Â鶹Éç

About the grant 
 

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 invites applicants from research fields with the potential to contribute to the short- or long-term advancement of neuroscience and/or therapies for nervous system disorders to submit proposals. The Lundbeck Foundation believes that diversity strengthens science and for this reason diversity, including, but not limited to, gender and ethnic origin, is encouraged. We especially encourage scientists from groups that have been traditionally under-represented in academia, including women and scientists of diverse ethnic backgrounds, to apply.

Postdoctoral training plays an important role in developing talent. The Foundation considers international experience and experience from different research environments of paramount importance for establishing a solid basis for a future independent research career. 

This programme supports:

1. Scientists who have been in Denmark for a minimum of five* years and who wish to conduct research at a research institution outside Denmark between 18 and 36 months and plan to return to Denmark.  

2. Scientists moving* to Denmark from abroad who wish to conduct research in a Danish research environment for the duration of the project. 

   *For details see the

Research theme

Advancements in neuroscience often develop from cross-disciplinary interaction, leading to novel insights into biological mechanisms, trial design, emerging technologies, etc. The projects 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 in its broadest sense, including medical, technical, natural and social sciences, as well as humanities. However, if neither the applicant nor the host group has experience within neuroscience, collaboration with a neuroscience group is required.

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, i.e. by 20 May 2026 (in the latter case, include a letter of support from the main supervisor)
• Have obtained their PhD less than five years before the application deadline (calculated from the date on the PhD diploma). Rules for leave of absence apply[1].
  

Where and for how long?

The project should last for three years and should be based in Denmark at a Danish non-commercial research institution and/or be based at a non-commercial research institution outside Denmark. The entire grant must be managed by a Danish non-commercial research institution. 

The place(s) of employment of the applicant is jointly determined by the applicant, the Danish institution managing the grant and the host institution(s). 

How much?

The Lundbeck Foundation is allocating up to DKK 40 million to this programme. The grants are worth up to DKK 1,000,000 per year (including project supplement rate or project-related indirect costs) and are intended for full-time research for three years. 

The postdoc salary must comply with the collective agreement applicable to the Danish host institution and include centrally negotiated allowances and pension. Individually negotiated salary supplements cannot be included.

For applicants hosted by a Danish university, see guidelines for project supplement rates in the agreement between the universities and private foundations . 

Applicants hired as postdocs may apply for project supplement. Assistant professors are not eligible for project supplement. The budget must reflect if a transition from postdoc into assistant professorship occurs during the project period 

For applicants hosted by other Danish research institutions and hospitals that are not a part of the project supplement agreement, up to 10% of the budget can be reserved for project-related, indirect costs. 

Type 1 applicants may apply for up to 10 % of the budget for project-related, indirect costs for the months spent at the foreign research institution: Up to 8% of the budget covering the period can be reserved for project-related, indirect costs and/or bench fees 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.

Important:
If you apply for relocation and/or child support lump sums (see immediately below) you must have clearance from the financial department at your Danish host institution – if you can and which types of costs - you may include in the budget when you submit your application. 

For type 1: For the 18-36 months spent abroad, applicants may apply for additional support of up to a maximum of DKK 100,000 to cover relocation costs for the applicant, partner and children, if relevant. In addition to the relocation costs, applicants with children may apply for additional support of up to a maximum of DKK 50,000 per accompanying child per year (i.e. up to DKK 4166 per accompanying child per month). The relocation costs and the additional child support must be clearly stated in the budget as separate items.

The 18 - 36 months abroad may be split into a maximum of two separate visits. Note that the stay abroad must begin within the first 18 months (halfway) of the project. Any reduction in the time spent abroad must be notified to the Foundation immediately and may result in reduction or revocation of the grant. 

For type 2: Applicants who have not already moved to Denmark can additionally apply for up to DKK 50.000 to cover expenses associated with relocation for the applicant, partner and children. The relocation costs must be relevant and clearly stated in the budget as a separate item.

How to apply?

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

Your application must include the following:

• Research project description
• Roadmap to neuroscience and career impact
• Description of research environment
• Publication list and CV
• Budget

• Letters of support including a short CV (2 pages) from heads of the research groups who will host the applicant in Denmark and, if applicable, abroad

  The support letter must explain how the research adds to the research strategy of the department. In addition, the letter must include a commitment to ensure that the applicant reach his/her full potential through professional and personal mentoring.  If the research-group leader hosting the applicant currently holds or has a pending application for a LF grant >5 million, it should be stated in the support letter how the applicant’s proposed project distinguishes itself from that grant (proposal).

• 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 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 running under the auspices of the Lundbeck Foundation Talent Panel.

All applications are reviewed for eligibility by the Foundation’s Grants & Prizes Department prior to involvement of the panel.

Applications that do not fulfill the requirements stated in the call text and guide will be administratively rejected.

Panel members are asked to declare any conflicts of interest. Each application is assigned to 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. The assessments will consider each individual applicant’s PhD age and research experience.

Scientific quality is assessed on the following criteria:

• The research project: Ground-breaking nature, potential impact, scientific approach and feasibility
• The potential short or long-term benefits for the advancement of neuroscience and/or therapies for nervous system disorders
• Expected implications and impact for human health, including the feasibility of the roadmap to impact

Career potential is assessed on the following criteria:

• The applicant: Research skills, scientific achievements, level of independence as a researcher, communication skills, collaborations and network
• How the change of research environment benefits the applicant
• Available support and guidance of more established scientists (mentoring)
• The host(s) and host environment’s commitment and suitability for the applicant’s career development

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

At the review meeting, proposals are discussed and rated against the criteria for assessment of scientific quality of the proposal, including the host and the career potential of the applicant. When prioritising between qualified applications, diversity in grant distribution will be taken into account.

What are the grant conditions?

If your proposal is successful, you must accept Lundbeck Foundation's General Terms and Conditions for Research Grants to receive the grant. Other important general information for applicants can be found here. 

This grant is a personal grant.

What are the reporting requirements?

If your proposal is successful, you must submit annual scientific and financial reports to the Lundbeck Foundation. Read this for more details. 

[1] The PhD seniority of applicants who have taken parental 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 parental 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.

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.