Novo Nordisk Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships at Uppsala University 2027 – Up to DKK 3.6 Million in Research Funding - Global South Opportunities

The Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) has opened applications for its 2027 Postdoctoral Fellowships at Uppsala University in Sweden, offering outstanding early-career researchers an opportunity to underta

The programme targets outstanding early-career researchers with doctoral qualifications in eligible scientific disciplines.

Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Doctoral Qualification

Applicants must hold a PhD in natural sciences, technical sciences, biomedicine or biotechnology.

The PhD must have been obtained within five years of the fellowship start date.

Periods of documented leave of absence are excluded from the five-year calculation.

2. Applications from Current PhD Students

Candidates who are still completing their doctoral studies may also apply.

However, their PhD supervisor must provide a formal statement confirming that the applicant is expected to complete the doctoral degree before the fellowship commencement date.

3. Swedish Research Host

Applicants must establish contact with a Principal Investigator at Uppsala University who agrees to serve as the primary research mentor throughout the international placement.

The proposed research project must be developed in collaboration with the Swedish host researcher.

4. Previous Research Experience at Uppsala University

Applicants must not have spent more than one year working as a postdoctoral researcher at Uppsala University at the time of application.

A postdoctoral placement that has already commenced is permitted, provided the applicant does not exceed the specified one-year limit.

5. Confirmed Danish Host Institution

Applicants must secure a confirmed Danish hosting institution and a designated Principal Investigator.

The Danish institution must:

• Employ the fellow throughout the entire fellowship period.
• Administer the complete fellowship grant.
• Provide research hosting during the final year in Denmark.
• Support the applicant’s continued research activities and collaborations.

Eligible institutions include Danish universities and other public or non-profit research institutions in Denmark.

6. Association with the Danish Research Environment

Applicants must demonstrate a connection to the Danish educational system or research environment.

Examples of acceptable associations include graduating from a Danish university, holding Danish citizenship or having accumulated several years of research experience at a Danish institution.

Applicants should consult the official guidelines for the interpretation and documentation of this requirement.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation will provide funding of up to DKK 1.2 million annually for a maximum fellowship duration of three years.

The maximum total funding available per fellowship is DKK 3.6 million.

The funding is intended to support the implementation of the approved postdoctoral research project across the Swedish and Danish research institutions.

The Danish host institution will be responsible for employing the fellow and administering the grant throughout the entire fellowship period.

The programme also permits partial funding from other sources. However, any co-funding arrangements must be explicitly disclosed in the application.

Applicants should consult the Foundation’s financial guidelines for detailed information about eligible expenses and grant administration.

The programme targets outstanding early-career researchers with doctoral qualifications in eligible scientific disciplines.

Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Doctoral Qualification

Applicants must hold a PhD in natural sciences, technical sciences, biomedicine or biotechnology.

The PhD must have been obtained within five years of the fellowship start date.

Periods of documented leave of absence are excluded from the five-year calculation.

2. Applications from Current PhD Students

Candidates who are still completing their doctoral studies may also apply.

However, their PhD supervisor must provide a formal statement confirming that the applicant is expected to complete the doctoral degree before the fellowship commencement date.

3. Swedish Research Host

Applicants must establish contact with a Principal Investigator at Uppsala University who agrees to serve as the primary research mentor throughout the international placement.

The proposed research project must be developed in collaboration with the Swedish host researcher.

4. Previous Research Experience at Uppsala University

Applicants must not have spent more than one year working as a postdoctoral researcher at Uppsala University at the time of application.

A postdoctoral placement that has already commenced is permitted, provided the applicant does not exceed the specified one-year limit.

5. Confirmed Danish Host Institution

Applicants must secure a confirmed Danish hosting institution and a designated Principal Investigator.

The Danish institution must:

• Employ the fellow throughout the entire fellowship period.
• Administer the complete fellowship grant.
• Provide research hosting during the final year in Denmark.
• Support the applicant’s continued research activities and collaborations.

Eligible institutions include Danish universities and other public or non-profit research institutions in Denmark.

6. Association with the Danish Research Environment

Applicants must demonstrate a connection to the Danish educational system or research environment.

Examples of acceptable associations include graduating from a Danish university, holding Danish citizenship or having accumulated several years of research experience at a Danish institution.

Applicants should consult the official guidelines for the interpretation and documentation of this requirement.