The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Postdoctoral Fellowships are among the most prestigious funding opportunities for early-career researchers in the life sciences. Since its inception in 1990, HFSP has supported over 8,500 researchers from more than 70 countries, 29 of whom later received Nobel Prizes—by financing high-risk, innovative projects that challenge traditional paradigms and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
For the 2025 cycle, HFSP prioritizes transformative research that integrates biology with fields such as physics, chemistry, engineering, and computer science. This guide covers eligibility, application processes, financial benefits, and practical tips for submitting a competitive application.
Introduction
As research evolves, funding that fosters interdisciplinary approaches becomes crucial for understanding complex biological systems. HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships not only provide generous financial support but also connect early-career scientists with a global network of top-tier institutions. With a focus on scientific rigor and cross-disciplinary innovation, the fellowship offers a career-defining opportunity for those ready to push boundaries.
About the Fellowship
Name of the Fellowship:
Human Frontier Science Program, HFSP Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025
Program Overview and Significance
Fellowship Tracks
HFSP is organized into two main tracks:
- Long-Term Fellowships (LTF)
- Focus: Traditional biological fields like molecular biology, neuroscience, and genetics.
- Objective: Support transformative, high-impact research in life sciences.
- Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF)
- Focus: Candidates with doctoral degrees in physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science, and mathematics.
- Objective: Employ non-biological expertise to tackle fundamental biological challenges.
Global Mobility and Network
A key feature of HFSP is international mobility: applicants must conduct research outside their home country, choosing host institutions in over 40 member nations (e.g., USA, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom). This requirement nurtures scientific exchange and offers exposure to diverse research environments.
Career Impact
HFSP’s rigorous selection and robust funding enhance long-term career prospects by providing access to world-class mentorship, state-of-the-art facilities, and a network of influential scientists—an environment that has propelled many to leadership roles in research.
Eligibility Criteria
Core Requirements
- PhD Award: Must be conferred between September 25, 2022, and December 31, 2026. Exceptions (e.g., parental leave, medical issues, military service) are available.
- Publication Record: At least one lead-author paper (first or co-first) must be published or available as a preprint by the LOI deadline.
- Nationality and Host Country Rules:
- Open to all nationalities.
- Research must occur outside the applicant’s home country.
- Host institutions must be in an HFSPmember country.
- Applicants should have spent no more than 12 months in the host country before fellowship activation.
Additional Conditions
- Collaborative Restrictions: Prior long-term collaboration (over 12 months) with the chosen host supervisor may disqualify the applicant.
- Host Institution: Must be affiliated with a non-profit organization (e.g., a university or recognized research institute).
- Field-Specific Requirements: For CDF applicants, the project should differ significantly from past academic work to ensure a genuinely interdisciplinary approach.
1) Nationality:
- Candidates who are not nationals of one of the HFSP member countries may apply only to work in a research institution within a member country.
- Candidates who are nationals of one of the HFSP member countries can apply to work in a research institution in any country.
- HFSP member countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus (EU part only), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
- A candidate cannot apply for a fellowship to work in the country of which they are a national.
2) Host Country:
- Candidates must propose to work in a country different from the one where they did their PhD research or previous postdoctoral research.
- They are not eligible to propose to move from one laboratory to another within the same country.
- For institutions classified as international or extraterritorial (e.g., EMBL, ICPT, or ICGEB), the country where the laboratory is located is considered the host country.
- Candidates must not have worked in the proposed host country for more than 12 months (consecutively or not) by the activation date of the fellowship.
3) Doctoral Degree:
- A research doctorate (PhD) or a doctoral-level degree comparable to a PhD with equivalent experience in basic research (e.g., a research-based MD or medical PhD) must be conferred by the start of the fellowship.
- The degree is not required at the time of submission. However, the official PhD document (conferral date) must indicate a date within three years prior to the Full Proposal submission deadline, typically at the end of September.Who Can Apply
Target Audience:
- Early-career researchers in the life sciences seeking to pursue innovative and interdisciplinary research projects.
- Scientists from non-biological fields interested in transitioning to life sciences research.
Application Process
