Juan de la Cierva is the annual postdoctoral contract scheme of Spain’s State Research Agency (AEI). It funds Spanish universities and R&D centres to hire recent PhD holders for three years of postdoctoral research training in a host team.
The 2025 call offered up to 500 contracts, with 9 reserved for applicants with a disability and 9 for the JDC-INIA-CCAA agrifood route. It is closed; AEI’s calendar schedules the 2026 call for 12 November to 3 December 2026.
Benefits & funding
- A three-year employment contract at a Spanish R&D centre.
- AEI pays €35,000 a year toward salary and the employer’s social security; gross pay must be at least €30,600 a year.
- An extra €15,000 for research costs, preferably national and international mobility.
Eligibility
- First PhD defended between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025; on the disability route (33% or more), from 1 January 2023. Documented breaks such as sick or parental leave extend the lower limit.
- Must join a Spanish R&D centre other than the one where predoctoral training mainly took place (not required on the disability route).
- Barred: past Juan de la Cierva (including earlier formación or incorporación) awardees; 2025 Ramón y Cajal applicants; 2024 Juan de la Cierva applicants who scored under 50 points.
- Open to any nationality; the host Spanish R&D centre submits the application.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1Agree a tutor, research team and eligible Spanish R&D centre.
- 2Complete the participant form online with your CVA, the tutor’s CVA and the team’s scientific-technical record; in 2025 this closed on 10 December, 14:00 Spanish peninsular time.
- 3The centre’s legal representative signs and submits the application electronically (2025: by 17 December).
Program timeline
10 December 2025
2025 participant form deadline
17 December 2025
2025 host-centre submission deadline
Final selection proposal published
14 September 2026
12 November 2026
2026 call scheduled to open
3 December 2026
2026 call scheduled to close