The La Caixa Foundation is launching a fellowship program for young researchers of any nationality to pursue a PhD in health and life sciences, technology, physics, engineering, or mathematics in Spain or Portugal. Fellowships are available at accredited institutions with Severo Ochoa or María de Maeztu excellence distinctions, Carlos III Health Institute centers, or units recognized for excellence by Portugal’s Foundation for Science and Technology. This program offers 30 fellowships and aims to enhance researchers’ skills for careers in academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. Applicants must meet doctoral program admission criteria, fulfill mobility requirements, and not have started a PhD previously. Selected fellows will be hired by the host organization with funding from the” la Caixa” Foundation. The fellowship lasts up to four years and is renewed annually based on favorable progress reports. Fellows must begin between September and November 2025, and if justified, they may be extended to January 31, 2026.

• Application Deadline: January 23, 2025, at 14:00 (mainland Spain time)
• Shortlisting Results and Interviews: April 11, 2025
• Selection Interviews:28 and 29 May 2025
• Final Result: June 6, 2025
• Fellowship Start Date: Between September and November 2025
• Funding Type: Fully-funded
• Donor: la Caixa Foundation
• Eligible Countries: All
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: Young researchers
• Field: Health and life sciences, technology, physics, engineering, and mathematics
• Study Level: Doctoral
• Number of Opportunities: 30
• Duration: Up to 4 years
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: Spain and Portugal

The la Caixa Foundation will establish an agreement with the host institution, which will directly receive the fellowship funds. These funds will cover the following:

• €35,800 per year for labor costs: This includes Social Security, other mandatory fees, and the fellow’s annual gross salary. The minimum annual gross salary must be €25,000. If labor costs exceed €35,800, the host institution will cover the difference. For Portuguese host institutions, the same conditions apply, whether through an employment or fellowship contract, following Portuguese legislation.
• €3,500 per year for research costs: This covers conferences, courses, research stays, consumables, equipment, intellectual property charges, etc., and must be justified by the host institution on behalf of the fellow.
• Tuition fees for the official doctoral program the fellow joins.