Heinz Heinen Fellowships 2027/2028 at the University of Bonn, Germany – Fully Funded Research Fellowship for Scholars of Slavery and Dependency Studies

The Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS) at the University of Bonn, Germany, is inviting applications for the Heinz Heinen Fellowships for the 2027/2028 academic year. The fellowship program welcomes outstanding international scholars and other qualified knowledge producers whose research examines slavery, strong asymmetrical dependency, and related forms of social, economic, political, and cultural dependency across different historical periods and cultural contexts.

The fellowship provides an opportunity for researchers to spend a dedicated period at the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, engage with an interdisciplinary international research community, develop their projects, and contribute to the center’s research activities.

For the 2027/2028 academic year, applicants are expected to propose research that advances historical research in Slavery and Dependency Studies, with a particular emphasis on periods before 1900 and a comparative perspective. The BCDSS particularly encourages research that takes a micro-level approach within a specific region or culture, while also demonstrating methodological awareness and potential for interdisciplinary collaboration.

The earliest starting date is October 1, 2027, while the application deadline is January 10, 2027, at 23:59 CET.

About the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies

The Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS) is a Cluster of Excellence funded through the German Excellence Strategy. The center brings together researchers from different disciplines to investigate forms of profound and durable social dependency throughout history and across cultural contexts.

BCDSS examines forms of Strong Asymmetrical Dependency (SAD), including slavery, serfdom, debt bondage, and other systems in which individuals or groups experience persistent and profound dependency.

The center’s research seeks to move beyond the traditional binary understanding of “slavery versus freedom.” Instead, BCDSS uses the concept of Strong Asymmetrical Dependency to investigate a much wider range of relationships and structures of bondage, dependency, power, and inequality.

During its second funding phase, covering 2026–2032, BCDSS is particularly interested in understanding the underlying causes and mechanisms that allow Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies to persist across historical and contemporary contexts.

The center also seeks to further establish Historically Informed Dependency Studies (HIDS) as an interdisciplinary research field. This approach encourages researchers in the humanities and social sciences to systematically consider strong asymmetrical dependencies when examining societies, economies, and cultures.

Heinz Heinen Fellowships 2027/2028

For the academic year 2027/2028, BCDSS is calling for applications from researchers and knowledge producers working on topics relevant to Slavery and Dependency Studies.

Applicants should propose projects that:

• Advance historical research in the field of Slavery and Dependency Studies.
• Focus primarily on a historical period before 1900.
• Incorporate a comparative perspective.
• Preferably examine a specific region or culture at the micro-level.
• Demonstrate strong methodological considerations.
• Be rooted in a specific academic discipline while remaining open to interdisciplinary approaches.
• Have potential to contribute to the research structures and intellectual activities of BCDSS.
• Connect meaningfully with one or two of the BCDSS’s five Research Areas.

The fellowship program is designed for researchers at different career stages, as well as selected professionals working as alternative knowledge producers.

Fellowship Categories

BCDSS offers Heinz Heinen Fellowships for the following categories:

1. Doctoral Fellows

Doctoral fellowships are intended for researchers who are about to complete their PhD.

Successful doctoral fellows may receive the fellowship for up to six months.

Applicants in this category must demonstrate the current status of their doctoral dissertation, provide a detailed work plan for completing the dissertation, and explain how their research relates to BCDSS and one or two of its Research Areas.

2. Junior Postdoctoral Fellows

Junior Postdoctoral Fellowships are available to researchers who completed their PhD no more than four years ago.

The fellowship can be awarded for up to 12 months.

Applicants should present a clearly developed research project, explain their methodology, and demonstrate the relevance of their work to Dependency and Slavery Studies and the BCDSS research agenda.

3. Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral Fellowships are available to researchers who completed their PhD more than four years ago.

Successful applicants may receive the fellowship for up to 12 months.

