Dear Colleagues,
In alignment with its mission to advance excellence in pathology, the European Society of Pathology (ESP) continues to strengthen its three core pillars: high-quality diagnostic practice, up-to-date education, and support of cutting-edge research in pathology, with a particular emphasis on fostering research talent within the Society.
Building on this commitment and to further strengthen research opportunities for early-career colleagues alongside established diagnostic training, ESP is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the traditional Giordano Fellowship (GF) programmeand the introduction of the Giordano Fellowship Research (GFR) add-on.
Since its conception in 2015, the GF programme has been offered as a highly competitive post-residency training initiative across various fields of pathology, with a strong focus on advanced diagnostic practice, which significantly contributes to knowledge dissemination across the pathology community. As ESP Leadership has identified that structured research training opportunities remain limited for some early-career pathologists, the GFR add-on has been envisaged to address this gap by offering a dedicated research component that complements the existing GF framework.
While the GF programme continues to prioritise advanced diagnostic training, the GFR runs in parallel within selected ESP Advanced Training Centres (ESP-ATCs) that offer this additional research-oriented pathway. The GFR includes an extended stay at an ESP-ATC, during which fellows will continue to receive advanced training in diagnostic techniques and/or subspecialty areas, while also undertaking a short, supervised research project as an integrated part of their training experience.
Detailed information on both the GF and the GFR, including eligibility criteria and application procedures, is available on the ESP website. The Terms and Conditions have been updated accordingly, and additional conditions specific to GFR applicants are also provided.
Each year, only a limited number of GFR positions will be available.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully review all relevant documentation prior to submitting an application. For further guidance, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section is also available.
The application deadline is Monday, 3 August 2026 at 11:59 CEST.
We warmly encourage eligible colleagues to apply for either the GF or GFR programme, as appropriate.
We also kindly invite you to share this opportunity with colleagues and professional networks who may be interested.
The ESP is proud to continue offering these unique training opportunities to pathology professionals worldwide.
Sincerely,
European Society of Pathology