VUB and ULB Launch IRIS COFUND Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), in partnership with Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Horizon Europe), has launched the IRIS COFUND postdoctoral fellowship programme. The initiative aims to recruit 36 international postdoctoral researchers—12 at VUB and 24 at ULB—across two calls between 2025 and 2030.

The first call, open since July 1, 2025, will recruit 18 fellows (6 at VUB, 12 at ULB) for 30-month interdisciplinary projects aligned with the Brussels-Capital Region’s six societal priorities. The application deadline is October 31, 2025.

Open to all fields, IRIS adopts a bottom-up approach, welcoming researchers from diverse disciplines. Eligible applicants must not have lived or worked in Belgium for more than 12 months in the past 3 years before the deadline.

The structured training programme is built on three pillars, Foundations, Consolidation, and Transition, each designed to support fellows throughout their academic and professional journey. It includes:

• Interdisciplinary and ethical research training
• AI for the common good
• Policy engagement with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre
• Career transition support and industry networking

The programme is designed to equip researchers not only for academic excellence but for real-world impact, enhancing their employability across sectors.

For full details and how to apply, click here.