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Postdoctoral Fellowships for research within Industrial Biotechnology and Environmental Biotechnology 2023

Call opens
15 June 2023
Call closes
24 August 2023 2:00pm (CEST)
Announcement of results
December 2023
Recurring calls
Expected June 2024
Application guidelines

Purpose

Applications are invited for individual fellowships to support outstanding postdoctoral scientists conducting research within industrial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology. The intention of the fellowship is to enable excellent young scientists, to develop their own independent research area. Fellowships must be based at a university or other non-profit research institution in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden.

The proposed research must address major challenges within Industrial Biotechnology and Environmental Biotechnology, with a strategic perspective addressing major questions and challenges within these fields. The research should be fundamental in character but have a strategic outlook to scaling potential(s), contribute to sustainability and, if relevant, increase productivity. The proposed research must involve a clear element of biotechnology.

Non-exclusive list of prioritized areas:

  • Use or engineering of biological/biotechnological tools, systems or microorganisms for synthesis and production of valuable products (e.g., energy, fuels, chemicals, proteins, and materials)
  • Development of technologies and processes for bioproduction
  • Improvement of the efficiency and/or sustainability of biomanufacturing
  • Use or engineering of biological/biotechnological tools, systems, or microorganisms to protect or improve the environment
  • Understanding, protection, or manipulation of natural or industrial ecosystems in relation to application of biotechnology
  • Data science to advance research within industrial or environmental biotechnology, including related ecosystems research

Proposals focusing on plant science, agriculture and food biotechnology should be submitted to the Novo Nordisk Foundation Committee on Plant Science, Agriculture and Food Biotechnology, while proposals with a focus on pharmaceuticals and therapeutics should be submitted to the Novo Nordisk Foundation Committee on Bioscience and Basic Biomedicine.

About the grants

Amount

Up to DKK 2.5 million per grant

Location

Denmark, Nordic Countries (excl. Denmark)

Career stage

PhD students, Postdoctoral fellowships

Research area focus

Industrial and environmental biotechnology

Committee

Komite for Industriel Bioteknologi og Miljøbioteknologi

Contact

For grant inquiries
Henning Jørgensen
Senior Scientific Manager, Ph.d.
+45 3029 8468 [email protected]
Panagiotis Tsapekos
Scientific Manager
+45 4280 2921 [email protected]
Torben Vedel Borchert
Scientific Director
+45 3077 6977 [email protected]

Eligibility

Nordic Region

An applicant must either:

  • have a PhD or equivalent degree obtained within 6 years of the application deadline date,

or

  • be a PhD student who will defend their thesis before April 1, 2024.

As part of the application, applicants need to submit a host letter from the Nordic host institution and letters of support from other institutions supporting the fellowship.

Funding

The postdoctoral fellowship period can be from 1 to 3 years, of which at least 1 year must be used at the Nordic host institution. The duration of the fellowship should reflect the time frame of the research activities.

Funding up to DKK 800.000 per year is available for expenses including the fellowship recipient’s own salary and direct project costs, as well as up to 5 % administrative costs. An additional amount of up to DKK 100.000 can be included to cover costs related to research stays abroad exceeding 6 months.

Application process

Applications must be completed and submitted through Novo Nordisk Foundation’s online application and grant management system (NORMA), following the instructions in the “Information and guidelines for applicants”. Additional essential information regarding eligibility, funding and submission requirements can be found in this document.

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