Basic Information about the Project
Return Grants at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) are designed as a specific tool of financial and professional support that enables research and academic staff as well as PhD students of CZU to resume their research activities after a career break. The grants are aimed at facilitating the return to the academic environment after maternity/parental leave, long-term illness, or a period dedicated to caring for a child or another close person.
Project title: Return Grants at CZU Prague
Project registration number: CZ.02.01.01/00/24_037/0013835
Application period opens: December 1, 2025
Application deadline: January 31, 2026
Expected start of grant implementation: May 1, 2026
An eligible applicant (principal investigator) for a Return Grant is a researcher meeting the following criteria:
- As of the date of the application, is a PhD student or has already completed a doctoral degree (i.e., holds a Ph.D. or equivalent academic title), and
- Is currently on a career break, which must be documented by an official confirmation from the relevant or by a corresponding record from the CZU personnel system, or
- Has returned from a career break within the last 12 months, as verified by an official confirmation from the relevant authority or by a corresponding record from the CZU or employer’s personnel system.
Career break
A career break is a period of at least 180 calendar days during which the researcher (applicant) was unable to fully engage in R&D activities.
- The career break may be temporarily interrupted if the reason for the break ceases to exist.
- Periods before and after such interruptions are added together, provided that the total duration of interruptions does not exceed 30 calendar days.
- The minimum duration of 180 days is extended by the number of days of interruption. (Example: If the break is interrupted for 30 days, the total minimum duration becomes 210 days.)
Project Opportunities
- Funding for the applicant’s own research through an employment contract (0,5–1,0 FTE)
- Collaboration with a mentor (optional for senior researchers; up to 0,2 FTE)
- Creation of a support team (optional, up to 4 members with a total workload of up to 2,0 FTE)
- Research mobility of the principal investigator (optional; duration 1–6 months)
- Support for further education of the principal investigator (optional)
- Contribution for childcare (for children before compulsory preschool education) or for care of a close person
- Project duration: 1–3 years
Applications will be administered in both Czech and English.
