About SynCell-nExUS
SynCell-nExUs is a five-year programme launched by the Max Planck Society (MPG) on 1 August 2026. Coordinated by the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry and the MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology in collaboration with 22 research institutions across Europe, the programme offers 40 postdoctoral positions in nine countries. Co-funded by the European Commission under “Horizon Europe” and through MSCA-COFUND, the programme aims to train the next generation of leaders in synthetic biology and related disciplines and offer them diverse career opportunities.
Educational and research institutions participating in the new SynCell-nExUs postdoctoral program across 9 European countries.
The research institutions involved are as follows:
- Max-Planck- Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e. V.
- Technische Universitaet Muenchen
- Universität des Saarlandes
- Otto-von-Guericke- Universitaet Magdeburg
- Universitaet Muenster
- Ruprecht-Karls- Universitaet Heidelberg
- Ludwig- Maximilians-Universität München
- Delft University of Technology
- Stichting Radboud Universiteit
- University of Groningen
- Sorbonne Université
- National Institute of Applied Sciences of Toulouse
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
- Fundacio Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya
- Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria
- Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata
- University of Trieste
- Université de Genève
- National Institute of Chemistry
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center/Aarnhus University
Open Call 1
The first call will open on 31 October 2026 and close on 31 December 2026 at 23:59 CET.
20 SynCell-nExUs Fellowships for a 36-month duration will be available through this call. Following the submission deadline, applications will undergo an eligibility check before being assessed through an independent remote evaluation process. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to submit an extended research proposal and participate in a remote interview. Successful applicants are expected to commence their fellowships from August 2027, with the exact start date agreed between the selected fellow and their host institution. More information can be found in the Guide for Applicants (link coming soon).
