Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet & Society (HIIG) Internet and Society Fellowship 2026 – YOA

Deadline: January 31, 2026

Applications are open for the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) Internet and Society Fellowship 2026. With its international perspective and interdisciplinary method, the HIIG fellowship programme affords a novel OPPORTUNITY for revolutionary researchers to change concepts, advance tasks and discover new initiatives on the intersection of society, expertise, and democratic governance.

In 2026, the HIIG fellowship programme will return as a brand new six-weeks, in-individual fellowship, from 1 June to 18 July. This features a devoted one-week dash that will probably be carefully linked to our new focus space Democratic Change and Knowledge. Applicants ought to clarify how their work pertains to this focus and how their very own perspective contributes to the discourse.

Throughout the six-weeks, the fellowship combines particular person analysis time at HIIG with intensive collaborative codecs, enabling fellows to turn out to be part of the institute’s vibrant analysis surroundings in Berlin and to contribute to our work on the intersection of society, expertise, and democratic governance.

2026 Key Areas

The analysis focus space Democratic Change and Knowledge is the central theme of the 2026 Fellowship and examines the function and interaction of data and science in democratic self‑dedication, notably within the context of digital challenges. It focuses on how experience can proceed to tell democratic opinion formation when details are contested and populist worldviews are on the rise. Adopting a multi‑perspective method, the analysis analyzes the dangers of epistemic crises and identifies methods for strengthening the resilience of democratic processes within the digital age.

Democratic Change and Knowledge combines political science, legislation, sociology and media research. The purpose is to enhance the understanding of the connection between experience and democratic practices and to establish the institutional circumstances that facilitate for a pluralistic, ahead-trying information order.

The fellowship notably welcomes functions that have interaction subsequently with the next questions:

• How does a lower of belief in scientific experience have an effect on the efficiency of democratic establishments and processes?
• What institutional and authorized frameworks can guarantee a secure information base for democratic processes?
• How is using ai-primarily based methods influencing accountability and accountability in democratic determination-making?
• How can or ought to experience contribute to a liberal democracy?
• How can science have interaction with residents to include societal views and strengthen belief?
• How can science contribute to an open, information-primarily based democracy?

Benefits

Fellows be a part of a world analysis neighborhood and take part in ongoing HIIG actions. They can have the chance to:

• pursue their very own analysis, 
• collaborate with HIIG researchers and fellow students,
• current their work in inside talks or workshops,
• contribute to open entry publications or the Digital Society Blog,
• be a part of webinars, peer-studying periods, and different information change codecs,
• meet analysis administrators and senior researchers throughout a fellow espresso discuss,
• work along with different consultants and researchers throughout a one-week dash specializing in democratic change and information

Eligibility

• Applicants ought to have a Master’s diploma with PhD in progress / deliberate (Junior Fellow) or Advanced PhD or postdoctoral researcher (Senior Fellow)
• Demonstrated analysis expertise
• Clear analysis give attention to democratic change and information
• Fluency in English
• An preliminary analysis thought you intend to work on through the fellowship month

Application

Application paperwork embody:

• Up-to-date curriculum vitae
• Motivation letter (1 web page): your curiosity within the HIIG Fellowship, your analysis background, and what you count on from the fellowship
• Research thought define (max. 1 pages) together with:
  •  your analysis curiosity and the way it connects to the brand new analysis focus
  •  the precise thought you intend to begin or conduct through the fellowship
  •  meant outcomes or deliverables
• Optional: one writing or work pattern (English or German) associated to the talked about analysis space above

Click here to apply

For extra info, go to Internet and Society Fellowship.