Researchers looking for a funded postdoctoral opportunity in Europe should pay close attention to the IRIS Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 in Belgium. This prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND program supports international postdoctoral researchers to develop interdisciplinary research projects addressing major societal challenges in Brussels and beyond. The second and final IRIS call offers 18 postdoctoral fellowships hosted by Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), with a fellowship duration of 30 months. If you hold a PhD and want to conduct high-impact research in Belgium with European funding support, this is a strong opportunity to consider.

IRIS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Belgium 2026 -Overview

• Host Country: Belgium
• Host Institutions: Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
• Program Name: IRIS Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA COFUND – Call 2)
• Opportunity Type: Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Funding Source: European Union Horizon Europe (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND)
• Number of Fellowships: 18 (12 at ULB, 6 at VUB)
• Fellowship Duration: 30 Months
• Application Deadline: 30 June 2026 (17:00 CET)
• Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
• Status: Open Now

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What Is the MSCA COFUND IRIS Postdoctoral Fellowship?

The Interdisciplinary Research in Societal Challenges (IRIS) program is a European postdoctoral fellowship initiative co-funded by the European Commission, ULB, and VUB under Horizon Europe’s MSCA COFUND framework. The fellowship is built around interdisciplinary research, international mobility, and societal impact. Researchers design their own bottom-up research projects aligned with at least one of Brussels’ major societal challenges, while benefiting from structured academic training, networking, and career development support.

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Research Themes / Societal Challenge Areas

Applicants must align their Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship research proposal with at least one of the following challenge areas:

• Climate & Energy
• Resource Optimization
• Mobility
• Healthy & Sustainable Food
• Health & Well-being
• Participative & Inclusive Society

Because IRIS is explicitly interdisciplinary, your project must involve expertise across different scientific domains.

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Who Can Apply for MSCA COFUND Fellowship?

International postdoctoral researchers of any nationality who meet the PhD, research experience, and mobility requirements can apply.

Eligibility Criteria

You must:

• Be of any nationality
• Be of any age
• Hold a doctoral degree, or have successfully defended your PhD thesis by 30 June 2026
• Have no more than 8 years of full-time research experience after obtaining your PhD (eligible deduction periods apply)
• Not have lived or carried out your main activity in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months before 30 June 2026
• Secure confirmation from two supervisors
  • One main supervisor at ULB or VUB
  • One interdisciplinary co-supervisor based in the Brussels Capital Region

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How to Apply for the IRIS Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026

Follow these steps for IRIS Marie Curie International Postdoctoral Opportunities in the Belgium:

Step 1: Visit the official IRIS confund webspage and review the MSCA COFUND Fellowship in Belgium guidelines.

Click Here to Visit the MSCA COFUND IRIS Fellowship Guide for Applicants Call 2

Step 2: Create a personal applicant account by answering and passing eligibility screening.

Click Here to Create an account for IRIS EU-Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship Application 2026

Step 3: Identify the following for your Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellowship Application.

• Your home institution (ULB or VUB)
• Main academic supervisor
• Interdisciplinary co-supervisor

Step 4: Prepare your proposal and required supporting documents using official templates for IRIS Brussels Research Fellowship in Europe.

• Research proposal (Research proposal template)
• Narrative CV (Narrative CV template)
• Ethics self-assessment (Ethics self-assessment template)
• Reference letter (Letter of recommendation)
• Research experience and Mobility Calculator (Research experience and Mobility Calculator)
• Evidence of PhD (scanned document)
• Passport/Identification document (scanned document)

Step 5: Upload the complete MSCA COFUND European Postdoctoral Fellowship application via iris-cofund application portal:

Click Here to Apply Now for IRIS Postdoctoral Fellowship for International Researchers 2026

Important

• Applications can be edited and resubmitted before the deadline.
• Email or postal applications will not be accepted.
• No deadline extension will be granted.

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Application Strategy: What Makes IRIS Competitive?

IRIS is not a generic postdoc call.

Successful applicants will likely demonstrate:

• A genuinely interdisciplinary research design
• Clear alignment with Brussels societal priorities
• Strong supervisor fit
• Realistic implementation planning
• Convincing societal and career impact

Since proposals are reviewed by three external international experts, incomplete or weakly structured applications will struggle competitively.

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IRIS Fellowship Benefits / Financial Support

Selected fellows receive:

Monthly Financial Support

• Living Allowance (gross): €5,000/month
• Mobility Allowance (net): €450/month
• Family Allowance (net, if eligible): €400/month
• Research / Training / Networking Budget: €333/month (managed by the host research group)

Additional Employment Benefits

The fellowship includes Belgian social security coverage, including:

• Health insurance
• Maternity leave
• Sick pay (hospitalisation cases)
• Disability insurance
• National pension system
• National unemployment system
• Workplace accident insurance
• Family benefits
• Occupational disease coverage

Housing Support

Subject to availability, fellows from outside the EEA+ may access temporary furnished accommodation for up to 3 months through BrIAS while arranging housing.

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Apply Now- Research and Jobs in Belgium

The IRIS Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 in Belgium stands out for researchers seeking a prestigious EU-backed postdoctoral opportunity with interdisciplinary freedom, international mobility, and strong institutional support. If your work fits one of the program’s societal challenge areas and you can build a compelling interdisciplinary proposal, this is a highly attractive European postdoc opportunity.

Click Here for Official IRIS MSCA COFUND Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 Call for Applications

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the IRIS Postdoctoral Fellowship fully funded?

The official source provides structured fellowship financial support including living, mobility, family, and research-related funding.

Can international researchers apply?

Yes. Applicants of all nationalities are eligible.

Is there an age limit?

No. The program states applicants of any age may apply.

Do I need a PhD before applying?

Yes, or you must have successfully defended your doctoral thesis by the application deadline.

Can I apply if I already live in Belgium?

Only if you meet the mobility rule (not more than 12 months in Belgium during the previous 36 months).

Is this the final IRIS call?

Yes. The guide identifies Call 2 as the final IRIS call.

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