Novo Nordisk Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships at University of Oxford 2027

About the opportunity

The Postdoctoral Fellowships at University of Oxford programme offers early-career researchers the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in collaboration with research groups at the University of Oxford. Fellows spend the first two years of the three-year fellowship at the University of Oxford, followed by a return phase of up to one year at a Danish university or other public, non-profit research institution. The scheme supports projects spanning natural and technical sciences, biomedicine, or biotechnology that demonstrate potential applications for human health or sustainability, fostering scientific mobility, network building, and knowledge exchange between Denmark and Oxford.

Funding and benefits

• Total funding of up to DKK 3.6 million per fellowship over three years
• Annual support of approximately up to DKK 1.2 million per year
• Formal employment administered by a Danish host institution for the entire duration of the fellowship
• Two years of international research training and mentorship at the University of Oxford followed by up to one year in Denmark

Who can apply?

• Applicants must have obtained a PhD degree in natural and technical sciences, biomedicine, or biotechnology within 5 years of the fellowship start date (periods of leave of absence do not count toward this limit).
• PhD students may apply if their PhD supervisor provides a written statement confirming expected graduation before the fellowship start date.
• Must have established contact with a host Principal Investigator (PI) at the University of Oxford who commits to serving as primary research mentor abroad.
• Must not have spent more than one year as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford at the time of application.
• Must have a confirmed Danish hosting institution and host PI who agrees to employ the fellow and administer the grant.
• Must demonstrate affiliation with the Danish educational system or research environment (such as a degree from a Danish university, Danish citizenship, or multiple years of research experience in Denmark).
• Projects must be interdisciplinary and clearly articulate potential impact on human health or sustainability.

Required documents

• Commitment letter from a host Principal Investigator at the University of Oxford
• Commitment and hosting confirmation from a Danish host institution and host PI
• Statement from PhD supervisor confirming anticipated graduation before the start date (for current PhD students)
• Documentation of leaves of absence (if extending the 5-year post-PhD eligibility window)
• Detailed research proposal outlining interdisciplinary methodology and relevance to health or sustainability
• Declaration of any co-funding from other sources

When to apply

• Call opens: September 30, 2026
• Application deadline: January 29, 2027 at 2:00 PM Copenhagen time
• Announcement of results: June 2027
• Next recurring call: September 2027

How to apply

• Establish contact and secure mentorship commitment from a host PI at the University of Oxford.
• Obtain confirmed hosting and employment commitments from an eligible Danish university or non-profit research institution.
• Prepare the interdisciplinary project proposal in natural/technical sciences, biomedicine, or biotechnology.
• Submit the completed application and supporting documents via the Novo Nordisk Foundation grant management system (NORMA) before January 29, 2027 at 2:00 PM Copenhagen time.

Additional information

• Applicants may only submit one application at a time across Novo Nordisk Foundation postdoctoral fellowship calls and must await results before reapplying.
• Fellows are legally employed and administered by the Danish host institution throughout both the Oxford phase and the return phase.
• Applications are evaluated by the Novo Nordisk Foundation Committee on Interdisciplinary Research.
• Partial co-funding from other funding bodies is permitted but must be declared.