The proposed research should have a clear connection to Dependency and Slavery Studies and should contribute to one or two of the BCDSS Research Areas.

4. Senior Fellows

Senior Fellowships are intended for full professors with an established academic research profile.

Senior Fellows may receive the fellowship for up to six months.

Applicants are expected to propose a substantial research project and explain how their academic work contributes to the field of Dependency and Slavery Studies and the intellectual environment of BCDSS.

5. Alternative Knowledge Producers

BCDSS also welcomes applications from Alternative Knowledge Producers, including professionals such as:

• Journalists
• Artists
• Creatives
• Museum professionals
• Curators
• Intellectuals
• Other knowledge producers whose work is relevant to the fellowship’s research themes

This category provides an opportunity for individuals working beyond traditional academic career paths to contribute to discussions surrounding slavery, dependency, historical memory, culture, and related subjects.

Alternative Knowledge Producers may receive the fellowship for up to six months.

BCDSS Research Areas

Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed research can contribute to one or two of the five BCDSS Research Areas.

1. Transitions and Transformations of Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies

This Research Area focuses on how forms of dependency change, transform, disappear, or develop into new systems over time.

Research may investigate transitions between different forms of dependency and the historical processes that influence their development.

2. Economies of Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies

This area examines the economic dimensions of slavery and dependency.

Projects may explore the relationship between economic systems, labor, wealth, production, ownership, exploitation, and different forms of dependency.

3. Power – Violence – Trauma

This Research Area focuses on the relationships between dependency, power, violence, and trauma.

Research may examine how power is established and maintained, how violence operates within dependent relationships, and the individual or collective consequences of such systems.

4. Cultural Heritage – Transitional Justice – Memory Cultures

This area investigates how societies remember and interpret histories of slavery and dependency.

Potential research can address cultural heritage, historical memory, transitional justice, commemoration, remembrance, and the ways communities deal with legacies of historical systems of oppression and dependency.

5. Alternative Archives and Life Writing

This Research Area focuses on alternative forms of historical evidence, archives, and life writing.

Applicants may explore unconventional sources, personal narratives, biographies, testimonies, or other forms of evidence that can provide insight into historical experiences of dependency and slavery.

Fellowship Benefits and Financial Support

The Heinz Heinen Fellowship provides financial and practical support to successful fellows during their research stay in Bonn.

Monthly Stipend

The monthly stipend depends on the applicant’s fellowship category:

• Doctoral Fellows: €1,700 per month
• Junior Postdoctoral Fellows: €2,600 per month
• Postdoctoral Fellows: €3,100 per month
• Senior Fellows: €3,600 per month

The supplied call does not specify a monthly stipend amount for Alternative Knowledge Producers.

Travel Allowance

Fellows receive a travel allowance covering the outward and return journey.

This provides financial support for travel to Bonn at the beginning of the fellowship and the return journey after the research stay.

Accommodation Support

Researchers coming from outside Bonn and the surrounding area can receive a monthly lump sum for accommodation in addition to their fellowship stipend.

The accommodation support is:

• Up to €1,000 per month for eligible researchers.
• Up to €1,250 per month if the fellow is accompanied by children.

This additional support can help researchers manage accommodation expenses while conducting their fellowship in Bonn.

Working Space and Computer

Fellows receive a working space at the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, including access to a desktop computer.

This provides fellows with a dedicated environment for conducting research, writing, collaboration, and academic activities during their stay.

Opportunity to Organize a Workshop

Fellows have the opportunity to organize a workshop at BCDSS, subject to the center’s funding guidelines.

This can provide an opportunity to present research, engage with other scholars, and facilitate academic discussion around the fellow’s research topic.

Organizational Support

BCDSS provides support with organizational matters before and upon arrival.

This can help successful fellows prepare for their research stay and settle into the academic environment in Bonn.

Childcare Support

Fellows can also receive support in finding day care for children, which may be particularly helpful for researchers relocating temporarily to Bonn with their families.

