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 second IRIS COFUND postdoctoral fellowship call.
The second call, open since 1 March 2026, 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 30 June 2026.
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.