European fellowships (ERC, MSCA)

Marie Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme offers several fellowship opportunities. The MSCA European Fellowship provides two years’ salary for a postdoctoral researcher from anywhere outside the Netherlands (or a fellow already in NL <12 months in the 3 years prior to the September deadline). The MSCA Global Fellowship offers Amsterdam UMC postdocs a 12 to 24-month stay to a third country (USA, Canada, Australia, etc.) and a mandatory 12-month return at Amsterdam UMC.

The 2025 MSCA-PF closed on 10 September 2025. The European Research Executive Agency received 17,058 proposals. By comparison, 10,360 proposals were submitted in 2024, representing an increase of nearly 65%. Notification of call results to applicants is expected in mid-February 2026. More information about the 2025 call timeline can be found here.

At Amsterdam UMC Research Grant Support (RGS), we see that the involvement and enthusiasm of the hosting PI are key ingredients for a successful MSCA-PF. This stage is about carefully selecting and engaging with the right candidate.

Finding the right candidate is the foundation of a strong MSCA-PF project. Do not feel pressured to accept every applicant who contacts you. This is someone you will work with closely, so being selective and choosing a candidate who truly fits your group is essential. Start looking early and with care.

If you are interested in hosting an MSCA-PF fellow, you can reach out to collaborators for potential candidates or express yourinterest for hosting and co-writing the MSCA-PF proposal through the searchable EURAXESS job database, the MSCA Match making website or the MSCA Funding & Tenders Portal. For more information on candidate eligibility and the profile of an ideal applicant, please visit our internal MSCA-PF SharePoint page.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are also an excellent opportunity for postdocs already working at Amsterdam UMC. Candidates of any nationality can apply, provided they have not lived or worked in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline (usually 10 September). This makes the scheme particularly attractive for newcomers who recently joined AUMC. This fellowship offers a unique chance to strengthen your career path, expand your network, and gain international recognition while continuing to work in our research environment.

For more information, please check our MSCA SharePoint page or contact RGS at rgs@amsterdamumc.nl

Are you interested in applying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) with Amsterdam UMC as your host institution? Each year, we welcome motivated postdoctoral researchers who want to advance their careers in a vibrant, interdisciplinary, and collaborative environment.

Finding the right Principal Investigator (PI) is the first step. We encourage you to explore our research institutes and departments, identify groups that align with your expertise and career goals, and contact PIs whose work resonates with your interests. A strong fit between candidate and host is essential for a competitive application. For a competitive application, it is important that the match goes both ways: the applicant should bring unique skills or expertise that are not yet present in the host group, while at the same time gaining valuable knowledge and training from the host environment.

At Amsterdam UMC, we provide comprehensive support for MSCA-PF applicants. Our programme includes masterclasses and refresher workshops that guide researchers step by step through the application process, as well as annotated templates with detailed instructions and examples. Applicants also benefit from structured review and feedback rounds to ensure their proposals reach the highest standards. Throughout the process, candidates and supervisors are supported by our experienced grant advisors, who have a strong track record in successful MSCA-PF submissions.

If you are a motivated researcher with a strong track record, we invite you to connect with Amsterdam UMC PIs and explore the possibility of applying together.

ERC Starting and Consolidator Grant

Profile: for excellent, prestigious researchers with groundbreaking frontier research ideas starting or consolidating their own independent research team. Applications to the European Research Council (ERC) Starting and Consolidator Grant can be made in any field of research.

Target group: candidates with 2-7 years of experience since the completion of their PhD for the ERC Starting Grant and 7-12 years of experience since the completion of their PhD for the ERC Consolidator Grant. Justified extensions - like maternity leave (18 months per child), paternity leave and clinical training (after the PhD award and up to 4 years maximum) - of this period may be accepted.

Amount ERC Starting Grant: € 1.5M for 5 yearsERC Consolidator Grant: € 2M for 5 years

For ERC Starting Grant laureates, an additional incentive arrangement is available.

RGS offers extensive support to both Amsterdam UMC and external researchers who intend to apply with Amsterdam UMC as Host Institute.

Internal applicants: for registration to the internal support, please do so via this link. For more information and questions regarding internal support, please contact us at rgs@amsterdamumc.nl.

External applicants: for information and registration to the internal support please contact RGS.

ERC Advanced Grant

Profile: for exceptional established research leaders in any field of science, engineering and scholarship to pursue frontier research of their choice. Applications to the European Research Council (ERC) advanced Grant can be made in any field of research.

Target group: excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are already established research leaders with a recognized track record of research achievements. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition, and feasibility of their research proposal.

Amount ERC Advanced Grant: € 2.5M for 5 years.

Additional funding up to € 1M possible to cover eligible ‘start-up’ costs for researchers moving and/or the purchase of major equipment and/or access to large facilities.

Research Support