The KLI

Two Calls for KLI Writing-Up Fellowships

 

The Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research (KLI) in Klosterneuburg, Austria, is an international center for advanced studies in the life sciences, with a focus on conceptual, philosophical, historical, and mathematical approaches in evolutionary biology and biomedicine. Embedded in a vibrant research community in the Vienna area, the KLI typically hosts about 20 fellows, visiting scholars, faculty, and students.

 

  1. Call for Writing-Up Fellows in Morphometrics in Evolutionary or Developmental Biology

 

The KLI announces up to four Writing-Up Fellowships for students who are in the late stage of their PhD project involving geometric morphometrics, biological image analysis, or computational anatomy to address questions in evolutionary and developmental biology or biomedicine. Candidates are expected to have finished their data collection phase so that they can focus on analysis, conceptual integration, and writing up of their PhD project during the fellowship. At the KLI, the fellows will be advised by Barbara Fischer and Philipp Mitteroecker. The duration of the fellowship is six months, starting either in spring or in fall 2025.

 

 

  1. Call for Writing-Up Fellows in Evolutionary Medicine

 

The KLI announces up to four Writing-Up Fellowships for students who are in the late stage of a PhD project addressing topics in evolutionary medicine. Research approaches can involve conceptual, historical, and theoretical methods as well as data-driven, computational, or experimental work. The call is open to all medical topics, including evolutionary psychiatry. Candidates are expected to have finished their data collection phase so that they can focus on analysis, conceptual integration, and writing up of their PhD project during the fellowship. At the KLI, the writing up fellows will be advised by the staff of the institute. The duration of the fellowship is six months, starting either in spring or in fall 2025.

 

Who is encouraged to apply?

The KLI Writing-Up fellowships aim to support doctoral students in the final stage of their PhD research. Writing-Up fellowships are individual fellowships for researchers in residence and are awarded to work independently on the applicant’s research project supervised by their advisor of their home university. The fellowships are especially well-suited for two categories of PhD students:

  • Those who have completed empirical research and wish to elaborate on the conceptual, epistemological, and methodological underpinnings and implications of their work.
  • Those whose research deals with the historical, philosophical, and conceptual foundations of research in the disciplines related to the topic of the call.

PhD students should be interested in extending their research perspective by drawing on novel concepts of evolutionary theory, philosophy of science, cognition research, or biometrics based on long-standing work done at the KLI.

Details of the fellowships

Duration: KLI Writing-Up fellowships are awarded for a period of maximum 6 months.

Starting date: Fellowships must start within the calendar year of 2025. Ideally, a start date in February 2025 or September 2025 is encouraged.

Stipend: The gross stipend is EUR 2,500.- monthly (before tax and social insurance).

Eligibility criteria:

    • Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD program.
    • Applicants are in the final stages of their PhD work (as certified by their advisor).

Benefits of working at the KLI

  • Being part of the KLI Resident Fellowship Program: Students awarded a KLI Writing-Up fellowship will be part of the KLI Resident Fellowship Program and will enjoy all benefits connected to this position.
    • While working on their own project, the Writing-Up fellows will participate in the regular activities of the KLI (e.g., KLI Colloquia, KLI Lab).
    • The Writing-Up fellows will also be able to participate in workshops and other activities at the KLI.
    • The successful applicants will work in a highly interdisciplinary environment.
  • Relocation Allowance: The KLI will cover travel costs for the move to Vienna or Klosterneuburg. The KLI will provide accommodation in the vicinity of the institute for the first two weeks of the fellowship.
  • Travel Budget: The KLI Writing-up Fellowship provides a travel budget to attend scientific events related to the project.
  • Use of KLI facilities and library: Each fellow will have a workspace in the beautiful and stimulating facilities of the KLI.

 

Application and selection procedure

Please take note that this is a 2-step selection process. A full application is only required after positive evaluation of step 1 and upon invitation.

 

Pre-selection

Step 1

Aspiring applicants fill in the Contact Form. Please specify “Writing-Up Fellowship in Morphometrics” or “Writing-Up Fellowship in Evolutionary Medicine” in the motivation section of the form.

Deadline:
21 June 2024

Application

Step 2

The KLI selection committee will notify the aspiring applicant at the beginning of July. The successful ones will be invited to submit a full application.

  

Step 3

Applicants will submit their full application to the following email address: application@kli.ac.at

Deadline:
1 September 2024

Selection

Step 4

The selection committee will select successful applications and invites candidates for an interview.

  

Step 6

The interview will take place at the KLI by using video conference technologies.

October 2024
     

Decision

Step 7

The KLI Board of Directors will make a final decision on the application.

November 2024

Expected start of fellowship

Step 8

1st Cohort 2025 of Writing-Up Fellows will start their fellowship at the KLI

2nd Cohort 2025 of Writing-Up Fellows will start their fellowship at the KLI

February 2025
 

September 2025

Important: Forms and detailed procedures for the full application will be provided only to applicants after Step 1.

 

A full application will comprise:

  • Summary of the PhD project
  • Description of the part of the PhD project to be pursued at the KLI during the Writing-Up Fellowship
  • Motivation statement
  • Reference letter from the applicant’s PhD advisor/supervisor
  • CV including publication list

The applications will be selected using the following criteria:

  • Scientific quality and thematic fit of the project proposal
  • Theoretical relevance of the project
  • Interdisciplinary aspects of the project
  • Feasibility of work-plan