The Homan Frontier Science Program (HFSP) fellowship program supports proposals for frontier, potentially transformative research in the life sciences. Applications for high-risk projects are particularly encouraged. The projects should be interdisciplinary in nature and should challenge existing paradigms by using novel approaches and techniques. Scientifically, they should address an important problem or a barrier to progress in the field. HFSP postdoctoral fellowships encourage early career scientists to broaden their research skills by moving into new areas of study while working in a new country.
Two different fellowships are available:
- Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) are for applicants with a PhD on a biological topic who want to embark on a novel and frontier project focussing on the life sciences.
- Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) are for applicants who hold a doctoral degree from a non-biological discipline (e.g. physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer sciences) and who have no (or little) experience in the life sciences.
Applicants may be from any country and of any nationality. However, candidates cannot apply for a fellowship to work in the country of their nationality, regardless of whether they have obtained their PhD degree in this or another country.
Deadline for Letter of Intent: 12.05.2026 (9:00 Eastern US Time); Submission of Full Proposals for invited applicants: 24.09.2026 (9:00 Eastern US Time)
Fellowship allowances are all administered through the host institution and the appointment must be 100% FTE.
Successful applicants must begin (activate) their fellowship between 1 April 2027 and 1 January 2028.
Website
Duration
3 years
Level of education
Researcher with Ph.D.
Next Deadlines
12.05.2026
Funding Types
scholarships / personnel costs, project
Budget
depends on the country of the host institution
Last update
19.02.2026