This guide will help you understand the conditions, application process, and selection procedure of the i4A Access Grant, and includes links to the application forms. Please read this document carefully before proceeding with your application.

Note

Since the 2nd Open Call, the Access Grant has been updated to include two tracks, each aligned with specific goals. Be sure to review the informational pages before planning and submitting your application.

i4A Access Grant is aimed at LMIC researchers (including Master’s students, PhD students, postdoctoral researchers/fellows, principal investigators, laboratory technicians, staff scientists), as well as imaging facility staff (research, technical, service support incl. image analysts, software and hardware developers) and imaging facility management. It supports access to any imaging facility or laboratory of the applicant's choice that is equipped with the technologies and services needed to conduct biological or biomedical imaging.

The i4A Access Grant offers two distinct tracks:

  • Access Research Track – for conducting experimental research at any imaging facility or laboratory.
  • Access Skills Track – for gaining new imaging skills through a personalised, hands-on learning experience at any imaging facility or laboratory.

Conditions

Budget: A budget of up to EUR 10,000 (ten thousand euros) is available per project. This amount covers imaging facility access fees for the use of imaging instruments, related services, reagents and consumables, as well as visa processing costs, travel insurance, meals, and travel and accommodation.

Whenever possible, the cost of access to the imaging facility, related services, and reagents and consumables will be paid directly to the hosting imaging facility upon receipt of the invoices or payment requests. The hosting institution must be willing and able to provide an invoice or a payment request addressed to the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) for the services provided to the i4A Access Grant awardee.

Our i4A administrative staff can assist you with booking your travel ticket and accommodation in a pre-funded manner. Otherwise, the budget for travel and accommodation can be provided to the grantee as reimbursement. We can only reimburse you for your expenses upon receiving the relevant receipts and expense claim forms. Travel costs will include a round-trip economy ticket and public transportation. Visa processing costs may include visa fees, travel expenses to and from visa authorities, photo and printing costs, and other related expenses. Applicants are responsible for arranging travel insurance if they desire coverage for the duration of their travels.

Bookings should be made according to EMBL's travel reimbursement guidelines to ensure full reimbursement. Travel to and from the hosting site can occur up to two weeks before and after the imaging facility visit. Travel dates exceeding this two-week period before and after the visit will not be covered by the grant.

Duration and Multiple Visits: i4A Access Grant typically supports access to hosting imaging facilities for a duration of 1 - 4 weeks. Longer visits may be possible if justified, provided that total expenses do not exceed EUR 10,000 (ten thousand euros).

We recognize that some projects may require multiple visits to the hosting imaging facility. Multiple visits to the same facility will be allowed under the scope of the received grant. However, for reimbursement processing we will accept only one reimbursement request from the hosting imaging facility, and one from the grantee.

Funding Extension: Requests for a second round of i4A funding to return to the same hosting facility or lab after the initial grant may be considered and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you are an i4A Access or Pro Grant recipient who has completed your scientific visit and wish to return to the same hosting facility or lab to continue your work, please contact us at [email protected].

Hosting imaging facility choice

i4A Access Grant applicants are free to choose their hosts, which may be located nationally or internationally, but must not be part of the applicant’s own affiliated institution.

The chosen host may either be an imaging core facility offering open-access services or a laboratory that provides access to their imaging equipment and can issue an invoice suitable for EMBL to cover the access costs.

When reviewing the submitted applications, we will consider whether the choice of the hosting imaging facility is justified and aligned with your goals and objectives.

Note

Costs associated with the hosting imaging facilities: The i4A Access Grant covers the costs associated with accessing imaging instruments and related services for your project. These services may include, but are not limited to, sample cultivation and preparation, image data acquisition, experimental consultation, customised imaging solutions, assay and probe development, expert advice, image data analysis, and image data management support. Additionally, the imaging facility may request reimbursement for reagents and consumables purchased specifically for your project. Please note that the i4A Access Grant does not cover any costs related to equipment purchases.

Biological and biomedical sample shipment: Depending on the availability of imaging support services at the hosting facility and as per your agreement, samples may be sent in advance for cultivation and sample preparation by the imaging facility staff. If shipping biological samples or reagents is not possible due to national and international regulations, we advise applicants to seek support and collaborations for sample provision at the site of the hosting imaging facility. Please inform yourself about the biological sample shipment regulations of the hosting country and include your sample logistics plans in your application.

