INPhINIT - la Caixa Fellowships Programme (CNIC als Gastinstitution)

What you get

You get a paid doctoral position at the National Centre for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) in Madrid, funded for up to 4 years. You receive a gross salary of 35,800 EUR per year, plus 3,500 EUR per year for research costs such as conferences, courses, consumables and equipment. Your tuition fees for the official doctoral programme are also paid. On top of the money, you join a training programme in transferable skills (scientific writing, presentation, critical thinking, career planning, leadership and teamwork). You also get a mentor, a thesis supervisor, and a place in the worldwide "la Caixa" Foundation Fellows network. The grant comes from the "la Caixa" Foundation, which awards 30 of these Incoming fellowships each year across accredited research centres in Spain and Portugal. The CNIC is one of them.

Who can apply

• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Degree: By the time you start, you must hold a degree that lets you enrol in an official PhD programme in Spain or Portugal. For European Higher Education Area countries this means at least 300 ECTS credits, with at least 60 at master level, or an equivalent degree from elsewhere.
• No PhD yet: You have not started a doctoral programme and do not already hold a PhD.
• Research experience: You have no more than four years of full-time research experience before the closing date.
• Where you have lived: You have not lived or worked mainly in Spain or Portugal for more than 12 months in the three years before the deadline (short holiday stays do not count).
• Field: A STEM subject. At the CNIC this means cardiovascular research.
• English: You can prove at least B2-level English with an accepted certificate.

How to apply

You apply online through the "la Caixa" Foundation fellowships portal. You can also contact the CNIC research group leader you want to work with directly. After an eligibility check, independent experts review shortlisted candidates. Those who pass are invited to an interview before a panel of experts from different fields. The 2026 round closed on 28 January 2026, and a 2027 round has not yet been announced.

How realistic are your chances?

Only 30 Incoming fellowships are awarded each year across many top research centres in Spain and Portugal, so this is a competitive, high-profile award. The narrow focus helps you if you are a strong fit: for the CNIC you need a clear cardiovascular research project and an early-career profile with no PhD yet. Contacting a research group leader beforehand and presenting a convincing project strengthens your case at the interview stage.