European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), and European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC)

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) is an international, science-academy-type organisation, established in 1964. It first received funding from different sources such as Volkswagen, but since 1974, the governments of 14 countries have contributed funding to it. The European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC) was established for this governmental support. The task of EMBC was defined as securing the basic operations of EMBO, such as cooperation, courses, workshops, administration, funding as well as to provide the framework for the establishment of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). Today EMBC comprises 27 member countries. EMBO members are highly merited scientists from different countries.

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) was established in 1974. Its key mission is to carry out basic research in molecular biology, provide services to scientists from its member countries and top-level training to doctoral students and researchers working at EMBL, and develop new equipment for biological research. EMBL is an outstanding European infrastructure in the fields of bioinformatics, structural biology and research into transgenic and gene knockout mice.

EMBO works to promote international collaboration and progress of research in modern biosciences by providing funding for researcher mobility particularly at the postdoctoral stage.  Long-term Fellowships are intended for postdoctoral researchers for work abroad for a period of 2–3 years. In addition, EMBO provides Short-term Fellowships intended to senior scientists for research visits abroad for a period of shorter than one year. In accordance with the founding agreement, EMBO answers for the practical implementation of the fellowship system as well as for other EMBC operations. The EMBO secretariat is based in the premises of the EMBL main laboratory in Heidelberg. EMBO also publishes scientific journals.

EMBO Fellowships

EMBO Long-term Fellowships are awarded for a period of up to two years and intended for newly graduated PhDs. The Fellowship covers the travel costs and living costs in a foreign country of the researcher and his/her family. Fellowships are intended mainly for work in some other EMBC member country. Applications for EMBO Fellowships are invited twice a year.

The EMBO Young Investigator Programme was launched in 2000. The programme is intended for highly promising young scientists in the early years of their independent careers. Acceptance into the programme is first of all recognition of the applicant’s merits, but it also provides a grant opportunity and access to the network of young outstanding life scientists.

Applications for EMBO Short-term Fellowships can be submitted at any time. The Fellowships are intended for visits and work ranging from one week to three months in some other EMBC member country.