EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships for 2025
- Omran Aburayya
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
If you're an early-career life scientist seeking to advance your research in a dynamic international environment, the EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships for 2025 offer an exceptional opportunity. These fellowships support internationally mobile postdoctoral researchers, providing not only financial assistance but also access to a vibrant scientific community and professional development resources. Applications are accepted year-round, with the next evaluation cutoff on Friday, 11 July 2025, at 14:00 CEST.
📝EMBO Fellowship Summary
Location: Europe and worldwide (mobility between countries required)
Host Institution: Various laboratories and research institutes globally
Academic Level: Postdoctoral
Target Group: Researchers with a PhD obtained within the last two years
Fields of Research: Life sciences, including molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and related areas
Funding: Employment contract or stipend, travel and relocation allowance, child care support, and more
Duration: 1 to 2 years
Application Deadline: 11 July 2025, 14:00 CEST
Start Date: Within one year of the application cutoff
Eligible To: Researchers worldwide meeting mobility and publication criteria
🔬 Fellowship Overview
The EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed to support talented researchers in the life sciences who wish to pursue postdoctoral research in laboratories across Europe and beyond. A key requirement is international mobility; applicants must move to a different country from where they obtained their PhD or have previously worked. The fellowship emphasizes the development of scientific excellence and the integration of researchers into the international scientific community.
🎁 Fellowship Benefits
Financial Support: In EMBC Member States, EMBO provides grants to host institutions to cover employment contracts, including salary and social contributions. In non-EMBC countries, fellows receive a stipend.
Travel and Relocation Allowance: A lump sum is provided to cover travel and relocation expenses.
Child Care Support: For fellows in non-EMBC countries, up to €2,500 per child per year is available for childcare costs for children under six.
Dependent Child Allowance: Additional support for dependent children under 18, varying by country.
Parental Leave: Fellows are entitled to parental leave, with extensions to the fellowship duration to accommodate this.
Professional Development: Access to EMBO Laboratory Leadership Courses and inclusion in the EMBO Fellows’ Network.
Research Integrity Training: Mandatory online course to ensure adherence to ethical research practices.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
PhD Requirement: Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent at the start of the fellowship and must have obtained it within two years prior to application.
Publication: At least one first-author publication in an international peer-reviewed journal or a refereed preprint with in-depth peer reviews.
Mobility: Applicants must move to a different country from where they obtained their PhD or have previously worked.
Host Laboratory Restrictions: Cannot return to a laboratory where the applicant has worked for more than six months or where the PhD was obtained.
Application Limit: Only one application per round; reapplication is allowed only once.
Project Scope: The proposed research must not be a direct continuation of the PhD work.
Exceptions: Considered for extraordinary personal circumstances like parental leave or severe illness.
📝 Application Procedure
Application Submission: Applications must be submitted through the EMBO online application system.
Supporting Documents:
Two reference letters
Acceptance letter from the host institution
Summary of scientific achievements and proposed research
Deadlines: Applications are accepted year-round, with evaluation cutoffs on the second Friday of February and July each year. The next cutoff is 11 July 2025, 14:00 CEST.
Evaluation Process: Applications are reviewed for eligibility and completeness, followed by pre-screening by the Fellowship Committee. Selected candidates are invited for interviews, and final decisions are made based on scientific merit and the suitability of the host laboratory.
🔗 OFFICIAL LINK
