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Funding callLife sciences · Brazil

FAPESP Young Investigator Grant for International Researchers

FAPESP’s Young Investigator Grant for International Researchers supports researchers of any nationality living abroad, with at least two years of post-PhD experience abroad, to establish their research careers at institutions in São Paulo State, with up to BRL 2,500,000 per proposal. This guide covers suitable research areas, including biotechnology, eligibility and readiness checks, what reviewers typically value and how to plan a competitive proposal.

Pubrica InsightsEditorial team, reviewed by a subject specialist
Next deadline
19 November 2026
Last checked
10 November 2026
Funder
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Sources
1
Apply through the official call

Key dates

Application deadline
19 November 2026
Details last checked
10 November 2026
Apply through the official call

About the call

Funder
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Country
Brazil
Scheme type
Project grant
Funding
Up to BRL 2,500,000 per proposal (fellowship may be requested in addition)
Eligibility
Researchers of any nationality living abroad with at least two years of post-PhD experience abroad who wish to establish their research career at an institution in São Paulo State, in seven strategic areas including biotechnology.
Scope
Life sciences

Topics consistent with the call

  • Biotechnology research with applications in health, agriculture or industry
  • Molecular and synthetic biology for engineering biological systems
  • Biomedical research building new laboratory programmes in São Paulo State
  • Microbial and environmental biotechnology, including bioprocesses
  • Genomics and computational biology supporting biotechnology innovation
  • Plant biotechnology and agricultural life sciences

Based on the published scope; the official page sets out the full themes and requirements.

Is your work a fit? Check before you apply

  1. Confirm that you live abroad and have at least two years of post-PhD research experience abroad.
  2. Check that your project falls within one of the seven strategic areas named in the call.
  3. Identify a host institution in São Paulo State willing to support your new research group.
  4. Ensure the budget fits within BRL 2,500,000, and decide whether to request a fellowship in addition.
  5. Prepare a complete, institutionally approved proposal before the 19 November 2026 deadline.

Why This Funding Call Matters

Establishing an independent research group after postdoctoral work abroad requires substantial funding, infrastructure and institutional support. This grant offers internationally experienced early-career researchers the chance to build a programme in São Paulo State, which has a large and active research system. For researchers in biotechnology and related fields, the scheme combines significant project funding with the option of a fellowship, supporting the transition to independence while strengthening research capacity in the state’s strategic areas.

Who Should Apply

Academic backgrounds

  • Biotechnology
  • Molecular and synthetic biology
  • Microbiology
  • Biomedical sciences
  • Computational biology

Institutions and sectors

  • Public universities in São Paulo State
  • Research institutes in São Paulo State
  • Private higher education and research institutions

What Reviewers Typically Value

  1. An original research programme that establishes the applicant as an independent leader.
  2. A clear fit with one of the call’s strategic areas.
  3. Evidence of strong international research experience and productivity.
  4. Firm commitment from the host institution to support the new group.

Ideas You Could Develop

Engineered microbes for biofuelsA programme engineering microorganisms to convert agricultural residues into biofuels and high-value chemicals.
Biologics for tropical diseasesA project developing recombinant antibodies or vaccine candidates against a tropical disease relevant to Brazil.
Crop resilience through gene editingA research programme using genome editing to improve stress tolerance in crops important to São Paulo agriculture.

Your Plan to the Deadline

A suggested schedule working back from 19 November 2026. Adjust it to the stage your work has reached.

  1. By 24 Sep 2026

    Read the call documents; confirm eligibility, budget limits, assessment criteria and institutional requirements.

  2. By 8 Oct 2026

    Agree the research question, aims, team and partners; contact your research office.

  3. By 22 Oct 2026

    Draft the case for support, methods, impact and budget.

  4. By 5 Nov 2026

    Obtain internal review, letters of support and institutional sign-off.

  5. By 14 Nov 2026

    Final checks against the funder’s guidance and formatting rules.

  6. By 19 Nov 2026

    Submit through the funder’s system before the deadline.

What you gain

  • Funding for the research, team and resources it needs.
  • Recognition from a competitive, peer-reviewed process.
  • Reviewer feedback that strengthens future applications.
  • A track record for larger grants and fellowships.

What happens after you apply

  1. Eligibility check: the funder confirms the application meets the call rules.
  2. Peer review: external reviewers assess the proposal against the published criteria.
  3. Panel: a committee ranks proposals; some schemes include an interview.
  4. Decision: outcomes are released on the funder’s timetable.
  5. Award: successful applicants agree terms and reporting requirements before starting.

What the Funder Are Looking For

FAPESP is looking for researchers of any nationality living abroad, with at least two years of post-PhD experience abroad, who wish to establish their research careers at an institution in São Paulo State. Strong proposals typically present an original programme within one of the seven strategic areas, a realistic budget, evidence of international productivity and clear host support. Strategic areas, eligibility and submission rules should be confirmed in the FAPESP call for proposals.

Read the official pageThis guide summarises the opportunity. Confirm deadlines, eligibility and requirements on the official page before you plan your work, and record the date you checked it.Open the official page

Expert help

How Pubrica Can Help

Pubrica’s subject specialists can help you prepare a competitive proposal, planned back from the deadline. You remain the author of your work.

Grant writingProposal writing structured to the funder’s guidance and assessment criteria. Literature review and gap analysisThe evidence base and the gap your proposal addresses. Study designStudy design and methods that reviewers can assess. Statistical analysis planSample size and analysis plans for the proposal. Data management planData management and sharing plans to funder requirements. Proposal editingEditing of the full proposal for clarity and consistency.
Go to the official page

FAQs

Questions Researchers Ask

The next published deadline is 19 November 2026. Dates can change, so confirm them on the official page before you plan your work.

The call names seven strategic areas, including biotechnology, so a project may fit if it clearly aligns with one of them. Read the list of strategic areas in the FAPESP call for proposals and contact FAPESP if the fit is uncertain.

Researchers of any nationality living abroad with at least two years of post-PhD experience abroad who wish to establish their research career at an institution in São Paulo State, in seven strategic areas including biotechnology. Confirm the full eligibility rules in the call documents.

Yes. Pubrica’s specialists can review, write, edit and format your proposal. You remain the author and the person responsible for the submission.

Sources

  1. São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). (2026). FAPESP Young Investigator Grant for International Researchers. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://fapesp.br/18389/call-for-proposals-fapesp-young-investigator-grant-for-international-researchers

How to cite this page

Pubrica Insights. (2026). FAPESP Young Investigator Grant for International Researchers. Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/insights/calls-and-conferences/fapesp-young-investigator-grant-for-international-researchers/

  • FAPESP
  • Young investigator
  • Brazil
  • Biotechnology
  • Research independence

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FAPESP Young Investigator Grant for International ResearchersNext deadline 19 November 2026

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