Gruber Foundation Fellowship in Astrophysics 2026

The 2026 Gruber Foundation Fellowship in Astrophysics is a prestigious program supported by The Gruber Foundation (GF). This fellowship is designed to support early-career astronomers and promote the advancement of cosmology and other branches of astronomy. It will be awarded to highly promising early-career astronomers working in any field of astrophysics, including theoretical, observational, or experimental research.

✨ Benefits

• Total Grant: US$ 75,000, typically divided between three independent awardees (US$ 25,000 each).
• The grant will be paid directly to the recipient(s).
• The proposed budget should cover only the period for which the applicant has confirmed employment at the time of application.
• The fellowship cannot be used to extend an existing postdoctoral position beyond the confirmed period of employment.
• A small portion of the grant (up to 10%) may be used to supplement salary if the host institution fully covers all applicable salary-related costs (e.g., pensions, health insurance), subject to approval by the IAU General Secretary. A detailed justification must be provided.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants are early-career astronomers within three years of PhD defense who meet one of the following conditions at the time of application:

1. Final-year PhD students:

   • Must have a confirmed contract offer for a postdoctoral position.
   • The PhD must be successfully defended by the fellowship start date (no later than 1 October 2026).

2. Early-career astronomers:

   • Must be in a postdoctoral appointment and have at least one year of confirmed employment remaining from the fellowship start date.

3. Transitioning to a new postdoctoral position:

   • Must have a contract offer for a second postdoc starting no later than 1 October 2026.

Additional Notes:

• The three-year eligibility period is measured from the PhD defense date to the proposed fellowship start date.
• Officially documented career breaks (e.g., parental leave, medical leave, or mandatory military service) do not count toward this limit.

Host Institution Requirements:

• Must be a recognized center of excellence in the applicant’s research field.
• Must be located in a different country from:
  • The PhD-granting institution (for first postdocs).
  • The previous postdoctoral institution (for second or subsequent postdocs).
• Must provide basic salary and research facilities, as the GF grant primarily covers travel and research expenses.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: 01 March 2026
• To apply, visit the official application portal:
  • View Fellowship Details
  • Apply Here

🌟 About the Sponsor Organization

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the sponsor organization for this fellowship. The IAU is dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the science of astronomy through international cooperation.

For more details, visit the official website or application portal linked above. Don't miss this opportunity to advance your career in astrophysics! 🌠

• The total grant (US$ 75,000) will be divided typically between three independent awardees (US$ 25,000 each).
• The grant will be paid directly to the recipient(s).
• The proposed budget should cover only the period for which the applicant has confirmed employment at the time of application.
• The fellowship cannot be used to extend an existing postdoctoral position beyond the confirmed period of employment.
• A small portion of the grant (up to 10%) may be used to supplement salary if the host institution fully covers all applicable salary-related costs (pensions, health insurance, etc.), subject to approval by the IAU General Secretary. A detailed justification must be provided.