Postdoctoral training

Researchers who hold a PhD or MD degree are welcome to apply for a postdoctoral training at the de Duve Institute. Ongoing research at the Institute is presented under our research pages. Candidates are expected to contact the head of the host laboratory (contact details can be found in our research and research groups pages), to assess space, positions and funding opportunities.

Postdoctoral fellowships from the de Duve Institute

The de Duve Institute aisbl (DDI) is authorized by the Belgian government to grant tax-exempt prizes and subsidies. The Institute awards 1-year fellowships, which are renewable once, to young scientists who, as a rule, have not obtained their PhD degree at a Belgian University, and who wish to carry out their postdoctoral research within one of our research groups. Candidates must hold a PhD or MD degree, and must be in a situation of ‘international mobility’, i.e. they should not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 12 months, ideally, in the 3-year period before submission of their application for a de Duve Institute fellowship.

How to apply?

Before any application, the applicant must contact the group leader of the laboratory of choice, who will provide a statement about the benefits of the postdoctoral training for the candidate and for his/her laboratory.

Candidates must then use the application form available for download below, in which they will be asked to provide the following information:

• a recent photograph;
• ​a detailed CV;
• a list of publications (with pdfs);
• their laboratory of choice, and their interests and accomplishments;
• a summary of the research project, written by the candidate with input from the host lab;
• contact details of three referees;
• other fellowships applied for, if any.

Applications must be sent by email to Mrs Nathalie Krack, administrative coordinator, with a copy to the head of the host laboratory, who will then provide the required statement. Mrs Krack will contact the three referees to request reference letters, and transmit the whole file to the Fellowship Committee.

Deadlines

Semi-annual deadlines for application: March 15 and September 15.

Selection Procedure

• The de Duve Institute Fellowship Committee evaluates the applications and ranks the candidates according to scientific excellence. The de Duve Institute's (DDI) Directorate awards fellowships, based on the Committee's recommendations. Candidates and laboratory heads are informed about the decision shortly after the Fellowship Committee's meeting, which takes place approximately one month after the deadline for applications. The selected candidates may start their work as soon as possible and no later than six months after the date of selection.
• Candidates are strongly encouraged to present a seminar at the de Duve Institute prior to the meeting of the Fellowship Committee. Candidates who, for practical reasons, cannot give a seminar, will be interviewed by Fellowship Committee members via teleconference.

What is the amount of the fellowship?

The fellowship provides a tax-free monthly allowance of approximately 3,200 euros net. The de Duve Institute covers insurance for accidents at work or on the way from home to work, and offers a total reimbursement of travel expenses for commuting by public transport.

Recommendations
Candidates, with help of the host lab head, are urged to apply to other fellowships, prior to and after being awarded a de Duve Institute fellowship.

These include fellowships from:

• The F.R.S.-FNRS (Chargé de recherches; Chercheur temporaire postdoctoral, within PDR or Télévie)
• The UCLouvain (FSR Incoming Postdoc Fellowship - mandatory to apply for ‘Chargé de recherches FNRS’ first) - currently on hold
• Wallonia-Brussels-International (InWBI Excellency Fellowship)
• The European Commission (Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions)
• The Brussels Region (Innoviris - Brains for Brussels) - currently on hold
• The Walloon Region (BEWARE Fellowships - collaboration with Walloon companies)
• EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization)
• FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies)
• HFSP (Human Frontier Science Program)
• The Cancer Research Institute
• The AXA Research Fund

More information on these fellowships and others is available on the dedicated UCLouvain platform SAFIR (login necessary).