At Fellowships Corner, we spend our days reading funding guidelines from every corner of the world, and every so often one stands out for how much support it actually offers a recent PhD holder. The FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship is one of those opportunities. It is run by the São Paulo Research Foundation in Brazil, and it exists to bring talented early career researchers into active research groups across the state of São Paulo.
If you completed your doctorate within the last seven years, in Brazil or anywhere else in the world, this fellowship could fund up to three years of research work at a Brazilian institution, with monthly payments, research funding, and even support for a research stint abroad. Here is everything you need to know, broken down in plain language. For more BS, MS,Phd, Postdoc Positions visit here.
Who Can Apply for the FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship:
This fellowship works a little differently from many others because two people apply together, not one.
The Candidate
The researcher who will actually carry out the postdoctoral work must meet a few conditions.
- Have completed a PhD less than seven years ago (some exceptions apply under Ordinance 171/2024, covering parental leave, disability, or caregiving periods)
- Show a strong academic record and research potential through publications, thesis work, or other achievements
- Have no outstanding obligations with FAPESP from any previous funding
- Be willing to relocate to São Paulo state for the full term of the fellowship
The Supervisor
Every application needs a Supervisor, who is essentially the researcher hosting and guiding the project.
- Must hold a PhD and have led internationally competitive research
- Must show international research experience or active involvement in global research networks
- Must be formally employed at a research institution in São Paulo state (some flexible affiliations are considered case by case)
- Cannot be closely related to the candidate, since FAPESP treats this as a conflict of interest
Because the Supervisor essentially vouches for the project and the candidate, choosing the right one matters just as much as writing a strong research proposal.
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What the Fellowship Actually Pays For:
Once awarded, the fellowship is built around a few core components rather than a single lump sum.
- A monthly stipend, based on FAPESP’s official fellowship value table
- Research overhead funds that the Supervisor can use to support the project
- A one time moving allowance for researchers relocating to the host city
- Paid maternity or paternity leave without any interruption to the fellowship
- Reimbursement of the mandatory Brazilian social security contribution (INSS)
This combination is part of why the fellowship is considered generous by international standards. It is not just a salary. It is designed to actually let someone build a research career in Brazil without financial strain.
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How Long Does the Fellowship Last:
The standard fellowship runs for up to 36 months, always starting on the first day of a calendar month. Anything shorter than six months is not awarded at all, so this is a genuine multi year commitment rather than a short stint.
For fellowships linked to certain larger grants, such as Thematic Projects or Young Investigator Grants, a further 12 month renewal is possible, bringing the maximum possible duration to 48 months.
There is also an option many applicants overlook: a Research Internship Abroad. A postdoctoral fellow in Brazil can pause their fellowship for up to 12 months to complete research at an institution overseas, and that time away does not count against the total fellowship duration. It is a smart way to combine a Brazilian base with genuine international exposure.
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Step by Step Application Process:
Unlike fellowships with a single yearly deadline, FAPESP accepts Postdoctoral Fellowship applications at any point during the year. That gives applicants real flexibility to plan around their own timeline. Here is generally how the process unfolds.
- The Supervisor and candidate jointly develop the research project and confirm the Supervisor’s eligibility
- Both register in FAPESP’s online system, known as SAGe
- The application is submitted with the required documents (listed below)
- FAPESP’s Area Coordinators check eligibility and assign expert reviewers
- Reviewers evaluate the project, the candidate’s background, and the Supervisor’s research history
- Area Coordinators and Associate Coordinators discuss and rank proposals within their field
- The Scientific Director makes the final decision, which then goes to FAPESP’s Executive Board
FAPESP states that the average review takes around 75 days, though this can run longer, especially for proposals submitted between October and January, when Brazilian universities are on academic break and reviewers are harder to reach.
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Documents You Will Need to Prepare:
Having a clear document checklist before you start saves enormous time later. For this fellowship, you will typically need the following.
- A complete, original research project proposal
- Curricular summaries for both the candidate and the Supervisor
- An official doctoral transcript, including any failed or withdrawn courses
- A statement from the Host Institution supporting the project
- Details on the institution’s infrastructure for the research
- A two page Data Management Plan
- A development plan for the postdoctoral program itself
- Proof of the Supervisor’s funding results from the last five years, or a statement confirming no prior FAPESP support
Doctoral degree certificates and proof of leave from a current employer can be submitted a little later, right up until the fellowship is formally accepted, which is helpful if your paperwork is still in progress.
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How FAPESP Actually Reviews and Ranks Applications:
It helps to understand what reviewers are actually scoring, since this shapes how you should write your proposal. FAPESP evaluates three separate components.
- The research project itself, judged on originality, methodology, feasibility, and how well it fits a postdoctoral timeframe
- The candidate’s academic background, including publication quality, international research exposure, and how recently they completed their doctorate
- The Supervisor’s research background, including their track record, international collaborations, and ability to mentor a postdoctoral researcher
When proposals are considered equally strong, FAPESP gives extra weight to candidates moving to a different research group (ideally a different institution) than where they completed their PhD, and to those with a concrete plan for international research experience.
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Mistakes That Commonly Weaken an Application:
Reviewers regularly flag the same issues, and most are avoidable.
- A research project with vague, overly broad, or overly narrow objectives
- A project that reads as unoriginal or too similar to existing work in the field
- A weak explanation of how the Data Management Plan will actually work
- A Supervisor whose international research links are not clearly documented
- Missing justification for why the postdoctoral timeframe fits the proposed work
A strong application connects every one of these pieces clearly, rather than leaving reviewers to guess how the project, the candidate, and the Supervisor fit together.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Is there a deadline to apply for the FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship?
No. FAPESP accepts applications for this fellowship at any time throughout the year, so there is no fixed annual deadline to work around.
How long does the FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship last?
The standard duration is up to 36 months, and it can be extended to a maximum of 48 months for fellowships linked to certain larger FAPESP grants.
Can I apply if I have not finished my PhD yet?
Yes, an application can be submitted before the doctorate is completed, but proof of the completed degree must be provided if the fellowship is awarded.
Do I need a Brazilian Supervisor to apply?
Yes. Every application must be submitted by a Supervisor who is formally employed at a research institution in the state of São Paulo and who agrees to host and guide the project.
Can I do part of my research outside Brazil during this fellowship?
Yes. Through the Research Internship Abroad option, fellows can spend up to 12 months conducting research overseas without that time counting against the fellowship’s total duration.
Where do I apply for the FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship?
Applications are submitted through FAPESP’s online SAGe system, and full official guidelines are available at fapesp.br/en/postdoc.
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