Štefan Schwarz Support Fund

The Štefan Schwarz Support Fund was established in 2004 with the aim of enabling SAS organizations to employ more young researchers.


This Slovak academy of sciences postdoctoral program is dedicated for graduates of doctoral studies from Slovak republic and abroad who can apply under condition that no more than 60 months have passed since the date of their dissertation defense by the call opening date. Time being used on maternity or parental leave does not count in this period. Successful applicants receive from the Štefan Schwarz Fund salary contribution for two years with a possibility to require its extending for another year. The contribution to partially cover salaries of successful applicants is transferred to the organizations that employ them. Within the program selection procedure young researchers defend project proposals that they plan to implement at the SAS organizations.
The fund main objective is to stabilize young promising researchers with foreign experience at SAS workplaces and thus support the future development of SAS organizations.

Procedure for submitting an application within the Štefan Schwarz Support Fund :

  1. The director of the SAS organization that plans to employ the applicant submits the proposal for the selection process (letter of commitment). The proposal has to be submitted by regular post.
  2. The applicant shall submit all data required for the project assessment via the electronic application system.

The call for proposals for 2026 is open from June 1. The submission deadline is June 30.


More information can be found in the Statute of the Štefan Schwarz Support Fund: Statute of the Stefan Schwarz Support Fund_2026.pdf


Challenges - current year

Call for Applications

Open

The Stefan Schwarz Support Fund creates the opportunity to employ outstanding postdoctoral fellows and postdoctoral researchers from Slovakia and abroad through a contribution to the salary fund of the organization that employs the graduate. Graduates of doctoral studies are eligible to apply if, by the date of opening of the call for applications, a maximum of 60 months have passed since the date of defence of their dissertation. During the selection process, young scientists defend projects that they intend to implement at SAS institutes. Successful applicants receive a salary contribution for two to three years.

Application period: 01/06/2026 09:00 CET — 30/06/2026 17:00 CET

All applicants | Supported candidates
Add an application

2021 Call

Published

The postdoctoral programme of the Slovak Academy of Sciences is intended for graduates of full-time dostoral studies from Slovakia and abroad, who have not passed more than four years after defending their dissertations. Successful applications receive a salary contribution for two to three years from the Stefan Schwarz Supportive Fund. Within this programme, young scientists are defending projects that they plan to solve at the organisation of SAS.

Application period: 30/08/2021 08:00 CET — 01/10/2021 17:00 CET

All applicants | Supported candidates

2022 Call

Published

This Slovak academy of sciences postdoctoral program is dedicated for graduates of full-time doctoral studies from Slovak republic and abroad who can apply under condition in the year of application not more than 5 years have passed since the date of their dissertation defense. Successful applications receive a salary contribution for two to three years from the Stefan Schwarz Supportive Fund. Within this programme, young scientists are defending projects that they plan to solve at the organisation of SAS.

Application period: 01/09/2022 08:00 CET — 30/09/2022 17:00 CET

All applicants | Supported candidates

2023 Call

Published

This Slovak academy of sciences postdoctoral program is dedicated for graduates of full-time doctoral studies from Slovak republic and abroad who can apply under condition in the year of application not more than 5 years have passed since the date of their dissertation defense. Successful applications receive a salary contribution for two to three years from the Stefan Schwarz Supportive Fund. Within this programme, young scientists are defending projects that they plan to solve at the organisation of SAS.

Application period: 01/09/2023 09:00 CET — 30/09/2023 17:00 CET

All applicants | Supported candidates

2024 CALL

Published

This Slovak academy of sciences postdoctoral program is dedicated for graduates of full-time doctoral studies from Slovak republic and abroad who can apply under condition in the year of application not more than 5 years have passed since the date of their dissertation defense. Successful applications receive a salary contribution for two to three years from the Stefan Schwarz Supportive Fund. Within this programme, young scientists are defending projects that they plan to solve at the organisation of SAS.

Application period: 02/09/2024 09:00 CET — 01/10/2024 12:00 CET

All applicants | Supported candidates

Call for applications in 2025

Published

This Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) postdoctoral programme is dedicated for graduates of full-time doctoral studies from Slovak Republic and abroad who can apply under condition that no more than 60 months have passed since the date of their dissertation defense by the call opening date. Successful applicants receive a salary contribution for two to three years from the Stefan Schwarz Support Fund. Within this programme, young scientists defend projects that they plan to solve at the organisation of SAS.

Application period: 01/09/2025 09:00 CET — 30/09/2025 12:00 CET

All applicants | Supported candidates
Application version 1.0.0.187 Version date 5/28/2026 2:12:24 PM