European science organization announces grants to support young life scientists

The Germany-based European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) has announced a fresh round of grants to help young life scientists establish independent laboratories.

The grants are available in Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, and Türkiye, according to the organization's website.

In Türkiye, TUBITAK, the country's scientific and technological research council, runs EMBO programs to offer scholarships and support program opportunities for life scientists.

These programs, funded by the member and collaborating countries of the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), provide grants and networking support to researchers.

The funding program to establish independent laboratories was initiated in 2006 under Türkiye's leadership.

Since 2007, some 159 young researchers have benefited from this program, including 43 who set up laboratories in Türkiye.

The program provides €50,000 ($54,314) annually for three to five years. In Türkiye, TUBITAK covers €35,000, while the EMBC budget covers the rest for the first three years. In the fourth and fifth years, TUBITAK provides the full funding.

Researchers can apply for additional grants of €10,000 per year.

Applicants are required to have established a research laboratory or to have interviewed for a full-time group leadership position at a university or institute within the last two years in one of the participating countries.

They also must have earned a PhD degree no longer than nine years before the time of application and must have spent at least two years in a country other than the one from which they are applying in the last four years.

The EMBO will accept applications on its application system until April 15.