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Frequently Asked Questions
Information about the program, applications, and participation
Find comprehensive answers regarding eligibility, applications, fully-funded accommodation at Historic Hotel Fazenda Dona Carolina, and the academic program of the FAPESP Interdisciplinary School 2026.
Yes, you may. The venue offers complimentary and secure on-site parking.
However, please note that expenses related to private vehicle travel (such as fuel, highway tolls, or mileage) are strictly not eligible for reimbursement.
Reimbursable Alternative:
If you are traveling from within the State of São Paulo and wish to have your travel costs reimbursed, you should purchase an intercity bus ticket with destination to Tietê Bus Terminal (Terminal Rodoviário do Tietê) in São Paulo. Intercity bus tickets to this terminal are eligible for reimbursement under FAPESP guidelines, and you will board the official complimentary executive transfer departing from Tietê directly to the hotel venue.
This information will be available on the Participant Dashboard.
The School is open exclusively to postdoctoral researchers residing in Brazil, whether Brazilian or foreign nationals, affiliated with universities or research institutes in Brazil and working in the fields of Exact and Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Applicants must hold an active postdoctoral fellowship funded by FAPESP or other research funding agencies (such as CNPq, CAPES, etc.) or be formally affiliated with an institutional postdoctoral program during the event dates.
The postdoctoral participants will be selected by random draw using an automated computerized system, considering:
- Gender balance;
- Racial and ethnic diversity;
- Geographic representation (São Paulo, other Brazilian states, and international);
- Equitable distribution between FAPESP and non-FAPESP fellows.
No. The School is strictly designed for researchers who have already concluded their doctoral degree and currently hold an active postdoctoral fellowship or institutional postdoctoral contract at the time of the event.
There is no age limit. However, candidates must be active early-career postdoctoral researchers. The selection focus is on researchers currently engaged in postdoctoral research projects.
Applicants must submit through the online registration portal:
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (Lattes CV for Brazilian researchers or standard Academic CV for international applicants);
- Copy of PhD diploma or official certificate of degree completion;
- Proof of active postdoctoral fellowship grant or institutional contract;
- Scientific abstract for the mandatory poster presentation (in English, maximum 350 words).
To participate in the School, the applicant must have an active postdoctoral fellowship or formal postdoctoral institutional affiliation during the period when the event takes place.
Yes, absolutely! The School strongly encourages applications from postdoctoral fellows from all regions of Brazil as well as international institutions, fostering global networking and cross-disciplinary scientific collaboration.
Yes. An official standby list generated by the computerized draw will be maintained. In the event of a cancellation or withdrawal, the next eligible candidate in the respective category (gender, geographical location, agency) will be immediately contacted.
Participation is 100% free and fully funded by FAPESP for all selected postdoctoral researchers. The grant covers:
- Accommodation in shared double rooms at Historic Hotel Fazenda Dona Carolina (Itatiba - SP);
- Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and coffee breaks);
- Official ground transfers (round-trip from strategic hubs in São Paulo and Campinas / airports and Terminal Tietê );
- All academic materials and unrestricted access to all sessions.
FAPESP will provide dedicated executive van transfers on the opening day and closing day of the event connecting:
- Guarulhos International Airport (GRU);
- Viracopos International Airport in Campinas (VCP);
- Congonhas Airport (CGH);
- Terminal Tietê
Detailed schedules and designated meeting points will be determined shortly on Participante Dashboard to all confirmed participants.
Yes. For selected participants residing outside the State of São Paulo or coming from abroad, round-trip transportation (economy class airfare or bus) will be provided or reimbursed in accordance with official FAPESP guidelines and standards.
Participants are requested to book flights that match the designated transfer arrival windows. Exceptions circumstances are granted solely when international routing prevents alignment; in such cases, participants must coordinate with the logistical secretariat in advance to request alternative arrangements.
No. To foster networking and maximize interpersonal interactions:
- All participants are accommodated in shared twin (double) rooms assigned by the committee (segregated by gender);
- Single/individual rooms are not available;
- Staying in another hotel is strictly not allowed, as the School is a full-time residential immersion requiring participants to be on-site for all scheduled sessions, meals, and evening discussions.
Yes, absolutely. The restaurant at Hotel Fazenda Dona Carolina offers full buffet dining with clearly labeled options for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, lactose-free, and specific food allergies. Participants will indicate their dietary requirements during the confirmation form.
The dress code throughout the entire event is smart casual. Comfortable footwear is recommended, as the venue is an expansive historic colonial farm hotel with outdoor walking pathways and garden areas.
Yes. High-speed Wi-Fi internet access is provided free of charge across all plenary halls, masterclass rooms, common areas, restaurants, and individual guest rooms.
No, under no circumstances. Due to the scientific immersion format and hotel capacity limitations, the entire hotel is 100% exclusively reserved for selected postdoctoral participants, keynote speakers, and the organizing committee.
English is the official and exclusive language of the entire event. All plenary lectures, tutorials, masterclasses, poster sessions, discussion roundtables, and informal discussions will be conducted entirely in English without simultaneous translation. Participants must have full working proficiency in English.
Yes, absolutely mandatory for all selected researchers. Every participant must submit an abstract and present a scientific poster on their current postdoctoral research. Both the printed poster and the oral presentation must be delivered in English.
Posters must follow the standard A0 portrait format (vertical orientation):
- Width: 90 cm (approx. 35.4 inches);
- Height: 120 cm (approx. 47.2 inches);
- Must include: Project Title, Author(s), Institutional Affiliation(s), Funding Agency acknowledgement (FAPESP or others), and all content in English.
Yes. Presenting ongoing projects, unpublished preliminary findings, and emerging methodology is highly encouraged, as the goal of the School is to stimulate constructive scientific debate and peer feedback.
Yes. The organization will supply individual numbered display panels/easels and appropriate double-sided mounting tape or clips. Participants only need to bring their printed physical poster.
Inspired by the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings format, the School provides continuous, direct proximity between postdoctoral researchers and world-renowned scientists. Participants will engage in informal scientific discussions, Q&A sessions, and collaborative exchanges during all meals and breaks.
Dedicated daily poster sessions are scheduled without competing lectures. Keynote speakers and scientific committee members will actively circulate among the poster boards to discuss research projects one-on-one with presenters.
No. The School requires exclusive, full-time dedication and 100% attendance across all 5 days of the event. Partial attendance or registration as an observer/listener is not permitted.
Yes. An official Certificate of Participation will be issued by FAPESP to all postdoctoral fellows who complete 100% attendance in the program and present their scientific poster.
During designated free time and social evenings, participants have complimentary access to the hotel’s swimming pools, walking trails, historic coffee heritage tours, sports courts, and green recreational areas.
The event maintains on-site first-aid support during the event. In case of specialized medical needs, the hotel is located in close proximity to regional medical centers in Itatiba, Bragança Paulista and Campinas.
For any questions not covered in this FAQ or in the official announcement, please contact the organizing secretariat via the contact form on the website.
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