The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025-2026 offer an excellent opportunity for early-career scientists to conduct postdoctoral research abroad. These fully funded fellowships support high-risk, innovative research in the life sciences, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches that challenge existing scientific paradigms. The HFSP Fellowships provide a living allowance, research, and travel allowances, as well as other benefits like child allowance, parental leave allowance, and relocation allowance, depending on the fellow’s situation.

Fellowship Summary:

• Level of Study: Postdoctoral
• Institution(s): Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)
• Eligible Countries: All countries
• Host Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA.
• Focus Areas: Life Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Sciences
• Deadline:
  • Letter of Intent Initiation: March 14, 2024
  • Letter of Intent Submission: May 14, 2024
  • Full Proposal Submission (for selected applicants): September 26, 2024

Types of Fellowships:

1. Long-Term Fellowships (LTF): For applicants with a PhD in a biological discipline, aiming to broaden their expertise by conducting research in life sciences that differs significantly from their previous work.
2. Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF): For applicants with a PhD from fields outside the life sciences (e.g., physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or computer sciences) who wish to shift their focus to research in life sciences.

Fellowship Benefits:

The HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships provide a comprehensive support package that includes:

• Living allowance for the duration of the fellowship.
• Research and travel allowances to support research activities and relocation.
• Additional benefits such as:
  • Child allowance
  • Parental leave allowance
  • Relocation allowance

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Required Language: Proficiency in English.
• Eligible Countries: Open to applicants from all countries.
• PhD Requirement: Must hold a research doctorate (PhD) or a degree comparable to a PhD with equivalent experience in basic research.
• Host Country: Must propose to work in a country different from where they completed their previous PhD or postdoctoral studies.
• Publications: Must have at least one lead-author, full-length research paper published, in press, or accepted in an international peer-reviewed journal.
• Host Institution: A letter from the proposed academic host supervisor in the new host institution, confirming their willingness to supervise the research.

How to Apply for HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships:

The application process for the HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships consists of the following steps:

Step 1: Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission

• Deadline: May 14, 2024
• Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) via the HFSP submission portal.
• The LOI must include:
  • Title of the proposal
  • Keywords of the proposed research plan
  • Summary of the research plan
  • CV and details about the PhD
  • Information on the proposed host supervisor and host institution
  • Publication list and disclosure of previous collaborations with the host supervisor
• The LOI will be peer-reviewed, and results will be communicated by August.

Step 2: Full Proposal Submission

• Deadline: September 26, 2024 (for invited applicants)
• Selected applicants will be invited to submit a Full Proposal, which must include:
  • Summary of previous work
  • Abstract of the proposed research project
  • Detailed research plan outlining the project’s objectives and methods
  • Explanation of how the proposed project represents a significant change from previous work
  • Justification for choosing the specific host lab and its relevance to the project
  • Recommendation letters from two referees and the host supervisor
  • Updated publication list and PDF copies of lead-author publications

Host Countries:

The HFSP Fellowships are available in the following host countries:

• Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.
• Asia: India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Singapore.
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.
• North America: Canada, USA.

Important Dates:

• Initiation of Letter of Intent: March 14, 2024
• Submission of Letter of Intent: May 14, 2024
• Full Proposal Submission: September 26, 2024

Application Guidelines:

1. Prepare and submit the Letter of Intent (LOI) using the online portal.
2. If selected, submit a Full Proposal through ProposalCentral before the deadline.
3. Ensure all supporting documents, including recommendation letters and publications, are uploaded correctly.

Additional Information:

The HFSP Fellowships encourage high-risk, interdisciplinary projects that challenge conventional approaches in the life sciences. They are ideal for scientists seeking to broaden their research skills and explore new areas of study in a different country.

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