Apply for a ”la Caixa” Foundation Postdoctoral Junior Leader fellowship

Do you want to become a leader in STEM? "La Caixa" Foundation grants 40 Postdoctoral Junior Leader fellowships for excellent researchers of any nationality who wish to continue their research career in Spain or Portugal in STEM disciplines.

The aim of "la Caixa" Foundation's Postdoctoral Junior Leader fellowships programme is for you to boost your academic career.

With more funding, independence and training for leadership, these fellowships support excellent scientists like you who want to continue their research in Spain or Portugal.

If you've been awarded a PhD between 2 and 7 years prior to the closing date of the call, apply by 5th October 2023.

Calls

There are two schemes within this programme:

● Incoming: 25 fellowships for researchers who've resided in Spain/Portugal for less than 12 months in the last 3 years.

25 postdoctoral fellowships of 3 years for researchers of any nationality who are offered an employment contract to carry out a research project at Spanish centres accredited with the Severo Ochoa, María de Maeztu or Carlos III Health Institute seals of excellence, or at Portuguese centres evaluated as excellent by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia de Portugal. For Spanish institutions, candidates must have resided in Spain for less than 12 months in the last 3 years, while for Portuguese institutions candidates must have resided in Portugal for less than 12 months in the last 3 years.

● Retaining: 15 fellowships for researchers who've resided in Spain/Portugal for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

15 postdoctoral fellowships of 3 years for researchers of all nationalities to carry out their research at any university or research centre in Spain or Portugal. For Spanish institutions, candidates must have resided in Spain for more than 12 months in the last 3 years, while for Portuguese institutions candidates must have resided in Portugal for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

Funding

The maximum payment amount will be €305,100, in three maximum annual payments of €97.500 which include:

Labor costs: a maximum of €59,000 gross to cover the total labor costs of the university or research centre that contracts the fellow. The minimum annual gross salary to be offered to the fellow by the host institution must be €44.300.
Research costs: €38,500 gross per year for expenses directly related to the Junior Leader project including consumables, equipment, hiring of personnel, registration for conferences or courses, research visits and intellectual copyright costs, among others.
Annual family allowance: €1,200 gross per year for each dependent child.
Mobility: €5,400 gross at the beginning of the fellowship for fellows who need to relocate to join the host institution (those who need to travel more than 50 km).