The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) provides various scholarship and support programmes for scientists working in the field of life sciences. These programmes, which are financed by the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC) Member States and EMBO/EMBC global partners, provide grant, accommodation and networking support to the researchers.
EMBO Scientific Exchange Grants provide funding to researchers working in the field of life sciences to conduct research visits to laboratories in countries that are EMBC members or EMBO/EMBC global partners.
Eligibility:
Being an active researcher at any stage in their career with at least 1 year of graduate research experience at the time of application*;
Currently working in a research laboratory in EMBC members or EMBO/EMBC global partners and their research area being in the field of life sciences and related to EMBO subject areas;
Applying for a scientific exchange in a research laboratory in EMBC members or EMBO/EMBC global partners excluding the country in which their current laboratory is located**;
Not applying to work in a laboratory that the applicant has previously worked or visited;
Not applying to attend courses, workshops or symposia;
Returning to their own laboratory upon the completion of the scientific exchange and staying there for at least 6 months is required.
* Candidates with a medical degree (M.D.), independent researchers and research technicians are also eligible to apply provided they have at least 1 year of graduate research experience and their research area is in the field of life sciences and related to EMBO subject areas.
** Only in exceptional cases, the grants may be awarded for research visits outside the countries that are EMBC members or EMBO/EMBC global partners. For such cases, it is essential to provide a justification for why there is no appropriate expertise or technology in EMBC members or EMBO/EMBC global partners.
Please find the detailed information about the eligibility here.
Benefits:
Grant is awarded for visits of 1 week up to 3 months.
Grantees can stay longer than 3 months (with a maximum of 6 months) during their visits, but the EMBO grant must be used for the first 3 months of the visit.
Grant contributes towards travel costs and subsistence of the fellow but not of any dependents with the subsistence rate and travel allowance depending on the country being visited.
No fund can be provided for additional expenses other than these items.
Please find the detailed information about the benefits here.
Application and Selection:
Applications must be made directly to EMBO through the application system.
Applications are accepted throughout the year. At minimum, applications must be submitted 30 days before the start date of the research visit. However, it is recommended to apply 3 months before the proposed starting date.
Please find the detailed information about the programme here and application guidelines here.
Additional Information and Contact Details:
Please find the detailed information about the EMBO scholarships and grants from the official EMBO programme website or from the TÜBİTAK EMBO programme website.
Please click here and here to watch the video recordings for online training days that were held on 16 and 17 October 2025 to promote successful applications to the scholarships and grants provided by the EMBO.
If you would like to get updates about the EMBO scholarships and grants, please subscribe to our newsletter here.
Please send your questions about EMBO Scientific Exchange Grants to fellowships@embo.org or embo@tubitak.gov.tr e-mail addresses.
TÜBİTAK – Directorate of International Cooperation