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EMBO Event

Writing Successful Fellowship Applications

12 – 15 October 2026 | Online, Taiwan

  • Virtual event icon
    Virtual event
2026-05/allison_wu_nstc-logo-1.png
  • Application Deadline
  • 13 September 2026
  • Selected Participants Will Be Notified By
  • 21 September 2026

Apply now!

About the Event

For many research trainees, writing an individual fellowship application will be their first experience with the highly competitive scientific funding system. This course offers students and early postdoctoral scholars a comprehensive guide through the basic aspects of the fellowship application process to enhance their chances of success.

Before the course begins, an informational webinar will be presented by Fellowsherpa on 12 October 2-3 PM (local time).

The course is split into 3 afternoons, 4 hours each session from 2:00-6:00 PM (local time).
All stages of fellowships application process will be covered:

  • Choosing and approaching their host laboratory;
  • Identifying the appropriate fellowship program;
  • Writing their application and post-decision steps.

​In addition, the course covers formal aspects of the application (eligibility, documentation, formatting) and often neglected fellowship call instructions that can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.

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About the trainers:

Thiago Carvalho received his Ph.D. at the Gulbenkian Institute of Science (Lisbon, Portugal) in 2003 and postdoctoral training at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, both in immunology. Dr. Carvalho was Head of Graduate Programs for the Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Graduate Studies Coordinator for the Champalimaud Foundation, and senior scientific editor of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

David del Álamo received his PhD in developmental biology at the Severe Ochoa Center for Molecular Biology in Madrid and postdoctoral training at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Dr. del Alamo was the head of the EMBO Fellowship Programme, scientific editor for The EMBO Journal, EMBO reports and Review Commons, and scientific consultant for The Journal of Cell Biology and The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

 
 

Programme

Before the course, participants are encourgaged to attend the webinar taking place on 12 October. Participants will write mock applications and supervisor contact e-mails before the course, and these provide the basis for the course workshop sessions.

During the course, participants will be exposed to some of the most prestigious international fellowship application formats, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie, EMBO, and Human Frontier Science Program postdoctoral programmes and will practice how to present the scientific goals of their projects and their own achievements and qualifications.

After the course, participants will be asked to submit revised versions of these texts to receive individualized feedback on their progress.

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Topics covered:

Selecting and contacting a host lab
How to introduce yourself effectively and approach a potential supervisor. Analyzing a supervisor’s track record as a researcher and as a mentor.

Navigating eligibility criteria
Deciphering the scope and eligibility criteria of different fellowship calls. Understanding the evaluation processes of the different funding agencies. The importance of tailoring your applications to each funder.

How to apply to your fellowship
Participants workshop how to present the scientific goals of their projects and their own achievements and qualifications. This part also covers formal aspects of the application (instructions, documentation, formatting).

Post-decision steps
How to evaluate competing offers, weighing benefits and restrictions of different fellowship formats in combination with benefits and restrictions in the host laboratory/country.

 

Registration

  • Application Deadline
  • 13 September 2026
  • Selected Participants Will Be Notified By
  • 21 September 2026

 

Selection criteria

A total of 20 senior PhD students and junior postdoctoral researchers will be selected to attend this course.

Applicants will be selected by a panel of researchers and faculty based on the following criteria:

  • Current career stage - priority will be given to senior PhD students and junior postdoctoral researchers

    • Senior PhD students - in the last 2 or 3 years of their PhD and who may be applying for a postdoctoral fellowship within the next 2 or 3 years

    • Junior postdoctoral researchers - within the first 2 years after completing their PhD and who may be applying for a fellowship soon (just joined the postdoc lab and is looking for funding or plans to move to a different place after a short postdoc)

  • Prepared to provide the trainers, prior to the start of the course, mock applications and supervisor contact e-mails to then work on during the course

  • Motivation statement


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Important note:

To secure their place in the course, accepted applicants will be asked to present an endorsement letter from their supervisors (or equivalent) stating they will be freed from other responsibilities during the hours of the course (3 consecutive half-days).

Code of conduct

Anti-harassment and non-discrimination policy

At EMBO, we believe that harassment and discriminatory behaviour are unacceptable in any setting. EMBO's code of conduct is applicable for all participants of this course and can be found here.

 

Contact

 

 

Venue

This course will be online from 14:00-18:00 (local time) on 13-15 October 2026.

All applicants are invited to attend the webinar taking place on 12 October 2026 from 14:00-15:00. More information to follow.

If selected, a link will be sent to access the course prior to the start date. Please make sure to check your spam/junk folder if you were selected and did not receive an email.