EVOLVE - Where did life originate from and how does it evolve?

2026-07-22

How did life get started on Earth? Does life exist on other planets? How life-threatening are human-induced phenomena such as climate change and virus pandemics? These existential questions fascinate the general public and concern politicians. Recent advances in several fields of science have led to partial answers, but only an interdisciplinary approach can fully address these questions. Our previous Cofund programme oLife has made important advances in understanding the origin and evolution of life, and in the course of this exciting 3 year programme we realized that many more steps should be taken. We therefore propose a new programme EVOLVE, which will appoint 17 doctoral students in (bio)chemistry, (astro)physics and (evolutionary) ecology at the world-leading universities of Groningen and Leiden. The students will carry out top-level research on topics ranging from simulating cell-like behaviour in the laboratory to the future evolution of life on Earth and the suitability of extrasolar planets to host life. Besides their research, the students will follow a training programme to learn how to interact with scientists from other fields, and how to connect science to business and policy. They will also learn to follow modern Open Science practices for maximum impact, and to apply diversity & inclusion standards to ensure a socially safe research environment. Secondments at commercial companies, non-profit (governmental) organisations and academic institutes will prepare them for careers inside and outside academia. The EVOLVE programme is committed to the EU Green Charter for a sustainable future of our planet. We will communicate the results of the program to the scientific community, industry, policy makers, schools, and the general public through a variety of targeted media channels.

Netherlands

2026-02-15