Top 10 Postdoc Programmes in the World (All Fields)

A postdoctoral fellowship is the most important career step for a new PhD — it decides which research group, country, and network will shape your academic trajectory. Some programmes stand out for their funding, prestige, and mobility. Here are the ten best postdoc programmes in the world, spanning all fields.

1. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships — Europe

The flagship postdoc programme of the European Union. MSCA funds individual researchers of any nationality for 1–2 years at a European host institution, with the option of a global mobility component. Fellows receive a competitive salary (about €5,000–6,000/month gross), family allowances, and a generous research and training budget.

• Fields: All disciplines
• Funding: Full salary + research costs
• Deadline: Call typically opens in April, closes in September
• Key point: Strongly emphasises non-academic secondments and career development

If you are a PhD with fewer than 8 years of research experience since your doctorate, this programme is the single most competitive and prestigious European postdoc option. Browse live MSCA-related postdoc opportunities in our listings.

Apply / details: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (European Commission)

2. Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship — Germany

The Humboldt Foundation supports postdoctoral researchers and experienced researchers of any nationality to conduct research in Germany. The fellowship includes a monthly stipend (€2,900 for postdocs) plus support for research costs, language courses, and family members.

• Fields: All disciplines
• Funding: Monthly stipend + allowances
• Deadline: Rolling — apply any time (selection meetings twice a year)
• Key point: The Humboldt alumni network is among the most prestigious science networks in the world

Apply / details: Humboldt Research Fellowship (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)

3. EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships — Life Sciences

For researchers working in molecular biology, neuroscience, and related life sciences. EMBO fellowships fund 2-year stays in European laboratories of the applicant's choice, with the possibility to extend to a third year. The scheme is highly selective: fellows get a competitive salary and allowances, and they can visit European EMBO labs at any point during the fellowship.

• Fields: Life sciences only
• Funding: Full salary + research + childcare allowance
• Deadline: Twice a year (usually February and August)
• Key point: Doing the fellowship outside your original country is required — persistence is rewarded

Apply / details: EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships

4. NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) — USA

One of the most distinctive postdoc opportunities: NPP researchers work at NASA centers and collaborating institutions on space science, astrophysics, planetary science, earth science, and mission-critical engineering research. Fellows are appointed for one year with the possibility of renewal for up to three years.

• Fields: STEM (especially space and earth sciences)
• Funding: $70,000–$90,000/year plus relocation and travel allowances
• Deadline: Three annual evaluation windows (typically March, July, November)
• Key point: Opens the door to NASA staff positions and space mission teams

Apply / details: NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP)

5. ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship — Switzerland

ETH Zurich awards this fellowship to researchers of outstanding academic merit for two years. It is designed to give promising postdocs intellectual independence, with the freedom to build their own research agenda. Fellows receive a competitive salary plus a personal research budget of CHF 25,000 per year.

• Fields: All disciplines represented at ETH
• Funding: Very competitive salary + personal research budget
• Deadline: Two application rounds per year — deadlines 1 March and 1 September
• Key point: You apply jointly with an ETH professor via the eResearch system, so supervisor contacts matter

Apply / details: ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship (Grants Office)

6. Harvard Society of Fellows — USA

One of the oldest and most prestigious postdoc programmes in the world. Junior Fellows of the Society of Fellows pursue their own research at Harvard for three years without formal teaching responsibilities, enjoying total intellectual freedom and a dedicated stipend. Fields are interdisciplinary.

• Fields: All disciplines, interdisciplinary focus
• Funding: Stipend (around $80,000/year) with increases over the three years
• Deadline: Nominations usually open 1 May and close 1 August for the following July start
• Key point: Candidates are nominated by their advisors — self-applications are not accepted

Apply / details: Harvard Society of Fellows

7. JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship — Japan

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science offers short-term (1–12 months) and long-term (12–24 months) fellowships for postdoctoral researchers to work at Japanese universities and institutes. Monthly allowances are approximately ¥373,000–¥393,000, plus a settling-in allowance and travel support.

• Fields: All disciplines (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering)
• Funding: Monthly stipend + allowances
• Deadline: Offered twice a year per host application cycle
• Key point: You must be in contact with a Japanese host researcher before applying

Apply / details: JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan

8. Wellcome Early-Career Awards — UK & Global

The Wellcome Trust funds researchers up to four years past their PhD to undertake ambitious projects, providing up to six years of funding depending on circumstances. Salary and research expenses are covered, and the award includes generous flexibility for career breaks and family circumstances.

• Fields: Health, biomedical, and experimental sciences; humanities and social science relevant to health
• Funding: Salary + research expenses
• Deadline: Rolling rounds (usually three per year)
• Key point: Emphasises ambitious, paradigm-shifting research questions

Apply / details: Wellcome Early-Career Awards

9. Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar Award — USA

The Fulbright programme funds researchers from the US and partner countries to conduct research abroad across all fields. Monthly stipends vary by country and are accompanied by cultural exchange, mentorship, and access to a huge alumni network.

• Fields: All disciplines
• Funding: Country-dependent stipend + health coverage
• Deadline: Country-specific annual cycles
• Key point: Adds an international exchange dimension to research

Apply / details: Fulbright Scholar Program (US postdoctoral awards)

10. Max Planck Society & CNRS Postdoc Positions — Germany & France

Institutional postdoc programmes of the Max Planck Society (Germany) and the CNRS (France) consistently stand out: paid positions on real research projects rather than stipends. Max Planck postdocs earn TV-L E13 salaries, get social security, and can rotate between institutes. CNRS postdoc contracts are similarly well-funded and regarded as contract research positions.

• Fields: All disciplines within each institute
• Funding: Salary contracts with full benefits
• Deadline: Rolling — apply directly to group leaders
• Key point: The most reliable route to well-paid, stable postdoc positions in Europe

Apply / details: Max Planck Society career portal · CNRS job portal

How to Choose the Right Postdoc Programme

• Funding model: Salary contracts (MSCA, Max Planck, ETH) include social security; some stipends do not — check benefits eligibility
• Mobility requirements: MSCA and JSPS require moving between countries; national programmes may restrict host options
• Career impact: Named fellowships (Harvard Society of Fellows, Humboldt) often matter more in academic job markets than slightly higher pay
• Field-specific fit: Life-science applicants should target EMBO and Wellcome; space and earth sciences NASA; interdisciplinary work ETH Zurich or Harvard

Application Checklist

Tip: Start applications 6–9 months before the deadline. Postdoc programmes review applications in batches and many include preliminary interview rounds.

• Write a 2-page research proposal aligned with the host's expertise
• Secure 3 letters of recommendation — one from outside your PhD advisor
• Verify eligibility windows: MSCA (under 8 years experience), Wellcome (under 4), NPP (PhD within 10 years)
• Contact potential host supervisors 3–6 months before applying
• Prepare transcripts, PhD certificate, and a publication list in the requested formats

The best postdoc programmes are extremely competitive — but with careful targeting and an early start, they are achievable. Check our postdoctoral listings for open positions, and combine them with one of the fellowships above for the strongest funding profile.