Ways to rescue: Afghan researcher receives fellowship in Bremen!

Ways to rescue: Afghan researcher receives fellowship in Bremen!

Marzia Wafaee, an Afghan chemist, receives an important milestone in her academic career: the Philipp Schwartz Fellowship for two years at the University of Bremen. This fellowship, which covers living expenses, enables Wafaee to advance her research in the field of theoretical chemistry in close collaboration with Professor Tim Neudecker. uni-bremen.de describes that the initiative was launched by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Federal Foreign Office to offer researchers at German universities and research institutions at risk a new perspective.

Wafaee, who worked as a lecturer at Kabul University, brought her expertise on the Taliban regime to Germany after she was forced to leave her country due to the political upheaval in Afghanistan. Wafaee came to Germany in 2021 and began researching in Bremen in 2022 - first with a VW scholarship and then as part of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative bridge scholarship. Her current research focuses on the development of innovative polymer materials with conductive properties and mechanochromatic activities.

Research on mechanochromatic activities

Mechanochromatic activities describe the color change of materials under mechanical stress, which is particularly important as a warning signal in the construction and transport industries. Dr. Mandy Boehnke, vice-rector of the University of Bremen, said she was pleased about the fellowship and the opportunity to continue Wafaee's research. The University of Bremen applied for funding based on the institution's academic achievements and high level of commitment.

Supporting researchers at risk is a central concern of the University of Bremen, which has welcomed eleven scientists with funding from the Philipp Schwartz Initiative since 2016. up2date.uni-bremen.de emphasizes that Kirsten Beta acts as the central contact person for researchers at risk and accompanies them through the often complicated application process. The university's focus on support also extends to visa applications and help with finding accommodation.

Expanding Context: Supporting Researchers at Risk

The need for such support programs for refugee researchers is obvious, as is the information from uni-frankfurt.de show. Scholarships such as those from the HessenFonds are discussed there, which are specifically designed for students, doctoral candidates and researchers with a refugee background or scientists at risk. These initiatives are crucial to offering a new home and academic freedom to those working at the universities in Hesse or other German universities.

However, with high demand for scholarships for refugee researchers and limited supply, access to these funding remains a challenge. As the University of Bremen continues to lead the way in supporting researchers at risk, the need for comprehensive help and resources is clearly felt.