Formas' annual call 2010 for applications for postdoctoral scholarships

The Swedish Research Council Formas is calling for applications for postdoctoral scholarships in all the areas of responsibility of the Council.

The mission of Formas is to promote and support basic research and need-driven research in the areas Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning. The research that is funded should be of the highest scientific quality and relevance to the areas of responsibility of the Council. Formas may also fund development projects to a limited extent.

The research should produce knowledge that will contribute to the sustainable development of society - a development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 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 detailed description of the strategy of Formas will be found in Formas' strategies and research programmes.

Formas welcomes applications, including an interdisciplinary – multidisciplinary orientation, from all areas of responsibility of the Council.  The criteria for the assessment and ranking of the applications are scientific quality 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 earliest date of commencement of projects is January 2011. Applications for funds may be made for up to two years.

The postdoctoral programme is addressed to young researchers, with a doctorate, engaged on research in the areas of responsibility of Formas. A young researcher in this case is a person who has been awarded a doctorate not more than five calendar years prior to 1 January the year of the application, i.e. not earlier than 1 January 2005, and not later than 1 November 2010. Parental leave, illness, military service or some other similar circumstance which prevented research activity during the time immediately after the award of doctorate should be specified in the CV and may be a reason to make an exception from the five year rule. Applicants with a doctorate from a foreign university must have a permanent residence permit in Sweden.

The scholarship enables a visit of up to two years to be made to a university or research institute other than the one where the doctorate was awarded. The visit may also be divided into several periods. The application should include a motivation for chosing the university to be visited.

The applications will be assessed by Formas' standing evaluation panels, which primarily are comprised by researchers.

PLEASE NOTE. For applications for funds for postdoctoral scholarships there are special rules. A detailed description of Formas policy and rules and the application procedure, and information on how the applications are assessed, are given in Formas Handbook 2010.

The call will close and the application has to be registered in FormasDirect at 24:00 hrs, 27 April 2010. 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 22 November 2010.

The results of the decision will be announced the next day on Formas' website.

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

Formas' duty telephone, +46 8-775 4005, is open on weekdays 20-27 April  8.00 - 16.45, in order to answer queries of a general nature.

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