Postdoctoral Fellowships for Industrial Biotechnology & Environmental Biotechnology Research

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.

Areas of Support

• The following topics should preferably be included in the research:
  • 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.

Funding Information

• The total annual budget for the Postdoctoral Fellowships within Industrial Biotechnology and Environmental Biotechnology is up to DKK 20 million.
• Each grant can be up to DKK 800,000 per year for projects with duration of 1-3 years.
• For applicants currently based at a Nordic host institution who have not conducted research in another country, research activities in a laboratory in another country for at least 6 and maximum 24 months in total will be considered as a positive element for the postdoctoral training but is not a requirement.
• Note: At least 1 year must take place at the Nordic host institution. Theduration of the fellowship should reflect the time frame of the research activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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 her/his thesis before April 1, 2024. In this case, the PhD supervisor must confirm the expected defence date. The PhD degree must have been obtained before the Postdoc Fellowship can be activated.
• To utilize the fellowship, a recipient must be accepted as a postdoctoral employee at the Nordic host institution (in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden).
• The applicant has the main responsibility for developing the project, writing the application, and carrying out the proposed research.
• The application and any additional uploads must be written in English.

Ineligible

• NNF will not award funding for:
  • Commercial activities
  • Overhead
  • Double funding of projects:
    • If the applicant has received funding for parts of the project from other sources, in part or in full, this must be accounted for in the budget, as no budgetary overlaps are allowed.
    • If the applicant, after submission of the NNF application, receives funding for the project or parts of the applied project from others, NNF must be contacted as soon as possible.

For more information, visit Novo Nordisk Foundation.