SNF Global Center Research Fellowship

Benefits & funding

• Up to US$550,000 for a four- or five-year fellowship, with the final amount based on the proposed and justified budget.
• Funds are paid through the fellow’s host institution for research, training, and career-development activities.
• Eligible costs may include proportional salary support, research personnel, project materials and equipment, open-access publication, courses, conferences, and approved temporary training travel and living costs.
• Mentorship, monthly or quarterly online meetings, annual in-person meetings, training, and global networking are included.
• Optional mentored research training may total up to 24 months and may take place at the host institution or another institution in the same or another country.

Eligibility

• Applicants must hold a doctoral degree such as a PhD, MD, or equivalent; master’s degrees alone are not eligible.
• Applicants must be within ten years of completing their most recently obtained doctoral degree and have some postdoctoral research experience at the specified late-postdoctoral or early-career faculty or scientist level.
• Applicants must be currently employed and nominated by an eligible host institution based in a country that the OECD and the World Bank classify as low-, lower-middle- or upper-middle-income, and must remain affiliated with it throughout the fellowship, apart from approved external training.
• Applicants must dedicate at least 50% of full-time professional effort to the fellowship and be able to communicate and publish in English.
• The proposed project must directly address child and adolescent mental health, respond to regional or broader LMIC research needs, and be feasible within the fellowship period.
• The host institution must have an established research record, suitable ethics review and financial infrastructure, and may nominate up to two candidates. Pharmaceutical and other for-profit industry organizations are ineligible, as are institutions prohibited or embargoed from transactions with the United States.
• The program states no nationality, gender, or age restriction.

Application process

1. 1
   An eligible host institution registers its interest, confirms eligibility, and nominates up to two candidates.
2. 2
   The SNF Global Center emails each eligible nominee a unique application-portal link.
3. 3
   The nominee creates a profile and coordinates submissions from the host institution, three referees, and any proposed training mentors.
4. 4
   The candidate submits the project summary, biosketch, motivation letter, research plan, proof of English competency, video, and any optional mentored-training plan; the institution supplies its nomination letter and budget.
5. 5
   An international peer-review panel scores complete applications, shortlisted candidates attend virtual interviews, and the panel selects the fellows.

Program timeline

1. Institutional nominations launched.

   Week of February 2, 2026

2. Webinar for nominating institutions.

   March 12, 2026

3. Online application portal opened.

   April 1, 2026

4. Webinar for nominees.

   April 23, 2026

5. Institutional eligibility and nomination deadline.

   June 1, 2026

6. Full application deadline.

   June 15, 2026

7. International expert review.

   June–July 2026

8. Virtual interviews for shortlisted candidates.

   August 2026

9. Selected fellows notified.

   September 2026

10. Onboarding and institutional contracting.

    September–October 2026

11. Fellows announced.

    October 10, 2026

12. Next request for applications anticipated; an exact opening date has not been published.

    First quarter of 2027