The 2026 AMS Sports Talent call is now open for applications. The call is intended for early career researchers who are in the final phase of their PhD or within two years after their PhD defence .

Sufficient physical activity through sports participation is necessary to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and to maintain economic viability, and as such is a fundament for public health. Optimization of performance is key for recreational and elite sports, as well as talent development. Unfortunately, participation in physical activities and sports entails a risk for adverse health effects (injury and/or illness) that threaten sustainability.

🔍 What’s on offer?

This talent call overall aims to:

  • Answering fundamental questions underpinning the aetiology and pathways by which physical (in)activity optimizes, benefits, or harms health and performance; 
  • Optimizing performance, health monitoring, diagnostics, and learning techniques and strategies; 
  • Developing multidisciplinary clinical treatment and training guidelines, and improving health care interventions including their short- and long-term outcomes; and 
  • Investigating the short and long term behavioural and objective effects of interventions (e.g. practice methods) targeted at physical activity promotion, injury / illness prevention, training and sports performance optimization, in various target groups within society, including the (cost-)effectiveness and implementation of such interventions. 

    📌 Who can apply?

    • PhD candidates in their final phase of their PhD trajectory (i.e. in the last year of their PhD or all chapters submitted for publication) or  Early Career researchers within two years after their thesis defense are eligible to submit.
    • Projects must be clearly embedded within the Sports research program of Amsterdam Movement Sciences Research Institute (AMS). 
    • The applicant must be correctly affiliated with AMS ‘Sports’ in the PURE output registration system.  
    • For full eligibility details, exact conditions and deadlines, please refer to the official call text in the application form below.
    • NOTE the deadline: 17/05/'26.
    • Important note: All awarded funds must be spent within the 2026 financial year. The program has a budget of €20,000 in total.