Both must be written in English, including all annexes; only the abstract in the full proposal must be submitted in German.
Changed application procedure for CZS Nexus 2027
General
In which language must the project outline and full application be submitted?
Who is the applicant: the host institution or the postdoc?
The applicant is the postdoctoral researcher
What do I do if I have completed my doctorate but have not yet received my doctoral certificate?
In this case, please enclose with the project outline a confirmation from the university or your supervisor that you have successfully completed your doctorate, including details of the grade.
When does the deadline for the four years after graduation apply?
The doctorate must not have been awarded more than four years ago when the application is submitted (deadline is the application deadline for the project outline on October 16, 2025). The date of the defense applies.
Can I apply if I am a group leader at an MPI?
If you are funded under the Lise Meitner Excellence Program or are a group leader of a Max Planck Research Group, funding under the CZS Nexus Program is excluded.
Is it possible to deviate from the start date specified in the tender (October 1, 2026 to February 1, 2027)?
These start dates can only be deviated from in justified exceptional cases (e.g. parental leave).
Can the host institution be changed?
Once the full application has been submitted, the host institution can no longer be changed.
What happens to my funding if I move to another host institution during the funding period?
In the event of appointment to a (junior) professorship during the funding period, it is generally possible to take the available funds for the remaining term of the approved funding with you, provided that the (junior) professorship is located at an academic institution with its headquarters in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate or Thuringia. Funds approved ad personam are excluded from this. The final decision is the responsibility of the Carl Zeiss Foundation and must be discussed with them individually.
Use of funds
Can I also apply for funding for a junior research group without my own position?
No, the group leader's own position is a mandatory component of the CZS Nexus program.
Can the position of group leader be financed by different bodies?
No, the position of group leader is 100% funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation.
Can the position of group leader also be held part-time?
In justified exceptional cases (e.g. parental leave, sick leave, care periods), the position can be held part-time. However, the position must be held at least 50% of the time.
Does the foundation have guidelines on the remuneration of Group Management?
No, there are no requirements here. The usual rates at the host institution can be applied for.
Full application
Do the sources/references count towards the 15 pages of the full proposal?
No, the 15 pages of application are exclusive of 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 publication list?
Submitted publications may also be listed. These must be marked accordingly.
I have not yet acquired any third-party funding of my own. How do I complete Annex 6 (list of third-party funding) of the full proposal?
The list of third-party funding can also include projects that you have not acquired yourself, but were significantly involved in the application or worked on the approved project to a substantial extent. The coordinator of the project must be identified accordingly in the list.
Can letters of intent (LOI) be submitted by cooperation partners?
This is not intended. However, a maximum of three meaningful LOIs can be attached to the full application.