Call to Action
Pioneer Science announced on Friday, the 3rd, the second edition of its National Call supporting young researchers. The initiative will select up to eight researchers in career consolidation, with innovative projects in the health, biomedical, and exact sciences. The planned investment is up to R$ 3.8 million.
Each selected scientist will receive R$ 480,000 to use over three years, along with access to the infrastructure of Instituto D’Or de Pesquisa e Ensino (IDOR). Submissions will be open from January 12 to February 13, 2026.
About the Call:
The call seeks original and innovative projects (with disruptive potential) at the interface between the health, biomedical, and exact sciences. Proposals must fit into one or more of Pioneer Science’s three focus areas: molecular and cellular biology, physics and mathematics of biology, and neuroscience and cognition.
“With this new call, we reaffirm our commitment to valuing young scientific talent and to building a more innovative science, better connected to the major challenges of our country and the world. We believe that supporting early-career researchers is betting on the future — and it is precisely at this early stage that bold ideas, capable of transforming the way we do science, need the space and trust to grow,” says Sergio Ferreira, Scientific Director at Pioneer Science.
Who can apply:
Eligible researchers are those who completed their PhD up to ten years ago (or twelve, in the case of women with children), hold a formal relationship as professors or visiting/substitute/temporary researchers at Brazilian Science and Technology Institutions (ICTs), and have their own research lines — that is, they are in the process of establishing or consolidating independent research groups.
Selection process:
The selection process takes place in three stages. In the first, applicants submit pre-proposals that are evaluated anonymously by national and international reviewers, ensuring an analysis focused on the innovative potential of the proposal. Next, after these evaluations are submitted, reviewers gain access to the applicants’ professional track records, which are also taken into account. Those approved in the first stage advance to the second phase, dedicated to submitting full proposals, which are evaluated by a review committee. This stage also includes interviews with the candidates, composing the final selection process.
Schedule
Proposal submission period
January 12 to February 13
Attachments
Access the calls here:
Document templates
Announcement No. 01/2026 — Schedule update
Link to submit proposals
Frequently Asked Questions
The information below refers to the 2nd Edition of the Pioneer Science Call — Researchers Consolidating Independent Careers. This page is updated periodically throughout the selection process. Still have questions? Write to contato@cp-novo.lojahomologacao.com.br.
What kind of research will the public call support?
Pioneer Science’s public call seeks to support fundamental research projects that address major questions in the health and biomedical sciences, as well as their interfaces with the exact sciences. Major questions are those that challenge current scientific knowledge, offer new perspectives for advancement, or deepen understanding in specific scientific areas. The focus is on original and bold projects, especially those with high risk and innovation. Projects that merely replicate previous work will not be supported. Clinical research or technological development projects are also not within the scope of this call. A new and significant contribution to the field is essential.
Will the evaluation reviews be disclosed?
Only applicants who reach the interview stage will receive reviewer feedback, regardless of whether they are approved for funding.
How do I submit a proposal to the call?
Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Pioneer Science portal on the Fluxx platform within the deadlines set in the call.
How is the selection process structured?
The selection process is divided into three stages. In Stage 1, a blind evaluation of the title and abstract takes place, focusing on the degree of innovation and the disruptive potential of the proposal. In Stage 2, reviewers analyze the applicant’s CV, career trajectory, and scientific contributions to determine academic merit. In Stage 3, selected candidates submit their full proposal and take part in an interview in English conducted by a panel of distinguished scientists.
Do I need to include a detailed budget in my proposal?
No. A detailed budget is not required. Only at the full proposal submission stage will a simplified budget be requested, indicating the amounts expected in the main expense categories. In addition, Pioneer Science funds may be adjusted across different line items throughout the execution of the project.
Can Pioneer Science's public-call grants be extended?
Yes. Pioneer Science’s support can be extended, provided the researcher applies to and is approved in a new public call.
Can the researcher pay themselves a stipend when part of the research will be conducted abroad?
No. The call does not allow self-remuneration with the funds. Funds awarded through the call also cannot be transferred to other countries.
On eligibility, the call states that applicants must have defended their PhD from January 2015 onwards, with exceptions for women with children. Are there exceptions for researchers with international mobility, such as those who did a sandwich PhD?
The only exception provided for in the call is for women who had a child during the period.
Are postdoctoral researchers with a fellowship-only link eligible for the call?
Postdoctoral researchers without a formal employment or functional relationship (for example, as professors or visiting/substitute/temporary researchers) at Brazilian research institutions are not eligible for this call.
Is a researcher with a technical relationship with a research institution (public or private) eligible to apply, considering that they also carry out research activities?
If the applicant obtained their PhD during the period described in the call, and works as the leader of an independent research group, they may apply.
Is it allowed for the project to have two lead researchers?
For the purposes of this call, only one researcher must be designated as responsible for the proposal. This does not prevent the project from being developed in collaboration with other research groups, but only one researcher must be named as the official proponent.
Are foreigners accepted?
Yes, provided they are affiliated through an employment contract or formal functional relationship with a Brazilian institution. Funds from this call cannot be transferred to institutions abroad.
If the PhD diploma has not yet been issued, will a declaration or thesis-defense minutes be accepted?
The date of PhD approval, as stated by the graduate program coordination, will be considered for PhD diplomas that have not yet been issued.
What type of documentation is accepted as proof of employment or functional relationship?
A declaration in Portuguese on letterhead, issued by the institute’s director, department head, or equivalent, attesting to the aforementioned affiliation will be accepted.