The Centro de Láseres Pulsados (CLPU) invites outstanding postdoctoral researchers to apply for the “la Caixa” Foundation Junior Leader – Retaining 2027 Fellowship Programme, one of the most prestigious postdoctoral funding schemes in Spain and Portugal.
Successful candidates will join CLPU to develop a research project in a world-class research environment centred on ultra-intense laser science, laser-plasma acceleration, secondary radiation sources, high-field physics and related applications.
Fellowship Highlights
- Duration: 3 years
- Research fields: STEM (Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry and Life Sciences)
- Number of fellowships: 20
- Research opportunities: Applicants may develop independent projects or build upon CLPU’s ongoing research in laser-plasma acceleration, secondary radiation sources and biomedical applications, with scientific guidance from our researchers.
Funding
The fellowship provides a highly competitive funding package of up to €320,100 over three years, including:
- Up to €64,000/year to cover employment costs (including salary and employer contributions).
- Minimum annual gross salary: €47,000.
- €38,500/year for research expenses, including consumables, equipment, conference participation, travel, personnel, intellectual property and project costs.
- Additional family allowance (€1,200 per dependent child per year).
- Mobility allowance (€5,400) for eligible researchers relocating to the host institution.
Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
| Application deadline | 23 September 2026 (14:00 CEST) |
| Shortlisting results | 12 January 2027 |
| Interviews | 24–25 February 2027 |
| Final results | 10 March 2027 |
| Fellowship start | Between 1 May and 31 December 2027 |
Eligibility
- Nationality: Open to researchers of any nationality.
- PhD: Applicants must have obtained their PhD between 23 September 2019 and 23 September 2024 (eligibility extensions apply under specific circumstances).
- Mobility: Applicants must have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for at least 12 months in the three years preceding the application deadline (specific exceptions apply)
- International experience: Applicants must have completed at least 6 months of research stays outside Spain during their PhD or postdoctoral career.
- Proposal: Applicants must submit an original research proposal together with the host institution.
Please refer to the official call for the complete eligibility criteria, including extensions, exemptions and specific mobility rules.
Why Apply with CLPU?
CLPU hosts the VEGA Petawatt Laser Facility, one of Europe’s leading ultra-intense laser infrastructures and part of the Spanish ICTS (Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures).
Researchers joining CLPU benefit from:
- Access to state-of-the-art high-power laser facilities.
- An international and collaborative research environment.
- Opportunities to develop independent research programmes.
- Strong collaborations with leading European research institutions.
- Modern experimental laboratories and advanced scientific infrastructure.
Support from CLPU
Researchers interested in selecting CLPU as their host institution will receive dedicated support throughout the application process.
Our team can assist with:
- Identifying a suitable research topic aligned with CLPU’s research lines.
- Developing and refining the scientific proposal.
- Reviewing proposal drafts and providing scientific feedback.
- Preparing the required host institution documentation, including the Declaration of Interest.
- Guidance throughout the submission process.
We strongly encourage prospective applicants to contact us well before the application deadline to maximize the competitiveness of their proposal.
How to Apply
If you are interested in carrying out your fellowship at CLPU, please contact us as early as possible.
Following an initial discussion, we will assess the suitability of your profile and research interests, help identify a competitive research topic, and support you throughout the proposal preparation process. Candidates selected by CLPU will then be guided through the submission of their application to the official «la Caixa» Foundation Junior Leader programme.
Scientific contact: Carlos Salgado López
Centro de Láseres Pulsados (CLPU)
Email: csalgado@clpu.es
Official Call: https://fundacionlacaixa.org/es/becas-posdoctorado-junior-leader-convocatoria-retaining
