The EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship supports internationally mobile postdoctoral researchers in the life sciences to carry out a research project in a host laboratory in a different country. Fellows in EMBC Member States are employed by the host institution on an EMBO-funded contract; fellows elsewhere receive a stipend — plus childcare support, relocation support and career-development access for two years.
Why it is notable: The most prestigious life-science postdoc brand in Europe — applications are accepted year-round with rolling evaluation cutoffs (next hard cutoff 22 January 2027, 14:00 CET), funding has run since 1962, and fellows get free Laboratory Leadership courses, the EMBO Fellows' Network, and the annual Fellows' Meeting. Critical rule change: from the Autumn 2027 round, only ONE fellowship proposal per researcher will ever be permitted (no reapplications).
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Employment contract issued by the host institution in EMBC Member States, fully funded by the EMBO grant — covering net salary plus employer/employee social contributions and taxes per national law (grant rate depends on the host country)
Country-specific stipend for fellows in non-EMBC Member States (rate sheet per country; intended to cover cost of living)
Travel and relocation support as a lump sum for eligible fellows, ideally paid before the fellowship start date
Child daycare cost support: up to €2,500 per fellowship year per child for children under 6 (prorated)
Dependent-children allowance for fellows in non-EMBC Member States (value depends on host country)
Parental benefits: EMBC-based fellows access the host country's welfare system (fellowship extension at no cost to EMBO possible); non-EMBC fellows get 3 months paid parental leave plus an equivalent fellowship extension
Part-time option (50% or 75%) — maximum fellowship duration 36 months including part-time periods
Free Laboratory Leadership Course for postdocs during or at the end of the fellowship (limited waivers per year, first come first served; within 3 years of award; fellowship held ≥6 months)
Invitation to the annual EMBO Fellows' Meeting and membership of the EMBO Fellows' Network online community
Honest coverage note: the grant/stipend does NOT cover bench fees, overheads, consumables, or any other financial benefits to the host supervisor or receiving institute
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
PhDfor Postdoc
"This fellowship is offered for postdoctoral research in the life sciences at an approved host laboratory."
Who can apply
All nationalities (subject to the mobility rules): applications must involve movement between countries; applications to go to the country in which the PhD was obtained are NOT considered; applicants may not return to a lab where they worked >6 months or to their PhD supervisor/lab; applicants who have already started at the host may apply only if they have been living in the host country for less than six months at submission; one application for one project at one host lab per round; reapplication permissible only once (and no reapplication at all from the Autumn 2027 round — proposals submitted after 22 January 2027, 14:00 CET)
Experience
PhD-level research experience required; at least one first-author (or joint-first-author) research paper accepted in or published in an international peer-reviewed journal at the time of application (a first-author preprint with public in-depth peer reviews from an independent peer review service also qualifies); project must NOT be a direct continuation of the PhD work
Language Certificate
Not required by the fellowship (host-country/lab language needs may apply — confirm with host)
Other Certificates
Doctoral degree evidence (at fellowship start); publication record
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
All nationalities eligible, but the project must involve international movement and must not be in the country where the PhD was obtained; EMBC Member States →…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Qualification
Doctorate or equivalent held at fellowship start; if already held at application, obtained within the 2 years prior to submission
02
Publication
At least one first-author (or joint-first-author) research paper accepted/published in an international peer-reviewed journal, or a qualifying first-author preprint with public in-depth peer reviews from an independent peer review service
03
Mobility
Project must involve movement between countries; not in the PhD country; not at the PhD lab/supervisor; not at a lab where you worked >6 months; if already at the host, <6 months living in the host country at submission
04
Project
Must be a new research direction — projects that are a direct continuation of the PhD work are not eligible
05
References
Reference letters and host supervisor recommendation submitted directly by referees/supervisor through the online system (text only)
06
Reapplication
One application per round; reapplication permissible only once — and from the Autumn 2027 round (proposals submitted after 22 January 2027, 14:00 CET), no reapplications at all
Document checklist
01Research proposal (new direction, not a direct continuation of PhD work) — entered as text in the online system
02Curriculum vitae
03Publication list (including the qualifying first-author paper/preprint)
04Reference letters (submitted directly by referees through the system)
05Host supervisor recommendation (submitted directly through the system) (Exact templates and requirements: EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships guidelines PDF on the official page.)
Application fee
No application fee is listed anywhere on the official pages — UNVERIFIED as a confirmed statement; no fee is charged at
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: Depends on the host country (researcher/scientist residence permit or work visa; EU Blue Card possible in some EMBC states) — fellows are employed by the host institution in EMBC Member States, which…
Application Procedure
9 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Secure a host laboratory and supervisor in
a different country from where you obtained your PhD (check you have not worked there >6 months and have not lived in the host country >6 months at submission).
→
02
Confirm eligibility against the official guidelines —
especially the first-author publication rule, the mobility rules, and the no-direct-continuation-of-PhD rule; contact the Fellowship Office in advance if you need an exception.
→
03
Prepare the application in EMBO's online system
(research proposal for a NEW research direction, CV, publication list). Reference letters and the host supervisor's recommendation are submitted directly by referees/supervisor through the system's own forms — the system
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06
Curriculum vitae
←
05
Research proposal (new direction
not a direct continuation of PhD work) — entered as text in the online system
←
04
Submit before the hard cutoff for the
evaluation round you want (next: Friday 22 January 2027, 14:00 CET). Applications are accepted year-round; submissions after a cutoff enter the following evaluation cycle.
↓
07
Publication list (including the qualifying first-author paper/preprint)
→
08
Reference letters (submitted directly by referees through
the system)
→
09
Host supervisor recommendation (submitted directly through the
system) (Exact templates and requirements: EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships guidelines PDF on the official page.)
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 platform.
Can I apply before I finish my PhD? A: Yes — you may submit before receiving your doctorate, but you must hold the PhD or equivalent when the fellowship starts.Do I need a first-author publication? A: Yes — an accepted or published first/joint-first-author primary research paper, or a qualifying first-author refereed preprint meeting EMBO's peer-review condiCan I apply if I already moved to the host country? A: Yes, if you have lived or worked in the host country for no more than six months when you submit.Does the fellowship provide a salary? A: Fellows in EMBC Member States are employed by the host institution on an EMBO-funded contract; fellows in non-EMBC states receive a country-specific stipend.Can I reapply if rejected? A: Only once — and from the Autumn 2027 round (proposals submitted after 22 January 2027, 14:00 CET), reapplication is no longer permitted at all.Can I attach figures or documents to the application? A: No — the online system accepts text only; references and recommendations are submitted directly by referees and the host supervisor through theWhat counts toward the 6-month host-country rule? A: Living or working in the host country — more than six months at submission makes you ineligible for that host.Are there exceptions for career breaks? A: Exceptions are made case-by-case for parental leave, severe illness or military service (contact the Fellowship Office before applying); no exceptions for vo
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Multiple countries