The EMBO Long-Term Fellowships are awarded for a period of up to two years and support post-doctoral research visits to laboratories throughout Europe and the world. International exchange is a key feature in the application process.
Duration of support
Fellowships may be awarded for a period of up to 24 months but the Fellowship Committee may also award a shorter period than requested. Please note: The minimum fellowship duration that can be requested is 12 months. Fellowships must be started within one calendar year from the relevant evaluation deadline.
Stipend
The stipend is a subsistence allowance and is intended to cover the cost of living in the host country. The stipend rate depends on the country being visited and might be subject to taxation. We cannot advise on respective national tax regulations and we recommend fellows to contact the relevant authorities in the host country.
Dependent child allowance
EMBO Fellows are entitled to receive an additional allowance for dependent children under the age of 18. The value of the allowance depends on the country being visited.
Childcare allowance
For children under the age of six, fellows can claim support for incurred child-care costs up to the amount of €2.500 per year and per child. The corresponding amount is prorated according to the fraction of the year in which child-care expenses occurred.
Travel allowance
The travel allowance is intended to cover travel costs up to the amount of €5.000 for the fellow and his/her family to and from the receiving institute. The travel allowance further includes half a month's stipend to contribute to relocation costs.
Please read the Long-Term Fellowships Guidelines for further details.
Parental leave
Fellows whose children were born during their fellowship are entitled to 3 months paid parental leave. Fellows who take parental leave during the fellowship may request an extension of their fellowship for a period of up to 3 months. This extension has to be requested by the host supervisor at the end of the fellowship. Parental leave has to begin within 6 months of the birth of a child. Fellows should inform the Fellowship Office of their intention to take parental leave.
Part-time work
For childcare reasons it is possible to work part-time during the fellowship. Please note: The maximum fellowship duration (full-time plus part-time) must not exceed 36 months.
Private Pension Scheme
Participation in the scheme is open to all EMBO Long-Term Fellows. The scheme is administered by MLP and Barmenia manages the pension funds. The plan offers a benefit package that optimally suits the needs of highly mobile scientists.
During the fellowship period EMBO functions as the policyholder and the fellows’ contributions are directly deducted from the stipend. EMBO matches the fellows’ contributions up to €100 per month. After the fellowship ends the policy is transferred to the fellow.
In case a fellow voluntarily contributes to another pension scheme, EMBO will also match the fellows’ contributions up to €100 per month paid at the end of each year, provided that the following conditions are met:
- The scheme is a proper pension scheme and not any other type of financial product (life insurance, investment account, etc.).
- The scheme is transferable to another country, at minimum within Europe.
EMBO Fellows’ Meeting
At the end of the fellowship, fellows are invited to the Fellows' Meeting. This annual event brings fellows together in a friendly atmosphere to present their research, share experiences, and establish new collaborations and contacts. It is also an opportunity to meet the EMBO staff and give feedback and suggestions on the programme.
Laboratory Management Courses
EMBO Long-Term Fellows are offered to attend a Laboratory Management Course for postdocs in Heidelberg free of charge at the end of their fellowship. Please note that due to budget restrictions waivers are available only to a limited number of EMBO Long-Term Fellows, both previous and current. Places are granted on a strict first come, first served policy. Waiver is available only within five years of being awarded the fellowship and only if the fellowship is held for at least six months.
Eligibility
Main eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must hold a doctorate degree or equivalent at the start of the fellowship.
- Applicants who already hold a PhDdegree at the time of application are eligible to apply only if they passed their PhD exam in the two years prior to the date of application.
- Applicants must have at least one first author publication accepted in or published in an international peer reviewed journal at the time of application.
- All applications must involve movement between countries (detailed information about mobility requirements is listed in guidelines).
- Applications to go to the country in which the PhD was obtained will not be considered.
- Applications for a Long-Term Fellowship to be held in the laboratory, institute or department in which the candidate worked to obtain his or her PhD, or to work again with the candidate's supervisor, no matter where the latter is located, will not be considered.
- Candidates can start working at the host laboratory before the application deadline, but the time spent should not exceed six months at the date of application.
- Candidates can only submit one application for one project at one host laboratory at each round of selection.
- Reapplication is permissible only once.
Application
Applications and supporting documentation (two references, receiving institute acceptance) are only accepted via the online application system.
Please read the FAQs and the Long-Term Fellowships guidelines before applying. There are NO APPLICATION DEADLINES for EMBO Long-Term Fellowships.
No application can be completed without all the information required, including the two reference letters and the acceptance letter from the receiving institute.
The date (according to Central European (Summer) Time (CET)) in which the candidates confirm that their application is complete is the reference date for eligibility and evaluation.
There are TWO ANNUAL EVALUATION DEADLINES for EMBO Long-Term Fellowships:
Second Friday of February, 2 PM Central European Time: First evaluation deadline. Complete applications up to this deadline will enter the evaluation process. Results for this round will be announced at the end of May or beginning of June.
Second Friday of August, 2 PM Central European Summer Time: Second evaluation deadline. Complete applications up to this deadline will enter the evaluation process. Results for this round will be announced at the end of November or beginning of December.
***Please note***: Registration for an EMBO online application account is not sufficient to enter the corresponding evaluation round. An application is only regarded as complete once all the required information is submitted AND the candidate confirms completion. Applications completed after 14:00 CET on the day of the deadline will enter the next evaluation round. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
NOTICE: While applications are accepted throughout the year, there are two evaluation periods every year. The evaluation committee meets in May and November. Any complete applications received by Friday, 10 February 2017, at 2 pm CET will be evaluated in their spring meeting, with interviews conducted in April. Applications received by Friday, 11 August 2017, at 2 pm CEST, will be evaluated in their autumn meeting, with interviews in October. Outcomes will be announced on the first week of June and the first week of December.
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.