Villum Young Investigator

Technical and natural sciences

For young, ambitious researchers with the potential to make a significant and independent contribution to the technical and natural sciences at a Danish university.

The Villum Young Investigator programme is aimed at young researchers wishing to establish their own independent research group. Applicants may be experienced postdocs, assistant professors or associate professors. A Villum Young Investigator grant is expected to be career defining, and you are ineligible to apply if you have already received a similar grant from other sources.

Villum Foundation supports the internationalisation of Danish research, and researchers recruited from abroad may apply for a larger grant to facilitate the recruitment. We encourage Danish universities to use the programme to support and recruit both Danish and international research talents.

The ideal applicant is a highly talented young researcher in the field of technical and natural sciences. Applicants should have two to eight years of research experience after completing their PhD.

You can apply for a Villum Young Investigator Programme grant a maximum of two times.

We announce the programme once a year in open competition. The application deadline is in June, and the final decision to grant or reject an application is made in December.

Researchers employed at a Danish research institute can apply for up to DKK 7 million, including 15% for indirect project costs.

We aim to promote the recruitment of leading international researchers to Denmark. If, at the time of application, you have been employed outside Denmark for at least two of the last three years, you can apply for up to DKK 9 million, including 15% for indirect project costs.

A grant runs for five years.

As a Villum Young Investigator, you become part of a network of like-minded individuals and are invited to an annual Young Investigator seminar, covering topics such as recruitment and research management. You will also become part of the Villum Fellow community and get the opportunity to participate in networking activities with other Villum Fellows.

Watch the video Ten years with the Villum Young Investigator Programme.