GAČR JUNIOR STAR
Funds early-career Czech scientists building first independent groups with long-term support and leadership development.
GAČR JUNIOR STAR is the Czech Science Foundation's early-career line for researchers building their first independent groups in Czechia. Running since 2020, it is aimed at scientists at Czech institutions who are ready to step into independence after a strong doctoral and postdoctoral record. The program is one of the foundation's main talent-building routes and stays tied to basic research rather than applied development. Projects last five years and can reach CZK 25 million each. Applicants must be within eight years of completing the PhD as of 30 September of the submission year, and they must show significant international experience and publications in prestigious journals. The route is single-institution only, and the 2026 cohort funded 18 projects with a combined CZK 425 million. The strongest applications usually pair a sharp research question with evidence that the candidate can lead an independent team, not just contribute as a co-investigator. External peer review and the single-host structure make the program well suited to researchers who can already point to a credible trajectory as a group leader.
Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.