Funding agencies for Research visits and Post Docs

And some general links about grants and sources of money...



Prepared by Sören Nylin, Karl Gotthard, and Ann-Kristin Östlund Farrants, updated 05-Nov-2008
Links are to the home pages rather than to specific pages, as these are subject to frequent change.
This is a section of the WWW-pages for information about Research education courses in Biology at Stockholm University


Funding agencies in Sweden (and bilateral)

Nordic and European funding agencies

International funding agencies

Some host funding agencies

General links about sources of Money and how to write grant proposals




Funding agencies in Sweden (and bilateral agreements with other countries)

Map of Sweden



Vetenskapsrådet (Science, Technology and Medicine). Postdoc grants for 6-24 months. Applications yearly in the spring. Maximum 3 years after dissertation, but parental leave etc can be grounds for exceptions. Applications can be made in the spring before a planned autumn dissertation (no later than October 1).  Non-Swedish citizens with Swedish PhDs can apply.

Formas (Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Forestry). Applications yearly in the spring.

If you work in Molecular Biology EMBO is also recommended.

If your research has applied (i.e., in this context, potentially money-making) aspects, also check out Stiftelsen för stategisk forskning. What they offer may vary from year to year, but for instance they give big grants to "tomorrow's research leaders", so if you feel that you are one of them, then check this space!

Wenner-Gren Stiftelsen.

Post doc grants are given yearly to PhDs within five years after dissertation. Also a few "special grants" including grants to establish yourself in Sweden after the visit to another country. Only Swedish citizens or with permanent permit to stay in Sweden. 1-24 months. Special grants up to five years, including the time spent in Sweden.

Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse

Grants in specific areas decided to be "strategically important", currently for instance in the micro/nano-area (including biologists).

KVA

Kungliga Vetenskaps Akademien gives some grants for post doc visits according to agreements between countries, currently only with Japan, it seems.

Cancerfonden

"Riksföreningen mot cancer" gives all sorts of research grants in areas related to cancer, including post docs.

Hjärnfonden

"Riksföreningen mot hjärnsjukdomar" gives research grants to the Neurosciences. Postdocs within Sweden or in another country. 12 months (or 6+6).

Svenska Institutet

Svenska Institutet gives some grants for research visits in other countries, primarily to students and PhD students but sometimes also to holders of PhD's within three years after the dissertation. Seems to be not enough money for a PhD holder with no other salary, and at present nothing seems really suitable for a post doc. But things may change, and the webpage often contains information on grants funded from other countries, have a look...

Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen

To the US and Canada, 6-12 months. Swedish citizens only. Not a lot of money, more of a contribution, you need another source as well for a post doc salary.

Sweden-Japan Foundation

The ultimate source of information on grants for research in Japan (surprise, surprise) but also a good general collection of funding links with information. Have a look.

Swedish Fulbright Commission

Only to the US. You must be a Swedish citizen or permanently resident in Sweden to apply from Sweden. And you must be healthy (true). If you don't have arrangements for a lab to go to, they will find you one on the basis of your project. 

Svenska sällskapet för medicinsk forskning

Only for those in research areas closely related to medicine. Post docs at your home institution or elsewhere, with the aim of making you a "docent". 2-3 years duration, apply within three years after dissertation.

Stiftelsen Blanceflor

Smaller grants to Swedish and Itialian citizens for research time abroad. Not in biology, unless your project has a chemistry component.

SIDA

Swedish International Development cooperation Agency offers post doc grants (handled by SAREC) in areas related to developing countries and sustainable management.


 Nordic and European funding agencies (and funding from European countries)

Europe map



NordForsk

Seems not to give post doc grants at the moment, but if they do it would concern movement among Nordic countries (and the Baltic area).

The Nordic Africa Institute

Grants for shorter visits to African countries, primarily for the Social Sciences, but if you can show a strong link to development and sustainable management a grant seems possible.

European Union 7th Framework programme 2007-2013

The programme for creating a "European Research Area" (ERA) co-ordinates "Marie Curie Fellowships", which may be individual or host institution initiated fellowships, both "intra-European" and "International". The website is a bit difficult to navigate, set off a day or two... There are many post doc positions within existing networks. Search the database. For increased chances: when it comes to EU applications, always discuss them with an expert on such things if possible. Many applications are not considered at all because they are not filled in properly!

Note that a new Framework programme is upcoming, so next year things may have changed...

EU/FoU-Rådet

Swedish information about EU funding, in Swedish and English...

EMBO

The European Molecular Biology Organization gives post doc grants ("long term fellowships") as well as many other kinds of grants. Not restricted to Europe, you can go somewhere else if there is good reason. 12-24 months (and "short term fellowships" as well). You must have at least one first-authored paper in the press! Note that EMBO grants can also be used to complete work that has already been initiated.

FEBS

Federation of European Biochemical Societies gives out short- and long term (1-3 years) fellowships, but only to members of participating organisations. So if you are interested, you should join Svenska föreningen för Biokemi och Molekylärbiologi. You must have been member for at least a year. "Normally less than 35 years old". Not for work in Sweden. Family assistance upon request.

Human Frontier Science Program

HFSP supports international co-operation in the neurosciences and molecular biology. Longterm fellowships (up to 3  year post docs in an "outstanding laboratory" in another country) are available for researchers who are expected to play an important role in originating and pursuing creative research (11 Nobel Prize winners have held HFSP grants). That's you, isn't it? Within five years after dissertation.

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Post docs and other research visits in Germany. Also extra fellowships for learning German before you start (even for your spouse, upon request).

The Royal Society of London

The British "European Science Exchange Programme" gives grants for joint projects between UK and some other countries, including Sweden. Application is made by the British host, so this information is included here only as something you could perhaps suggest to a British institution.


International funding agencies

International Union Against Cancer

Another agency offering fellowships in research areas related to cancer


Some other host funding agencies

Agencies which give grants to research programmes, which in turn may announce post docs on the web pages of the granting agencies.


ESF

European Science Foundation has many programmes in all branches of Biology which may announce post docs.

EMBL

European Molecular Biology Laboratory announces post docs at their laboratories in Germany, France and the UK.

Cancer Research UK

This British Fund announces post docs in areas related to cancer research.




General links about funding, grants and such

Money

The Art of Grantmanship
Very good advice on how to write a grant proposal
 

EvolDir

Archive of the EvolDir mailing list. Look here for post docs in evolutionary biology, including molecular evolution. You can also subscribe to this list, by mailing the listowner (it is not automatic).

PostdocJobs

This is an international site where universities etc can post ads for financed post docs, and where PhDs can post resumes to find a match. You can search for keywords. The site is also known as post-docs.com, postdocs.org etc. Seems respectable.

ResearchResearch

Stockholm University subscribes to the information in this database, where not only post docs but also other positions can be found, along with news regarding funding agencies and grant policy around the world.

TedJob

Another very useful site for finding academic positions, including post docs.

Stockholm University's funding links

Lund University's grants links
Also with links to all other universities!