Exceptional extension doctoral trajectory due to delays caused by the impact of construction works on the UZ Gent campus on laboratory animals (2026-2027)

This call for applications will remain open for one year. No further selections are planned after September 23, 2027.  

*Nederlandse versie*

Who can apply?

The call is open to all PhD students, regardless of the funding body of the PhD trajectory so far.

To be eligible for additional funding, all of the conditions listed below must be met:

• The data collection for the PhD research has been interrupted or seriously delayed for an extended period of time due to the impact of construction works on the UZ Gent campus on animal testing, with no alternative possibilities to continue or redirect the PhD research;
• It concerns laboratory animals of the Zebrafish facility (core facility ZFG) or rodent models or larger laboratory animals such as pigs of the core facility ARTH or core facility PDXGhent;
• It concerns research involving animal testing that has been impacted since July 2025 or more recently;
• The doctoral research is in its final stage;
• The delay or interruption of the PhD research lasted at least 4 months;
• The additional funding either immediately links up with ongoing funding of the PhD student (whether or not via UGent), or follows funding that was recently terminated;
• The granted period for additional funding cannot exceed the period of the reported interruption or serious delay of the doctoral trajectory, with a minimum period of 4 months and a maximum period of 12 months;
• There are no alternative funding possibilities available through the promoter, their research group, department or faculty. Promoters who have ongoing Methusalem and/or GOA funding (of at least 300.000 euro) will be excluded from an application for this call;

Only one award can be granted per PhD student. Anyone who has received funding under this call is therefore not eligible to submit a new application

Funding and duration

An extension of the PhD trajectory can be requested (PhD scholarship or contract for scientific staff if a scholarship is no longer possible) for 4 up to 12 months. No bench fee is provided.

How to apply?

An application must be sumitted by the promoter on the form provided for that purpose ( in Dutch or English) and sent by e-mail to BOFapplication@ugent.be 

Deadline

• No fixed deadline, applications can be submitted at any time.
• The evaluation committee meets monthly. The meeting dates are: 25 August 2026, 24 September 2026, 29 October 2026, 17 November 2026, 15 December 2026, 19 Januari 2027, 16 Februari 2027, 9 March 2027, 13 April 2027, 13 May 2027, 8 June 2027, 1 July 2027, 31 August 2027 and 23 September 2027. Applications should reach us at least 10 days before the meeting of the evaluation committee, otherwise the application will be considered during the next meeting.  
• This call for applications will remain open for one year. No further selections are planned after September 23, 2027, this means that the final deadline for applications is September 13, 2027
• If there is still ongoing funding for the PhD, the application can be submitted at the earliest 8 months before the end of the ongoing funding. 
  Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure a subsequent extension. This is especially the case when the appointment must be made as a WP (group 1) and the candidate is subject to the single permit regulations (NON-EEA nationality). 

Evaluation and results

• Promoters will be informed of the result personally within one week after the evaluation committee took place.

Support

Team Research Projects Flemish – Federal - Special Research Fund (BOF)
E BOF@ugent.be

Forms

Call and application form

Application form Dutch / Application form English

Scientific report

Final report : within three months following upon the end of the grant a final scientific/scholarly report has to be sent electronically to BOFapplication@UGent.be. The promoter and co-promoter (if applicable) are included in this e-mail (either as sender, or in CC).