YSF Applications

Update for the 20th FEBS YSF to be held in 2021:

Participant selection for the 20th FEBS YSF has been completed and the event is not open for new applications. The following text is retained for reference, with one addition in red: selected YSF participants must resubmit their abstracts, updated if desired, by January 31, 2021. 

Key dates for the 20th FEBS YSF

YSF/Congress registration and abstract submission opening: 1 November 2019
YSF application deadline: December 15, 2019
Notifications of YSF award winners: February 6, 2020 
Abstract resubmission deadline: January 31, 2021
20th FEBS YSF: June 30 − July 3, 2021 
45th FEBS Congress: July 3−8, 2021

Support from FEBS

FEBS will provide financial support for participation in the YSF and the ensuing Congress to those selected to take part in the YSF, via YSF grants. YSF grants in 2020 can only be used to support participation in the 20th YSF and 45th FEBS Congress, and those selected must attend both the YSF and the Congress. Grants will cover registration and accommodation in shared rooms (for both events) and up to 80% of the travel costs to Lovran (the YSF location) and from Ljubljana (the Congress location). Awards will only be made to support travel from the applicant’s current country of residence in the FEBS area to and from the meeting locations. The amount awarded will be based on the distance travelled and the most affordable options. The grant payment will be processed after the event by the FEBS Treasury. 

Eligibility criteria for the 20th FEBS YSF

PhD students and postdoctoral fellows are welcome to submit applications if they fulfil all of the following criteria. Applicants should:

• be up to 35 years of age, except if studies were started later, or were delayed by maternity leave (18 months per child), prolonged illness or other personal reasons
• be registered as a PhD student at an institute of higher learning in a country where there is a FEBS Constituent Society OR be a postdoctoral scientist within five years of having completed a PhD thesis, working in a country where there is a FEBS Constituent Society
• submit a single abstract to the 20th YSF and 45th FEBS Congress as first author. Both events should be attended.
• be a member of a FEBS Constituent Society
• not have received a grant from FEBS to attend a previous YSF, nor a FEBS Congress bursary to attend the previous year’s FEBS Congress (Krakow, 2019), nor a FEBS YTF award for a 2020 FEBS Advanced Course

Please note that the number of meeting travel awards you have previously received from FEBS (FEBS Congress Bursary, FEBS YSF grant, and FEBS YTF award for FEBS Advanced Course) may also be taken into consideration in your selection.

How to apply

YSF applications must be made through the Congress website’s registration and abstract submission system by December 15, 2019.

Application Steps:

1. Select the YSF Applicant option, and complete a registration order valued at 0 Euros by entering your details on the registration form and selecting the YSF waiver option
2. Submit an abstract as first author to one of the Congress abstract topics (in the 'Posters' track)
3. Upload the following supporting documents in a single pdf file during registration:

• • Proof of Status: PhD student, or post-doctoral scientist within 5 years of receiving a PhD
  • Proof of current FEBS Constituent Society membership (scanned copy of current membership certificate/letter from your FEBS Constituent Society)
  • Curriculum Vitae, prepared using the FEBS Congress 2020 CV template
  • Letter of Motivation, describing reasons why you would benefit from attending the FEBS YSF and the FEBS Congress, in not more than 300 words
  • Letter of Recommendation from your supervisor, not exceeding 300 words, and including your supervisor's signature and contact data (address, phone number, e-mail)
  • Proof of Age: a scanned copy of ID showing date of birth (national ID card or passport). Over 35s with special circumstances should upload additional supporting documents.

Abstract submission must follow the requirements and guidelines on the Call for Abstracts page for the 45th FEBS Congress, noting the earlier deadline for YSF abstracts. Abstracts submitted by YSF Applicants and accepted for the YSF cannot be edited after the YSF application deadline.

Until the announcement of YSF evaluation results, YSF applicants' registration/participant status will be held as pending. Unsuccessful YSF applicants will be able to switch participant types in the Congress registration system after outcome notifications, and also consider applying for a Congress bursary ahead of the March 5, 2020 bursary application deadline. The same supporting documents can be used for the bursary application.

Application and abstract assessments

Applications to the 20th YSF will be assessed by the 20th YSF Organizing Committee and Chair of the FEBS Working Group on the Careers of Young Scientists. All successful applicants will present their work at the YSF as posters and 1-min talks. In addition, all abstracts of successful applicants will be considered for possible oral presentations of 10–15 min during the YSF program. Outcomes on presentation options are expected to be notified shortly after the time of announcement of selected YSF participants.

Abstracts from successful YSF applicants are also included in the ensuing FEBS Congress. If you are interested in oral presentation opportunities at the Congress, please answer 'yes' to a question on this in the abstract submission system. Assessment for this will be carried out by the International Scientific Committee of the Congress and is independent of selection categories at the YSF.