Three scholars are receiving funds from the Philipp Schwartz Initiative to stay in Berlin and conduct a research project. The program launched by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) and the German Federal Foreign Office provides support for researchers who are persecuted in their home countries; universities and non-university research institutions in Germany can apply for funding. Two of the fellows, including the Syrian biologist Dr. Waeil Al Youssef, will work for two years at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. One fellowship holder will continue his research at Freie Universität Berlin.

In the fourth round of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative, 35 research fellowships were awarded across Germany. Besides the quality of the integration, the decision was determined by the researchers’ academic qualifications and also by the prospects for starting another successful academic career.

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative was launched by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in cooperation with the German Federal Foreign Office and was, earlier this year, awarded permanent financing by the German Federal Foreign Office. It enables universities, universities of applied sciences and non-university research institutions in Germany to award fellowships to researchers at risk for a research period. In addition to the German Federal Foreign Office, other foundations contribute to financing the program.