The ERCIM Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme is one of ERCIM’s principal activities. The programme is open to young researchers worldwide and focuses on a broad range of fields in computer science and mathematics.
The fellowship helps promising scientists improve their knowledge of European research structures and networks, and gain insight into the working conditions of leading European research institutions. Fellowships last for 12 months (with a possible extension) and are spent at one of the ERCIM member institutes.
Where are fellows hosted?
Only ERCIM members may host fellows. When an ERCIM member is a consortium, the hosting institute may be any of its constituent organisations. When an ERCIM member is a funding body, the hosting institute may be any of its affiliates. Fellowships are offered according to the needs of member institutes and the available funding. Fellows are appointed either via a stipend (agreement for a research training programme) or a working contract. The contract type and monthly allowance or salary depend on the hosting institute. ERCIM encourages researchers from academic institutions and those in industry to apply.
Why apply for an ERCIM Fellowship?
The Fellowship Programme enables outstanding young scientists from around the globe to tackle challenging problems at Europe’s leading research centres. It also helps to widen personal ties and deepen mutual understanding among scientists. Through the programme, ERCIM fellows can:
- Work with internationally recognised experts,
- Improve their knowledge of European research structures and networks,
- Familiarise themselves with working conditions in leading European research centres,
- Foster cross-fertilisation and cooperation between research groups.
Equal Opportunities
ERCIM is committed to ensuring equal opportunities and promoting diversity. Applicants for a fellowship within the ERCIM consortium are not discriminated against on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status or disability.
Conditions
Candidates must:
- Have obtained a PhD in the past eight years (before the application deadline), or be in the final year of doctoral study with an outstanding academic record. Proof of the PhD qualification will be required before the fellowship begins;
- Be fluent in English.
Application deadlines
Deadlines for applications are 31 March and 30 September each year.
Since its inception in 1991, more than 800 fellows have participated in the programme. In 2024, eight scientists began an ERCIM PhD fellowship; over the course of that year, 33 fellows were hosted. The Fellowship Programme is named in honour of Alain Bensoussan, the former president of Inria, one of ERCIM’s three founding institutes.
ERCIM Fellows Community Event 2024
ERCIM organized an online community event for its postdoctoral fellows and guests for the fourth time on 8 November 2024.
Due to significant demand and interest, ERCIM has decided to host its community event once again, marking the fourth edition of this initiative since its inception during the pandemic in 2021. The core aim remains consistent with the earlier events: fostering engagement and collaboration among ERCIM fellows. This latest edition broadened its scope to include not only fellows hosted between 2021 and 2024, their scientific coordinators, and representatives from ERCIM member organizations but also recommended external post-doctoral researchers. The virtual gathering brought together 40 participants, creating a dynamic platform for idea exchange and networking.
We designed the event to handle challenges, like having postdoctoral researchers from different countries who are at various stages in their fellowships. The aim was to keep the schedule short while still allowing 18 posters to be presented and ensuring the event was free for everyone.
The event commenced with a series of five engaging presentations in the keynote room. The main highlight of the event was the lively poster sessions spread across three virtual rooms on the “Gather Town” platform.
The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with participants valuing the networking opportunities and expressing enthusiasm for future events.