Timeline of the Access Grant

Timeline for i4A Access GrantFor applicants requiring visas for their travel associated with the i4A Grant, please inform yourself about visa processing timelines with your respective embassies or consulates while selecting your hosting institution/country.

Application Procedure

How to applySend us your enquiry to receive pre-application guidance

Pre-application guidance is intended to support you in choosing the most suitable grant track, identifying an imaging facility that matches your project requirements and selecting the most appropriate imaging modality.

To receive guidance on your application, please send us a brief description of your project and/or objectives at i4a_support@embl.de. Include any preferred host(s) or indicate if you would like assistance in deciding.

While it is not mandatory for Access Grant applicants, we recommend taking advantage of this opportunity to discuss your projects and training plans with us, ensuring that your proposed visit is compatible with the i4A grant framework.

Note

Pre-application guidance is not a substitute for applicants' own exploration of potential hosts or training courses. We encourage applicants to identify possible hosts and courses independently before contacting us and/or alongside our discussions.

Pre-application guidance for Access and Pro Grants will be offered until mid-February and will not be available up to the application submission deadline of 28 February. This is because preparing an application for this call requires time, from identifying and contacting a host institution, to discussing and refining plans, and completing the application. Applicants are therefore advised to plan accordingly if they wish to receive pre-application guidance, and to begin planning their application well before the deadline.

Choose your application track

The i4A Access Grant offers two distinct tracks:

Access Research Track is intended for applicants who wish to access imaging instruments to generate imaging data for their research projects. It is best suited for those aiming to conduct experimental work and test scientific hypotheses using biological or biomedical imaging technologies.

Access Skills Track is intended for applicants seeking to gain new imaging-related skills through personalised, hands-on learning at the hosting institution, without necessarily conducting experiments. It is ideal for learning to operate a specific imaging instrument, develop an imaging assay or probe, adopt a new imaging modality or image analysis method, or acquire a sample preparation technique to implement at your home institution.

If your goal is to expand your skills and knowledge in areas related to facility operations, management or training others, please apply under the Pro Skills Track to a Pro Grant Host.

Demonstrating that you have the resources to apply these skills at your home institution is part of the Skills Track application review.

Partner with a Hosting Facility

  • Initiate contact with the prospective hosting imaging facility or laboratory
  • Draft your project description or visit plan with input from your host
  • Obtain Confirmation of Support from your host

For both of the Access Grant tracks, you will be applying for the funds in collaboration with your prospective hosting facility or laboratory. It is essential that the chosen facility or lab agrees to participate in the process with you, providing the necessary information, advice and completing the required support forms in a timely manner.

We recommend approaching your prospective hosting imaging facility or laboratory with a brief description of your project and objectives and arranging a meeting to discuss them. At this stage, you may also ask us to act as a liaison to facilitate the initial contact with the host.

Once you reach an initial agreement, please proceed to completing the forms below.

Submit your official application

After completing your project and visit planning and obtaining your Confirmation of Support from your host, you may proceed with submitting your official application.

Required Forms

Access Research Track Forms

Project Description Form
(completed jointly by the applicant and the hosting institution)

The Project Description Form is where you describe your imaging project and the proposed experiments. Completing this form should be a collaborative effort between you and your host. This document will help the host confirm the availability of their resources (e.g. timetables, instrument access, staff support) and assess the technical feasibility of your proposed project. It will also help us evaluate your application. Please download the Project Description Form using the link above and work on it on your local device.

Access Confirmation of Support Agreement
(completed by the hosting institution)

This form confirms the technical feasibility of your project and the host's commitment to supporting your visit. It must be completed by your host via the Google Form linked above. Please ensure your host receives the link and submits the form in a timely manner.

Access Grant Application Form
(completed by the applicant)

After completing your Project Description Form and obtaining the Confirmation of Support for your visit, you may proceed with submitting your official application. To do so, please fill out the Access Research Track Application Form via the Google Form linked above. In this form, we ask you to describe your motivation for applying for the i4A Access Grant, the anticipated impact on your scientific work or career, and your plans for disseminating the knowledge gained through this programme. Be sure to attach your completed Project Description Form when submitting your application.

Access Skills Track Forms

Visit Planning Form
(completed jointly by the applicant and the hosting institution)

The Visit Planning Form is where you describe the objectives of your scientific visit. Completing this form should be a collaborative effort between you and your host. This document will help the host confirm the availability of resources (e.g. timetables, instrument access, staff support) and assess the feasibility of your proposed visit. It will also help us evaluate your application. Please download the Visit Planning Form using the link above and work on it on your local device.

