The EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships provide international mobility for postdoctoral researchers in the life sciences to conduct research in different countries. The program offers significant benefits to further researchers' academic and professional development, including extensive networking opportunities within the EMBO Fellows community and free participation in EMBO Laboratory Leadership Courses.

📅 Call Timeline

• Autumn 2026 Application Deadline: 10 July 2026 (15.00)
• Spring 2027 Application Deadline (Expected): 22 January 2027 (16.00)

✅ Eligibility

• Must hold a doctorate or equivalent at the start of the fellowship, obtained no more than 2 years prior to the application submission.
• Exceptions apply for parental leave, severe illness, or military service are granted.
• Must have at least one first-author primary research paper accepted or published in an international peer-reviewed journal.
• Must move to a country different from where the PhD was obtained.
• Applications to return to a laboratory where the candidate worked in the past for more than 6 months, or to return to the PhD supervisor/lab, will not be considered.
• Candidates who have already started working in the host laboratory must have been there for less than 6 months at the time of application.

📌 Starting from the Autumn 2026 Selection Round, a host laboratory may support a maximum of one candidate per selection round.

📂 Support Scope and Duration

• Fellowship duration is between 1 and 2 years. (Part-time work is permissible, which can extend the maximum fellowship duration up to 36 months).

Scope

• Fellowship stipend (to cover employment contract), travel and relocation allowance, visa fees, and mandatory national healthcare costs.

💶 Funding Opportunities

• The annual grant rates vary depending on the host country. These funds are transferred to the host institution to issue an employment contract for the fellow.
• Travel Allowance: A lump sum payment ranging from €175 to €700 is provided based on the approximate distance travelled (divided into 4 tiers).
• Family & Relocation Support: Travel costs for the fellow's legal partner and children are covered up to a maximum of €2,000 per family.

📌 Useful Links

• EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships Website
• Application Guideline