HITS Journalist in Residence Program 2027: Stipend €6,000 Monthly - ApplyNOW

Hits Journalist In Residence Program 2027

The Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) is inviting applications from experienced freelance and staff science journalists for its 2027 Journalist in Residence program in Heidelberg, Germany.

Title: Journalist in Residence 2027 – Science Journalism Location: Heidelberg, Germany Closing Date: 15 October 2026 Work Format: On-site, 3–6 month residency

The program offers journalists the opportunity to spend three to six months engaging with HITS scientists, exploring research areas of interest and deepening their technical knowledge.

The residency is open to journalists focusing on natural science, mathematics, computer science and technology.

About Hits

The Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) is a private, non-profit basic research institute where approximately 150 scientists from more than 30 countries work across 11 research groups.

Research is conducted along three main topical threads:

• Complex simulations across scales
• Data structuring and analysis
• Enabling software and tools

Research fields range from molecular biology to statistics and astrophysics, with interdisciplinarity being an important characteristic of the institute.

HITS is located in Heidelberg, Germany, a city known for its university and research institutions.

Since 2012, fourteen journalists from countries including the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, Australia and India have participated in the Journalist in Residence program.

About The Journalist In Residence Program

The HITS Journalist in Residence program is designed for experienced journalists who want to familiarize themselves with new areas of research and gain a deeper understanding of research methods and data-driven science.

The program also aims to encourage dialogue between journalists and researchers. Through regular contact with scientists, participants can gain insight into how research works and how researchers approach scientific questions.

Journalists are not expected to publish anything related to HITS in return. Instead, the program supports free and independent journalism.

Eligibility

The program is targeted at freelance and staff journalists with several years of professional experience in scientific journalism.

Applicants should:

• Have at least five years of experience.
• Focus on natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, technology or related areas.
• Work in print, online media, radio or television.
• Have a good command of written and spoken English.
• Have basic knowledge of German, which is recommended but not mandatory.

Residency Duration

The Journalist in Residence can stay at HITS for three to six months.

During the residency, journalists can engage with researchers and explore research groups and projects according to their professional interests.

Activities During The Residency

Participants are expected to undertake activities including:

• Mutual exchange with researchers at HITS.
• A public talk about science journalism or science communication.
• An internal seminar about science journalism or science communication.
• Research for potential projects or publications.

Stipend And Benefits

The HITS Journalist in Residence program provides:

• €6,000 per month.

• A workplace at the HITS institute during the residency.

• A computer, if needed.

• Possible reimbursement of travel expenses to and from Heidelberg, subject to prior agreement.

• Opportunities to engage directly with HITS scientists and research groups.

• Time to research potential projects and publications without the pressure of daily journalism.

• Opportunities to deepen technical knowledge and learn more about data-driven science.

Other travel expenses are covered by the monthly remuneration.

Application Requirements

Applications should include:

• Cover letter

• CV

• Proof of journalistic work in science and technology: Maximum of five work samples in PDF format.

• A translation of at least one work sample into German or English if none of the submitted texts is in either language.

• For sound and/or video work, links to the files should be collected in a PDF document.

• Letter of motivation explaining how the applicant intends to spend the time at HITS, which research groups or projects are of particular interest and why, and which projects the applicant would like to work on during the residency.

• For staff journalists, a letter of recommendation from the chief editor or head of section.

How to apply

The next round of applications for the 2027 Journalist in Residence Program is open.

• Application Deadline: 15 October 2026
• Apply Here: VIEW MORE DETAILS/ APPLY HERE

Interested journalists should submit their applications through the HITS application site on the jobs page.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES:

• Plan International Is Hiring a SDDC Project Coordinator

• Last Apply Date: 2026-10-01

• Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship 2026 for Global South Journalists – $4,000 CAD Stipend

• Last Apply Date: 2026-11-08

• Planeterra Is Hiring a Remote Learning and Systems Coordinator Starting December 2026

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-30

• On the Move Call for Researchers: 8 Cultural Mobility Researcher Posts in Africa – 2026

• Last Apply Date: 2026-10-16

• Threads of Life Is Hiring: Senior Content and Storytelling Specialist

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-30

• UNDP Is Hiring: Social Media & Multimedia Production Intern (Home-based)

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-26

MORE OPPORTUNITIES:

• Plan International Is Hiring a SDDC Project Coordinator

• Last Apply Date: 2026-10-01

• Equality Fund Journalism Fellowship 2026 for Global South Journalists – $4,000 CAD Stipend

• Last Apply Date: 2026-11-08

• Planeterra Is Hiring a Remote Learning and Systems Coordinator Starting December 2026

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-30

• On the Move Call for Researchers: 8 Cultural Mobility Researcher Posts in Africa – 2026

• Last Apply Date: 2026-10-16

• Threads of Life Is Hiring: Senior Content and Storytelling Specialist

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-30

• UNDP Is Hiring: Social Media & Multimedia Production Intern (Home-based)

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-26

• Last Apply Date: 2026-10-01

• Last Apply Date: 2026-11-08

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-30

• Last Apply Date: 2026-10-16

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-30

• Last Apply Date: 2026-09-26

The program is targeted at freelance and staff journalists with several years of professional experience in scientific journalism.

Applicants should:

• Have at least five years of experience.
• Focus on natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, technology or related areas.
• Work in print, online media, radio or television.
• Have a good command of written and spoken English.
• Have basic knowledge of German, which is recommended but not mandatory.

Applications should include:

• Cover letter

• CV

• Proof of journalistic work in science and technology: Maximum of five work samples in PDF format.

• A translation of at least one work sample into German or English if none of the submitted texts is in either language.

• For sound and/or video work, links to the files should be collected in a PDF document.

• Letter of motivation explaining how the applicant intends to spend the time at HITS, which research groups or projects are of particular interest and why, and which projects the applicant would like to work on during the residency.

• For staff journalists, a letter of recommendation from the chief editor or head of section.

Extracted from a public opportunity page using specific title, application/deadline, eligibility and benefit signals. Aggregator/news pages remain review-controlled unless an official provider page is successfully verified.