Deadline: March 1, 2026
Applications are open for the Gruber Foundation Fellowship in Astrophysics 2026. 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.
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.
Funding
- 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.
Eligibility
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 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.
Application
The deadline for fellowship applications is March 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM Paris Time, UTC+1.
For more information, visit Gruber Foundation Fellowship in Astrophysics.
