# Postdoctoral Junior Leader fellowships

**Funder:** la Caixa Foundation
**Deadline:** 23 September 2026 (2 pm Peninsular Spain time)
**Consortium:** No
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** ES, PT
**Official call:** https://fundacionlacaixa.org/en/postdoctoral-junior-leader-fellowships
**Last verified:** 19 July 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Postdoctoral fellowship programme for early-career researchers. Both Incoming and Retaining call modalities available. Host institution must be based in Spain or Portugal.

## Summary

The Postdoctoral Junior Leader fellowship from la Caixa Foundation supports early-career researchers establishing independent research groups in Spain and Portugal. The call offers two modalities: Incoming (for researchers relocating to the Iberian Peninsula) and Retaining (for researchers staying at their current host institution). It is open to postdoctoral researchers and runs annually.

## Who should apply

- Postdoctoral researchers early in their independent career
- Applicants hosted at institutions in Spain or Portugal
- Researchers planning to establish or expand an independent research group
- Both international researchers relocating (Incoming) and those already based in the region (Retaining)

## Key dates

- Deadline: 23 September 2026 at 2 pm Peninsular Spain time
- Annual call
- Two modalities: Incoming and Retaining fellowships

## Tips for applicants

- Choose between Incoming (relocating to Spain/Portugal) or Retaining (staying at current host) based on your circumstances; clarity on this choice strengthens the proposal.
- la Caixa emphasises research independence and group-building capacity; highlight how this fellowship enables you to transition from postdoc to group leader.
- Both modalities are evaluated competitively in the same call; ensure your host institution's commitment letter explicitly supports the modality you've chosen.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between Incoming and Retaining modalities for la Caixa Postdoctoral Junior Leader?

Incoming supports researchers relocating to Spain or Portugal to establish a new research group; Retaining supports researchers already at a host institution in the region who wish to continue building their group there.

### Can I apply for la Caixa Postdoctoral Junior Leader if I'm outside Spain and Portugal?

You must be hosted at an institution in Spain or Portugal at the time of application, though Incoming fellowships specifically support international researchers relocating to the region.

### Is the la Caixa Postdoctoral Junior Leader fellowship annual?

Yes, this is an annual call.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/la-caixa-foundation-postdoctoral-junior-leader-fellowships-2026-09) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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