ARISE2 Career Accelerator for Research Infrastructure Scientists

ARISEApplications are now open for the ARISE2 Career Accelerator for Research Infrastructure Scientists, a prestigious European fellowship programme designed for early career researchers who want to develop cutting edge technologies for life science research. This three year fully funded fellowship is offered by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research programme.

ARISE2 is open to talented STEM researchers from around the world who have a PhD and prior experience in technology or method development relevant to research infrastructure and services. There is no application fee required.You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here

About ARISE2:

• Offered by European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
• Funded by European Union’s Horizon Europe research programme
• Runs from 2025 to 2029 with three application calls
• Offers approximately 17 fellowships per call
• Three year fellowship contracts with potential extension to five years
• International research organization with 29 member states
• 6 laboratory locations across Europe
• Trains scientists at all career levels
• World class research facilities and infrastructure

Three Core Areas of ARISE2 Training:

1. Research Training Including Practical Experience

• Work on self designed research projects developing technologies for life science research
• Optimize your technologies by applying them to other researchers’ projects
• Gain insight into different areas of life sciences, service provision, and user needs
• Prepare and maintain data management plan following EMBL’s Open Science Policy
• Ensure your data is managed according to FAIR and Open standards

Your Supervision Team

• Main supervisor from EMBL who is a group or team leader
• External co supervisor from long secondment host organization or collaborating partner
• Academic mentor for career development consultations
• Optional service provision advisor (if in research groups)

Hands On Service Provision Training

• Option to participate in provision and maintenance of advanced services (not mandatory)
• Limited to 10 days per year to allow focus on your research
• Fellows in groups without services get service providing advisor
• Gain deeper understanding of how research infrastructures operate
• Learn processes involved in service delivery

Research Supporting Secondments

• Long secondment (2 to 6 months) at partner organization collaborating on your project
• Access to novel methods, instrumentation, and expertise
• If partner collaborates on full 3 year project: up to 11 months secondment possible
• User shadowing at EMBL (5 days in first 6 months): Learn how users prepare for service access, where and when they need support, their expectations, and how they handle data

Career Supporting Secondments

• Short visit or job shadowing (1 to 2 weeks at any time) at partner or non partner organization
• Gain insight into operational setups at other organizations
• Develop professional skills and build professional networks
• Interdisciplinary visit to another EMBL facility (1 week at any time): Learn about service provision or technology development in complementary disciplines

2. Research Infrastructure Professional Competencies

• Developed through structured curriculum of mandatory ARISE2 seminars and one week school
• Reinforced during secondments, visits, and practical service provision exercises
• Skills needed to transition into senior roles within research infrastructures

Core Curriculum Topics

• Basic science policy relevant to research infrastructure
• Data science including FAIR and Open research principles
• Service provision and user support
• Communication and outreach
• Research infrastructure management (budgeting, costing, impact assessment)
• Technology transfer and entrepreneurship
• Management of projects and people

One Week ARISE2 School in Year 2

• Focus on strategic research infrastructure topics
• Research infrastructure operations
• Team management
• Budgeting and resource allocation
• Defining and promoting services
• Collaborating with industry
• Leveraging novel developments in research infrastructures

Outreach and Communication Training

• Training by EMBL’s Science Education and Public Engagement office (SEPE)
• Training by EMBL Communications team
• Learn to effectively promote life sciences and research infrastructure careers
• Participate in public lectures
• Guided tours
• Media interviews
• Hone your communication skills through practical activities

3. Career Development Support and Individualised Training

• Create personalized Career Development Plan (CDP) tailored to your long term aspirations
• CDP supported by ARISE Competency Framework for research infrastructure specific skills
• CDP supported by European Commission’s ResearchComp framework for broader research competencies
• Meet with EMBL Career Advisor early in programme to assess your strengths and training needs
• Periodic meetings throughout the 3 year fellowship
• Annual CDP reviews to track progress and ensure alignment with career goals
• EMBL Fellows Career Service provides guidance on training options, application materials, and workshops

Additional Training Opportunities

• Access to EMBL’s postdoctoral programme
• Access to individual scientific and transferable skills development
• Mandatory training in research integrity and data protection
• Complementary skills training courses for scientists
• Professional Development and Training programme

Who Can Apply:

Education and Experience Requirements

• Must hold PhD at application deadline (September 30, 2026)
• If thesis defended but degree not formally awarded: You are eligible
• Prior experience in technology or method development required in academic or non academic sectors
• Experience must be relevant to EMBL research infrastructure and services
• Particularly valued in life sciences
• Successful candidates have four months to start fellowship

Nationality and Location

• Open to experienced researchers from around the world
• No nationality restrictions
• Can be from any country

Previous Work at EMBL

• Previous work at EMBL is acceptable
• Prior association cannot exceed 12 months in last three years
• Prior association means having worked with EMBL supervisors or visited their lab
• You must declare any previous association on application form

Application Materials Required:

• Official application form (provided by programme)
• Official project proposal template (provided by programme)
• Horizon Europe ethics self assessment form (provided by programme)
• Submit through official online recruitment platform
• At least one reference letter required by deadline (up to three possible)

How to Apply Step by Step

• Download ARISE2 Guide for Applicants, official application form, official project template, and review list of EMBL group leaders and partner organizations
• Identify EMBL group leader matching your project and contact them early during development to discuss your ideas and confirm their support
• Design a research project on technology development or improvement that can be applied to other researchers’ work and has international potential
• Use Horizon Europe ethics self assessment form included in project template and EMBL Bioethics Office will review
• Complete application form with your background, education, work experience, technology/method development expertise, scientific achievements, up to two preferred hosting groups, up to three referee details, and optional preferred secondment partner
• Provide referees with email (ARISE2 [email protected]) to send reference letters by September 30, 2026
• Convert application form and project proposal to single PDF and upload to online application portal before September 30, 2026 deadline