Programme Overview
EIPOD-LinC is a Postdoctoral fellowship programme supporting promising researchers from around the world who are passionate about interdisciplinary research. The programme is designed to support the increasing diversity of career paths in Europe’s research landscape providing researchers with the mentoring, training and career development support needed to become leaders in academia, industry and beyond.
The programme is embedded in EMBL’s unique interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment. Candidates work on self-designed interdisciplinary research projects in the context of EMBL’s research programme: Molecules to Ecosystems. All projects require an EMBL Host and a partner. Partners may come from an academic institute, industry or clinic located in an EMBL Member State, Associate Member State or Prospect Member State. Importantly, projects must allow candidates to gain new skills contributing to interdisciplinary research skill sets. The full breadth of EMBL research is available here.
Interdisciplinary Research Projects
Fellows work on self-designed interdisciplinary research projects in the context of the EMBL research programme: Molecules to Ecosystems. The overarching goal of the research programme is to drive our understanding of life on earth and inform potential solutions to society’s biggest challenges such as irreversible loss of biodiversity, antimicrobial resistance, pollution, climate change, food security and emergent pathogens. A detailed summary of the individual themes are available on the EMBL webpages (see below).
As part of the application, candidates are asked to develop an interdisciplinary research project in one of the 4 main programme themes listed below which are directly linked to EMBL’s research programme.
(1) Molecular Mechanisms: investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the principals of
biological processes across spatiotemporal scales and how changes (genetic, epigenetic and/or environmental) affect molecular function, modifications, and macromolecular complexes,
including subcellular structures; develops innovative experimental methods and advanced technologies to measure and manipulate living systems.
(2) Human Health: applies molecular insights to understand human biology and develop disease models and therapeutic strategies, e.g., in combating antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases; uses human cohort data and molecular genetics in cells, organoids, organs-on-a-chip, and animal models to explore the interplay between genetics and the
environment.
(3) Planetary Ecosystems: investigates interactions between microbes, plants, animals with each other and their environment at the molecular level.
(4) AI and Theory: uses mathematical models, physics principles and AI to predict biological processes at all scales, from molecular to population levels, with a focus on structural biology, omics, and imaging.
The projects require a main EMBL host who is taking part in the call and a partner from an EMBL Member State, Prospect Member State or Associate Member State.
EMBL Member and Associate Member States
Austria | Belgium | Croatia |Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia |Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Iceland | Israel | Italy |Latvia | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta | Montenegro | Netherlands | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Serbia | Slovakia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | United Kingdom | Australia
EMBL Prospect Member States|
Bulgaria | Serbia
Important Dates
Start of online application 28.11.2025
End of online application: 02.02.2026
Expert evaluation of applications: 16.02. – 09.03.2026
Short-listing committee meets: 24.03.2026
Invitations to interview: Week of March 26th, 2026
EIPOD Interviews (talks and panel interviews by Zoom): 20.04. – 21.04.2026
Decision Meeting: 22.04.2026
AfroScientric 