CFPs: Junior Leader Postdoctoral Fellowships Retaining Program (Spain)

Deadline: 23-Sep-2026

The Junior Leader Postdoctoral Fellowships Retaining Program by Fundación la Caixa is offering 20 fellowships to researchers of any nationality to conduct STEM research at universities or research centres in Spain or Portugal. The programme is designed to support outstanding postdoctoral researchers in advancing their scientific careers while helping attract and retain talented researchers in Spain and Portugal. Fellows receive financial support to develop independent research projects and also participate in transversal skills training to strengthen their professional development.

About the Junior Leader Postdoctoral Fellowships Retaining Program

The Junior Leader Postdoctoral Fellowships Retaining Program supports talented researchers seeking to establish and advance independent scientific careers in Spain or Portugal. The programme focuses on STEM disciplines and provides fellows with the opportunity to conduct research at leading universities or research centres.

The fellowship aims to:

- Attract talented postdoctoral researchers to Spain and Portugal. - Retain researchers within the scientific communities of the host countries. - Support independent research projects. - Strengthen researchers’ scientific careers. - Promote professional development through skills training. How Many Fellowships Are Available? The programme offers up to 20 postdoctoral fellowships. Each fellowship provides a maximum total allocation of: - €320,100 per fellowship - Up to three years of support The fellowship combines financial support with professional development opportunities through a transversal skills training programme. What Research Areas Are Supported? The programme supports research in a broad range of STEM disciplines.

Eligible areas include:

- Life sciences. - Experimental sciences. - Physics. - Chemistry. - Engineering. - Technology. - Mathematics. Researchers are expected to develop independent research projects within their selected STEM field at an eligible university or research centre in Spain or Portugal. Who Can Apply? The fellowship is open to researchers of any nationality, provided they meet the programme’s academic, research experience, and residence requirements.

Applicants must:

- Have obtained their doctoral degree between two and seven years before the application deadline. - Have completed at least six months of research experience outside Spain or Portugal, depending on the selected host country. - Meet the applicable residence or main-activity requirement in Spain or Portugal. - Have resided or carried out their main activity in the selected host country for more than 12 months during the three years immediately preceding the application deadline. The applicable requirements depend on whether the applicant selects Spain or Portugal as the host country. Doctoral Degree Requirement Applicants must have obtained their doctoral degree between two and seven years prior to the application deadline. This requirement is intended to target researchers at the postdoctoral stage who are developing their independent scientific careers. Applicants should consider the date of their doctoral degree when determining whether they meet the eligibility requirements for the relevant call. International Research Experience Candidates must have completed at least six months of research experience outside Spain or Portugal, depending on the host country selected. This international research experience is an important eligibility requirement and should be clearly demonstrated in the application. Residence and Main Activity Requirement Applicants must also meet a residence or main-activity requirement connected to their selected host country. Candidates must have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain or Portugal for more than 12 months during the three years immediately preceding the application deadline, according to the host country selected. Applicants should carefully assess their residence and professional activity history against the applicable programme rules. Career Interruptions and Refugee Provisions Special provisions apply to certain applicants whose career paths do not follow a continuous trajectory. The programme provides specific considerations for: - Career interruptions. - Candidates with refugee status under the Geneva Convention. These provisions may affect how eligibility requirements are assessed for applicants in the relevant circumstances. Professional Development and Skills Training Fellows receive more than financial support for their research. The programme also includes a transversal skills training programme designed to strengthen fellows’ professional development. This training can complement the scientific experience gained through the postdoctoral research project and help researchers develop broader skills for their future careers. Research at Universities and Research Centres Successful fellows can conduct their research at eligible universities or research centres in Spain or Portugal. The programme is intended to provide researchers with an environment in which they can develop independent research projects and advance their scientific careers. Applicants should ensure that their proposed research and selected host institution meet the applicable programme requirements. How to Prepare a Strong Application Applicants should clearly demonstrate their research experience, scientific potential, and ability to develop an independent research project.

A strong application should communicate:

- The significance of the proposed research. - The applicant’s scientific background. - Relevant postdoctoral and research experience. - The applicant’s ability to pursue independent research. - Why the selected host country and institution are appropriate. - How the fellowship will support the applicant’s scientific career. - Compliance with the doctoral degree requirement. - Evidence of the required international research experience. - Complianc