LMU Munich and New York University consolidate their strategic partnership
Researchers from various disciplines at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) and New York University (NYU) came together to explore funding opportunities under the LMU-NYU Research Cooperation Program and to develop innovative joint projects that can foster the next generation of transatlantic research collaborations.
In late February 2025, the LMU International Office organized a networking trip to NYU, aiming to strengthen and deepen scientific collaboration between both partner institutions with LMU researchers from various disciplines. The delegation included Dr. Alexander Free (Ancient History), Prof. Almut Ketzer-Nöltge (Institute for German as a Foreign Language), Dr. Nadine Klopfer (American Cultural History), Prof. Pierre-Héli Monot (Transnational American Studies), Prof. Tobias Kretschmer (Faculty Coordinator, LMU-NYU Research Cooperation Program) and Juliane Gierach (LMU International Office).
The centerpiece of the networking trip was a networking event with an information session on the LMU-NYU strategic partnership, organized by NYU’s Office of Global Programs on February 26 at the Deutsches Haus at NYU. The approximately 40 participants included members of the Steering Committees from both universities, the LMU delegation from Munich, doctoral students and postdocs from LMU currently completing their multi-month research stays at NYU through the partnership program, as well as former and current recipients, interested NYU researchers, and representatives from the DWIH New York.
The event was opened by Prof. Niyati Parekh, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Initiatives and Global Engagement at NYU and Faculty Coordinator of the partnership program at NYU. Following introductory words from the LMU Faculty Coordinator, Prof. Tobias Kretschmer, the two program managers, Libby Perkowski (NYU) and Juliane Gierach (LMU), provided an overview of the funding options available through the partnership program and presented the Call for Applications 2026. Former and current program participants from NYU, such as Prof. Jan L. Plass, Prof. Guillermina Jasso and Prof. Stephen Gross, shared insights about the development of their joint projects, highlighting how the program has both initiated completely new collaborations and transformed existing contacts into structured research partnerships. Since its founding in 2017, the LMU-NYU Research Cooperation Program has significantly strengthened and expanded scientific collaboration between NYU and LMU Munich with more than 80 joint research activities. During the subsequent get-together, interested NYU researchers were able to exchange ideas with the LMU delegation to generate ideas for new research cooperations and synergies in the transatlantic context.
The LMU delegation also used their stay in New York to strengthen local networking through discussions with the Deutsches Haus at NYU and during a visit to DWIH New York, exchanging information on current trends and funding opportunities. Additionally, delegation members conducted numerous bilateral discussions with NYU researchers and participated in workshops and institute meetings.
The LMU-NYU Program, which represents a valuable platform for transatlantic scientific exchange between the partner institutions and beyond, supports short-term research stays for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, funds joint research projects as well as workshops/symposia, and enables visiting professorships at LMU. A central element of the program is the annual Call for Applications. The application process for 2026 has already begun, and faculty members from NYU and LMU Munich can submit joint project proposals until May 23,2025.