Before applying, please read the website carefully. You will find the application link at the bottom of the page soon.
Please note: The electronic application tool will be available by the end of the week, but full application (see guidelines) can by submitted already via email (leaps-ultrafast@desy.de). Please note that the deadline is 30.09.2026 and the evaluation will only start then.
Fellowships are awarded in three rounds of calls. The dates for the first call are:
- The call for applications will be opening on July 6th 2026
- The call for applications will be closing on Sept. 30th 2026
- Online interviews will take place on the week of December 9th, 2026
- Fellowship Start: Beginning of 2027
Candidate Profile
Applicants must have:
- PhD degree or successfully defended doctoral thesis by the programme call deadline.
- Publication record at the time of application showing at least one original accepted publication, in press, or published in a peer-reviewed journal. If the applicant is not the first author of that publication, a confirmation by the first author or supervisor is required to confirm that the applicant’s contribution to the scientific c
- Compliance with the MSCA mobility rule: Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organisation or implementing partner for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the deadline of the co-funded programme's call.
- Recruited researchers may be of any nationality. LEAPS ULTRAFAST integrates gender and diversity considerations into all selection and encourages researchers returning after career breaks to apply.
LEAPS ULTRAFAST encourages researchers returning after career breaks (e.g., parental or care leave) to apply. While PhDs should ideally have been awarded within the past five years to support early-career researchers and in order to acknowledge that postdoctoral positions should be transient in the career of a researcher, candidates with documented career breaks will also be considered. LEAPS ULTRAFAST integrates gender and diversity considerations into all selection.
Selection Process
Fellows will be selected through a transparent, impartial, and equitable recruitment process. Each application will be handled by our online application system. In the course of the online application, a project proposal an CV will need to be uploaded. The selection will focus on both the applicant’s scientific excellence and their potential to become a successful and independent researcher in academia or industry.
The LEAPS ULTRAFAST programme fully integrates gender and diversity considerations into all selection and recruitment processes.
Application
All Application Documents can be found here
For fellowship applications, applicants need to select a preferred research area. We strongly advise applicants to contact the hosts of the respective research areas and discuss the technical feasibility.
Part 1, Project proposal: A description of the planned research project, structured according to a template available by the call opening. The proposal must demonstrate scientific excellence, originality, and project viability. The application should elaborate on the scientific and/or technical approach, including access to research facilities and availability of required equipment. The research impact must be clearly described, detailing benefits for the candidate’s future professional development and for strengthening research capacity at the partner institutions. If intellectual property is foreseen to arise from the research project, this potential outcome must also be discussed. Relevant literature references should be cited. The template includes an ethics self-assessment questionnaire to be completed by the applicant.
Part 2, Curriculum Vitae (CV): The CV summarises the candidate’s career history and academic qualifications to help evaluators assess scientific capability and future potential. It must include educational and academic records, a list of publications, work experience, awards, descriptions of key research projects, outputs, achievements, conference participation (oral/poster), and mobility experience. Narrative elements should provide a comprehensive view of a researcher’s career, contributions, and potential. Career breaks (e.g. due to family responsibilities, illness, or disability) will not downgrade the candidate’s score. Electronic copies of MSc and PhD certificates as well as recommendation letters are expected to accompany the CV.
Working Conditions and Salaries
- Please find here further information on the working conditions and salaries at DESY.
- Please find here further information on the working conditions and salaries at XFEL.
- Please see here for further information on the working conditions and salaries at HFML-FELIX.
- Please see here for more information on the working conditions and salaries at HZDR.
- Please see here for further information on the working conditions and salaries at PSI.
- Please see here for further information on the working conditions and salaries at SOLEIL.
- Please see here for further information on the working conditions and salaries at CMAM.
Contact: leaps-ultrafast@desy.de
