Future Earth Seeks Applicants for 2026 Early-Career Fellowship

发布人：张钰茜 发布日期：2026-03-09

Overview

The Early-Career Fellowship (ECF) is a pilot program launched in 2022 aimed at implementing development concepts of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing, while promoting the achievement of sustainable development goals. The ECF program is organized by Future Earth Global Secretariat Hub China with support from China Association for Science and Technology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, and Future Earth Global Secretariat Hubs. The mission of the ECF program is to provide a forum where early-career researchers from various disciplines (e.g., natural, social, and human sciences) can share interdisciplinary research, pursue unique collaborations, and build a network of colleagues dedicated to improving global sustainable development. 

 

Program Details

Future Earth convenes researchers and scholars from all parts of the world, across different societal and academic sectors, and across the natural, social, and human sciences. Future Earth initiates and supports international collaboration programs between these researchers and stakeholders. The aim is to identify and generate the integrated knowledge needed for successful transformations towards societies that provide good and fair lives for all within a stable and resilient Earth system. Future Earth uses a rigorous transdisciplinary research and systems thinking approach throughout its work in which basic and applied research are combined to generate actionable, solution-oriented knowledge to inform and guide decisions by policy makers and practitioners at all levels of governance. The Future Earth ECF program will select outstanding early-career scholars who are in the final year of their doctoral program or have obtained their PhD within the last 3–5 years in a natural, social, or human science discipline related to global sustainable development, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental pollution control, ecosystem restoration, marine environmental protection, human environment development, as well as AI and Earth system science.

 

Award Details

In 2026, the ECF program intends to award 10-15 early-career researchers. Each successful applicant will be granted a scholarship of 10,000-30,000 Chinese Yuan (RMB). These funds are designated for research-related expenses, including professional travel, conferences, or any other costs directly related to the fellow’s research. The use of funds for any other purposes requires pre-approval from the Future Earth China Hub. Please note that the funds cannot be transferred to other units. 

 

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Be an early-career researcher/scientist/postdoc who is scheduled to complete their PhD program in 2026, or who has earned their doctoral degree after 1 January 2021.

  • Work in the field of social sciences, engineering sciences, earth and life sciences, or interdisciplinary scientific fields clearly relevant to global sustainable development.

  • Have more than 12 months of overseas study/work/research experience at a college or university, research institute, etc., or intend to study/work/research overseas and return to China.

Successful applicants are expected to possess the following qualities:

  • A strong research background with clear alignment toward global sustainable development goals.

  • Experience in interdisciplinary fields and/or a demonstrated willingness to work in interdisciplinary collaborative activities.

  • Efficient verbal and written communication skills to address both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

  • Good organizational and interpersonal skills necessary for the successful accomplishment of projects.

  • Willingness to engage in a period of exchange or cooperation (overseas applicants are expected to come to China; domestic applicants are expected to go abroad).

 

Application materials & Process

To apply for the ECF Program, please include the following documents/information in your application:

  • Latest CV: Must include educational/work experiences (in reverse chronological order), publications/patents/awards/projects etc.

  • A description of the applicant’s research interests (covering background, methodology, and impact), which shall identify the primary discipline, explain how the research intersects with sustainable development objectives, and specify the ongoing collaborations or future collaboration plans with any Future Earth Global Research Networks (GRNs).

  • A description of the proposed research work the applicant plans to accomplish under the ECF program, including the plan of international exchange and cooperation with other ECR programs within the Future Earth GRNs.

  • A supporting letter from their current supervisor, mentor or collaborator is highly recommended.

  • Applicants must complete the application form by 6:00 PM Beijing Time on April15, 2026. Early submissions are strongly encouraged. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-July 2026.

 

Selection

Applications will be evaluated based on research originality, productivity, and potential as well as the committee’s assessment on how likely the applicant will be benefitted from the ECF program and will contribute to the FE’s objectives. Efforts will be made to balance representation across different disciplines and gender. 

 

Please reach out with any questions to zhongming.gao@futureearth.org