Human Frontier Science Program Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 (Fully Funded)

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) is pleased to announce the availability of fully funded postdoctoral fellowships for international students. These prestigious fellowships aim to support frontier, potentially transformative research in the life sciences and related interdisciplinary fields.

The HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships offer a comprehensive package including a living allowance, research and travel allowance, and additional benefits such as child allowance, parental leave allowance, and relocation allowance for eligible candidates.

The program encourages early-career scientists to broaden their research skills by engaging in interdisciplinary projects in new countries. It particularly encourages applications for high-risk projects that challenge existing paradigms and utilize novel approaches and techniques.

There are two types of fellowships available:

• Long-Term Fellowships (LTF): Aimed at applicants with a PhD in a biological discipline who propose projects significantly different from their previous PhD or postdoctoral work in the life sciences.
• Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF): Designed for applicants with a PhD from disciplines outside the life sciences, such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or computer sciences.

List of Host Countries:

Financial Support:

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) postdoctoral fellowships offer a comprehensive financial support package to fellows. This includes:

• Living allowance: A stipend to cover your living expenses during the fellowship period.
• Research and travel allowance: Funding to support your research activities and travel related to your project.
• Additional allowances (if applicable): Depending on your circumstances, you may also be eligible for:

1. Child allowance: To help with childcare costs.
2. Parental leave allowance: Financial support while on parental leave.
3. Relocation allowance: Assistance with covering costs associated with moving to your host lab.

• Fellowship

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Engineering
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics
• Physics

HFSP Fellowships are open to international students of all nationalities.

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) postdoctoral fellowships are open to highly qualified candidates who meet the following criteria:

• Language proficiency: Fluency in English is required.
• International research experience: You must propose research in a country different from where you obtained your Ph.D. or completed previous postdoctoral studies. For international research institutions (e.g., EMBL, ICPT, ICGEB), the country where the lab is located will be considered the host country.
• Doctoral degree: A Ph.D. in a relevant field or a comparable doctoral-level research degree with equivalent basic research experience (e.g., research-based MD or medical Ph.D.) is required by the fellowship start date, but not necessarily at the application time.
• Publication record: You must have at least one first-authored, full-length research publication (accepted, in press, or published) in an international peer-reviewed journal or a preprint server.
• Publication language: Only English-language publications will be considered. Review articles and patents are not eligible.
• Publication submission: Electronic copies of your first-authored publications must be uploaded during the application process. Uploads are not possible after submission.

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) postdoctoral fellowship application follows a two-stage process:

1. Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission 

Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the online portal. The LOI should include:

• Proposal Title
• Keywords describing your research plan
• Concise Research Summary: Briefly outline your proposed research (this can be adapted for the full proposal abstract if selected).
• Applicant Information: Personal details and CV.
• Doctoral Background: Field and title of your Ph.D.
• Host Lab Details: Information about your proposed host supervisor and institution.
• Collaboration Disclosure: Disclose any previous collaborations or publications with the host supervisor. Confirm their awareness and support for your application.
• Publication List: Provide a preliminary list of publications (with the option to update later).

The LOI will be peer-reviewed, and applicants will be notified of the results promptly.

2. Full Application 

Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full application. The full application should include:

• Previous Work Summary: Briefly recap your past research (same as the LOI summary).
• Research Project Abstract: Repurpose the concise LOI summary into a formal abstract.
• Detailed Research Plan: Provide a comprehensive explanation of your proposed research.
• Project Novelty: Explain how your project significantly deviates from your previous work and pushes the boundaries of scientific exploration (frontier nature).
• Host Lab Suitability: Justify why the chosen lab is an ideal fit for your research.
• Applicant Benefits: Explain how the host lab's resources (infrastructure, mentorship, new techniques) will contribute to your professional development.
• Updated Publication List: Ensure your publication list is current.
• Recommendation Letters: Two reference letters are required.
• Host Supervisor Recommendation: The host supervisor must provide a letter outlining:

1. How your research aligns with a new direction for their lab and represents a significant shift from your past work.
2. Why their lab is well-equipped to support HFSP's mission of fostering groundbreaking research that shapes young researchers' careers.
3. A mentorship plan for your professional development.

• Lead Author Publications: Upload PDF files of your lead-authored publications.

Note: Deadlines vary annually, visit official website for more information.

This is a remarkable opportunity for aspiring researchers to contribute to cutting-edge scientific discoveries and expand their horizons in an international research environment.