Application Requirements for Doctoral Fellows

Applicants for the Doctoral Fellowship must submit a complete application containing the required documents.

Personal Statement or Letter of Motivation

The statement must be no longer than 9,000 characters excluding spaces and should include a project description addressing:

• The structure of the doctoral dissertation.
• The current status of the dissertation.
• A detailed working plan for completing the dissertation.
• The relevance of the project to the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies.
• The relevance of the project to one or two of the five BCDSS Research Areas.
• The preferred period the applicant intends to spend in Bonn.

Curriculum Vitae

Applicants must provide a concise CV of no more than two pages.

Publications

Applicants should provide a list of publications, if applicable.

Degree Certificates

Copies of relevant degree certifications must be submitted.

Proof of Doctoral Enrollment

Applicants must provide a copy of their enrollment in a doctoral study program or admission as a doctoral student.

Recommendation Letters

Two letters of recommendation are required.

One of the recommendation letters must be written by the applicant’s doctoral supervisor.

Both recommendation letters must be sent directly to:

application[at]dependency.uni-bonn.de

Application Requirements for Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral applicants must submit:

Personal Statement

A personal statement of no more than 6,000 characters excluding spaces explaining:

• Their interest in Dependency and Slavery Studies.
• A description of their proposed research project.
• An outline of the research methodology.
• The relevance of the project to BCDSS.
• The relevance of the project to one or two BCDSS Research Areas.
• Their preferred period of residence in Bonn.

Curriculum Vitae

A concise CV of no more than two pages is required.

Publication List

Applicants should submit a list of principal publications.

PhD Certificate

A copy of the applicant’s PhD certificate must be included.

Recommendation Letters

Two letters of recommendation are required and must be sent directly to:

application[at]dependency.uni-bonn.de

Application Requirements for Senior Fellows

Senior Fellowship applicants must submit:

• A personal statement of no more than 6,000 characters excluding spaces.
• A description of their academic interest in Dependency and Slavery Studies.
• A description of the proposed research project.
• An outline of the research methodology.
• An explanation of the project’s relevance to BCDSS.
• An explanation of the project’s connection to one or two BCDSS Research Areas.
• The preferred period they intend to spend in Bonn.
• A concise CV of no more than two pages.
• A list of principal publications.

Application Requirements for Alternative Knowledge Producers

Applicants applying as Alternative Knowledge Producers must provide:

• A personal statement of no more than 6,000 characters excluding spaces.
• An explanation of their interest in Dependency and Slavery Studies.
• A description of their proposed project.
• An outline of their methodology.
• An explanation of the project’s relevance to BCDSS.
• An explanation of the project’s relevance to one or two BCDSS Research Areas.
• Their preferred period in Bonn.
• A concise CV of no more than two pages.
• A list of principal publications and/or work samples.
• Copies of university degree certificates, if applicable.
• Two letters of recommendation, if applicable.

Where recommendation letters are required, they should be sent directly to:

application[at]dependency.uni-bonn.de

Click HERE to check more details about the Heinz Heinen Fellowship

How to Apply for the Heinz Heinen Fellowship

Applicants must prepare their complete application documents in English.

All required application materials should be combined into one single PDF file.

The completed application should then be sent by email to:

application[at]dependency.uni-bonn.de

Applicants should ensure that all documents required for their particular fellowship category are included before submitting the application.

Incomplete applications and applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Heinz Heinen Fellowships for the 2027/2028 academic year is:

10 January 2027, 23:59 CET

Applicants are strongly advised to prepare their documents well before the deadline, particularly because recommendation letters must be submitted directly to the BCDSS application email address.

Fellowship Start Date

The earliest starting date is October 1, 2027.

Applicants should indicate their preferred period for their fellowship stay in Bonn as part of their personal statement or project proposal.

Selection and Notification

Following the application process, successful candidates are expected to be informed by April 2027.

