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Copenhagen Bioscience PhD Programme

Call opens
1 November 2021
Call closes
17 January 2022 2:00pm (CET)
Announcement of results
Interviews 02-04 March, 2022
Application guidelines

About the grants

Amount

Fully funded PhD-programme

Location

Denmark, International recruitment to Denmark

Career stage

PhD students

Research area focus

Bioscience and Basic Biomedicine, Biotechnology-based Synthesis and Production, Clinical and Translational Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism

Contact

For grant inquiries
Johan Jansen
Project Manager
[email protected]

The Copenhagen Bioscience PhD programme recruits up to 16 motivated international students annually to launch their careers in the vibrant scientific environment of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Centers in Copenhagen. For enrolment in September 2022, applications will be open from November 1, 2021. The application deadline is January 17 2022 at 14:00 AM CET.

Please read ”Information and FAQ” carefully before initiating the application process, and refer to “How to Apply” throughout completion of the online application form. Additional and essential information is found in these documents.

Selection is based on academic achievements, research experience, academic references and interviews. The interview visit for up to 40 shortlisted applicants comprises panel interviews, one-on-one meetings with potential supervisors, and tours of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Centers. The Novo Nordisk Foundation arranges and pays for travel and accommodation for interviewing candidates. The interview visit will take place in Copenhagen in March 2022.

Programme outline

The four-year programme is divided into a pre-doctoral year followed by three years of PhD training at the University of Copenhagen or the Technical University of Denmark:

NNF Center for Protein Research

NNF Center for Biosustainability

NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research

NNF Center for Stem Cell Medicine – ReNEW

The pre-doctoral year includes short rotation projects, choice of a lab for the long-term (PhD) project, and research-based courses. Approximately 15% of time during the pre-doctoral year is spent on courses, and the remaining 85% on lab-based research. All awardees must pass an assessment at the end of the pre-doctoral year to qualify for the following three years of PhD education.

All students in the Copenhagen Bioscience PhD programme complete three two-week rotation projects at the start of the pre-doctoral year. These rotation projects allow students to gain experience with the methods, important scientific questions and research environment in the labs they are interested in joining. During each rotation project, the student and supervisor are expected to discuss potential long-term project ideas. After completing the three rotation projects, the student makes an agreement with one of their rotation supervisors to join their lab for the long-term (PhD) project.

For more information about the pre-doctoral year and courses, see the programme website.

Supervisors and research areas
By submitting this application, applicants apply primarily to the Copenhagen Bioscience PhD programme, and also pre-select one of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Centers. Each Center conducts research in several research areas around a central theme within biotechnology or biomedicine. More information about research areas can be found on the programme website and the Center websites (see links above).

Applicants are required to explain their interest in particular supervisors and/or research topics in the application form. Potential supervisors and projects are listed on the programme website.

Link to: POTENTIAL SUPERVISORS

Eligibility

The CPH Bioscience PhD programme is designed for international talents to come to Denmark and start their research careers at one of the NNF Research Centers.

Applicants must fulfill the following:

  • Submit a fully completed application form before the deadline via the Novo Nordisk Foundation web-based application system.
  • Provide a minimum of two academic references.
  • Hold, or anticipate receiving before enrolment, a university degree that formally qualifies the applicant to enter a PhD programme (typically a Master’s degree).
  • Hold, or anticipate receiving before enrolment, a university degree from outside of Denmark.
  • The programme is also open for applicants with a Danish degree who can document at least 12 months of full-time research experience from outside Denmark, confirmed by at least one of their academic references.
  • Provide proof of English language skills (for example, TOEFL, IELTS, GRE scores).

Funding

Full salary and tuition fee will be covered by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Funding for the first year is awarded unconditionally to all successful applicants. Funding for the following three years is awarded conditionally, to be approved following a successful qualifying assessment at the end of the first (pre-doctoral) year. Up to sixteen positions will be funded for a programme start in September 2022. Applicants of all nationalities may be awarded funding, provided they fulfill all of the eligibility criteria.

For more information, see the programme website.

Application process

Applications must be completed and submitted using the Novo Nordisk Foundation electronic application system.

Once signed up and logged in at the Novo Nordisk Foundation grant administration system, you can find the Copenhagen Bioscience PhD Programme call for applications under the ‘Copenhagen Bioscience’ tab.

All complete applications submitted are reviewed by a committee of Group Leaders from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Centers.

Applicants can expect a reply from the review committee in February 2022.

Contact

Questions about the application process or about the programme:
Amelia Green
Programme Coordinator, Copenhagen Bioscience PhD Programme
Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Center Cluster
University of Copenhagen / Technical University of Denmark
[email protected]

Questions about technical issues with the online application form:
[email protected]

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