NNF-IAS Fellowship Programme on Health and Sustainability 2027

The first NNF-IAS call addresses Inequity in Health, a broad research theme that recognises that health outcomes are influenced by interconnected social, economic, environmental and structural factors.

The call welcomes research projects from all academic disciplines where the proposed work contributes to understanding health disparities, inequities or the wider relationship between health and environment.

Possible research directions can include:

• Social and structural determinants of health inequalities
• Health disparities between different populations
• Environmental influences on health
• Social, economic and political factors affecting health
• Global and local dimensions of health inequity
• Interactions between health and environmental change
• Interdisciplinary approaches to health challenges
• New approaches to understanding or addressing unequal health outcomes

Applicants are not required to come from a traditional medical or public-health background. The programme explicitly welcomes research from different academic disciplines where the proposed project fits the thematic scope of the call.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must carefully review the official call and guide for applicants. The current call is open to researchers who meet the following general requirements:

1. Applicants may be of any nationality.

2. Applicants may come from any academic discipline, provided their research profile and proposed project fall within the thematic scope of the call.

3. Applicants must hold a PhD degree.

4. Applicants must be between two and ten years after completion of their PhD. The PhD training period itself is not counted when calculating the period of postdoctoral experience.

5. Applicants must demonstrate a strong research profile appropriate to their career stage.

6. The proposed research must be relevant to the theme of Inequity in Health and should contribute to the broader goals of the NNF-IAS programme on health and sustainability.

7. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in interdisciplinary research and be willing to participate in the wider cross-Nordic research environment.

8. Applicants must satisfy the mobility requirement. They must not have resided or carried out their main work activity in the country of their selected priority hosting institute for more than 12 months during the two years immediately preceding the application deadline.

9. Applicants must be willing to reside in the country of their hosting institute for the duration of the fellowship.

10. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to undertake independent, high-quality research while also contributing to collaborative research activities.

11. Applicants must be able to participate in the interdisciplinary and cross-Nordic activities associated with the programme.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is intended for early-career researchers who have already completed their PhD and have between two and ten years of postdoctoral experience.

The programme is particularly suited to researchers who have developed an independent research profile and are ready to undertake a substantial research project within an international and interdisciplinary environment.

Researchers can come from fields outside conventional health sciences. For example, projects involving environmental studies, social sciences, economics, political science, humanities, technology, medicine, public health or other disciplines may be considered when they address questions relevant to health inequity and the fellowship theme.

Fellowship Benefits

The NNF-IAS fellowship is described by the participating Nordic institutes as a fully funded two-year residential fellowship.

In addition to financial support for the fellowship period, fellows benefit from:

1. A 23-month research fellowship from September 2027 to July 2029.

2. Research placement at one of four main Nordic Institutes for Advanced Studies in Denmark, Finland, Norway or Sweden.

3. An interdisciplinary research environment involving researchers from different academic fields.

4. Membership of a cross-Nordic group of fellows working around the programme's thematic focus.

5. Opportunities for international academic networking across the eight participating Nordic institutes.

6. Opportunities for collaboration with researchers across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

7. Participation in programme-wide academic activities, including meetings and collaborative activities involving the fellows and wider Nordic research community.

8. Career-development opportunities within an international research environment.

9. Exposure to interdisciplinary approaches to complex questions concerning health and sustainability.

10. Opportunities to develop longer-term international research collaborations.

The fellowship is designed so that researchers maintain their own individual research projects while becoming part of a wider collaborative research community.

Host Institutions

The NNF-IAS programme involves eight Nordic Institutes for Advanced Studies.

Four are the main partner institutes where fellows will be hosted:

1. Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS) – Denmark

AIAS is based at Aarhus University and is one of the four main institutions hosting fellows in the programme.

2. Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) – Norway

CAS provides an interdisciplinary research environment in Oslo and is one of the main Nordic hosts.

3. Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies (HCAS) – Finland

HCAS is part of the University of Helsinki and provides an interdisciplinary environment for advanced research.

4. Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study (SCAS) – Sweden

SCAS provides an international research environment in Sweden and is one of the main hosts for NNF-IAS fellows.

Four additional institutes are associated partners:

• Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), Denmark
• Pufendorf Institute for Advanced Studies, Sweden
• Tampere University Institute for Advanced Study, Finland
• Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS), Finland

The associated institutes contribute to events, mobility activities and the broader research network.

Research Environment

One of the distinctive features of this fellowship is its cross-Nordic structure.

The five fellows will be distributed among the four main partner institutes but will form a collaborative group across the Nordic region.

While each fellow will pursue an individual research project, fellows are also expected to participate in regular meetings and collaborative activities.

This structure is intended to encourage researchers to move beyond their individual disciplines and engage with researchers working on related questions from different perspectives.

Mobility Requirement

Applicants should pay particular attention to the programme's mobility requirement.

Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main work activity in the country of their preferred hosting institute for more than 12 months during the two years immediately before the application deadline.

Successful applicants must also be willing to reside in the country of their hosting institute for the duration of the fellowship.

Applicants should therefore consider their previous residence and employment history before selecting their preferred host institute.

Application Process

Step 1: Review the Official Call

Read the full NNF-IAS call and the accompanying Guide for Applicants before preparing the application.

The guide contains the detailed application requirements, selection criteria and instructions for completing the online application.

Step 2: Check Your Eligibility

Confirm that you:

• Hold a PhD.
• Have between two and ten years of postdoctoral experience.
• Meet the mobility requirement.
• Have a research profile relevant to the theme.
• Are willing to undertake a residential fellowship in the Nordic country of your selected host institute.

Step 3: Develop Your Research Project

Prepare a clear research proposal addressing a question within the theme of Inequity in Health.

The project should demonstrate originality, research quality and relevance to the broader programme.

Step 4: Choose a Preferred Hosting Institute

Applicants must prioritize their desired hosting institute in the application.

The four main hosting institutes are AIAS in Denmark, CAS in Norway, HCAS in Finland and SCAS in Sweden.

Applicants should consider which research environment is most appropriate for their project.

Step 5: Prepare the Required Documents

Prepare the research proposal, academic CV and other documents requested in the Guide for Applicants.

Applicants should ensure that all documents meet the specified format and length requirements.

Step 6: Complete the Online Application

Applications are submitted through the designated GrantOne application system.

Applicants should complete all required sections and indicate their preferred hosting institute.

Step 7: Review and Submit

Check the completed application carefully before submission.

Ensure that the research proposal, CV and supporting materials are complete and that the application has been submitted before the system closes.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should consult the official Guide for Applicants for the complete and current list of requirements.

The application includes materials such as:

1. Research proposal.

2. Academic curriculum vitae.

3. Documentation of academic qualifications, including the PhD.

4. Information about the applicant's research experience and publications, where requested.

5. Details of the proposed research project and its relevance to the fellowship theme.

6. Preferred hosting institute.

7. Other supporting information requested through the online application system.

Applicants should follow the specified application format carefully because the programme uses a structured online application and selection process.

Selection Process

Applications will undergo a competitive academic assessment.

The selection process includes peer review and selection between November 2026 and February 2027.

The selection board consists of representatives from the four main partner institutions and an associated partner representative connected to the relevant thematic area.

Applications are assessed based on factors including:

• Research quality
• Originality and significance of the proposed project
• Relevance to the Inequity in Health theme
• Academic merit and research record
• Interdisciplinary potential
• Applicant's ability to contribute to the NNF-IAS research environment
• Potential for meaningful collaboration across the Nordic network
• Overall quality and feasibility of the proposed research

Applicants will be informed of the outcome in March 2027.

Fellowship Timeline

June 2026: Call opens.

1 October 2026: Application deadline at 12:00 noon CEST.

November 2026 – February 2027: Peer review and selection.

March 2027: Applicants receive decisions.

1 September 2027: Fellowships begin.

July 2029: Fellowship period ends.

Application Deadline

1 October 2026 at 12:00 noon CEST

Applications submitted after the stated deadline will not be considered through the application system.

Applicants should therefore complete their applications before the final day rather than waiting until the closing hours.

Important Information for Applicants

This is a postdoctoral research fellowship, not a Master's or PhD scholarship. Applicants must already hold a PhD and have the required period of postdoctoral experience.

The fellowship is open internationally. Researchers of any nationality can apply, provided they satisfy the other eligibility requirements.

The fellowship is open across disciplines. Applicants do not have to be trained specifically in medicine or public health. Research from any discipline may be considered if it fits the theme and programme objectives.

Only five fellowships are available in this first call. The fellowships are distributed among the four main Nordic partner institutes.

The fellowship is residential. Successful applicants are expected to reside in the country of their selected hosting institute throughout the fellowship.

The mobility requirement is important. Applicants should check their recent residence and main work activity against the 12-month requirement before applying.

The research project must fit the theme. Although the programme welcomes all disciplines, the first call specifically focuses on Inequity in Health.

Applicants should be prepared for interdisciplinary collaboration. Fellows will work on individual projects while also participating in activities with other fellows and researchers across the Nordic network.

Who Should Apply?

This fellowship may be particularly relevant to researchers who:

• Have completed a PhD.
• Have 2–10 years of postdoctoral experience.
• Have an established or developing independent research profile.
• Are interested in health inequalities or disparities.
• Work at the intersection of health and environmental or social issues.
• Want to approach a complex research problem from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Are interested in international research collaboration.
• Are willing to spend the fellowship period in Denmark, Finland, Norway or Sweden.
• Can contribute to a cross-Nordic academic community.