Offer Description
LEAPS ULTRAFAST invites applications for its first call, offering 27 fully funded postdoctoral fellowships of two or three years for researchers in ultrafast science who wish to work at Europe's most advanced large-scale light sources across academia and industry.
About the Programme
LEAPS ULTRAFAST is a five-year MSCA COFUND postdoctoral fellowship programme dedicated to ultrafast science at large-scale light sources. Fellows perform outstanding, individually driven research, build a professional network, and develop career awareness for diverse paths in academia and industry — supported by a dedicated Career Development training programme that combines ultrafast science and large-scale photon sources with transferable skills.
Fellows will:
- Perform cutting-edge research in ultrafast science with access to over 20 large-scale facilities, including synchrotrons, free-electron lasers, and table-top lasers.
- Follow a structured Career Development programme covering scientific and transferable skills — communication, project management, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
- Build a professional network across eight leading European photon-science institutions and collaborate with world-leading experts.
The Network
The LEAPS ULTRAFAST network unites Europe's most advanced photon-science centres: DESY, European XFEL, PSI, HZDR, SOLEIL, Lund University (MAX IV), UAM (CMAM), and the HFML-FELIX Laboratory. Together they give Fellows access to flagship facilities such as PETRA III and FLASH, the European XFEL, SwissFEL, ELBE, and the MAX IV and SOLEIL light sources.
Research Fields
Projects can be tailored across four key domains of ultrafast science:
- Matter and Materials: for example electronic dynamics in molecules and materials.
- Energy and Environment: for example catalytic reactions for green energy technologies.
- Health and Life Sciences: for example biomolecular structures supporting drug development.
- Future Technologies: for example quantum materials for next-generation computing.
Candidate Profile
Applicants must have:
- A PhD degree or successfully defended doctoral thesis by the programme call deadline.
- At least one original publication (accepted, in press, or published) in a peer-reviewed journal as first author or an equivalent contribution.
- Compliance with the MSCA mobility rule: not more than 12 months of residence or main activity in the recruiting country during the 36 months before the deadline.
- Recruited researchers may be of any nationality.
LEAPS ULTRAFAST encourages researchers returning after career breaks (e.g., parental or care leave) to apply. While PhDs should ideally have been awarded within the past five years to support early-career researchers and in order to acknowledge that postdoctoral positions should be transient in the career of a researcher, candidates with documented career breaks will also be considered. LEAPS ULTRAFAST integrates gender and diversity considerations into all selection.
Key Dates
- Applications open: 6 July 2026
- Deadline: 30 September 2026
- Interviews: week of 9 December 2026
- Fellowship start: beginning of 2027
Learn more & Apply
Applicants select a preferred research area and are encouraged to contact the hosts in advance to discuss feasibility. A project proposal (using the template available at call opening) and a CV with PhD/MSc certificates and recommendation letters are required. Application forms and templates are available on the LEAPS ULTRAFAST website.
Learn more and apply: https://www.leaps-ultrafast.eu/applying/
Contact: leaps-ultrafast@desy.de
Where to apply
Website: https://www.leaps-ultrafast.eu/applying/
Requirements
- Research Field: Physics — Education Level: PhD or equivalent
- Research Field: Chemistry — Education Level: PhD or equivalent
- Research Field: Biological sciences — Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- A PhD degree or successfully defended doctoral thesis by the programme call deadline.
Specific Requirements
- At least one original publication (accepted, in press, or published) in a peer-reviewed journal as first author or an equivalent contribution.
- Compliance with the MSCA mobility rule: not more than 12 months of residence or main activity in the recruiting country during the 36 months before the deadline.
- Recruited researchers may be of any nationality.
LEAPS ULTRAFAST encourages researchers returning after career breaks (e.g., parental or care leave) to apply. While PhDs should ideally have been awarded within the past five years to support early-career researchers and in order to acknowledge that postdoctoral positions should be transient in the career of a researcher, candidates with documented career breaks will also be considered. LEAPS ULTRAFAST integrates gender and diversity considerations into all selection.
