The ICGEB-DIC-MOST International Fellowship Programme (IFP) offers competitive short-term Fellowships in Life Sciences to highly motivated scientists from ICGEB Member States wishing to pursue postgraduate research in China. The Programme supports the mobility of researchers to prestigious Chinese laboratories for a period of 3, 6 or 12 months, to benefit from the expertise and technologies available in the receiving laboratories.
Closing Date for Applications:
31 MARCH 2026, 23:59 CET
Programme scope
The International Fellowship Programme (IFP) is a new initiative launched by the ICGEB and the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (DIC-MOST). The IFP Call is managed by the China National Center for Biotechnology Development (CNCBD) with the support of the ICGEB.
The IFP is aimed at promoting the training of scientists and researchers in developing countries and emerging economies, and other ICGEB Member States involved in the Belt and Road initiatives. The Programme supports short-term fellowships of scientists from ICGEB Member States in these regions to prestigious Chinese laboratories as a way of enhancing skill development, acquiring specific hands-on training in technologies available in the receiving laboratory and increasing bilateral cooperation in science and technology between China and the relevant ICGEB Member State.
The list of Chinese Partnering Institutes including a short description of hosting Research Groups is available at: IFP – Partnering Institutes in China. Partnering Institutes in China have been identified among suitable internationally-oriented high quality research centres. Each Partnering Institute has signed a Partnership Agreement with the CNCBD outlining obligations towards fellows and scholarship administration.
How to apply
As a first step, applicants should contact the Principal Investigators (PI) in the Partnering Institute of their choice to define together the research project proposal that will be submitted for evaluation. Applications should outline the impact for the fellow’s career, the benefit to the home laboratory and the suitability of the receiving laboratory. Proposed projects should show clear evidence of strong collaborative potential between the originating laboratory and the Chinese laboratory of destination.
All email communications between the applicants and the PIs should be copied to the ICGEB ([email protected]) and the China Liaison Office ([email protected]).
The Partnering Institute shall provide the applicant with a work consent letter to state its willingness and capacity to host the fellow (both in terms of available laboratory space and administrative / logistics / insurance obligations undertaken). The work consent declaration should be submitted by the applicant as part of her / his application documents.
The application is to be completed online according to the guidelines by 31 March 2026, 23:59 CET.
Eligibility
The Call is open to nationals of ICGEB Member States (Chinese nationals are not eligible), although nationals from Asia, Africa and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiatives are particularly encouraged to apply. The basic qualifications for IFP fellows include holding a PhD degree, being under 45 years of age, and possessing good communication skills in Chinese or English.
Applicants should have completed at least two years of postdoctoral research and wish to spend 3, 6, or 12 months at a partnering research institute in China. In cases of equal scientific merit, preference is given to younger and/or female scientists.
Terms and benefits
Fellowships are awarded for periods of 3, 6 or 12 months. Any requests for alternative durations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The fellowships cover the salaries of the fellows and are awarded in the context of the Chinese “Talented Young Scientist Program”. The funding standard is fixed at a monthly stipend of 20,000 RMB Yuan (approximately 2,800 USD/month) before tax to cover the cost of international travel, housing and living expenses, insurance (insurance is required and includes at least medical insurance and personal accident insurance). The fellowship stipend will be paid through bank transfer to the fellow’s bank account.
The Partnering Institute in China will provide adequate laboratory space and set-up, as well as laboratory consumables, and assist the fellows with visa / permit of stay procedures and any necessary administrative issues. Partnering Institutes will also provide support to the fellows for accommodation and logistics.
The IFP is funded in the context of the “Talented Young Scientist Program” financed by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). The rules of the programme will apply.
The ICGEB/CNCBD can make no financial provision, or provide any administrative support for family members wishing to accompany successful applicants.
Selection procedure
The ICGEB Fellowships Selection Committee will evaluate complete applications received by the closing date and shortlist the best candidates on the basis of scientific merit. Final selections will then be made by the CNCBD Selection Committee and the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC).
The review result will be notified to both selected and rejected candidates by e-mail as soon as the selection procedure is concluded – approximately 2 months after the application deadline.