The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 support early-career researchers who want to broaden their scientific expertise by conducting innovative research in a new country. The program focuses on frontier, potentially transformative basic research in the life sciences and encourages interdisciplinary projects that use novel approaches to address important scientific questions.

HFSP offers two fellowship routes: Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) for researchers with a doctoral background in a biological discipline who want to move into a new area of life-science research, and Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) for researchers with doctoral degrees in fields such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer science who want to enter the life sciences.

Fellowship Quick Facts

About the HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Human Frontier Science Program is an international research funding program focused on innovative and interdisciplinary basic research into the complex mechanisms of living organisms. Its postdoctoral fellowship program is designed to help early-career researchers move into new scientific areas, learn new techniques and work in a different country.

The program supports research proposals that are frontier in nature and potentially transformative. HFSP particularly encourages high-risk projects that challenge existing scientific thinking through novel approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The fellowship is awarded for three years (36 months) and cannot be renewed. Successful fellows must begin their fellowship between April 1, 2027 and January 1, 2028.

Fellowship Types

• 🔬 Long-Term Fellowships (LTF): For applicants with a PhD in a biological discipline who propose a new and frontier research direction in the life sciences.
• 🧪 Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF): For applicants with doctoral degrees outside the life sciences, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and computer science, who want to enter the life sciences.

Eligibility Criteria

• ✅ Applicants may be from any country and nationality, subject to HFSP nationality and host-country rules.
• ✅ The proposed fellowship must involve a change of country, and applicants cannot conduct the fellowship in their country of nationality.
• ✅ Applicants cannot propose a host country where they obtained their PhD.
• ✅ Applicants must not have studied or worked in the proposed host country for more than 12 months before fellowship activation.
• ✅ The applicant must complete a PhD or comparable doctoral degree before starting the fellowship and no later than December 31, 2027.
• ✅ For the 2027 cycle, the doctoral degree generally must have been conferred no more than 36 months before the September 24, 2026 Full Proposal deadline, subject to eligible career-interruption exemptions.
• ✅ Applicants must have at least one qualifying lead-author original research publication in English.
• ✅ The proposed project must be basic life-science research and substantially different from the applicant’s previous PhD or postdoctoral work.

Fellowship Benefits

• 🏆 Living allowance for the duration of the fellowship.
• 🏆 Research and travel allowance to support the approved fellowship research.
• 🏆 Child allowance may be available depending on the fellow’s circumstances.
• 🏆 Parental leave allowance may be available to eligible fellows.
• 🏆 Relocation allowance may be available depending on the fellow’s circumstances and host country.
• 🏆 International research experience and the opportunity to develop new scientific skills in a different research environment.

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Information about the applicant’s PhD and research background
• Proposed research project title, keywords and summary
• Information about the proposed host supervisor and host institution
• Publication list
• Qualifying lead-author research publication(s)
• Detailed research plan for invited Full Proposal applicants
• Two referee recommendation letters for invited Full Proposal applicants
• Host supervisor recommendation letter for invited Full Proposal applicants
• PDF files of qualifying lead-author publications

How to Apply

Step 1: Identify whether the Long-Term Fellowship or Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship is appropriate for your academic background.

Step 2: Develop a frontier basic-research proposal that represents a significant change from your previous research experience.

Step 3: Identify a suitable host supervisor and host institution in an eligible country. The host supervisor must be aware of and support the application.

Step 4: Submit the Letter of Intent through the HFSP online application system during the announced application period.

Step 5: Eligible Letters of Intent are reviewed by HFSP. Only selected applicants are invited to submit a Full Proposal.

Step 6: Invited applicants complete the Full Proposal, including the detailed research plan, publication information and required recommendation letters.

Step 7: Successful fellows complete the required arrangements with HFSP, their host supervisor and host institution before activating the fellowship.

Frequently Asked Questions