Vilnius University (VU) invites motivated researchers with a strong track record to prepare joint applications for 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF) call with a deadline on September 9, 2026. MSCA PFs are among Europe’s most prestigious research schemes, supporting researchers’ career development while strengthening their creative, innovative capacity and promoting excellence in research.
- European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe (12-24 months).
- Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in R&I projects with organisations outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries (12-24 months outgoing phase in a non-associated Third Country & 12 months mandatory return phase to a host organisation in Europe).
- Boost your chances of success with ERA Fellowships!If you are applying for the European Postdoctoral Fellowship with a host institution in a widening country (such as Lithuania), and your proposal is not funded under the MSCA PF call due to budget limitations, it will automatically be resubmitted to the ERA Fellowships call, which will give your project an additional opportunity to receive support.
- Additional incentive available for researchers applying with host institutions in Lithuania! The Government of the Republic of Lithuania has transferred some European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funds to the Horizon Europe programme, enabling the European Commission to finance more well-evaluated MSCA PF projects submitted with Lithuanian institutions.
HOST INSTITUTION AND RESEARCH GROUP
Founded in 1579, VU combines centuries of academic excellence with a strong contemporary research culture. As the largest university in Lithuania, it comprises 15 academic units and brings together more than 3,400 academic staff and over 26,000 students. Its active research community is supported by extensive infrastructure, including research institutes, 3 university hospitals, the oldest academic library in the Baltics, 3 botanical gardens, and an astronomical observatory, creating a fertile environment for scientific discovery and innovation.
The research of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marijonas Tutkus centred on single-molecule microscopy techniques (TIRF, confocal) to investigate transmembrane protein conformational dynamics in native environments, involving the development of custom data analysis tools. Currently, he is based at the Department of Protein-DNA Interaction Studies at the Institute of Biotechnology of VU Life Sciences Center and the Molecular Compounds Physics Department at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology. Dr. Tutkus’ research focuses on single-molecule studies of nucleic acid-interacting proteins, the development of platforms for nucleic acid-protein interaction studies, and advancements in fluorescence microscopy software and hardware.
SUPERVISOR
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marijonas Tutkus, during undergraduate studies at Dr. Ramūnas Valiokas laboratory (Center for Physical Sciences and Technology), gained experience with the fluorescence microscopy, DNA biochips and DNA methylation. Later, during graduate studies and research assistant work in prof. Dimitrios Stamou laboratory (Copenhagen University), he gained experience with SM TIRF microscopy, confocal microscopy, transmembrane proteins, liposomes, SM signal acquisition and analysis. Next, in Lithuania, he joined the Biophysical Research Laboratory (Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) where in 2019 he obtained a PhD degree in Physics. His PhD studies were focused on SM level fluorescence microscopy of DNA-protein interactions and ultrafast spectroscopy of light-harvesting antenna proteins. Right after finishing PhD studies, Dr. Tutkus got a postdoc grant (supervisor Dr. Mindaugas Zaremba) dedicated to SM level studies of prokaryotic Argonaute proteins’ target search mechanism in vitro and in vivo. Almost at the same time he secured a grant as PI from Research Council of Lithuania for studying target search mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas proteins’ using in vitro assays such as his developed Soft DNA Curtains, and in vivo SM tracking methods. Recently, Dr. Tutkus got an EMBL fellowship grant for studying DNA double-strand break repair inside living cells. Currently, he is working in the Department of Protein-DNA Interaction Studies at the Institute of Biotechnology of VU Life Sciences Center and also at the Molecular Compounds Physics Department at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology where he is continuing SM studies of various NA-interacting proteins, developing platforms for NA-protein interaction studies, fluorescence microscope software/hardware development, and other research.
Since the summer of 2015, Dr. Tutkus has been building a multidisciplinary research team comprising BSc, MSc, and PhD students. In 2017, after securing his first grant, he began formally supervising this team. In addition to his research activities, Dr. Tutkus has been teaching undergraduate courses at the Life Sciences Center since 2017, covering “Quantitative Fluorescence Microscopy” and “Single-Molecule and Cellular Biophysics Methods.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL SKILLS
Single-molecule biophysics.
POSSIBLE RESEARCH TOPICS
Chromosome dynamics; single-molecule fluorescence microscopy.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
- Supported fellows must be in possession of PhD at the call deadline (September 9, 2026).
- Have up to 8 years experience in research from the date of award of the doctoral degree at the call deadline.
- Fellows must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline
Detailed information on the eligibility can be found on p. 81-83 of the MSCA Work Programme 2026-2027.
HOW TO APPLY?
- Contact the supervisor Assoc. Prof. Marijonas Tutkus (marijonas.tutkus@gmc.vu.lt) directly to express your interest in making a joint application based on your research interests. Do not forget to provide the following documents (cc to research@cr.vu.lt):
- curriculum vitae
- list of publications
- proposal summary
- Request a letter from your supervisor endorsing you as a candidate and send it to the Research Projects Office (research@cr.vu.lt).
- After receiving your supervisor’s endorsement, you can start preparing your MSCA PF project proposal. Please note that in order to prepare and submit your application on time (by September 9, 2026), you can seek support from VU Research Projects Office (research@cr.vu.lt).
For more information follow the link.
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