Deadline: 25-Sep-2025
The ”la Caixa” Foundation has opened its Postdoctoral Fellowships Programme to attract outstanding researchers from any nationality who wish to advance their careers in STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—in Spain or Portugal. This opportunity is aimed at experienced researchers with a proven track record of impactful and original scientific work. Applicants should also demonstrate leadership potential and the capacity to lead future research groups.
The fellowships offer more than scientific support, including a comprehensive training programme that combines technical, scientific, and transferable skills. The goal is to develop fellows into independent researchers and leaders in their fields.
A total of 20 three-year postdoctoral fellowships are available. Fellows can carry out their research at any university or research center in Spain or Portugal in STEM disciplines, including Bio and Health Sciences. Applicants must have earned their PhD between 25 September 2018 and 25 September 2023 and must fulfill the required mobility conditions.
The maximum funding available per fellow is €320,100. This includes annual payments of up to €102,500—€64,000 for labour costs (with a required minimum annual gross salary of €47,000) and €38,500 for project-related expenses. Fellows may also receive a gross annual family allowance of €1,200 per dependent child and a one-time €5,400 mobility allowance if relocating for the fellowship.
Eligibility is open to postdoctoral researchers of any nationality. Applicants must demonstrate completion of their PhD within the last two to seven years. Extensions may be granted in cases of illness, maternity or paternity leave, or compulsory national service.
Applicants must meet mobility criteria. Those joining a Spanish institution must not have resided or worked in Spain for more than 12 months in the past three years. The same condition applies for candidates joining institutions in Portugal. For those with a two-year research inactivity period, a 36-month residency in Portugal over the last five years is required.
Applicants aiming to work at Spanish institutions must have completed at least six months of research at non-Spanish institutions during their doctoral or postdoctoral phases.
The selection process includes three stages. First, applications are screened for eligibility. Eligible applications are then evaluated by panels of two to four experts in the relevant discipline. Finally, shortlisted candidates will be invited for face-to-face interviews.
For more information, visit “la Caixa” Foundation.