Applicants should therefore ensure that their contact details are accurate and that their application is complete and submitted in accordance with the stated requirements.

Who Should Consider Applying?

The Heinz Heinen Fellowship is particularly relevant for researchers and knowledge producers whose work addresses historical forms of slavery, dependency, bondage, exploitation, or other forms of Strong Asymmetrical Dependency.

The opportunity may be particularly suitable for:

• Doctoral researchers approaching completion of their PhD.
• Early-career postdoctoral researchers.
• Established postdoctoral researchers.
• Full professors.
• Journalists working on relevant historical or social research.
• Artists and creatives whose projects engage with slavery, dependency, memory, or related themes.
• Museum professionals and curators.
• Intellectuals and other alternative knowledge producers.
• Researchers working in the humanities and social sciences.
• Scholars pursuing interdisciplinary research involving slavery and dependency studies.

Applicants should ensure that their research fits the historical and methodological focus of the 2027/2028 fellowship call.

Important Points Applicants Should Remember

Before submitting an application, prospective candidates should carefully consider the following:

1. The proposed research should focus on a period before 1900.
2. A comparative perspective is expected, preferably at the micro-level within a particular region or culture.
3. The project should clearly connect to Slavery and Dependency Studies.
4. Applicants should identify one or two BCDSS Research Areas relevant to their project.
5. Methodological considerations are an important component of the BCDSS research environment.
6. The project should demonstrate potential for interdisciplinary engagement and collaboration.
7. Application documents must be submitted in English.
8. The complete application must be combined into one single PDF file.
9. Recommendation letters, where required, must be sent directly to the BCDSS application email address.
10. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
11. The application deadline is January 10, 2027, at 23:59 CET.
12. The earliest possible fellowship start date is October 1, 2027.

Why This Fellowship Is a Valuable Research Opportunity

The Heinz Heinen Fellowship offers more than financial assistance. It provides researchers with the opportunity to become part of an internationally oriented research environment dedicated specifically to understanding slavery and dependency across historical and cultural contexts.

The interdisciplinary structure of BCDSS can be particularly valuable for scholars whose projects cross conventional disciplinary boundaries. Researchers can develop their projects while interacting with scholars working on related questions from different methodological and disciplinary perspectives.

The availability of a dedicated working space, computer, travel support, accommodation assistance, organizational support, and the possibility of organizing a workshop further strengthens the research environment offered by the fellowship.

For researchers studying slavery, serfdom, debt bondage, labor relations, historical dependency, power structures, violence, trauma, cultural memory, alternative archives, or related forms of Strong Asymmetrical Dependency, the fellowship can provide an important opportunity to advance their research within a specialized international academic center.

Conclusion

The Heinz Heinen Fellowships 2027/2028 at the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies offer a significant research opportunity for scholars and qualified knowledge producers working in the fields of slavery, dependency, bondage, and related historical and interdisciplinary studies.

The fellowship is open to researchers at multiple career stages, ranging from doctoral candidates approaching completion of their PhD to junior and established postdoctoral researchers and full professors. BCDSS also welcomes applications from Alternative Knowledge Producers, including journalists, artists, creatives, museum professionals, curators, and intellectuals whose work connects with the center’s research agenda.

Successful fellows can benefit from monthly financial support, travel assistance, accommodation support for eligible researchers, a dedicated workspace, opportunities to organize workshops, organizational assistance, and childcare-related support.

Applicants should carefully develop their proposals around historical research, particularly research concerning periods before 1900, and demonstrate a comparative perspective and clear connection to one or two of the BCDSS Research Areas.

Interested applicants should prepare their complete application documents in English and submit them as one single PDF file to the BCDSS application email address.

Application Deadline: 10 January 2027, 23:59 CET

Prospective applicants should carefully review all requirements for their specific fellowship category and ensure that their application is complete before submission.

Explore more fellowships at Opportunities for Youth (OFY).