Call for Proposals: The Inge Lehmann Programme (Denmark)

Objectives

• The Inge Lehmann programme is part of the political agreement of 2 November 2023 on the distribution of the research reserve in 2024. According to the agreement, the objective of the Inge Lehmann programme is to promote a more even gender ratio in research environments, focusing on the career steps where the unbalance sets in.
• The programme is open to all scientific areas and to men as well as women, but through exemption pursuant to section 3 of the Equal Opportunities Act, DFF will, as a general rule, choose female applicants over male in case of equal qualifications between two applicants. An objective assessment will, however, be made, taking into consideration all specific criteria regarding applicants, regardless of gender.
• An Inge Lehmann grant is awarded to researchers, who show potential for research and project management at a high international level.
• Based on the political agreement, DFF has decided to focus the Inge Lehmann programme on the early stages of the research career, as documentation shows that this is where the imbalance in the gender ratio in research environments sets in. In order to support lasting talent development and capacity building, it is moreover a prerequisite for obtaining funding that the applicant has obtained employment as an assistant professor/associate professor, researcher/senior researcher, fellow or similar.

Funding Information

• In 2024, a total of DKK 80.6 million has been allocated to the programme. An Inge Lehmann grant has a budgetary framework of up to DKK 2,200,000 excluding overhead, whereby DFF expects to award approx. 25 grants in 2024.
• DFF does not provide retroactive funding. You can therefore not apply for research funding for activities that have already begun by the time the fund makes its decision.
• The earliest possible starting date is 1 February 2025 and the latest possible starting date is 1 December 2025.
• The duration of a DFF Research Project 1 (Inge Lehmann) is typically 3 years, but it is possible to apply for a project of up to 4 years’ duration if the project includes one or more PhD student(s).

Applicant Requirements 

• An Inge Lehmann grant should contribute to a significant strengthening of your career opportunities at a Danish research institution. The target group consists of the most capable researchers in the beginning of their research career, who can develop their potential as excellent research leaders through the management of a research project.
• Applicant’s PhD age
  • As an applicant, you must have obtained a PhD degree within the last minimum 2 and maximum 6 years at the time of the expiration of the application deadline. If you have not obtained a PhD degree, you must have obtained equivalent qualifications, e.g. a positive assistant professorship evaluation (“adjunktbedømmelse”) within the last minimum 2 and maximum 6 years at the time of the expiration of the application deadline. You must possess substantial independent research experience corresponding to minimum 2 years after having obtained the PhD degree.
• Applicant’s employment category
  • As an applicant, you must be employed as an assistant professor/associate professor (adjunkt/ lektor), researcher/senior researcher (forsker/seniorforsker), or fellow (docent) at a Danish research institution, which is covered by a job structure at the (Danish) Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the (Danish) Ministry of Culture, the Danish Ministry of Defence, or the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities.
• Employment as a postdoc does not meet the requirements for the applicant’s employment category.
• The administrating institution’s management must sign a confirmation, which confirms that you are employed in the stated employment category.
• You must uphold employment at a Danish research institution throughout the entire project period. It is possible to change your employment category during the grant period, e.g. from assistant professor to associate professor or from researcher to senior researcher.

For more information, visit DFF.