The call is aimed at capacity-building for young researchers to promote a new generation of neutron users and specialists through training at internationally leading neutron facilities. Application deadline: 2017-08-30 13:00 CET.
The budget for this call is approximately NOK 10 million.
It is possible to apply for up to NOK 2 million per project. The length of the project is maximum two years. At least three-fourths of the grant period must be located at a non-Nordic, internationally leading, operating neutron scattering facility or facilities.
Background
The European Spallation Source (ESS) is presently under construction, and will provide world-class neutron scattering capabilities for the first time in the Nordic region. It is imperative that a broad range of Nordic research communities take full advantage of the scientific potential of the ESS.
NordForsk has therefore established a Nordic Neutron Science Initiative (NNSI) in collaboration with the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, the Research Council of Norway and the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. The total budget is approximately NOK 60 million, which may be increased in the coming years. The initiative will run for five years starting in 2015, and the current call is a one-time action under this initiative.
NNSP will strengthen the Nordic neutron community by targeting young researchers with the aim of introducing the use of neutron scattering techniques to new scientific disciplines and areas and supporting consolidation and capacity-building in existing neutron user groups.
Framework for the call
The main purpose of the call is to promote long-term capacity-building, international mobility and excellence by supporting the next generation of Nordic neutron users. These may include user groups that are new to neutron scattering techniques as well as established neutron experts. The call is thematically open and supports fellowships within any scientific field using neutron scattering techniques, including instrument and method development.
Financial framework
The funding partners of the initiative are the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Research Council of Norway, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and NordForsk.
Funding may only be used for costs directly related to the postdoctoral research fellowship.
A description must be provided of how the home institution (the Nordic institution with which the postdoc is affiliated) calculates the overhead for the period at the host institution (the non-Nordic, internationally leading, operating neutron scattering facility or facilities).
Expected project start-up is spring 2018.
Eligibility criteria
The applicant must be affiliated with a research institution in one of the funding countries (Denmark including Greenland and Faroe Islands, Sweden or Norway).
NordForsk seeks to fund a balanced portfolio of top-quality fellowships comprising postdocs from each of the three funding countries. In addition, the portfolio should reflect the guidelines of the NordForsk Gender Policy.
The proposal must include a letter of intent from the host facility.
The applicant must hold a Ph.D. awarded within the last six years.
The proposal must be submitted in English through the NordForsk application portal, and comply with the requirements and guidelines set out in the call.
Assessment criteria
A panel of international experts will assess the proposals using the following criteria:
- Scientific quality of the project;
- Feasibility of the project plan, including budget;
- The motivation for the host institution, instrument and/or beamline;
- Scientific merits of the applicant.
The Committee will assess the relevance to the call and the Nordic added value.
In addition, the application must include:
- A dissemination plan;
- A plan for open access for publications and data;
- A description of the ethical aspects of the proposed project.
Project follow-up by NordForsk
NordForsk is responsible for the administrative follow-up of the project.
NordForsk will negotiate the contract with the host institution of the postdoctoral research fellow (project manager).
The project leader (the applicant) reports to NordForsk in the intervals stated in the contract.