# Ramón y Cajal 2026

**Funder:** AEI (Agencia Estatal de Investigación)
**Budget:** 5-year tenure-track contract + research funds
**Deadline:** 10 December 2026 (Round opens 10 Nov 2026, closes 10 Dec 2026 14:00 CET)
**Duration:** 5 years
**Consortium:** No — individual tenure-track fellowship at a Spanish R&D centre
**Application:** Single-stage
**Frequency:** Annual (opens each November)
**Next round:** 2027-11
**Eligible countries:** ES
**Official call:** https://www.aei.gob.es/en
**Last verified:** 18 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Ramón y Cajal is Spain's flagship 5-year tenure-track fellowship for postdoctoral researchers with an outstanding trajectory; host must be a Spanish R&D centre.

## Summary

The Ramón y Cajal fellowship offers a 5-year tenure-track contract plus €200,000-€350,000 in research funds for postdoctoral researchers with strong publication and international experience to establish independent groups at Spanish R&D centres. AEI's flagship programme targets early-career scientists returning to or joining Spanish institutions after working abroad. The call opens annually in November.

## Who should apply

- Postdoctoral researchers with outstanding publication records and international research experience
- Scientists seeking to return to or join a Spanish R&D centre (university, public research institute, or centre of excellence)
- Applicants aiming to transition from postdoctoral roles into tenure-track independence
- Researchers from all fields eligible; strongest track records across multiple first-author publications and international collaborations

## Key dates

- Application window: 10 November, 10 December 2026 14:00 CET
- Single-stage evaluation
- 5-year tenure-track contract plus research period

## Tips for applicants

- AEI emphasizes international visibility and independence from your PhD/postdoc supervisor, frame your research trajectory as distinct and ambitious.
- The host institution's research environment and infrastructure matter; include a letter from the host research centre outlining mentoring and lab support.
- Excellence and publication impact drive selection; prioritize quality over volume in your CV, and highlight first-author contributions and international collaborations prominently.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the Ramón y Cajal fellowship pay?

The fellowship includes a 5-year tenure-track contract plus €200,000-€350,000 in research funds.

### Who can apply for Ramón y Cajal?

Postdoctoral researchers with a strong international research record, applying to work at a Spanish R&D centre.

### Is Ramón y Cajal open to foreign researchers?

Yes, the programme is open to researchers of any nationality provided they secure a position at a Spanish institution and the host centre is an eligible R&D entity.

### When is the Ramón y Cajal deadline?

The 2026 round closes 10 December 2026 at 14:00 CET; the call opens annually in November.

### Is Ramón y Cajal a tenure-track position?

Yes, it is a 5-year tenure-track contract, designed to transition researchers into independent leadership roles at Spanish institutions.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/aei-agencia-estatal-de-investigaci-n-ram-n-y-cajal-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.