The Postdoc Talent Programme offers talented researchers from abroad the opportunity to start a career at Wageningen University & Research. Applications should demonstrate the added value of the grant for the applicant’s career and the value of the applicant’s expertise for the hosting research group.


What can be applied for?


Talented eligible researchers can apply for a two-year position within one of the Wageningen University research groups. The position may result in an application for personal funding. The budget consists of €89,000 per year to be spent on salary costs for two years full-time employment for the applicant of which € 79,000 is covered by the awarded grant and € 10,000 per year must be covered by the research group involved. In addition, the grant will cover overhead on top of the awarded budget.
Applications should include a recommendation letter from the chair holder at Wageningen University.


This letter should explain:
i. the quality of the candidate weighed against peers within the research field (and what is considered excellent in this research field);
ii.the opportunities to continue a career in the group with a permanent position or extended funding;
iii. how the applicant’s expertise will be of value to the research group and how the applicant will benefit from the project.
iv.The letter must also show the commitment of the group to co-fund the project.


Wageningen Graduate Schools will select the best 4 applications on the basis of the selection criteria. Because of the limited number of fellowships available, there is a maximum of one application per chair group/chair holder. Applicants should start their projects in September 2026 at the latest.


Submitting your application


Submit your application (application form + chair holder’s recommendation letter) through this link. In addition please send the documents electronically to [email protected] with a copy to the host chair holder and the Executive Secretary of the chair holder’s graduate school.


Requirements


The applicant is a postgraduate who:

  • Has a PhD degree from a Dutch university, followed by a minimum of two years of international – not in the Netherlands – postdoc experience.
  • Or has a PhD degree from a non-Dutch university, the PhD degree must be awarded before the deadline of the call;
  • The postgraduate currently works outside the Netherlands; Has a competitive CV suitable for applying for prestigious personal grants; Will comply with the law and legal requirements with respect to the proposed activities, such as ‘Code Openness Animal Experiments’, and/or ‘Code of conduct on Biosecurity’ (if applicable)
  • NB: Applicants can participate in this call no more than two times. Please contact Ingrid Vleghels ([email protected]) to check eligibility before writing the proposal.


Procedure


The applications will not be sent out for review by external experts but are evaluated by members of the Wageningen Postdoc Talent programme committee. Applicants should take care that the description of the research aims are understandable and enthusing also for non-expert committee members.


Selection criteria:

  • Quality of the applicant
  • Quality and (scientific and societal) impact of the proposal
  • Added value of applicant’s expertise to chair group/WUR and career possibilities within the chair group

Criteria will be weighed equally.


Timeline


Deadline for application: November 11, 2025
Confirmation of receipt: November 2025
Result interview selection: December 2025
Online interviews: January 2026
Awarding grants: February 2026

Projects can start immediately after the funding decision is communicated but should start in September 2026 at the latest.