Research Funding

The DOG provides financial support for its members' short-term ornithological research projects.  

• Applications may be submitted three times a year (February 1, June 1, October 1).
• Funding is available for research grants (up to €7,500) and data analysis grants (up to €2,500).
• Priority is given to projects by younger members, projects outside of universities and research institutes, and projects that lay the groundwork for species conservation and nature conservation.
• The DOG Research Commission decides on the awarding of grants.

Download Research Funding Guidelines

In addition to funding for full-scale research projects, the DOG also provides grants for data analysis. These grants support collaborative efforts ranging from the processing of existing datasets through to publication. Costs associated with digitization and data processing for designated data publications are also eligible for funding.

The DOG also supports particularly outstanding research projects by early-career ornithologists through the Erwin Stresemann Grant.

In her will, Ms. Karin Wolf of Hamburg bequeathed €100,000 to the DOG Research Fund. The DOG honors Karin Wolf’s bequest with a special call for proposals offering up to two research grants of up to €50,000 each, to support research projects of outstanding scientific quality and originality that establish the scientific foundations for the conservation of songbirds.

Applications must comply with the current version of the DOG Research Grant Program’s principles and guidelines, with the following exceptions:

• Projects must develop scientific foundations for the conservation of songbirds
• Applications must be submitted to the spokesperson of the Research Commission by the deadline of June 1, 2026

Tim Schmoll, Spokesperson for the Research Commission

Download Research Funding Guidelines

In her will, Ms. Ursula Honig (1923–2016) of Hamburg bequeathed a substantial sum to the DOG Research Fund. The DOG honors Ursula Honig’s bequest with a sixth special call for proposals offering up to three research grants of up to €15,000 each to support research projects of outstanding scientific quality and originality.

Applications must comply with the current version of the DOG Research Funding Principles and Guidelines, with the following exception:

• Applications must be submitted to the spokesperson of the Research Commission by the deadline of February 1, 2026

This special call for proposals supplements, rather than replaces, the regular DOG research funding program. Applications for research grants and analysis grants may be submitted as usual by February 1, June 1, and October 1 of each year to the spokesperson of the Research Commission.

Tim Schmoll, Spokesperson for the Research Commission

Download Research Funding Guidelines

Thanks to the bequest from Ursula Honig (1923–2016), the DOG will award additional special grants for student research projects from 2025 to 2026:
 

• All enrolled students (including doctoral candidates) who are members of the DOG are eligible to apply once (no minimum membership duration required).
• Funding is available for projects conducted as part of research modules, research internships, theses, or dissertation chapters.
• The grant amount is up to €1,000.
• Applications (max. 5 pages, including a resume) may be submitted by the deadlines of June 1, 2025, October 1, 2025, or February 1, 2026.
• Up to eight grants are available per deadline.

Download Student Financial Aid

DOG members are eligible to apply. For students, one year of membership is sufficient; for everyone else, two years. There is no minimum membership period for the student grant (the “Ursula Honig” special award).

Grant applications may be submitted on February 1, June 1, and October 1 of each year. The special deadlines for student financial aid are June 1, 2025, October 1, 2025, and February 1, 2026.

The DOG offers research grants, analysis grants, student financial aid (the “Ursula Honig” Special Award), and special programs to support early-career researchers (e.g., the Erwin Stresemann Grant, travel grants, and awards).

Funding is available for material and travel expenses, support staff, and certain small pieces of equipment. Large pieces of equipment, construction and furnishing projects, overhead costs, and travel expenses solely for conferences are not eligible for funding.

• Research Grants: up to 7,500 €
• Data Analysis Grants: up to €2,500
• Student financial aid: up to 1,000 €

The DOG Research Commission decides on the award based on a peer review.

Only one application may be submitted per deadline. A new project may not be submitted until the previous one has been completed and the final report has been submitted.

No. The determining factor is not age, but the level of academic qualification. Funding is provided in particular for projects by students, doctoral candidates, and early-career postdocs.

Yes, the results of funded projects should be presented at a DOG annual conference and, if possible, published in the DOG's journals (Journal of Ornithology, Vogelwarte).

Yes. The Research Commission is available to answer questions and provide guidance before you submit your application.

Tim Schmoll 

tim.schmoll@uni-bielefeld.de