GAČR POSTDOC Individual Fellowship — Outgoing

GAČR POSTDOC Individual Fellowship Outgoing

Supports outgoing Czech postdocs gaining international placement before reintegration at home.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The GAČR POSTDOC Individual Fellowship Outgoing (PIF Outgoing) is a three-year basic-research postdoctoral fellowship administered by the Czech Science Foundation, structured as a two-phase mobility award: two years at an international research institution abroad, followed by a mandatory one-year return phase at a Czech host institution. The programme was introduced in 2021 to support Czech early-career researchers in building international networks and research independence before returning to the Czech scientific community. The 2027-cycle tender was announced on 9 February 2026 with a submission deadline of 31 March 2026 via GRITA; results are expected on 26 November 2026, and fellowships start January 2027.

Eligibility requires that the fellow completed their PhD within the preceding 4 years. The Outgoing track is available to Czech researchers or researchers based in the Czech Republic, distinguishing it from the Incoming track which targets internationally-based candidates arriving in Czechia. The mandatory return phase — one year at a Czech institution — is a binding condition of the award, making this a return-mobility fellowship rather than a pure outgoing grant. The combined PIF Incoming and Outgoing tracks funded 30 fellowships from a total pool of CZK 145 million (approximately €6 million) in the comparable 2026-start cohort. Individual award amounts, budget rules, and scoring criteria are detailed in the tender PDF.

The fellow's two-year international phase can be conducted at any recognised international research institution or university outside the Czech Republic. Both the foreign host and the Czech return institution must be eligible public-sector research organisations. GAČR positions PIF Outgoing as a mechanism for Czech researchers to build a competitive international profile while maintaining a pathway back into the Czech research system. Proposals undergo review by discipline committees, expert panels, and external international reviewers. The annual call cycle opens in early February and closes at the end of March, with funded projects starting the following January.