“la Caixa” Foundation call for applications: Postdoctoral Junior Leader fellowships- Incoming call 2026

”la Caixa” Foundation grants 20 Postdoctoral Junior Leader Fellowships for researchers of any nationality to carry out a research project in a STEM discipline (life sciences, experimental sciences, physics, chemistry, engineering, technology and mathematics) at universities and research centres of accredited excellence for a maximum of 3 years.

Requirements of the call:

Researchers of any nationality are eligible for the Incoming modality of the Postdoctoral Junior Leader fellowships. To be eligible for admission, candidates must meet the following requirements:

  • Experience: to have been awarded a PhD between two and seven years prior to the closing date of the call. The date of obtaining the PhD will be understood as the date the doctoral thesis is defended. Special deadlines apply for candidates with interrupted research careers.
  • Mobility:
    • For candidates interested in Spanish centres or units: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the three years immediately preceding the closing date of the call.
    • For candidates interested in Portuguese units: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Portugal for more than 12 months in the three years immediately preceding the closing date of the call. Short stays, such as vacations, will not be taken into account.
    • Special deadlines will apply for candidates with interrupted research careers and for those who’ve gone through the process to obtain refugee status under the Geneva Convention.
  • Complete application: only candidates whose application meets all the requirements of the call may be admitted.

Centres of Excellence:

Researchers in the Incoming modality must carry out their research project at one of the Spanish research centres that have obtained the Severo Ochoa or María de Maeztu accreditation of excellence from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, a Carlos III Health Research Institute or a Portuguese R&D unit classified as “excellent” by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. These are centres and units that stand out for their impact and scientific leadership at an international level and that actively collaborate with their social and business environment.

This includes the following research centres and centres of excellence:

Read more here.

Application deadline, 25th of September 2025 at 2pm (CEST)

SHARE

Upcoming opportunities