FENS/IBRO-PERC Exchange Fellowships Programme 2026

📖 About the Programme

The IBRO FENS/IBRO-PERC Exchange Fellowships Programme is designed for Master and PhD students as well as early-career postdocs in Europe. This initiative aims to foster and broaden their scope of methodological training by supporting goal-directed laboratory visits in established European laboratories.

Sponsor Organization

• International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)

🎁 Benefits of the Programme

• Maximum Grant Amount: EUR 4,000
• Coverage:
  • Travel expenses (economy class, local public transport)
  • Accommodation during the exchange
• Payment Structure:
  • 60% of the grant will be awarded at least two weeks before the fellowship begins.
  • The remaining 40% will be provided upon completion of the exchange and submission of the grant report.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To apply, candidates must:

• Be Master or PhD students in neuroscience or early postdoctoral fellows (within 5 years of starting their postdoc) currently based in Europe.
• Be members of a FENS member society, individual FENS members, or members of an IBRO organization in the Pan-Europe region that is not a FENS member.
• Have acceptance from the host laboratory.
• Have recommendation from the home laboratory.

Eligible Organizations

• Armenian IBRO Association
• Austrian Academy of Sciences
• Israel Academy of Sciences & Humanities
• Italian Association of NeuroImmunology
• Russian Academy of Sciences
• Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Trisomy 21 Research Society (T21RS, Spain)
• Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
• Brain Research Society (BARD) in Turkey

📋 Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following key criteria:

Scientific and Training Quality

• Scientific merit and clarity of the proposed research during the fellowship.
• Quality and relevance of the planned training, particularly in terms of new methodologies or skills not available at the home institution.

Added Value of the Exchange

• How the exchange supports ongoing or planned research projects.
• The added value for the home laboratory in terms of collaboration, capacity-building, or new methodological expertise.

Suitability of the Candidate

• Alignment of the candidate's methodological expertise and academic background with the proposed training and research.
• Recommendation from the home supervisor, including their assessment of the candidate's potential and the expected impact of the fellowship.

Expected Outcomes

• Clearly defined and realistic scientific and methodological outcomes of the exchange.
• Likelihood of achieving the proposed objectives within the planned duration of the stay.

Feasibility and Need

• Demonstration of a genuine need for the exchange, both scientifically and financially.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: 15 April, 2026
• Visit the IBRO FENS/IBRO-PERC Exchange Fellowships Programme Portal for more details.
• Apply directly via FENS Careers Portal.

This fellowship is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your research skills and broaden your methodological expertise in neuroscience. Don't miss the chance to apply!

• Maximum Grant Amount: EUR 4,000
• Funds can cover travel (economy class, local public transport) and accommodation during the exchange.
• Payment Structure: 60% of the grant will be awarded at least two weeks before the fellowship begins, with the remaining 40% provided upon completion of the exchange and submission of the grant report.