ARISE2 Postdoctoral Fellowship - 2026 Call for Applications European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is inviting applications for the ARISE2 Postdoctoral Fellowship - 2026 Call for Applications, a highly interdisciplinary postdoctoral opportunity for researchers who want to develop a career at the interface of life sciences, technology development, and research infrastructures.

ARISE2 supports over 20 fully funded, three-year postdoctoral fellowships for STEM researchers interested in creating, improving, and scaling advanced services used by core facilities, synchrotrons, data services, and other research infrastructures. Fellows work on method or technology development with potential broader service application and receive structured training in research infrastructure operation and management, including service provision, project and staff management, innovation, science policy, FAIR principles, and AI.

Projects should align with EMBL’s research areas, including genomics, structural biology, imaging, cell and tissue biology, environmental research, and translational applications. Suggested project areas include bioinformatics, AI/ML, computational modelling, software engineering, data management and data science; imaging and image analysis, optical engineering, detector development, microscopy, and X-ray optics; automation, high-precision mechanics, microfluidics, robotics, and X-ray crystallography; and biotechnology-related work such as (bio)chemical engineering, chemistry or chemical biology, and omics technologies.

Eligibility is intended for applicants with a Ph.D. completed by 30 September 2026. Researchers who have defended their thesis but have not yet received the formal degree may still apply. A university degree in a relevant STEM discipline is required, along with experience in technology development from academia and/or industry. Applicants should demonstrate strong research potential through outputs such as publications, software, datasets, patents, technical documentation, or other innovative contributions, plus strong communication, collaboration, English fluency, and organisational skills.

Funding is provided through Horizon Europe under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action COFUND (grant agreement No. 101178241). EMBL states that fellows receive competitive salaries and allowances; the entry-level gross salary varies by host site and is listed as approximately EUR 3,228.38 to EUR 4,118.45 per month, with site-specific salary examples provided for Heidelberg, Hamburg, Grenoble, Rome, Barcelona, and EMBL-EBI. Fellows also benefit from EMBL’s social security system and additional social benefits.

The fellowship is based at EMBL, with headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany, and opportunities to build professional networks through secondments and job shadowing at EMBL and ARISE2 partner organisations. Applicants must choose a group to join and prepare a short project proposal. The application deadline is 30 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST, with interviews planned for 25–27 November 2026 via Zoom and a projected start between January and April 2027.

Applicants are encouraged to contact potential groups before applying to discuss interests and future plans. For questions, the ARISE2 team can be contacted at [email protected].