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HFSP Research Grants

Human Frontier Science Program

Verified · Aug 2026
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Postdoc

Region

Global

Deadline

Letters of Intent typically due end of March each year, with full proposals by invitation in mid-September.

Funding

Awards are fixed sums dependent on team size (2-4 members), covering project-specific costs like salaries for research assistants (post-docs, graduate students, technicians), but excluding salaries for faculty or institutional staff, and tuition fees.

Overview

HFSP Research Grants support innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems, emphasizing novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries. The program provides three-year funding for teams of 2-4 independent researchers based in different countries to collaborate on new research lines. Applied research, including medical studies typically funded by national bodies, is ineligible.

Eligibility

Teams must consist of 2-4 independent researchers with doctoral degrees (PhD, MD or equivalent) directing their own research groups, based in different countries (preferably intercontinental), without prior significant collaboration. Principal Applicant must be based in an HFSP member country. Early Career grants require all team members to be within 5 years of an independent position and within 10 years of their first doctoral degree.

Relevant fields

Frontier life sciences (interdisciplinary)

Key Requirements

  • Letter of Intent
  • Full proposal (by invitation)
  • Interdisciplinary team explanation
  • Principal Applicant designation
  • Co-applicant approvals

How to Apply

  1. 1Designate a Principal Applicant based in an HFSP member country.
  2. 2Obtain an LOI ID number via ProposalCentral by the specified deadline (typically mid-March).
  3. 3Submit Letter of Intent online by the deadline (typically end of March).
  4. 4If invited, submit full proposal by mid-September.

Application checklist generator

Deadline on the provider page

Generated from this listing's level, funding and requirements. Use it as the starting point, then confirm every detail on the official page.

Documents to prepare (14)

  • Academic CVRequired

    Research-focused CV: techniques, model systems, publications, conference posters and funding.

    Lead time: 2–3 days

  • Research statementRequired

    Two pages: what you have shown so far, the question you want to open next, and why this host lab.

    Lead time: 1–2 weeks

  • Transcripts and degree certificatesRequired

    Official copies, plus certified English translations if the originals are in another language.

    Lead time: 2–4 weeks (registrar)

  • Reference lettersRequired

    Usually two or three, at least one from a research supervisor who has seen you at the bench.

    Lead time: 3–4 weeks

  • Passport / ID copyRequired

    Valid for at least six months beyond the intended start date.

    Lead time: Same day

  • English proficiency proofRequired

    IELTS / TOEFL score, or an official waiver letter if your degree was taught in English.

    Lead time: 4–8 weeks (booking + results)

  • Publication list and PDFsRecommended

    Full list with your contribution per paper, plus PDFs of the two you are proudest of.

    Lead time: 1–3 weeks

  • Supervisor / PI contact emailRecommended

    A short, specific email to the host researcher. Most funded research posts are decided here first.

    Lead time: 1 day to write, 1–2 weeks to hear back

  • Funding and budget detailsRecommended

    Check what the award actually covers (tuition, stipend, travel, insurance) and prepare proof of any co-funding.

    Lead time: 2–3 days

  • Letter of IntentRequired

    Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.

    Lead time: Varies

  • Full proposal (by invitation)Required

    Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.

    Lead time: Varies

  • Interdisciplinary team explanationRequired

    Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.

    Lead time: Varies

  • Principal Applicant designationRequired

    Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.

    Lead time: Varies

  • Co-applicant approvalsRequired

    Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.

    Lead time: Varies

Suggested timeline

  1. 8 weeks before

    Confirm eligibility and contact the host

    Re-read the eligibility on Human Frontier Science Program's own page and email the supervisor or programme office with a short, specific enquiry.

  2. 6 weeks before

    Ask your referees

    Send each referee your CV, the listing link and the submission date. Chase politely after a week of silence.

  3. 5 weeks before

    Order transcripts and language proof

    Registrars and test centres are the slowest link in the chain — start them before you start writing.

  4. 4 weeks before

    First draft of your statement

    Write the motivation letter and (if required) the research proposal end-to-end. A rough full draft beats a polished half.

  5. 2 weeks before

    Feedback and revision

    Get one researcher and one non-specialist to read it. Cut anything that could be said about any other applicant.

  6. 1 week before

    Assemble and check the package

    File names, formats, page limits, word counts, and every mandatory field in the portal.

  7. 2 days before

    Submit

    Submit early. Portals crash on deadline day and time zones are rarely yours.

  8. After the deadline

    Follow up and keep applying

    Note the decision date, send one polite follow-up if it passes, and keep two backup listings running in parallel.

Next steps

  • Open the official listing and copy the exact requirement list into your checklist below.
  • Verify the current deadline directly on Human Frontier Science Program's page — aggregated dates can lag behind.
  • Email the supervisor or PI with a three-paragraph enquiry: who you are, what you can run at the bench, what you want to ask.
  • Add every document above to your checklist and give each one a due date.
  • Line up two backup listings in the same region so a single rejection doesn't cost you the cycle.

Application Checklist

Track every document, step, and deadline for this scholarship.

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Deadlines, amounts, and requirements shift between cycles. Always confirm details on the official page before applying. If you spot an outdated link, let us know on WhatsApp.