FAQ CZS Nexus

General

What language must the project outline and full proposal be submitted in?

Both can be written in German or English. Only the abstract in the full proposal must be submitted in German.

Who is the applicant: the host institution or the post doctoral researcher?

The post doctoral researcher is the applicant. 
 

What do I do if I have completed my doctorate but my doctoral certificate is not yet available?

In this case, please enclose with the project outline confirmation from the higher education institution or your supervisor that you have successfully completed your doctorate, including your mark. 

From when does the deadline for the four years after the doctorate apply?

The doctorate must not have been completed more than four years prior to the submission of the application (the deadline is the application deadline for the project outline on 15 October 2024. The date of the defence therefore applies.

Can I apply if I am a group leader at an MPI?

If you are funded under the Lise Meitner excellence programme or are a group leader of a Max Planck research group, you cannot receive funding under the CZS Nexus programme. 

Can the start date specified in the call for proposals (1 October 2025 to 1 February 2026) be deviated from?

These start dates can only be deviated from in justified exceptional cases (e.g. parental leave).

What happens to my funding if I move to another host institution within the funding period?

In the event of an appointment to a (junior) professorship during the funding period, it is generally possible to continue to use the funds that are still available for the remaining term of the approved funding, provided that the (junior) professorship is at an academic institution with headquarters in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate or Thuringia. Funds approved ad personam are excluded. The final decision is the responsibility of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung and must be discussed with them individually.

Use of funds

Can I also only apply for funding for a junior research group without my own position?

No, your own position as a group leader is a compulsory component of funding in the CZS Nexus programme.

Can the position of group leader be financed by different bodies?

No, the position of group leader is 100% part of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung funding. 
 

Can the position of group leader also be held on a part-time basis?

In justified exceptional cases (e.g. parental leave, periods of illness, care periods), the position can be held on a part-time basis. However, the position must be at least 50% exercised.
 

Are there any guidelines from the Foundation on the remuneration of the group leader?

No, there are no guidelines on this. You can request the usual rates from the host institution.

Full proposal

Do the sources/references count towards the 15-page full proposal?

No, the 15-page proposal excludes the references, i.e. a corresponding list can be attached to the 15 pages.

Can publications that have not yet been published also be included in the list of publications?

Submitted publications can may also be listed. These must be identified accordingly. 

I have not yet raised any third-party funding of my own. How do I complete Annex 5 (list of third-party funding) in the full proposal?

The list of third-party funding can also include projects that you did not acquire funding for yourself, but for which you were significantly involved in the application or worked on a substantial scale in the approved project. The coordinator of the project must be identified accordingly in the list. 
 

Can letters of intent (LOI) from cooperation partners also be submitted? 

This is not provided for. However, meaningful LOIs can be attached to the full proposal if necessary.