The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is pleased to invite applications for the
2026 Gruber Foundation Fellowship in Astrophysics, a prestigious program supported by
The Gruber Foundation (GF). This fellowship is designed to support early-career astronomers and promote the advancement of cosmology and other branches of astronomy.
Application Deadline: 1 March 2026 (11:59 PM Paris Time, UTC+1)
We encourage all IAU Members to inform eligible colleagues about this excellent opportunity.
Fellowship Overview
The Fellowship will be awarded to highly promising early-career astronomers working in any field of astrophysics, including theoretical, observational, or experimental research. The Gruber Foundation provides funding of US$ 75,000 per year, typically divided among three recipients as a research grant to cover travel and research expenses in support of a postdoctoral appointment at a host institution. The postdoctoral appointment for the 2026 Gruber Foundation Fellowship in Astrophysics must begin no later than 1 October 2026. The fellowship may be combined with other awards.
Important Dates
- 1 March 2026: Deadline for fellowship applications (11:59 PM Paris Time, UTC+1)
- End April 2026: IAU Executive Committee approves the winners selected by the Selection Committee.
- End of May/Early June 2026: Public announcement of the winners
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants are early-career astronomers within three years of PhD defense who meet one of the following conditions at the time of application:
Final-year PhD students: Must have a confirmed contract offer for a postdoctoral position. The PhD must be successfully defended by the fellowship start date (no later than 1 October 2026).
Early-career astronomers: Must be in a postdoctoral appointment and have at least one year of confirmed employment remaining from the fellowship start date.
Transitioning to a new postdoctoral position: Must have a contract offer for a second postdoc starting no later than 1 October 2026.
- The three-year eligibility period is measured from the PhD defense date to the proposed fellowship start date. Officially documented career breaks (e.g., parental leave, medical leave, or mandatory military service) do not count toward this limit.
- The competition is rigorous, and selection will be based on scientific achievements, research potential, and the strength of the proposed research.
- There are no nationality restrictions, though preference may be given to candidates from countries in difficult economic situations.
Host Institution Requirements
The host institution must:
-
Be a recognized center of excellence in the applicant’s research field.
- Be located in a different country from:
- The PhD-granting institution (for first postdocs).
- The previous postdoctoral institution (for second or subsequent postdocs).
- Provide basic salary and research facilities, as the GF grant primarily covers travel and research expenses.
Funding and Support
- The total grant (US$ 75,000) will be divided typically between three independent awardees (US$ 25,000 each).
- The grant will be paid directly to the recipient(s).
- The proposed budget should cover only the period for which the applicant has confirmed employment at the time of application.
- The fellowship cannot be used to extend an existing postdoctoral position beyond the confirmed period of employment.
- A small portion of the grant (up to 10%) may be used to supplement salary if the host institution fully covers all applicable salary-related costs (pensions, health insurance, etc.), subject to approval by the IAU General Secretary. A detailed justification must be provided.
The grant may be used for research-related purposes such as:
- Travel for research visits, observing runs, or conferences
- Equipment or software
- Open-access publication costs
Each budget item should be clearly described and justified.
Application Procedure