Fellowship Program 2026 at ICGEB | Arturo Falaschi SMART Fellowships
The SMART Fellowship Program under ICGEB recruitment is a prestigious international research opportunity designed to promote mobility, hands-on training, and scientific collaboration among life science researchers from ICGEB Member States. Through the Arturo Falaschi initiative, this fellowship enables early-career scientists to gain advanced research exposure while strengthening cooperation between home and receiving laboratories.
About the Institute:
The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) is an intergovernmental research organization committed to excellence in life sciences research, advanced training, and international scientific collaboration across its Member States through Fellowship Programs.
Job Details:
- Programme Name: Arturo Falaschi SMART Fellowship Program
- Fellowship Type: Short-term international research mobility
- Duration: 3 to 9 months
- Subject Area: Life Sciences
- Mobility Between: ICGEB Member States
- Objective: Skill development, technology transfer, and bilateral research collaboration
- Monthly stipend:
- USD 1,500 for PhD fellows
- USD 2,000 for Postdoctoral fellows
Eligibility:
- Open to nationals of ICGEB Member States
- Applicants must be:
- Registered PhD students, or
- PhD holders who obtained the degree within the last 5 years, or
- Young scientists holding an MSc or equivalent
- Applicants must be actively working in a research institution
- No age limit, though preference is given to early-career scientists
- Fellowships are not intended for:
- Course, workshop, or symposium participation
- Bridging or extension of existing fellowships
Bench Fee:
The bench fee under the SMART Fellowship Program is a contribution toward the implementation of the approved research project.
- A USD 500 monthly bench fee may be paid directly to the receiving laboratory
- Funds must be used exclusively for research consumables related to the fellow’s project, including laboratory reagents, chemicals, plastics, glassware, cell culture consumables, and PCR-related materials
- Non-eligible costs include equipment purchase, maintenance, travel, office supplies, administrative overheads, and bank charges
- Any unspent balance must be returned to ICGEB
Selection for this fellowship program:
Applications under ICGEB recruitment for the SMART Fellowship Program will be evaluated by the ICGEB Fellowships Selection Committee based on:
- Scientific excellence of the proposed project
- Quality and potential impact of the candidate’s CV
- Career development impact
- Benefit to both home and host laboratories and countries
- Skills, competence, and facilities available at the receiving laboratory
Due to the high volume of applications, individual feedback will not be provided.
Submission:
Applicants must complete the online application form through the ICGEB Service Gateway.
Only one application per call is permitted per candidate.
Documents to be Uploaded (PDF):
- Full CV of the applicant
- Full CV of the Head of the Receiving Laboratory (with publications)
- Valid identification document (passport or ID card)
Note on Home and Receiving Laboratories:
After submission of laboratory details in the online application:
- Automatic notification emails are sent to the Heads of both Home and Receiving Laboratories
- Both laboratories must confirm and complete the required information before the deadline
- Applications without confirmation from both laboratories will not be considered
- Early submission is strongly advised
Final Report:
Upon completion of the fellowship program:
- A joint final scientific report must be prepared by the fellow and host supervisor
- The receiving institute must submit a signed financial statement detailing bench fee expenditures
Important Dates:
- Application Closing Date: 31 March 2026 (23:59 CET)
Terms and Benefits of fellowship program:
- Fellowship duration: Minimum 3 months, maximum 9 months
- Financial support includes:
- International economy return travel
- Health insurance
- Stipend is paid directly to the fellow’s bank account
- No financial or administrative support for family members
- The receiving laboratory must ensure adequate research facilities and immediate access to bench fee funds
The SMART Fellowship Program represents a high-impact research opportunity under ICGEB recruitment, offering early-career life scientists a unique chance to gain international research exposure, advanced technical training, and long-term collaborative experience within the global life science community.
