villringer
Contact: villringer@cbs.mpg.de
Website: http://www.cbs.mpg.de/employees/villringer

Description of Topic 5:
Heart and Brain: How does heart function impact on cognition and emotion?
In recent years it has become clear that heart function is closely linked to emotions and cognition. For example, our current emotional processing, sensory perception, including the perception of pain, is continuously modulated by each heartbeat and by the level of blood pressure. Over longer time scales, this is thought to have implications for cognitive and mental health. While these relationships are currently being explored in experimental settings in specific laboratories or for longer time scales in epidemiological studies, the proposed project aims to test these relationships in real-life settings and virtual reality. The overarching hypothesis is that alterations in heart-brain relationships are early indicators of impending mental health disorders. Specifically, we will take advantage of continuous monitoring by wearables (rings, watch, head caps) coupled with assessment of emotion and cognition.

Academic requirements for Topic 5:
(1) Strong background in cognitive neuroscience
(2) Interest in brain-body relationship, clinical neuroscience and mental health
(3) Experience with advanced data analysis and / or analysis of neuroimaging data
(4) Intermediate (or better) programming skills
(5) Willingness and aptitude for interdisciplinary interaction and collaboration
(7) Proficiency in English
(8) Master's degree in a relevant field

DAAD requirements, terms and conditions:
see above under “About these scholarships”: requirements (II) to (V)

Applications for Topic 5 must include:
(1) A Proposal for a doctoral project in research topic 5 (max. 5 pages in Arial 11, single spaced, plus max. 3 pages references);
(2) Meaningful Letter of Motivation (max. 2 pages);
(3) Full academic Curriculum Vitae, including names of two referees - see also (11) below;
(4) Copies/scans of Bachelor's and Master's certificates + certificates for annual examinations taken at the home university (transcript of records) including grades + explanation for the home university’s grading system;
(5) If still incomplete Master's degree: Please provide Transcript of records from your current Master's degree program - at the starting date of the scholarship (and/or preparatory German course) in September 2026, applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent.
(6) Copies/scans of your passport / identity card;
(7) List of publications (if applicable);
(8) Non-native English-speaking applicants must provide evidence of their English language proficiency (see FAQs 1.11-1.12) (external link);
(9) Schedule for the planned research work including information about possible field studies/stays outside Germany;
(10) Any documents certifying completed practical work (internships, etc.) - optional.

Please send the above in one PDF file of no more than 7 MB.

Please name the file as follows: YourLastName_DAAD_Topic5

Application address: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for applicants: Friday, 13 March 2026 — Save the date: Interviews (video/virtual): t.b.a. (April 2026)

(11) Two letters of reference
Referees should send their letters of reference directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for referees: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
References to be sent directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

SCHOLARSHIP TOPIC 6 (2026-2030)

Doctoral Research Topic 6:
The Zetetic Turn in Epistemology

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Verena Wagner
Contact:
Website:

Description of Topic 6:
The Zetetic Turn in Epistemology:
In recent years, epistemology has undergone a zetetic turn: a shift away from the exclusive analysis of static epistemic states (such as belief and knowledge) towards the systematic study of inquiry itself. This development has given rise to a lively and rapidly expanding field concerned with the nature, structure, and normative dimensions of inquiry.

This doctoral project will investigate the cognitive processes involved in inquiry — a topic which remains comparatively understudied in contemporary epistemology and philosophy of mind.

Central questions may include:

how inquiry is initiated, guided, and terminated;
how different doxastic attitudes function within inquiry;
which norms govern rational inquiry;
and how those relate to standard epistemic norms.

Academic requirements for Topic 6:
(1) Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in philosophy in the analytic tradition
(2) A strong background in theoretical philosophy (typically including formal logic) is required
(3) Applicants should be familiar with contemporary epistemology, in particular debates concerning the justification of doxastic attitudes
(4) Proficiency in English

DAAD requirements, terms and conditions:
see above under “About these scholarships”: requirements (II) to (V)

Applications for Topic 6 must include:
(1) A Proposal for a doctoral project in research topic 6 (max. 5 pages in Arial 11, single spaced, plus max. 3 pages references);
(2) Meaningful Letter of Motivation (max. 2 pages);
(3) Full academic Curriculum Vitae, including names of two referees - see also (11) below;
(4) Copies/scans of Bachelor's and Master's certificates + certificates for annual examinations taken at the home university (transcript of records) including grades + explanation for the home university’s grading system;
(5) If still incomplete Master's degree: Please provide Transcript of records from your current Master's degree program - at the starting date of the scholarship (and/or preparatory German course) in September 2026, applicants must have completed their studies with a master's degree or equivalent.
(6) Copies/scans of your passport / identity card;
(7) List of publications (if applicable);
(8) Non-native English-speaking applicants must provide evidence of their English language proficiency (see FAQs 1.11-1.12) (external link);
(9) Schedule for the planned research work including information about possible field studies/stays outside Germany;
(10) Any documents certifying completed practical work (internships, etc.) - optional.

Please send the above in one PDF file of no more than 7 MB.

Please name the file as follows: YourLastName_DAAD_Topic6

Application address: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for applicants: Friday, 13 March 2026 — Save the date: Interviews (video/virtual): t.b.a. (April 2026)

(11) Two letters of reference
Referees should send their letters of reference directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Deadline for referees: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
References to be sent directly to: mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

Queries / Contact

The M&B Admission Team
mb-admission@hu-berlin.de

This page last updated on: 10 February 2026