We are pleased to announce that HeiGIT and GIScience research Group at Heidelberg University are open to hosting postdoctoral researchers through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) 2025. MSCA Fellowships offer a unique chance to pursue an independent research project in an international setting while benefiting from advanced training and interdisciplinary exchange. We invite researchers working in geoinformatics —particularly in the areas of climate action and humanitarian aid — interested in developing a proposal to reach out to us and explore collaboration opportunities.
About research opportunities at HeiGIT & the GIScience Research Group
HeiGIT (Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology) and the GIScience Research Group at Heidelberg University work closely together to advance both foundational and applied research in geoinformatics.
At the GIScience Research Group, led by Prof. Dr. Alexander Zipf, the academic research focuses on the development of methods and technologies for analyzing and applying user-generated geoinformation—including Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), crowdsourcing, and citizen science. Key areas of investigation include disaster response, smart mobility, and spatial data quality assessment, particularly in the context of large, heterogeneous geodata sets.
As an affiliated non-profit institute, HeiGIT translates these research insights into practical tools and services, enabling real-world impact in fields such as humanitarian aid, sustainable mobility, big spatial data analytics, and climate action. HeiGIT’s work leverages open data (e.g., OpenStreetMap), machine learning, and spatial analytics to support informed decision-making by NGOs, public institutions, and the broader scientific community.
Located at one of Europe’s leading academic institutions, our researchers benefit from the rich and collaborative environment of Heidelberg University—the oldest university in Germany and consistently ranked among the top three in the country in international university rankings. HeiGIT and GIScience are both active members of broader interdisciplinary research networks, including the Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE) and the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR). These affiliations foster scientific exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration, providing postdoctoral researchers with numerous opportunities to connect across domains.
Eligibility and further information
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships last between 12 and 24 months and are open to applicants of any nationality who:
- Hold a PhD degree at the time of the call deadline
- Have no more than 8 years of research experience after the PhD
- Have not resided or worked in Germany for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the deadline (mobility rule)
For full eligibility details and application procedures, please consult the official MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships website.
If you have any questions or would like to express interest in applying with us as your host, please contact us at info[at]heigit.org