Formas' annual call for applications for postdoctoral scholarships for researchers who hold a doctorate from a foreign university

FAQs

The Swedish Research Council Formas is calling for applications for open postdoctoral scholarships, for researchers who hold a doctorate from a foreign university, in all the areas of responsibility of the Council. The aim is to increase exchange of young researches between Swedish and foreign universities.

The mission of the Research Council Formas is to promote and support basic research and need-driven research of the highest scientific quality in the areas Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning. The research council is also responsible for information on research and research results.

The research should contribute to the sustainable development of society - a development which implies that the finite resources of the planet and the environment are not consumed or degraded in an irrevocable manner, to the detriment of future generations. This presupposes that the health and welfare of humans and animals, biodiversity, the environment and the viability of nature, economics, ethics, and social and cultural values are taken into consideration.

A more detailed description of the areas of responsibility of Formas will be found in Formas' strategies and research programmes.

The earliest date of commencement of projects is January 2010. Applications for funds may be made for up to two years.

Formas welcomes applications, preferably with an interdisciplinary – multidisciplinary orientation, from all areas of responsibility of the Council. The criteria for the assessment and ranking of the applications are scientific and societal values for Formas' areas of responsibility. Gender perspectives should be taken into account in project proposals where this is relevant. Grants may be used as Swedish co-funding of EU projects with an R&D orientation.

The applications will be assessed by Formas' standing expert committees, which  primarily are comprised by active and highly qualified researchers.

The open postdoctoral programme is addressed to researchers from a Swedish university, university college or research institute who wish to have a young researcher in her/his research team. A young researcher in this case is a person who has been awarded a doctorate by a foreign university not more than five calendar years prior to the time of application, i.e. 1 January 2004, and not later than 1 November 2009. An open postdoctoral scholarship means that the applicant need not enter the name of a specific person in the application. If the application is approved, the scholarship will be paid when the applicant has presented a letter to Formas, confirming that a position for a postdoctoral researcher with a doctorate from a foreign university has been approved, together with the CV of this person. The holder of the scholarship must have taken up the position not later than 1 September 2010, otherwise the funds will again be at the disposal of Formas.

The scholarship provides funding for a visit of up to two years at a Swedish university, university college or research institute.
NOTE. Applications for funding of open postdoctoral scholarships are assessed in accordance with the guidelines applicable to research projects, but the focus is placed on the tasks that the postdoctoral researcher is expected to perform and the way this can contribute to the development of the research environment. Formas Handbook 2009 contains a detailed description of Formas policy and rules, the forms of project support and the application procedure, and information on how applications are assessed.

The call will close and the application has to be registered in FormasDirect at 24:00 hrs, 28 April 2009. Technical support from Formas is provided for until 16:45 on the last day of application. Please, make certain to submit your application in time before 16:45 in case that you will need technical support. Applications are to be made via an online form on Formas' website.

The Scientific Council of Formas will make its decision on applications on 23 November 2009. The results of the decision will be announced the next day on  Formas' website.

For further information, contact:
Viktoria Halltell, Senior International Officer,
Tel. +46 8-775 4062
E-mail:

Queries of a general nature will be answered on weekdays April 20 - 28, 8.00 - 16.45 hrs on Formas' duty telephone +46 8-775 4005.

Queries relating to specific disciplines will be answered by the relevant Senior Research Officers.