Senior Scientific Officer

Senior Scientific Officer - Research Grants

HFSPO - International Human Frontier Science Program Organization

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The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) has an opening for a Senior Scientific Officer to support the Research Grant Program.

The position is ideally suited for candidates with a Ph.D. in life sciences or fields at the interface with life sciences who has an interest to join the world’s leading program for support of basic research in biology.

About Us

HFSPO is a unique organization supporting pioneering, interdisciplinary and internationally collaborative basic research in the life sciences. It is supported by 17 Members, comprising 16 countries and the European Commission. Since 1990, more than 8,500 researchers from over 70 countries have been funded. Of these, 31 HFSP awardees have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.

HFSPO is implementing its Strategy 2024–2032, which sets a path for strategic and organic growth. HFSPO aims to strengthen its core programs supporting frontier research, improve the integration of scientists from all Member countries, diversify its membership, deepen engagement with research communities worldwide and develop new opportunities for frontier science.

About the Position

The Senior Scientific Officer - Research Grants will play a central role in the scientific leadership, implementation and continued development of the HFSP Research Grants Program and will contribute to the scientific management and development of HFSPO’s wider portfolio of Programs. Working closely with the Director of Awards and Chief Scientific Officer, the incumbent will hold delegated responsibility for the scientific implementation of the Research Grants Program, including its annual award cycle and peer review process, and will lead scientific Program analytics across HFSPO’s portfolio.

As part of HFSPO’s wider pool of Senior Scientific Officers, the position will also contribute flexibly across Programs and scientific activities, providing senior scientific capacity where required. The position calls for an experienced scientist and research‑funding professional able to combine senior scientific judgement, rigorous Program delivery, data‑informed analysis and collaborative leadership.

Contract Type

Three-year contract renewable once

Reference: HFSPO/2026/SSO-RG

Deadline: 30 November 2026

Interviews: January 2027

Team

Reporting to the Director of Awards, the Senior Scientific Officer - Research Grants forms part of HFSPO’s scientific team responsible for the Organization’s award programs and wider scientific activities. The position works closely with other Senior Scientific Officers, Scientific Officers, Program Officers and colleagues across the Secretariat in implementing the HFSP Research Grants, Fellowships, Accelerator Program and other scientific initiatives.

Job DescriptionResearch Grants and Peer Review

• Holds delegated responsibility for the scientific and operational implementation of the HFSP Research Grants, Accelerator Program and any other grant‑related Program, ensuring their effective delivery in accordance with HFSPO’s scientific strategy, policies and established standards;
• Leads the annual Research Grants award cycle, including the scientific management of the peer review and selection processes and the preparation and conduct of review committee meetings;
• Oversees the identification, selection and assignment of review committee members and external reviewers, ensuring appropriate scientific expertise, balance and integrity throughout the peer review process;
• Ensures that applicants receive appropriate and constructive feedback following the peer review and selection process, in accordance with HFSPO policies and established practices;
• Provides judgement on complex applications, awards and other Program‑related cases, escalating matters with significant policy, reputational or strategic implications to the Director of Awards;
• Ensures effective scientific oversight throughout the award lifecycle, working with Scientific Officers and Program Officers to provide applicants, awardees and their research organizations with clear guidance on program requirements and timely, consistent responses to scientific and award‑related queries;
• Identifies opportunities to strengthen and continuously improve the Research Grants Program and its peer review and selection processes, contributing to their further development and evolution.

Program Analytics, Evaluation and Impact

• Leads scientific Program analytics across all HFSP Programs, in collaboration with other Senior Scientific Officers, ensuring the systematic analysis and interpretation of applications, peer review, awards, research output