If you plan to bring biological samples to the hosting institution in order to conduct experimental work in addition to enhancing your skills, please also complete the Project Description Form.

Access Confirmation of Support Agreement
(completed by the hosting institution)

This form confirms the feasibility of your proposed visit and the host's commitment to supporting it. It must be completed by the host via the Google Form linked above. Please ensure your host receives the link and submits the form in a timely manner.

Access Grant Application Form
(completed by the applicant)

After completing your Visit Planning Form and obtaining your Confirmation of Support for your visit, you may proceed with submitting your official application. To do so, please fill out the Access Skills Track Application Form via the Google Forms link provided above. In this form, we ask you to describe your motivation for applying for the i4A Access Grant, the anticipated impact on your scientific work or career, and your plans for disseminating the knowledge gained through this programme. Be sure to attach your completed Visit Planning Form when submitting your application.

Selection Procedure

The selection process will be based on information obtained from the submitted applications.

Once we receive your official application, we will initially check it for eligibility and completeness. After the eligibility check, your application will undergo an independent scientific review by a minimum of two external reviewers with matching scientific expertise. They will evaluate your application using a transparent point-based evaluation system. The criteria for each of the two tracks are outlined below.

Access Research Track Evaluation

  1. Scientific quality of the proposed project (up to 10 points)
    • Scientific background/rationale for the project is robust.
    • Project objectives are clearly stated.
    • Expected project outcomes are clearly stated.
  2. Experimental plan and timeline (up to 10 points)
    • Experimental design is sound.
    • Experimental timeline is realistic.
  3. Relevance (up to 5 points)
    • The proposed project aligns with the applicant's research interests.
  4. Motivation (up to 5 points)
    • The applicant's motivation in applying for the grant is clearly stated and appropriate.
  5. Impact (up to 5 points)
    • The training opportunity has the potential to impact the grantee's scientific work.
  6. Dissemination (up to 5 points)
    • The applicant has concrete plans to disseminate the knowledge to his/her local scientific community.
  7. Justification of the choice of the imaging facility (up to 5 points)
    • Sample logistics, availability of equipment and expertise suitable for the proposed project

Access Skills Track Evaluation

When assigning points, Skills Track reviewers will consider whether the grantee's working environment has the resources to support them in applying the skills gained during the i4A scientific visit.

  1. Planning and timeline (up to 10 points)
    • The planning of the visit and objectives are reasonable.
    • The objectives are achievable within the proposed timeline.
  2. Relevance (up to 5 points)
    • The proposed goals align with the applicant's research and/or career interests.
  3. Motivation (up to 5 points)
    • The applicant's motivation in applying for the grant is clearly stated and appropriate.
  4. Impact (up to 5 points)
    • The access opportunity has the potential to have a positive impact on the grantee's scientific work/career.
  5. Dissemination (up to 10 points)
    • The applicant has concrete plans to disseminate the knowledge to his/her local scientific community.
  6. Justification of the choice of the imaging facility (up to 5 points)
    • Availability of equipment and expertise suitable for the proposed goals

For both the tracks, based on the combined scores, proposals will be ranked and shortlisted. i4A funding programme intends to cultivate cultural diversity and gender equity. Therefore, the final selection will be made to ensure:

  • Balanced distribution of funds across the country affiliations of grantees
  • Balanced representation of gender
  • Balanced distribution across project topics and imaging modalities (if necessary)

We will select the top-scoring projects for funding and place the runner-up projects on the waiting list. The waiting list may be called at a later time if resources become available.

After the visit

Visit evaluation and follow-up:
By accepting the i4A funds, grantees commit to submitting a visit report and an evaluation form about their experience in the short term. Additionally, i4A grantees agree to complete a follow-up form one year after their visit to assess the impact of the grant on their projects and careers.

Grantee networking opportunities:
Following the open call, we will host online events to bring i4A awardees together, providing opportunities to network, share experiences, and build connections within a global community of like-minded imaging scientists.

Do you have further questions?

We are hosting a Q&A session for applicants and hosts on 14.01.2026 at 13:00 CET. We will answer your questions and support your applications. To register please use this link.

For your questions and support enquiries please get in touch with us via i4a_support@embl.de.