Long-term / Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) supports innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries. Biological research has become increasingly quantitative through the participation of scientists from disciplines outside the traditional life sciences such as biophysics, chemistry, computational biology, computer science, engineering, mathematics, nanoscience or physics. Such collaborations have opened up new approaches for understanding the complex structures and regulatory networks that characterize the evolution and interactions of organisms and biological systems. Within this framework the HFSP invites applications for two international programs that offer postdoctoral fellowships for basic research training:  Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) are reserved for applicants with a Ph.D. in a biological discipline to embark on a new project in a different field of the life sciences. Preference is given to applicants who propose an original study in biology that marks a departure from their previous Ph.D. or postdoctoral work so as to learn new methods or change study system. Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) are open to applicants with a Ph.D. from outside the life sciences e.g. in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer sciences who have had limited exposure to biology during their previous training. Applicants for the CDF should propose a significant departure from their past research by changing e.g. from material science or physics to cell biology, from chemistry to molecular biology, or from computer science to neuroscience. The HFSP fellowship program only funds top candidates that propose innovative, ground-breaking projects that have the potential to advance the knowledge in their field of study and open a new approach to the research problem even if risky. Applicants to both programs are expected to be exposed to new theory and methods during the tenure of the award while their previous expertise can be reflected in the proposed research project. Applicants should state clearly the innovative aspects of the proposed project in terms of original research questions and techniques to be learned. In particular, candidates for a CDF should describe the biological techniques they will be exposed to and how their specific skills from their previous training will bear on the biological project they propose. Proposals representing standard and unimaginative approaches, obvious next steps in the field or for the host laboratory (routine) are less likely to receive funding. Fellowship projects can range from biological functions at the molecular and cellular level up to biological systems including cognitive functions. Within this broad area, all levels of analysis are supported: from studies on genes and individual molecules, intracellular networks, intercellular associations in tissues and organs, to networks underlying complex functions of entire organisms, populations, or ecosystems. HFSP does not support: Routine projects where the fellow’s contribution is not considered to be intellectually challenging (e.g. high throughput technology or screens without investigating a fundamental biological problem). Applied research e.g. in a clinical or pharmaceutical (translational) context, in engineering, biotechnology, or nanotechnology. Clinical & pharmaceutical research related to a disease or to alleviate a medical condition, e.g. developing methods of treatment and diagnosis, searching and testing potential drug candidates or drug targets, advanced trials of drugs under development.HFSP Long-Term and Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships 2011 2  Environmental research directly concerned with agricultural issues (e.g. crop yield, breeding, food quality) or environmental problems (e.g. pollution, bioremediation, monitoring). The HFSP postdoctoral fellowships extend over 3 years. Fellows may interrupt the HFSP support after the second year for up to two years while being funded through other programs or grants of the host supervisor. The third fellowship year can be used as a return fellowship to the home country to prepare the initiation of an independent laboratory. Repatriating HFSP fellows have the opportunity to apply for the HFSP Career Development Award (CDA). HFSP fellows having completed at least two full years of their fellowship tenure and who are within two years after the end of their fellowship are eligible to apply. The CDA award provides a start up grant of 300,000 USD over three years to help initiate the first independent laboratory of the former fellow.

International Human Frontier Science Program Organization
12, quai Saint-Jean
BP 10034
67080 STRASBOURG Cedex
FRANCE

 For general information ONLY: Info, Tel: +33 3 88 21 51 23

 Contact for Research Grants: grant, Tel: +33 3 88 21 51 26
 Email Contact for Long-Term and Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships: fellow, Tel: +33 3 88 21 51 27
 Email Contact for Short-Term Fellowships and CDA: fellow, Tel: +33 3 88 21 51 34