HIGH confidence
Researched 2026-07-24 07:44 · profile: researcher
Programme Thesis
The EMBL ARISE2 Fellowship funds early-career postdoctoral researchers to develop innovative technologies and methods for life science research infrastructures, combining hands-on research with professional training in leadership, project management, and entrepreneurship. It exists to train the next generation of research infrastructure scientists who can bridge scientific excellence with operational leadership in facilities like EMBL's advanced imaging, bioinformatics, and structural biology platforms.
Selection Criteria
- Hold a PhD (or have completed all requirements before starting the fellowship) – Eniola does not yet have a PhD, which is a critical eligibility barrier.
- Demonstrate strong research achievements (publications, preprints, patents, platforms built).
- Interest and experience in technology or method development (not just basic research).
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- Motivation to pursue a career in research infrastructures (not traditional academic tenure-track).
- Meet EMBL mobility and eligibility requirements (likely requires relocation to an EMBL site in Europe).
- Quality and feasibility of the proposed technology/method development project.
- Potential for leadership in research infrastructure management.
Past Winners / Cohort Profiles
The page does not list specific past winners, but ARISE2 is the successor to ARISE, which typically recruited postdoctoral researchers with strong technical skills in areas like advanced imaging, bioinformatics, structural biology, and data science. Winner archetypes include early-career scientists who have developed novel computational tools, imaging methods, or lab automation platforms and who show clear interest in managing core facilities or research infrastructure.
Ideal Candidate Fingerprint
A postdoctoral researcher with a PhD in life sciences or a related field, who has already demonstrated excellence in developing a novel technology or computational method (e.g., a new imaging pipeline, bioinformatics tool, or structural biology technique). They should have a clear vision for how their method can serve a broad user community within a research infrastructure, and they must be motivated to pursue a career in research infrastructure leadership rather than a traditional faculty position.
Recommended Framing
Eniola should frame his application around his independent development of the CCT model and the three platforms (IMPRINT, TOPOLOGIX, GATE) as evidence of technology and method development skills. His strong quantitative background, Bayesian modeling, and endorsements from leading neuroscientists position him as an ideal candidate for a research infrastructure fellowship focused on computational and data science tools in addiction neuroscience. However, he must address the PhD requirement – if he can secure admission to a PhD program starting before the fellowship begins, he could apply as a soon-to-be PhD holder, but as an independent researcher without a PhD, he is currently ineligible.
Watch Out
The programme explicitly requires a PhD (or completion of all requirements before starting). Eniola does not have a PhD and is not yet enrolled in a PhD program. This is a hard eligibility barrier. Additionally, the fellowship is based at EMBL sites in Europe, requiring relocation; Eniola is currently based in Nigeria, which may raise mobility/logistical concerns but is not a disqualifier if he can relocate. The programme focuses on technology/method development for research infrastructures, not fundamental neuroscience – Eniola's work is more theoretical/modeling, so he would need to reframe it as a computational tool for addiction research infrastructure.