Reviewers – An Integral Part of the Funding Process
The scientific review of proposals is an integral part of the DFG's funding process. The reviewers, who are selected by the Head Office on the basis of their technical expertise, evaluate proposals submitted to the DFG according to scientific excellence, relevance and originality. Their assessments form the basis for subsequent funding decisions.
The choice of reviewers ensures that each significant aspect of a proposal receives competent attention. The reviewers are reputable researchers in their respective fields who have the overview necessary for making objective assessments. During the selection, the Head Office takes great care to ensure that there is no appearance of bias, e.g. through cooperation or competition, teacher/student relationships, reciprocal reviews, etc. Each year, the DFG solicits assessments from approximately 10,000 reviewers from within Germany and abroad. Reviewers serve on an honorary basis.
In the next step, the review boards, whose members are selected from amongst the scientific community, evaluate the selection of reviewers and their statements in order to formulate a funding recommendation for all proposals submitted in a given subject area. This recommendation is then presented to the relevant decision-making bodies.
