IBRO Neuroscience Training Grants 2026 | Funding for Early-Career Neuroscientists to Attend Training Courses Worldwide

Omran Aburayya
4 days ago
4 min read

If you are a PhD student or an early-career postdoctoral researcher with a passion for brain science but limited resources to access the specialised training your career demands, this opportunity is for you — the IBRO Neuroscience Training Grants are currently open for applications. Offered by the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), this grant removes the financial barriers that prevent talented early-career scientists, particularly those from under-resourced regions, from accessing world-class neuroscience training courses. Applications for the current round close on 15 May 2026, so act now.

🎓 Grant at a Glance

Funding Body: International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)
Grant Type: Career Development Grant
Location: International (training courses worldwide)
Study/Career Level: PhD students and early-career postdoctoral fellows (within 5 years of first postdoc)
Target Group: Early-career neuroscientists from under-resourced regions; priority to underrepresented and gender-diverse applicants
Focus Area: Neuroscience and closely related fields
Award Value (Maximum by Region):
- Africa: USD 5,000
- Pan-Europe: USD 4,500
- US/Canada: USD 4,000
- Asia-Pacific: USD 3,000
- Latin America: USD 3,000
Coverage: Training course registration fees, travel, and local/accommodation expenses
Application Window (Round 1): 1 April – 15 May 2026 (for courses starting 1 July – 31 December 2026)
Application Window (Round 2): Opens 15 September 2026 (for courses starting 1 January – 31 August 2027)
Eligible Nationalities: International (open to all regions)

🏦 Grant Overview

The IBRO Neuroscience Training Grants are a dedicated career development funding stream designed to help early-career brain researchers attend specialised neuroscience training courses anywhere in the world. Specialised teaching and hands-on training experiences are crucial for the career development of neuroscience researchers, and the grants cover costs directly associated with attending a neuroscience training course or school, such as fees, travel, and accommodation.

The program accepts applications twice per year, making it one of the more accessible recurring grant opportunities in global neuroscience.

🧩 What the Grant Covers

The IBRO Neuroscience Training Grant is not a scholarship to enrol in a degree programme — it is a targeted grant to fund participation in a structured neuroscience training course or school that the applicant has independently identified and been accepted to, or plans to apply for. The grant essentially bridges the financial gap between ambition and access.

What kinds of courses qualify?

The course must consist of a structured programme focused on education and skill development in a field closely related to neuroscience. Past awardees have attended courses covering computational neuroscience, neuroimaging, molecular neuroscience, synaptic biology, neuroimmunology, pain neuroscience, and more — hosted at leading institutions across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and beyond.

ℹ️ Important distinctions — this grant does NOT cover:

Attendance at conferences or scientific meetings (refer to IBRO Travel Grants for this)
Exchange stays or laboratory visits at other institutions (refer to IBRO Exchange Fellowships for this)
Attendance at IBRO-Supported Schools — students interested in those must apply directly to the specific school

💲Payment structure:

Funds are transferred on an 80:20 basis — 80% of the grant is awarded two months before the training course begins, and the remaining 20% is paid upon completion, submission of the certificate of attendance, and submission of the required grant report.

Funds can be transferred to the grantee's own account, their institution, or their supervisor.

🎁 Grant Benefits & Coverage

Selected grantees receive financial support covering:

Training course registration/tuition fees
Travel costs to and from the training venue
Local expenses including accommodation during the course

The maximum amount varies by region of residence and is determined by the corresponding IBRO Regional Committee:

Africa: USD 5,000
Pan-Europe: USD 4,500
US/Canada: USD 4,000
Asia-Pacific: USD 3,000
Latin America: USD 3,000

Applicants may also use IBRO funds as matching funds — meaning that if you already have partial funding from your institution or another source, you can still apply to IBRO to top it up. Demonstrating co-funding in your budget actually increases your chances of selection.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the IBRO Neuroscience Training Grant, you must:

Be a PhD student or an early-career postdoctoral fellow within 5 years of starting your first postdoctoral position
Be planning to attend a neuroscience training course starting between 1 July and 31 December 2026 (for the current round)
Be attending a course that is NOT an IBRO-Supported School (those require separate direct applications)
Be from or based in an under-resourced or underrepresented region — this is given strong priority, though applications are open internationally

⭐ Funding priority is given to:

Applicants from underrepresented or under-resourced backgrounds
Applications that demonstrate gender and regional diversity
Applicants who can leverage IBRO funds as matching funds alongside institutional or other co-funding

ℹ️ Not sure which IBRO region your country falls under? Check the official classification:

https://ibro.org/ibro-country-classifications/

📝 Application Procedure

Step 1 — Create an Applicant Account

https://ibro.smapply.org/acc/r/?g=87143

Step 2 — Prepare Your Application Materials

Your application must include:

Applicant Details: A brief description of your academic background and current research focus
Course Description: Detailed information about the training course — what it covers, where it is held, and why it is directly relevant to your research and career development
Impact Statement: A comprehensive explanation of how attending the course will benefit your research and/or career trajectory
References: At least one letter of reference (including one from your current supervisor)
Budget Request: A detailed breakdown of expected costs, including co-funding if applicable

Step 3 — Submit Before the Deadline

Submit via the official grant page:

https://ibro.org/grant/neuroscience-training-grants

Step 4 — Await Course Acceptance Letter

Successful applicants must provide their course acceptance letter within a specified time period before funds are released: