{
    "title": "InterACT: International postdoctoral fellowships build bridges between science and policy",
    "modified_at": "2026-01-29 13:59:32",
    "published_at": "2026-01-28 11:58:00",
    "url": "https://press.vub.ac.be/interact-international-postdoctoral-fellowships-build-bridges-between-science-and-policy",
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    "slug": "interact-international-postdoctoral-fellowships-build-bridges-between-science-and-policy",
    "body": "<p>Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will launch the InterACT COFUND postdoctoral fellowship programme in September 2026, co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie Actions. The initiative is managed by the European Research and Innovation Support (ERIS) team of the Vice Rectorate Innovation and Valorization. Over a period of five years, the postdoctoral programme will recruit 14 international researchers through two competitive calls.</p><p>In today&rsquo;s world of geopolitical tensions and complex global challenges, scientific innovation increasingly depends on collaboration that crosses disciplinary, sectoral, and national boundaries. Yet research too often remains in silo&rsquo;s, limiting its potential to inform policy and deliver broader societal impact. Postdoctoral researchers play a central role in generating knowledge that supports public decision-making, but they are rarely supported in working across disciplines or engaging directly with policy actors. Strengthening the science&ndash;policy interface and equipping researchers with the skills to translate research into actionable insights are therefore essential to advancing evidence-based policymaking in Europe and beyond.</p><p>To meet these challenges, VUB is establishing InterAct, an international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral postdoctoral research and training programme, designed to equip researchers in translating scientific excellence into meaningful societal and policy-relevant impact.</p><p>The first call, opening in September 2026, will select seven postdoctoral researchers for a three-year fellowship, with a strong focus on societal impact and active engagement with stakeholders across disciplines and sectors. Applications from all fields of science are welcome.</p><hr /><p><strong>Contact</strong></p><p>More information on eligibility criteria, funding conditions, and the application process will be disclosed soon. In the meantime, you can contact Alessandra Rossetti (<a href=\"mailto:Alessandra.rossetti@vub.be\">Alessandra.rossetti@vub.be</a>) for more information.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>About&nbsp;Vice-Rectorate Innovation &amp; Industry Relations, VUB</strong> </p><p>The mission of the Vice-Rectorate Innovation &amp; Industry Relations&nbsp;of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel&nbsp;is to create a positive impact on society through the valorization of scientific research.&nbsp;Its operational and&nbsp;multidisciplinary team,&nbsp;<strong>VUB&nbsp;TechTransfer</strong>,&nbsp;aims to connect the university&rsquo;s&nbsp;innovative&nbsp;research&nbsp;expertise&nbsp;with society and industry,&nbsp;together with its partners&nbsp;<strong>VUB Foundation</strong>, the philanthropic fundraising team, and\u202f<strong>Crosstalks</strong>, the interdisciplinary networking platform.&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.vub.be/en/innovating-together-for-better-world-vub/innovation-vub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https://www.vub.be/en/innovating-together-for-better-world-vub/innovation-vub</a> </p><p><strong>About&nbsp;VUB</strong> </p><p>Vrije Universiteit Brussel is an internationally oriented university in Brussels, the heart of Europe. By providing excellent research and education on a human scale, VUB wants to make an active and committed contribution to a better society.&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"http://www.vub.be/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.vub.be</a> </p><p><strong>EU funding acknowledgment</strong></p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-left\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 13.76%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/5813e9bd-b195-427f-830d-e4831ad903c7/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-5813e9bd-b195-427f-830d-e4831ad903c7\"\n                data-id=\"5813e9bd-b195-427f-830d-e4831ad903c7\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/5813e9bd-b195-427f-830d-e4831ad903c7/-/inline/no/Untitled\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/5813e9bd-b195-427f-830d-e4831ad903c7/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Story image\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>This project is co-funded by the European Union&rsquo;s Horizon Europe programme under the Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 101260463.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-56d17691-1339-4d33-9105-0d30d4d4295e\">\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__avatar\"><img src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/96e3692f-39a4-433b-b0ee-9008befa578f/-/crop/1117x1118/419,0/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\" alt=\"Koen Stein\" class=\"release-content-contact__avatar-image\" /></div>\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Koen Stein</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Perscontact wetenschap &amp; onderzoek</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:koen.stein@vub.be\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"koen.stein@vub.be\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>koen.stein@vub.be</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+32 (0)471517909\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+32 (0)471517909\"><svg class=\"icon icon-mobile release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-mobile\"></use>\n            </svg>+32 (0)471517909</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://vub.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"vub.be\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>vub.be</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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