490 new PhD fellows fundamental research and strategic basic research

Each year, the FWO offers nearly 500 promising researchers the opportunity to pursue a PhD in fundamental research or strategic basic research. Internationally composed FWO expert panels selected the most outstanding research proposals.

Following a multi-stage evaluation process, consisting of a written assessment during the preselection stage and an interview stage, 310 PhD fellowships fundamental research and 178 PhD fellowships strategic basic research were awarded. In addition, the Flemish Government provides the FWO with funding for research under the auspices of ‘Kom op tegen Kanker’. This made it possible to award one additional fellowship in the Med4 panel to the highest-ranked candidate. A further fellowship was funded through a partnership with Meise Botanic Garden. This brings the total number of new FWO doctoral researchers to 490.

Over the coming years, the selected researchers will work on innovative research projects across all scientific disciplines, ranging from healthcare and technology to the social sciences, climate, biodiversity, and culture. Through these fellowships, the FWO is investing not only in advancing the frontiers of scientific knowledge, but also in the professional development of early-career researchers who will help shape the knowledge and innovation of tomorrow.

We wish the new doctoral researchers every success as they embark on their research careers.