The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) provides various fellowship 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 grants, accommodation and networking support to researchers.
Maria Leptin – EMBO Science Journalism Fellowships support journalists wishing to enhance their scientific knowledge and understanding of the life sciences and related disciplines, and life scientists wishing to transition to full-time science journalism.
Eligibility:
Residing in an EMBC Member State and applying to undertake in-person training in EMBC Member States*;
For journalists wishing to enhance their scientific knowledge and understanding of the life sciences and related disciplines: working as an employed or freelance journalist as their main occupation, providing appropriate samples of their published or broadcast work, and planning to undertake placements at research institutes during their fellowship period;
For life scientists wishing to transition to full-time science journalism: holding a master’s degree or higher, providing suitable evidence of their prior reporting on the life sciences and related disciplines, and planning to undertake placements in media newsrooms during their fellowship period to learn and train in journalism is required.
* Applicants are not subject to any age restrictions.
Please find detailed information about the eligibility criteria here.
Benefits:
Fellows receive a daily stipend based on the cost of living in the country of their placements. The stipends are intended to cover living expenses and travel costs.
For journalists wishing to work as science journalists, the duration of the fellowship is a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months. Journalist fellows are also expected to attend a two-day workshop at EMBO in Heidelberg, Germany, for which travel and accommodation are provided.
For life scientists wishing to transition to full-time science journalism, the duration of the fellowship is a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 12 months.
Please find detailed information about the benefits here.
Application and Selection:
Applications must be made via the EMBO application system by 23:59 (Central European Summer Time – CEST) on 30 September 2026.
Please find detailed information about the programme here.
Additional Information and Contact Details:
Please find detailed information about the EMBO fellowships and grants on the official EMBO programme website or on the TÜBİTAK EMBO programme website.
Please click here and here to watch the video recordings of the online training days that were held on 16 and 17 October 2025 to promote successful applications for fellowships and grants provided by the EMBO.
If you would like to receive updates about the EMBO fellowships and grants, please subscribe to our newsletter here.
Please send your questions about Maria Leptin – EMBO Science Journalism Fellowships to terry.oconnor@embo.org or embo@tubitak.gov.tr email addresses.
TÜBİTAK – Directorate of International Cooperation