LF Postdocs

About the grant - TO BE REVISED

The Lundbeck Foundation has a strategic goal to make Denmark a frontrunner in the field of neuroscience by funding Danish-based research that promotes a better understanding of the brain and better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of brain disorders.
At the same time, our grants must help to ensure that Denmark has the best graduates and scientists at all career levels in the fields of biomedical, clinical and health sciences in Denmark.

The Lundbeck Foundation Postdoc Call invite applicants from any research field to submit proposals with potential short- or long-term benefits for the advancement of neuroscience and/or therapies for nervous system disorders. The Lundbeck Foundation encourages diversity at all levels. It is therefore important that we receive applications from as many qualified scientists as possible, from all backgrounds.

This programme supports:

1. Scientists in Denmark who wish to conduct research at a research institution outside Denmark for up to 36 months (and no less than 12 months) and who plan to return to Denmark to continue their research.

2. Scientists from abroad who wish to conduct research in an established Danish research
environment. Scientists from abroad that already have a research position in Denmark are eligible if the employment is from March 2022 or later.

3 Scientists in Denmark who wish to continue to conduct research within their current affiliated research environment and already have had at least 3 years of PhD, postdoctoral and/ or industrial training in another research environment and/or on a different research topic.

The Foundation prioritises proposals that include lengthy international research experience.

Research theme

Advancements in neuroscience often develop from cross-disciplinary interaction, leading to novel insights into biological mechanisms, trial design, emerging technologies, etc.

The grants may cover any research field with a potential short- or long-term benefit for the advancement of neuroscience and/or therapies for nervous system disorders. The term ‘neuroscience’ is used here in its broadest sense, including medical, technical, natural and social sciences, as well as humanities.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• Have obtained a PhD or be able to document that they are expected to gain their PhD within six months of the application deadline.
• Have obtained their PhD less than four years before the application deadline (calculated from the date on the PhD diploma). Rules for leave of absence apply¹⁾

Which proposals are eligible?

Postdoc projects may be fully based in Denmark at Danish non-commercial research institutions or be based at a non-commercial research institution outside Denmark. The entire grant must be managed by a Danish non-commercial research institution.

How much?

The Lundbeck Foundation is allocating up to DKK 40 million to this programme. The grants are worth up to DKK 800,000 per year. 10% of the budget can be reserved for project-related, indirect costs. If at least six consecutive months are spent at a foreign research institution 8% of the budget covering the period can be reserved for project-related, indirect costs at the foreign research institution. 2% of the budget covering the period can be reserved for project-related, indirect costs at the Danish host institution.

Grants cannot be used to substitute salaries covered by existing contracts. This postdoc salary must comply with the collective agreement applicable to the Danish host institution and includes centrally negotiated allowances and pension. Grants are for two to three years.

If at least 12 months (which may be split into a maximum of three separate visits) are spent abroad, applicants may apply for an additional DKK 100,000 as a lump sum to cover expenses associated with travel, accommodation, etc. In combination with the relocation costs, applicants with children may apply for additional support of DKK 50,000 per accompanying child per year (i.e. DKK 4166 per accompanying child per month).
The DKK 100,000 relocation costs and the additional child support must be clearly stated in the budget as a separate item.

How to apply?

You must submit your application, written in English, via the Lundbeck Foundation’s application system. Please note that the Foundation will not consider or assess any application material which is not submitted via the application system.

Your application must include the following:

• Research plan

• Publication list and CV
• Budget
• Letter(s) of support including a CV from head(s) of the research group(s) who will host the applicant in Denmark and, if applicable, abroad
• Letter of support from the Danish host institution agreeing to manage the entire grant

Further requirements, which you must comply with, can be found in the application guide and in the application form.

You are welcome to contact Senior Grant Manager Ulla Jakobsen (uj@lundbeckfonden.com), Scientific Programme Manager Anette Høye (ah@lundbeckfonden.com) or Scientific Programme Director Peter Thostrup (pth@lundbeckfonden.com) if you have any questions regarding your application.

Evaluation process

The assessment process is a one-step process, handled by the Lundbeck Foundation Talent Panel.

All applications are reviewed for eligibility by the Foundation’s Grants & Prizes Department prior to involvement of the panel. Panel members are asked to declare any conflicts of interest. Each application is assigned three panel members, who serve as primary reviewers and present their comments to the panel before evaluating the application. The evaluation will be based on scientific quality and career potential.

Scientific excellence is assessed based on the following criteria:

• The research project ground-breaking nature, potential impact, scientific approach, feasibility
• The potential short- or long-term benefits for the advancement of neuroscience and/or therapies for nervous system disorders
• The host(s) and the host environment(s) (scientific skills, facilities, commitment, mentorship)
• Expected implications and impact for human health

Career potential is assessed based on the following criteria:

• The applicant (research skills, scientific achievements, collaboration and network, commitment, level of independence as a researcher, communication skills)
• Change in research topic as compared to past research
• Change in research environment as compared to past research environments
• Support and guidance of more established scientists (mentoring)

The Foundation prioritises funding for applicants based in Denmark at the time of the application deadline who wish to spend part or most of their time in international research groups.

In case of projects including part or full-time stays at international research institutions, grants are only awarded to applicants with previous strong connection to Danish research.

If a grant from the Foundation will extend an applicant’s postdoc career beyond four years, the following will also be assessed: Competitiveness for an academic tenure track position.

At the review meeting, proposals are discussed and equally rated against the criteria for assessment of scientific quality of the proposal and career potential of the applicant.

What are the grant conditions?

If your proposal is successful, you must accept the Lundbeck Foundation's General Terms and Conditions for Research Grants. This grant is a personal grant.

The purpose of the Lundbeck Foundation is to create powerful ripple effects that bring discoveries to lives through investing actively in business and science at the frontiers of their fields.

¹⁾ The PhD seniority of applicants who have taken maternity or paternity leave after gaining their PhD will be reduced by the actual number of weeks of leave multiplied by 1.5. In the case of illness or family care leave, the exact period will be deducted. The start and end dates of the maternity/paternity leave or other leave periods must be stated in the applicant’s CV. The PhD seniority of applicants who have taken leave from research for their clinical postgraduate education (Klinisk Basisuddannelse) after gaining their PhD will be reduced by 12 months.