Max Planck First Research Article Fellowship 2027

Germany · Max Planck Institute for the History of Science · Predoctoral Fellowship

The Max Planck First Research Article Fellowship 2027 is open for doctoral researchers enrolled at institutions based in Asia, Africa or Latin America. The six-month fellowship runs in Berlin from 1 September 2027 to 28 February 2028 and supports scholars preparing their first single-authored research article in English. Applications close on 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET.

OPEN €1,650 / MONTH 6 MONTHS DEADLINE 15 JAN 2027

Current Status Eligibility Documents Official Sources ↓

Current call confirmed: MPIWG lists the First Research Article Fellowship among its current opportunities for the 2027–28 fellowship period, with applications due by 15 January 2027.

This is not a general PhD fellowship. Applicants must already be enrolled in a doctoral program at an institution based in Asia, Africa or Latin America, must remain enrolled through the end of the fellowship, and should already have completed the research needed to turn part of their thesis into a publishable article.

Max Planck First Research Article Fellowship 2027: Current Status

OPEN2027–28 fellowship call

€1,650Monthly predoctoral stipend

6 monthsBerlin fellowship period

15 Jan 2027Application deadline

Program	First Research Article Fellowship Program
Institute	Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG)
Location	Berlin, Germany
Status	OPEN
Fellowship dates	1 September 2027–28 February 2028
Duration	6 months
Current stipend	€1,650 per month under MPIWG predoctoral fellowship guidelines
Deadline	15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET
Expected decision	Finalists may expect a decision by 1 April 2027
Last verified	6 October 2026

What Is the First Research Article Fellowship?

The fellowship is designed for doctoral researchers who have already completed the relevant research for their thesis and need dedicated time, scholarly feedback and an international research environment to turn that work into their first single-authored journal article in English.

MPIWG is a Max Planck Society research institute focused on the history of science and related fields. First Research Article Fellows join the Institute’s scholarly community in Berlin and are supported through regular meetings focused on academic writing and professional development.

The fellowship is about writing and publication development, not about beginning archival or field research from scratch. Applicants should already have the evidence and research base required for the proposed article.

Eligibility Requirements

Doctoral status	Applicant must be enrolled in a doctoral / PhD program
Institution location	The doctoral program must be based at an institution in Asia, Africa or Latin America
Enrollment through fellowship	Applicant must remain enrolled through 28 February 2028
PhD completion	The program is for applicants who will not have received their PhD before the fellowship period ends
Research maturity	Relevant thesis research should already be completed
Article objective	Applicant must be ready to devote the six-month period to an English-language journal article
Research area	History of science, technology and medicine, Science and Technology Studies, or closely connected work fitting AAK or KSCL

Eligibility is based on the location of the applicant’s doctoral institution, not simply nationality. A citizen of an eligible region studying at a doctoral institution outside Asia, Africa or Latin America should not assume eligibility.

Choose One MPIWG Department

The current fellowship is hosted by one of two MPIWG departments. Applicants must explain in the cover letter why their proposed article fits the research themes of one specific department.

Department	Leadership / Fit
Artefacts, Action, Knowledge (AAK)	Directed by Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schäfer; suitable projects should connect clearly with AAK’s current work on histories of knowledge, practices, materiality, artefacts, texts and related themes
Knowledge Systems and Collective Life (KSCL)	Directed by Prof. Dr. Etienne Benson; suitable projects should connect with research on knowledge systems, collective life, science, technology, politics, society and related historical or ethnographic questions

Department fit should be substantive rather than decorative. Applicants should review current department projects before writing the cover letter and article proposal.

Stipend, Fellowship Conditions and Health Insurance

The current call states that fellows receive a monthly stipend under Max Planck Society guidelines. MPIWG’s current predoctoral-fellowship guidance lists a basic stipend of €1,650 per month for fellowships starting on or after 1 January 2026.

Monthly stipend	€1,650
Employment status	Fellowship stipend; not an employment contract
Social insurance	Stipend is not subject to social-insurance contributions under the fellowship framework
Other income	Stipend eligibility is subject to MPIWG rules limiting other personal income during the fellowship period
Health insurance	Predoctoral fellows must provide proof of appropriate health-insurance coverage
Workspace	MPIWG provides research support and co-working space to fellows

The official current call does not present airfare, relocation or accommodation as automatic First Research Article Fellowship benefits. Applicants should not assume those expenses are separately reimbursed unless MPIWG confirms this in an award or subsequent guidance.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit the application materials in English through the MPIWG online portal.

