Call for Research Software Sustainability Fellows (RSSF 2026)

This Fellowship Programme is a joint initiative with and funded by Open Science NL (OSNL). Learn more about OSNL’s Research Software Sustainability Programme and our joint initiative here.

Summary of this call

  • Open to applicants from all disciplines of the academic research community, working in the Netherlands
  • Receive in-kind support from eScience Center research software engineers (RSEs) to advance the state of research software within their community
  • 40 hours of eScience Center expertise (“in-kind support”) + €2.000 towards expenses
  • Two rounds: written application phase and personal interview phase
  • Timeline
    • 18 May 2026 from 15:00 to 16:30 CET: Online information event
    • 11 June 2026, 14:00 CET: Deadline written application 
    • 2 to 3 September 2026: Personal interviews
    • September 2026: Applicants informed of final decision 

Purpose of this call

This Fellowship Programme call is aimed at members of the academic research community, working in the Netherlands, who are passionate to act as ambassadors of research software sustainability in their field. We welcome applicants to use the fellowship to boost existing initiatives or activities that fit the purpose of the call. Examples of relevant initiatives and activities include (but are not limited to):

  • Creating training materials around a research software package developed in-house.
  • Creating videos on good research software practices.
  • Inviting speakers on the topic of sustainable research software for an interactive seminar.
  • Running a hackathon where researchers can improve the reusability of their research software and exchange ideas. 
  • Increasing the visibility and awareness of research software in the applicant’s field. Increasing the visibility, recognition and wellbeing of researchers who write code in any way.

Detailed information on budget, scope, and eligible activities is available in section 2.2 of the full call text.

What can be applied for?

This call will fund 20 fellows. Each project receives 40 hours of eScience Center expertise (“in-kind support”) + €2.000 towards expenses. Additionally fellows will also be invited to participate in a series of events aimed at networking with other eScience Center fellows and with eScience Center staff.  Being selected for the programme is a sign of recognition of the fellow’s talent and potential and will increase the visibility and network of the fellow.

Who can apply?

Applicants should be passionate about research software and be able to act as an ambassador for research software sustainability. Applicants should be based in the Netherlands. 

An applicant for the fellowship programme could be:  

  • A researcher who focuses on the application of research software as part of their research,  
  • or, a developer who writes tools for researchers,   
  • or, a research software engineer who supports the work of researchers with software,  
  • or, an advocate for best practices in software use for their research domain,   
  • or, an individual in a facilitator role or leadership role in projects or organizations that make use of research software.   

For details, see the full call text.

Online information event

During this information event we provided general information about the eScience Center, the objective of this call, and the procedure. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend to familiarize themselves with this new call type. Missed the information event? Watch it on YouTube:

Submitting the application

The closing date for the submission of written applications is 11 June 2026, 14:00 CET.

Personal interviews for invited applicants will take place from 2 to 3 September 2026.

They can be submitted only via ConfTool https://www.conftool.org/escience/ .

Downloads and Links

For more information about this call for proposals, download the full call below.

Download all

RSSF 2026 – Full call details: Call for Research Software Sustainability Fellows 2026

RSSF 2026 – Template Written Application

Bijzondere voorwaarden NLeSC subsidies 2026

Policy concerning the use of Generative AI at the Netherlands eScience Center

Intellectual Property Rules for Netherlands eScience Center Projects

Contact details

For questions about this call for proposals and the assessment procedure or ConfTool, please contact:

Programme Management Netherlands eScience Center

Tel.:  +31 (0)20 460 4770

Email: 

The eScience Center adheres to NWO’s Code for Dealing with Personal Interests

Other opportunities

We are always open to opportunities for collaboration! Want to work with us? Visit www.esciencecenter.nl/collaborate-with-us.