Conditions – MD fellowships

Grantees can take up their Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) MD fellowship by sending us their signed fellowship conditions, desired start date, and details of their bank account. The fellowship expires if not taken up within six months of the date of the letter of approval.

The monthly payment consists of a basic stipend, a country-related premium, and an additional flat rate of 100 EUR to cover minor research-related costs (books, travel expenses, etc.). To adjust, e.g. for differences in living costs, the total stipend amount varies in different countries. For example, an unmarried fellow working in Germany currently receives 1,560 EUR, in the USA 2,470 EUR, in the United Kingdom 1,890 EUR, and in Switzerland 2,280 EUR.

Furthermore, a spouse allowance of 200 EUR, a child allowance of 200 EUR per child, and/or childcare allowance of up to 500 EUR may be added depending on the personal situation. 

The initially awarded total stipend amount is based on the information provided in the application. The fellowship holder is obligated to inform BIF about any changes in his/her personal or financial circumstances (change of marital status, income of spouse, etc.) so that BIF can adjust the total stipend amount. The stipend is transferred in EUR to the fellow’s personal bank account by the middle of each month. 

In addition, fellowship holders can apply for travel allowances to present their research projects at international scientific conferences, to participate in methods courses, or to perform research in cooperating laboratories. Besides, BIF offers its fellows and alumni exclusive meetings, seminars, and trainings.

MD fellowships are granted for 10 - 12 months and can be extended once for up to six months. 

In the event of illness, BIF usually continues payments for two months, after which time assistance would cease. Upon recovery, the fellowship may be extended by the period of absence due to illness.

BIF does not intervene in the work of fellows who, in turn, are obligated to make proper use of the allocated funds and to adhere to the rules of good scientific practice according to what is delineated for scientists in the “Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice” of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation; www.dfg.de/en). Each fellow must devote his/her whole energy to his/her particular research project. In the laboratory, fellows should only be assigned to tasks directly connected to their research projects.

The fellowship has been granted to pursue the research project described in the application and in the laboratory specified therein. If a fellow decides to change the topic of the research project or the laboratory, he/she must inform BIF without delay. Major project changes require approval by BIF to continue the stipend. In the event of the project being successfully completed prior to the expiry of the fellowship, payment will be discontinued. 

Fellowship holders must present a final report no later than three months after the fellowship ends. Furthermore, they are expected to acknowledge BIF in all publications resulting from the work during the fellowship. They are required to supply BIF with PDF documents of such publications, also if they are published after the fellowship has ended. Please note that BIF should be referred to in the acknowledgements as “Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds”, not as “Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation”. The latter is a different non-profit charity.

BIF does not provide any kind of insurance for its fellowship holders. They must insure themselves and their families against any possible costs and consequences caused by illness, accident, personal liability, etc.

BIF must be notified if an application is submitted to any other research-sponsoring institution. Should an applicant take up an award from another institution prior to the decision of BIF, the application to BIF is considered withdrawn, and BIF must be notified immediately. Please note that only written notification is legally binding.

The fellowship is intended to cover the living expenses of the recipient. A BIF stipend may therefore not be held while receiving a regular personal income from any other institution or research institute. Any employment or other contracts yielding a regular income must be cancelled upon accepting the MD fellowship. 

BIF does not reimburse tuition, bench fees, and overheads. Therefore, an additional fellowship from another institution to cover exclusively tuition fees may be accepted. Please contact BIF under these circumstances.

Fellowships awarded by BIF do not constitute any form of employment. In Germany (EStG § 3 No. 44) and in countries that maintain a double-taxation agreement with Germany, fellowships are usually exempt from tax. Fellowship holders should inform themselves whether the conditions for tax exemption are met and are responsible for paying possible taxes. A fellowship is not considered to be remuneration as defined by Article 14 of the German Social Law IV and is therefore not liable to social insurance. Provision of laws governing formation of capital, saving premiums, and residential building premiums do not apply.

BIF reserves the right to adjust the stipend, e.g. due to currency fluctuations, and to claim any surplus payment or money paid in error. Furthermore, BIF may cancel the fellowship and demand repayment if the fellowship was obtained under false pretenses or not used for its intended purpose, if the obligation to submit the final report is not fulfilled, or for any other sound reason. Please note that the decisions of BIF are incontestable.