Call for expressions of interest for FPU 2026 predoctoral grants
The Institute for the History of Science (iHC) invites PhD candidates to apply for a predoctoral FPU grant. Applicants will be invited to develop the full competitive application with the support of iHC’s researchers and the research administration staff at UAB.
The Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) has published the call for grants for University Teacher Training (FPU) corresponding to the year 2026.
These grants are intended to support research training in doctoral programmes leading to the award of a PhD degree and the acquisition of university teaching skills to facilitate the future incorporation of these individuals into the Spanish higher education and scientific research system.
The Institute for the History of Science (iHC) invites students interested in pursuing their PhD at the iHC to submit their applications. The iHC's research focuses primarily on the history of science in the 19th and 20th centuries, from various perspectives: science, politics and power; audiences as active agents in the construction of knowledge; the material, spatial and urban dimensions of science; the nature of technoscience, the environmental crisis and the relationship between science, health and gender.
DESCRIPTION
Duration: 4 years
Funding: €32,500/year + €10,000 to cover doctoral registration fees and research stays + €3,350 to cover the cost of the end-of-contract compensation.
DEADLINES
- Deadline for the candidates to submit their expression of interest to the iHC: 21/10/2026
- Deadline for submitting applications to the Ministry: 12/11/2026 at 14h (CET)
(The iHC will evaluate all the received proposals according with its research lines and scientific interests and will communicate the results as soon as possible, allowing enough time for the Ministry’s application procedure.)
REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Having obtained a bachelor's degree with a weighted average academic grade of 60 or higher.
- Being enrolled in a doctoral program for the 2026–2027 academic year, or being in a position to enroll upon formalizing the contract (expected to be October 2027).
- Not having previously received an FPU grant, not holding a doctoral degree, and not having held a prior predoctoral contract for a period exceeding 12 months.
DOCUMENTATION
Stage 1/ Students interested in the call for expressions of interest, please send the following documents to Laia Torres (laia.torres.casas@uab.cat) with the subject "Call for expressions of interest for FPU 2026":
- CV (4 pages maximum)
- Motivation letter and preference for thesis director (1 page maximum)
- Research proposal (1 page maximum, excluding references)
Phase 2/ Students who pass the iHC's initial selection phase must provide the following information when completing the electronic application form for the AEI:
- CV (abbreviated) of the thesis supervisor.
- Description of the research team's scientific-technical and training context.
- Academic certification of degrees.
- For foreign degrees, a statement of grade point average (GPA) equivalence.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Webinar (15 de octubre)