HFSP Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) 2026 Now Open
Are you a passionate postdoctoral researcher ready to take your life sciences career across borders and beyond the cutting edge? The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) invites applications for its 2026 Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) — a prestigious and highly competitive international postdoctoral program designed to support pioneering research in the life sciences.
This opportunity is your ticket to an international research journey that challenges conventional paradigms and opens new avenues of biological discovery.
What Makes the HFSP Long-Term Fellowship Unique?
- Fully funded 3-year international postdoctoral research fellowship
- Supports research in a different country from your nationality and PhD/postdoc background
- Emphasis on original, bold life science projects that move beyond your previous expertise
- Funding includes living, relocation, research & travel, and child allowances
- Encourages scientific risk-taking and interdisciplinary collaboration
- Dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion in global science
Financial Support Highlights
| Support Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Living Allowance | Varies by country (e.g., USD $59,460/year in the USA, EUR €57,192/year in Austria) |
| Research & Travel | Up to USD $10,356 per year |
| Child Allowance | 10% of living allowance/year per child |
| Relocation Allowance | USD $1,000–$4,000 depending on host country |
| Spouse/Partner & Children | Additional relocation allowance offered |
Eligible Research Fields
The fellowship supports basic, frontier life science research across molecular, cellular, systems, and cognitive levels. Your project must:
- Be distinctly different from your previous PhD/postdoctoral work
- Address a fundamental biological question
- Be conceptualized by you (with advisory input from the host)
Note: HFSP does not fund applied research, clinical trials, agricultural improvements, or diagnostics.
Eligibility Criteria (Snapshot)
- Must hold a PhD or equivalent degree in life sciences by December 31, 2026
- Must have at least one first-author peer-reviewed research article (accepted/published/preprint at LOI stage)
- Must propose a change in both country and research field
- Applicants cannot return to their country of nationality for the fellowship
- Nationality and host country eligibility depend on whether you’re from an HFSPO member country.
Application Submission and Processing Timeline
- March 13, 2025: Application system opens on ProposalCentral
- May 7, 2025: Deadline to initiate Letter of Intent (LOI) and receive LOI ID
- May 15, 2025 (1:00 PM ET): Deadline to submit Letter of Intent
- August 2025: Notification of LOI results
- September 25, 2025 (1:00 PM ET): Full Proposal deadline (only for invited applicants)
- March 2026: Final selection results
- Start of Fellowship: Between April 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027.