Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) invites applications for the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026, offering 26 research projects in all areas of cancer research. This opportunity is open to postdoctoral researchers aiming to advance their careers at one of Europe’s leading cancer research institutions, with projects based in Heidelberg/Mannheim, Dresden, Mainz, and Würzburg.

Research areas include biochemistry, bioinformatics, computational biology, cancer biomarkers and prevention, cell and tumor biology, developmental biology, epidemiology, genomics, medical technology, metabolomics, molecular imaging, radio oncology, redox biology, tumor immunology, and immunotherapy. The DKFZ provides comprehensive support through its Marie Skłodowska-Curie MasterClasses, including online workshops and one-to-one feedback from experienced grant experts to maximize your chances of success.

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship is funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe and covers a postdoctoral salary (including social security and health insurance), a research/training/networking budget, and access to a global network of fellows and alumni. The fellowship duration is up to 24 months.

Eligibility requirements include holding a PhD (defended before September 9, 2026), a maximum of 8 years of postdoctoral research experience (excluding career breaks), and not having resided or worked in Germany for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to September 9, 2026. Applicants must have at least one first-author publication. Applications should include a CV (max. 3 pages), a motivation letter (max. 1 page), and the names of up to 3 DKFZ Principal Investigators.

Applications must be submitted via the Indico platform by May 18, 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by DKFZ Principal Investigators in May and June. Selected candidates will participate in online MasterClasses and, if matched with a PI, will co-develop a proposal for the MSCA-PF. The final MSCA-PF proposal deadline to the European Union is September 9, 2026. Please note that participation in the support activities does not guarantee a postdoctoral position; employment is contingent on the award of the MSCA-PF.

For further information and to apply, visit the DKFZ website or contact [email protected].