How to apply for an EHA Kick-off Grant

On this page, we explain all of the actions you'll need to take when submitting an EHA Kick-off Grant application.

Before you begin

Make sure you've read and understood:

The eligibility information on the main EHA Kick-off Grant page
Our policy on life events
Our policy on double awarding
Details of how you can use an EHA Kick-off Grant

Terms and conditions

Before you submit an application, you must read the terms and conditions for EHA Kick-Off Grants.

You should also share this document with:

Your head of department
A relevant administrative or legal representative at your institute and/or your host institute (depending on your circumstances)

To avoid potential issues with your application or project, it's important that these individuals understand and agree to the terms and conditions from the outset.

EHA Portal account

To apply, you must be registered on the EHA Portal. You can find detailed information on this platform in our step-by-step guide to using the EHA Portal.

If you already have an EHA Portal account

You can either:

Log in using your existing credentials
Select ‘Reset or create password’ if you cannot remember your details

When you log in, make sure you use the email address that EHA has on file.

If you do not have an EHA Portal account

Go to the EHA Portal and follow the steps under the ‘Create your user profile’ heading.

Please keep in mind that, once you register, it may take up to two business days before your registration is processed and you get access to the system.

Registrations are approved from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 18:00, Amsterdam time.

If you submit your application after the deadline date due to late EHA Portal registration, it will not be considered.

If you need help with EHA Portal

If you experience issues with registration or accessing your account, our Grants team can help. You can email us at grants@ehaweb.org.

Application form

To apply for an EHA Kick-off Grant, you should complete the application form on the EHA Portal.

You will find the instructions on the platform.

Budget information

As part of your application, you must tell us about your project's budget.

On the application form, please include the following in the 'budget' section:

Maximum required funding
Itemization
Justification—for example, for equipment, you should provide details about the kind of equipment needed and how it will be used to further the aims of the project

Please note that final budgets are subject to approval by EHA's Fellowships and Grants Committee.

At the end of the grant period, all expenditures must be documented with original receipts, vouchers, and/or invoices.

Documents you must submit

As part of your application, you also must submit the following documents. All documents must be in PDF format.

Project proposal

Please use the project proposal template.

Your proposal document should be no longer than three pages and contain details of:

The rationale for the project (maximum half a page)
How the project will be carried out (maximum half a page)
What you are aiming to achieve with this project (maximum half a page)
The timeline
Your career plan
The impact of this grant in future research

If you go over this limit, your application will be ineligible.

Letters of support

Please combine the following documents into a single PDF and name it:

FirstName.LastName_SupportLetters.pdf

1. Letter from your mentor

This letter should be on institute letterhead, and be no longer than two pages.

The letter should include:

A statement on how the project differs from your mentor's focus
Your mentor's signature

If you're a PhD student

In addition to the above, you also need to submit:

Proof of a host lab for the project
Confirmation of your PostDoc enrolment

2. Letters from department heads

You must include letters from the department heads of involved institutes. These letters should be on institute letterheads, and be no longer than one page each.

Each letter should include:

A description of the institutional commitment and facilities to support the project
A description of how the proposed project will fit into the current research of the department
An acceptance statement that makes it clear that possible overhead costs for the EHA Kick-off Grant will be paid for with funds other than the grant
A statement that confirms the institute accepts the terms and conditions as they appear on EHA’s website
The department head's signature

If your mentor is also the department head

You can submit one letter from them that covers all of the above points (1 and 2).

This letter should be no more than three pages long.

3. Signed statements of institutional support

You must include a signed statement of institutional support from your institute. This letter should be on an institute letterhead, and be no longer than one page.