Languages
ENGLISH — Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
LEAPS ULTRAFAST is a five-year MSCA COFUND postdoctoral fellowship programme dedicated to ultrafast science at large-scale light sources. Fellows perform outstanding, individually driven research, build a professional network, and develop career awareness for diverse paths in academia and industry — supported by a dedicated Career Development training programme that combines ultrafast science and large-scale photon sources with transferable skills.
Fellows will:
- Perform cutting-edge research in ultrafast science with access to over 20 large-scale facilities, including synchrotrons, free-electron lasers, and table-top lasers.
- Follow a structured Career Development programme covering scientific and transferable skills — communication, project management, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
- Build a professional network across eight leading European photon-science institutions and collaborate with world-leading experts.
The Network
The LEAPS ULTRAFAST network unites Europe's most advanced photon-science centres: DESY, European XFEL, PSI, HZDR, SOLEIL, Lund University (MAX IV), UAM (CMAM), and the HFML-FELIX Laboratory. Together they give Fellows access to flagship facilities such as PETRA III and FLASH, the European XFEL, SwissFEL, ELBE, and the MAX IV and SOLEIL light sources.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must have:
- A PhD degree or successfully defended doctoral thesis by the programme call deadline.
- At least one original publication (accepted, in press, or published) in a peer-reviewed journal as first author or an equivalent contribution.
- Compliance with the MSCA mobility rule: not more than 12 months of residence or main activity in the recruiting country during the 36 months before the deadline.
- Recruited researchers may be of any nationality.
Selection process
Applicants select a preferred research area and are encouraged to contact the hosts in advance to discuss feasibility. A project proposal (using the template available at call opening) and a CV with PhD/MSc certificates and recommendation letters are required. Application forms and templates are available on the LEAPS ULTRAFAST website.
Learn more and apply: https://www.leaps-ultrafast.eu/applying/
Contact: leaps-ultrafast@desy.de
Additional comments
Projects can be tailored across four key domains of ultrafast science:
- Matter and Materials: for example electronic dynamics in molecules and materials.
- Energy and Environment: for example catalytic reactions for green energy technologies.
- Health and Life Sciences: for example biomolecular structures supporting drug development.
- Future Technologies: for example quantum materials for next-generation computing.
Website for additional job details
https://www.leaps-ultrafast.eu/
https://www.leaps-ultrafast.eu/applying/
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 7
Company/Institute: DESY – Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (Coordinator, LEAPS ULTRAFAST network)
Country: Germany
State/Province: Hamburg
City: Hamburg
Postal Code: 22607
Street: Notkestr. 85
Number of offers available: 3
Company/Institute: European XFEL (Coordinator, LEAPS ULTRAFAST network)
Country: Germany
State/Province: Schleswig-Holstein
City: Schenefeld
Postal Code: 22869
Street: Holzkoppel 4
Number of offers available: 4
Company/Institute: HZDR - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Coordinator, LEAPS ULTRAFAST network)
Country: Germany
State/Province: Sachsen
City: Dresden
Postal Code: 01328
Street: Bautzner Landstraße 400
Number of offers available: 9
Company/Institute: PSI - Paul Scherrer Institute (Coordinator, LEAPS ULTRAFAST network)
Country: Switzerland
State/Province: Kanton Aargau
City: Villigen PSI
Postal Code: 5232
Street: Forschungsstrasse 111
Number of offers available: 2
Company/Institute: SOLEIL - Société civile Synchrotron (Coordinator, LEAPS ULTRAFAST network)
Country: France
State/Province: Île-de-France
City: Saint-Aubin
Postal Code: 91190
Street: Départementale 128
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: FELIX - Free-Electron Lasers for Infrared eXperiments (Coordinator, LEAPS ULTRAFAST network)
Country: Netherlands
State/Province: Gelderland
City: XZ Nijmegen
Postal Code: 6525
Street: Toernooiveld 7
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: UAM - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Coordinator, LEAPS ULTRAFAST network)
Country: Spain
State/Province: Madrid
City: Madrid
Postal Code: 28049
Street: C/ Faraday 3
Contact
State/Province: Hamburg
City: Hamburg
Street: Notkestrasse 85
Postal Code: 22607
E-Mail: leaps-ultrafast@desy.de
