Use your network! Talk to academic supervisors or professors, reach out to your professional associations, and ask mentors and colleagues. You would be surprised how many of your professional contacts have connections to Germany.

Do your research! Visit university, organization, and company websites to find people and institutions with a similar professional focus. Explore universities’ web pages for tips on think tanks, thought leaders, professors, and informational  resources in your field.  If your project will be carried out in a company or organization, do research to identify firms or institutions that are at the forefront of your field.

Make connections!

• Attend conferences in your field with German speakers.
• Contact German Chancellor Fellow Alumni in your field for suggestions. If you would like help doing that please  American Friends for Alumni in the US. Check out our BUKA Alumni pages for suggestions.
• Look closely at the Authors of papers or articles you read related to your field; some of them may be German or are associated with German organizations, universities, or businesses.

Helpful starting points. Here are websites to help you with your search:

• The Humboldt Foundation has a page with advice for finding a host on their website. Scroll to the bottom for links of companies, organizations, government centers, and more, which may serve as hosts. Also visit the German Chancellor Fellowship pages of the Foundation.
• Search the Humboldt Network Online for Humboldt Foundation Alumni (Humboldtians) in Germany who may serve as a host or have tips on further contacts in your field.
• The Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT) is the Washington, DC liaison office of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). RGIT has information and links on issues such as Environmental and Energy Policy, International Financing Institutions, Legal Issues and Regulation, Trade Policy and Vocational Education and Training. The site also has a State by State analysis of German owned firms in the US and their roll – a potential for making connections at home to help in your host search. Dr. Thomas Zielke, the president and CEO, serves as a German Chancellor Fellowship program ambassador!
• The German American Business Council (GABC) in Washington, DC is a non-profit organization which fosters transatlantic business dialogue between Germany and the U.S.
• The German American Chambers of Commerce (GACC) has three main offices located in Atlanta, Chicago and New York as well as branches in Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia and San Francisco. With 2,500 members and an extensive national and international network, the GACCs offer a broad spectrum of activities and services. On the site you can find a top 50 German firms in the US list along with information on German business and industry.
• The German Information Center of the Germany Embassy is a great general resource on culture, business, language, and other relevant information on Germany.
  • The Think Transatlantic campaign covers topics in transatlantic relations as well as lists of transatlantic and international organizations.
  • The Climate Bridge campaign covers sustainable energy, climate change, and environmental issues in Germany.
  • Germany in Europe looks at Germany’s role within the larger European Union.
• Interested in legal issues in Germany? Georgetown Law has a good introduction to the field with helpful definitions and links.
• The Research in Germany website is the central information platform of the initiative to “Promote Innovation and Research in Germany” by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
  • Research in Germany’s Study in Germany search engine can help you identify universities and institutes working in your field. Read through their websites to find out current information your field in Germany.
• The Higher Education Compass provides extensive information on the range of studies and programs offered by Germany’s institutions of higher education, including centers of academics and research in Germany.
• The German Research Foundation (DFG) Research Explorer contains over 22,000 institutes at German universities and non-university research institutions, searchable by geographic location, subject and other structural criteria.
• The German Federal Employment Agency, Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy sponsor the “Make it in Germany” website, which contains information about transitioning to Germany, including a search engine to find local German connections in your area.
• EURAXESS Deutschland provides practical information concerning professional and daily life, as well as information on job and funding opportunities for research and academics in Germany.
• The Local Deutschland is a portal for German news in English. See who is in the news and find a connection.

Do you have a connection? If possible, consult academic advisers, professional associations, or colleagues to see if they have contact information for specific individuals or can assist you in getting the communication going.

Be mindful of prime vacation times! Contact your host BEFORE July and August – when Germans are typically on vacation.  Remember the deadline to submit is September 15 – start contacting hosts early!

Reach out to potential hosts. Many German Chancellor Fellows have used email to contact their hosts, either following up on an introduction or independently.  See the AvH Foundation’s tips on finding a host and . The initial  email should provide:

• a clear and concise description of your research program;
• a request for an invitation;
• a link to program and host information
• a statement that the invitation would not entail any financial obligation on the part of your host (in fact the host is awarded an allowance!). To find information on funds available to the host please visit the Humboldt Foundation website

Follow up. It is advisable to follow-up an initial email to your host with a phone call or Skype chat. Coordinate with the potential host regarding details of the project, the host support confirmation form, and any other information about your stay in Germany. 

Time constraints: US alumni have suggested that one of the best ways to avoid a time crunch is to simply plan ahead. Start your research early and contact hosts well in advance of the September 15^th application deadline.

Funding: If a fellowship is granted, the Humboldt Foundation will pay the host institution an allowance for research costs amounting to 500 EUR per month. Communicate clearly regarding the financial support provided by the fellowship and be sure that you and the host institution are in agreement about how you should share these supplemental funds.

My first choice host could not commit: Write to multiple hosts in the beginning. If initially rejected, ask for recommendations for contacts in your field in Germany that may be willing or able to help.

Finding the best fit: Knowing the situation of your host can be challenging – particularly with a non-academic host – so it is important to be well informed of your situation in advance.  To find a host organization, institution, or person who best fits the needs of your project, US Alumni recommend that applicants ask the following questions. And remember: The better your own project and goals are defined, the better you will be able to assess whether a potential host is a good fit for your proposed project:

• Will they provide the level of mentorship/guidance/direction that you wish?
• Do they have the proper amount of time to devote to fulfill the needs of your project?
• To what extent do they wish to integrate you with the rest of staff vs. have you working independently?
• Do they have internal expertise/resources to aid you in your project, or is their focus too different?