Document	Current Requirement
Cover letter	Explain how the proposed research fits the themes of one specific participating department
Enrollment evidence	Official enrollment certificate plus confirmation that doctoral enrollment will continue through the fellowship end date
Dissertation description	Maximum 500 words, written by the applicant
Curriculum vitae	Preferably without a photograph; include publications if applicable
Article plan	Title, abstract and outline of the article to be completed; maximum 750 words
Writing sample	English-language sample, maximum 8,000 words including notes and bibliography
Recommendation	One letter from a supervisor

MPIWG specifically encourages applicants to prepare the application without AI. The fellowship is intended to support scholars developing academic English, so the dissertation description, article proposal and writing sample should genuinely represent the applicant’s own writing and scholarly thinking.

How to Apply

Confirm eligibility: verify current PhD enrollment and institution location.
Review AAK and KSCL: select the department with the strongest intellectual fit.
Choose the article: identify a focused paper that can be developed from already completed thesis research.
Prepare the 500-word dissertation description.
Prepare the 750-word article title, abstract and outline.
Select and edit the English writing sample: stay within the 8,000-word maximum including notes and bibliography.
Request one supervisor recommendation.
Obtain formal enrollment documentation confirming continued PhD status through February 2028.
Submit electronically through the official recruitment portal by 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET.

Electronic applications only: the current call directs applicants to the dedicated MPIWG recruitment portal. Finalists may expect a decision by 1 April 2027.

What MPIWG Expects from Fellows

First Research Article Fellows are expected to devote the fellowship period to writing and preparing the article for journal publication. MPIWG’s program FAQ states that the first draft should be ready by the end of the stay.

work intensively on the planned English-language research article;
participate in regular meetings supporting writing and academic development;
engage with the host department’s intellectual community;
attend colloquia and other relevant Institute activities; and
take part, where useful, in non-coursework enrichment activities associated with the International Max Planck Research School “Knowledge and Its Resources.”

CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance

The following points are application strategy, not additional MPIWG eligibility rules.

Make department fit explicit: identify a specific project, theme or intellectual connection rather than merely naming AAK or KSCL.
Pitch one article, not the entire thesis: the 750-word plan should present a focused argument that can realistically become a journal article during six months.
Use already completed research: a proposal dependent on substantial new archival or field research is poorly aligned with the program’s purpose.
Choose the writing sample for analytical quality: the strongest sample is not necessarily the longest chapter.
Secure enrollment confirmation early: the document must show that PhD status will continue through the fellowship end date.
Respect the no-AI guidance: application prose should clearly be the applicant’s own work and academic voice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Max Planck First Research Article Fellowship 2027 open?

Yes. The current call is open for the 1 September 2027–28 February 2028 fellowship period. Applications close on 15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET.

How much is the fellowship stipend?

MPIWG’s current predoctoral fellowship guidelines list a basic stipend of €1,650 per month for fellowships starting on or after 1 January 2026.

Who is eligible to apply?

The call targets doctoral students enrolled in programs based at Asian, African or Latin American institutions who remain enrolled through the fellowship end date.

Can I apply after completing my PhD?

No. The First Research Article Fellowship is a predoctoral program. MPIWG’s FAQ states that fellows must not have received the PhD before the announced fellowship term is completed.

What research fields fit the fellowship?

Projects should engage with the history of science, technology and medicine or Science and Technology Studies and fit the research themes of either AAK or KSCL.

What documents are required?

The current call requests a department-focused cover letter, enrollment documentation, 500-word dissertation description, CV, article plan of up to 750 words, English writing sample of up to 8,000 words, and one supervisor recommendation.

Does MPIWG allow AI-written application materials?

The current call encourages applicants to write the application without AI because the program is intended to support scholars developing their academic English.

What should be completed during the fellowship?

Fellows focus on preparing their first single-authored English research article, and MPIWG’s program guidance states that a first draft should be ready by the end of the stay.

Official Sources

Status	OPEN
Deadline	15 January 2027, 23:59 CET
Fellowship dates	1 September 2027–28 February 2028
Monthly stipend	€1,650 under current predoctoral fellowship guidelines
Host departments	AAK or KSCL
Expected decision	By 1 April 2027
Last verified	6 October 2026

Current MPIWG Opportunities Official Application Portal Fellowship Program & FAQ MPIWG Fellowship Conditions AAK Department KSCL Department

CareerAidHub verified the current call dates, eligibility, host departments, stipend framework, fellowship conditions and program expectations against official MPIWG / Max Planck Institute for the History of Science sources on 6 October 2026.