We are looking for 6 highly motivated postdoctoral fellows to conduct interdisciplinary research on the interactions between fungal pathogens and microbial ecosystems within the Fellows4Fungi programme at the Leibniz-HKI (Jena, Germany). Fellows4Fungi - Exploring fungal pathogens within unexplored microbial networks is an international postdoctoral programme co-funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA COFUND). The programme is focused on 6 research areas, which reflect the scientific pillars of Leibniz-HKI:

1. Discovery & engineering of novel antifungals from microbiomes
2. Advanced microbial cultivation & microbiome metabolomics
3. High-throughput & AI-driven antifungal discovery
4. Fungal symbiosis and pathogenicity
5. Fungal metabolites, epigenetics & microbiome structuring
6. Computational microbiomics & systems biology of fungal infections.

Fellows4Fungi combines interdisciplinary research, scientific independence, and cross-sectoral training to support the next generation of leaders in infection biology, antifungal therapy, and microbiome research.

• Complete application form
• Research proposal in one of the programme's research areas, using the provided template, indicating a main supervisor and a mentor, and a preference for secondments from the catalogue
• Ethics self-assessment table using the programme's template
• CV using the programme's template
• Motivation letter
• Two letters of reference
• Transcript of records/courses taken during your studies
• Copy of PhD degree or proof of imminent completion

The detailed descriptions of the research areas with a list of potential supervisors, list of training opportunities, programme details, description of the different stages of the selection process, and detailed instructions for the application process can be found in the Guide for Applicants.

Applications must be submitted via the Leibniz-HKI online application system. Please upload the project description, two letters of reference, and the Ethics Self-Assessment table under "Other". Your PhD certificate and academic transcript of records should be uploaded under "Certificates".

Leibniz-HKI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It aims to increase the proportion of underrepresented groups in case of equal suitability. All qualified persons, regardless of color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other classification protected by law, will receive consideration for employment.

Application requirements

• Research proposal using the programme’s template, identifying one research area, 2 potential supervisors, and a preference for secondments from the catalogue
• Ethics self-assessment table.
• CV using the programme’s template
• Motivation letter
• Two letters of reference
• Copy of PhD degree or proof of imminent completion
• Complete application form

Contact details

For questions regarding eligibility or the application procedure, please contact:
Dr. Ana Depetris Chauvin | fellows4fungi@leibniz-hki.de | +49 3641 532-1263

Fellows4Fungi seeks to accelerate each fellow's career trajectory by expanding both scientific expertise and transversal skills sets while promoting cross-disciplinary, cross-sector knowledge, and active networking. Completion of the training curriculum and progress against individually agreed goals will be tracked in the Career Development Plan (CDP). Interdisciplinary breadth and intersectoral insight will be provided through a structured supervisory team: each fellow will be guided by a main supervisor (from the selected core research area), a co-supervisor (from a complementary scientific discipline within Leibniz-HKI), and a non-academic mentor (associated partner from industry, clinical, or public setting), offering targeted mentorship and hosting a potential 1-3-month secondment. Please also see the Guide for Applicants for further information on secondments and visit the associated partners listed below. Career visibility will be accelerated through personalised mentoring, attendance at international conferences, and active integration into the lively scientific network in Jena.

Am I eligible for a Fellows4Fungi fellowship if I am currently living in Germany or have lived or worked in Germany for a long period recently?

To meet the criteria for the mobility rule for an MSCA COFUND postdoctoral position, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (such as work or studies) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline (May 24, 2026). Short stays, such as holidays, or time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention, are not included in this calculation.

Can I apply if I am a German citizen?

German nationals are eligible to apply as long as they comply with the mobility rule (i. e. they have not resided or carried out main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline on May 26, 2026.

Can career breaks (parental leave, illness etc.) be considered in eligibility?

Yes, evaluators are requested to consider justified career breaks when assessing the CVs.

Do I need to have a PhD certificate by the time of the start of employment?

By the time the employment starts, you need to provide either the PhD certificate or an official document that confirms that all requirements for receiving the PhD certificate (e. g. completion of the written thesis and successful disputation) have been fulfilled.

Is there a maximum number of years of postdoctoral experience allowed?

No.

Is the deadline for submitting applications to Fellows4Fungi flexible?

No. The call for applications for Fellows4Fungi postdoctoral fellowships closes on May 26, 2026 at 12:00 CEST, and the online application system will be automatically closed at this time.

Do I need to collect the reference letters?

Yes, please get reference letters that are signed and on official letter head of the referee.

Is there a specific format for reference letters/motivation letters?

No, there is no specific format, but the reference letters should be signed and on official letter head of the referee.

Is there a page limit for each section of the application?

The research proposal template provides suggestions for the page-length of each section, but you are free to allocate space as better fits your proposal, provided you comply with the total 3-page limit and the format requirements.

Can I check the progress of my application once I have submitted it?

No, but you will be informed regularly about the status of the selection process. Please refer to the timeline for more details on the timing of the process.

I have questions about my application. Can I get assistance?

Please contact the PMO at fellows4fungi@leibniz-hki.de.

If I am not selected in Call 1, can I still apply in Call 2?

Yes, you can apply as long as your research projects matches the research areas open for Call 2 and that you still comply with the eligibility criteria.

Are applicants assigned a supervisor by the Fellows4Fungi programme?

No. Applicants are responsible for identifying suitable supervisors who possess the necessary expertise, infrastructure, and resources to oversee their fellowship.

Who can I contact for guidance on the proposal?

The Project Management Office (PMO, fellows4fungi@leibniz-hki.de) can provide general guidance on the proposal and potential topics, as well as available equipment and resources to check the overall feasibility of the project. You are encouraged to first check the information provided in the Guide for Applicants.

Can I propose more than one supervisor or co-supervision?

No, each project can have only one main supervisor and one co-supervisor.

Can I change supervisor after submission or after selection?

No, the supervisor cannot be changed after submission of the proposal. Please carefully draft your proposal so that it fits specifically to your selected supervisor.

Are there restrictions on choosing supervisors (e.g. prior collaboration)?

You cannot have had any close relation with your selected supervisor (e. g. family ties, prior collaboration, joint publications). If you think there might be a conflict of interest, please contact the PMO at fellows4fungi@leibniz-hki.de.

Should I contact the associated partners for potential secondments?

No, please see the Guide for Applicants for information on potential secondment opportunities offered by the associated partners.

Are interdisciplinary proposals encouraged or disadvantaged?

You are welcome to submit an interdisciplinary proposal as long as it fits in the scope of the research areas of the selected main supervisor and co-supervisor.

What evaluation criteria will be used, and how are they weighted?

Please refer to the Guide for Applicants for an explanation of the evaluation criteria.

Do I have to move to Jena, Germany, for the Fellows4Fungi project?

Yes. One of the main aspects of the MSCA program is international mobility. Researchers funded under the Fellows4Fungi MSCA COFUND programme need to move to Jena, Germany, for the fellowship period. Researchers can, however, organise secondments and research visits abroad. We will provide support with relocation, visa application, and finding accommodation. More information about living in Jena can be found here: https://www.work-in-jena.de/en/.

If selected, can I be accompanied by my family?

Yes, your spouse and/or minor child are welcome to come with you to Jena, but they might need their own visa.