Research with industrial and societal impact
INESC INOV-Lab invites outstanding postdoctoral researchers from around the world to participate in the 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) programme.
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, funded under Horizon Europe, support experienced researchers in developing ambitious, international and interdisciplinary projects while advancing their scientific careers in leading research environments across Europe.
As part of its commitment to fostering excellence and impact-driven research, INESC INOV-Lab provides a structured internal Expression of Interest (EOI) process designed to support the development of strong and competitive MSCA-PF proposals in collaboration with internationally recognised supervisors.
Internal selection process
Following the internal evaluation of submitted Expressions of Interest, candidates have been informed of the outcome.
Shortlisted researchers have been selected to proceed to the proposal development stage, where they will work closely with their proposed supervisors and research teams to further refine their MSCA-PF applications.
This process ensures scientific excellence, strong alignment with MSCA evaluation criteria, and strategic coherence with institutional research priorities.
Support for shortlisted candidates
Selected candidates will benefit from a structured support framework, including:
- Supervisor engagement and scientific guidance to refine the research concept
- Proposal development support focused on excellence, impact, and implementation
- Participation in the MSCA-PF Masterclass
- Institutional guidance throughout the proposal preparation process
This support is designed to strengthen proposal quality and maximise competitiveness under MSCA evaluation standards.
Key dates
- Expression of Interest deadline: 15 June 2026
- Internal evaluation period: June 2026
- Final internal greenlight: 26 June 2026
- MSCA-PF Masterclass: 30 June 2026
- MSCA-PF submission deadline: September 2026
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must comply with the official MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships eligibility conditions. In particular, candidates must hold a PhD by the call deadline, respect the MSCA mobility rule, and meet the applicable research experience requirements.
Candidates are encouraged to consult the official MSCA-PF call documentation for full eligibility information.
Explore opportunities
Candidates may explore a curated set of supervisor-led research opportunities across strategic scientific domains, including:
- Trustworthy 5G/6G core networks and digital twin security
Supervisor: Dush Nalin Jayakody, INESC INOV-Lab - Agentic AI for autonomous aerial communication networks
Supervisor: António Manuel Raminhos Cordeiro Grilo, INESC INOV-Lab - Trustworthy edge AI hardware and embedded intelligence
Supervisor: Mário Véstias, INESC INOV-Lab - AI for digital healthcare transformation and human-centred systems
Supervisor: Ana Maria Madureira, INESC INOV-Lab
Each opportunity is designed to support the development of high-quality MSCA-PF proposals with strong scientific, industrial and societal relevance.
Apply
Submit your Expression of Interest by 15 June 2026 and take the first step towards developing a competitive MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal with INESC INOV-Lab.
👉 https://forms.gle/X3BTMCr7R3WaVC9m9
Applicants are advised to prepare a CV, publication list and a brief research concept before submitting the form.
Contact
For questions regarding the MSCA-PF 2026 Expression of Interest process:
📩 pre-award@ist-id.pt