Novo Nordisk Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships at MIT 2027

Applications are open for the Novo Nordisk Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships at Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2027. The fellowship offers early career researchers an opportunity to undertake advanced interdisciplinary research in collaboration with researchers at MIT, one of the world’s leading institutions for science and technology.

The programme is offered by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and is designed to strengthen the careers of outstanding early stage researchers through international research experience, scientific networking, knowledge exchange and collaboration between the Danish research environment and MIT.

The fellowship supports research projects in natural and technical sciences, biomedicine and biotechnology. Proposed projects must have an interdisciplinary character and demonstrate potential impact on human health or sustainability. Fellows will spend the first two years of the fellowship conducting research at MIT before returning to a Danish university or another Danish public or nonprofit research institution for a final period of up to one year.

About the Fellowship

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships at MIT provide an international research opportunity for early career scientists who want to develop independent research experience while working across institutional and disciplinary boundaries.

The programme combines research at MIT with continued engagement in the Danish research ecosystem. This structure is intended to strengthen scientific independence, international collaboration and long term knowledge transfer.

Fellows will work with an MIT Principal Investigator who serves as the primary research mentor during the international research period. Applicants are also expected to have a confirmed Danish host institution and host Principal Investigator who will employ the fellow and administer the fellowship throughout the grant period.

Research proposals may range from fundamental studies to innovative research projects, provided they are interdisciplinary and have a clear potential contribution to human health or sustainability.

Fellowship Benefits

• Up to DKK 3.6 million in funding for three years

• Approximately DKK 1.2 million available per year

• Salary support for the fellow

• Research equipment and operating expenses

• Research consumables, analysis and computational resources

• Travel expenses directly related to the research project

• Conference participation and registration support

• Publication costs

• Relocation expenses of up to DKK 110,000 over the fellowship period

• Living abroad expenses of up to DKK 70,000 per year

• Additional support of up to DKK 55,000 for dependents

• Opportunity to conduct research at MIT for two years

• Access to an interdisciplinary international research environment

• Opportunities for scientific networking and international collaboration

• Continued research collaboration between MIT and the Danish research ecosystem

• MIT postdoctoral fellow status and access to applicable MIT benefits

Research Areas

The fellowship welcomes interdisciplinary research in:

• Natural sciences

• Technical sciences

• Biomedicine

• Biotechnology

Proposed research should have potential impact on:

• Human health

• Sustainability

The Foundation supports projects ranging from fundamental research to innovative applications, provided the interdisciplinary nature and potential impact of the project are clearly demonstrated.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have obtained a PhD in natural sciences, technical sciences, biomedicine or biotechnology within five years of the fellowship start date.

• Leave of absence periods are excluded from the five year calculation, provided appropriate documentation can be supplied.

• PhD students may apply if their current PhD supervisor confirms that they are expected to complete the degree before the fellowship begins.

• Establish contact with a Principal Investigator at MIT who agrees to serve as the primary research mentor.

• Have spent no more than one year as a postdoctoral researcher at MIT at the time of application.

• Have a confirmed Danish host institution and Danish host Principal Investigator.

• Have a Danish university or another eligible Danish public or nonprofit research institution employ them and administer the fellowship throughout the grant period.

• Demonstrate an association with the Danish educational system or research environment.

• Be able to develop a research project that is interdisciplinary and relevant to human health or sustainability.

• Submit the application and all additional materials in English.

Applicants can demonstrate their association with the Danish research environment in several ways, including having graduated from a Danish university, holding Danish citizenship or having several years of research experience at a Danish institution.

Required Application Materials

Applicants are required to prepare information and supporting documents through the Novo Nordisk Foundation NORMA application system.

• Applicant CV with a short bibliographic overview

• Publication list containing up to 10 relevant publications

• Summary of previous research experience and its connection to the proposed project

• Information about similar or related funding applications

• Information about previous or current Novo Nordisk Foundation grants where applicable

• Project title and brief project description

• Detailed project description covering purpose, background, methods, collaborations and significance

• Description of the interdisciplinary nature and novelty of the proposed research

• Description of activities at MIT and the Danish host institution

• Project timetable showing time spent at MIT and in Denmark

• Literature references

• Lay project description

• Detailed project budget

• Support Letter from the Danish Principal Investigator

• Support Letter from the MIT Principal Investigator

• Host Letter from the Danish administering institution

• CV from the Danish Principal Investigator

• Recommendation Letter from a former advisor

• PhD Completion Letter if the applicant has not completed the PhD when applying

• Leave of absence documentation if requested

All supplementary documents must be submitted in PDF format.

Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation Committee on Interdisciplinary Research, with input from the MIT Research Development Faculty Committee.

The main assessment criteria include:

• Creativity, novelty and ambition of the proposed research

• Innovation potential where relevant

• Scientific excellence and merit of the applicant

• Appropriateness and involvement of the proposed MIT research group

• Quality of the recommendation letter

• Strength of the support from the prospective MIT Principal Investigator

• Strength and suitability of the Danish host institution

The Foundation may select up to five proposals for additional evaluation by the MIT Research Development Faculty Committee.

How to Apply

1. Review the official Novo Nordisk Foundation application guidelines carefully.
2. Identify a suitable MIT Principal Investigator whose research aligns with your proposed interdisciplinary project.
3. Contact the MIT Principal Investigator and secure their commitment to serve as your primary research mentor.
4. Work with the MIT host to develop the research proposal and budget.
5. Secure a confirmed Danish university or eligible Danish public or nonprofit research institution as your host and employer.
6. Obtain support from the Danish Principal Investigator and the Danish host institution.
7. Prepare the research proposal, CV, publication information, recommendation letter and required supporting documents.
8. Create or access your profile in the Novo Nordisk Foundation NORMA application system.
9. Complete all required sections of the online application and upload the supporting documents in the required format.
10. Submit the completed application before January 29, 2027 at 2:00 PM Copenhagen time.
11. Keep copies of the submitted application and supporting documents for your records.