About the grant 

SSMF’s postdoctoral grants are for three years and are intended to give young researchers the opportunity to obtain qualifications to establish themselves as independent researchers. The grant is for postdoctoral research in medical science, and applications are accepted for both full-time and half-time positions. The grants for half-time positions are intended for persons who are clinically active in their regular employment, such as medical practitioners. 

SSMF’s postdoctoral grants are administered by a Swedish University or University College, and the grant recipient must be employed by the grant administrator and must be resident (folkbokförd) in Sweden throughout the period of the grant. 

For full-time research, the following applies:

International: Years 1 and 2 abroad and year 3 in Sweden. Recipient that chooses salary should be employed by the Swedish Grant Administrator for the whole grant period. For postdoctoral research, which is located abroad, the recipient may choose to receive a stipend rather than a salary during years 1-2. A recipient that chooses a stipend during years 1 and 2 should be affiliated to the Grant Administrator during the first two years and employed with salary during year 3. Clinicians who choose to do an international postdoc can, upon request, distribute the last returning year over two years. Half-time research must then be combined with half-time clinical duty in Sweden.

National: 3 years in Sweden. For full-time research in Sweden, applications can be accepted only for support in the form of grants for salary/employment. Recipient should be employed by the Swedish Grant Administrator for the whole grant period.

For half-time research, the following applies: 

National: 3 years in Sweden. Research is combined with 50 percent clinical practice in Sweden. For half-time research, applications can be accepted only for support in the form of grants for salary/employment. Recipient should be employed by the Swedish Grant Administrator for the whole grant period. Research time can be spent abroad if desired and after agreement with the Swedish Grant Administrator.

Application period

Applications for SSMF Postdoctoral Grant are open from 15 October to 15 November. Please note that the application system closes on November 15 at 23.59 and it is not possible to register a new application, submit or make changes to an existing application after that.

The application is made electronically. Please note that the application must be signed by the head of department in order for the applicant to be able to sign and submit the application. Changes made to the application after it is signed means that the signing is broken and must be redone. Link to the application system can be found further down on this page.

Eligibility

Persons who have been awarded doctorates in a preclinical or clinical medical discipline, or within a subject area closely related to medicine, no more than three years before the end of the application period and latest January 31 the year following the current call, are eligible to apply. The time is calculated from the date of defense of thesis. This period may be extended by a maximum of 24 months for sick leave or parental leave, medical internship/specialist residency (AT/ST service) or military service. 

To be eligible, the applicant must have been active as a researcher in Sweden for at least one year. The applicant’s employer or supervisor must be able to confirm this upon request. Another requirement is that the applicant intends to carry out his or her future research in Sweden. 

The objective of the grant is to attain scientific qualifications. Individuals appointed to a readership (docent) are not entitled to take up the grant. If a grant holder is appointed to a readership during the first two years of the grant, it must be reported to SSMF. Following the appointment, funds will continue to be paid for an additional six months.

SSMF Postdoctoral Grant must not be utilised in parallel with other national or international research grants/scholarships intended to cover living expenses. Smaller scholarships and grants intended for e.g. operating costs, conferences or travel costs can be accepted. For recipients of SSMF’s international postdoctoral grants where living expenses are not fully covered by the SSMF grant, supplementary scholarships or top up grants from the foreign host institution can be accepted.

Amount of the grant and its terms and conditions

Before the call opens, be sure to discuss the terms and budget details with your intended grant administrator to ensure that you have support for your research.

The grant is intended to cover the applicant’s salary, including social security contributions. A maximum of 20 percent of the grant might be used to cover indirect project-related costs. SSMF assumes that the grant administrator will cover any expenses over and above the grant. 

International full-time with salary:

The grant is SEK 1,150,000 per year for three years. During the third year when research is to be conducted in Sweden, the grant recipient is qualified for a returning grant in the form of a framework grant of SEK 500,000. Total grant amount over three years: SEK 3,950,000.

International full-time with scholarship two years and salary one year:

Tax-free, personal scholarship of SEK 336,000 per year for two years. A supplement can also be applied for to cover increasing living expenses in the host country. The supplement is applied for separately and a supplement may be applied for to cover higher living expenses in the host country. The supplement is applied for separately and is payable after an individual assessment. During the third year when research is to be conducted in Sweden, the grant recipient must be employed with a salary by the Swedish Grant administrator and is then, in addition to the grant of SEK 1,150,000, qualified for a returning grant in the form of a framework grant of SEK 500,000. Total grant amount over three years (supplement excluded): SEK 2,322,000.

National full-time with salary:

The grant is SEK 1,000,000 per year for three years and for full-time research at a Swedish university. Total grant amount over three years: SEK 3,000,000.

National half-time with salary:

The grant is SEK 700,000 per year for three years and for half-time research in combination with 50 percent clinical duty in Sweden. Total grant amount over three years: SEK 2,100,000.

Review process

As a first stage, the applications are assessed by SSMF’s Review Board and external reviewers from a range of areas of expertise. Those applications which progress beyond the stage are reviewed in a second assessment round by members of SSMF’s Review Board. Innovation, the scientific quality of the project, the applicant’s skills and the practicability of the project are taken into consideration when assessing the applications. The different categories are graded on the basis of a 5-point scale: 1 not sufficient, 2 adequate, 3 good, 4 very good and 5 excellent.

For full-time grants, mobility is prioritised, particularly abroad, but also within Sweden. The assessment focuses on the ability of the candidate to use the proposed project to develop his or her expertise and independence as a researcher. A typical measure for this may be achieving Readership level expertise in teaching.

Decision and take-up

The decision on the award of grants is announced at the beginning of April. 

SSMF’s postdoctoral grants are to be taken up at the earliest on 1 July of the decision year and at the latest on 1 January of the subsequent year. The availability period for the grant is 3 years, but may under certain circumstances, be extended if such a request is approved by SSMF.

Submitting your application

Applications are submitted electronically and should be written in English. The following documents should be attached to the application as PDFs:

• Research proposal. It must consist of a maximum of 6 page-numbered A4 pages in Arial, font size 11, with single line spacing and 2.5 cm margins, references and any illustrations included. Headings in the following order should be included: Purpose and aims, Current state-of-the-art research, Significance and scientific novelty, Preliminary and previous results, Project description including theory and methodology, timetable and execution, brief description of the research environment and infrastructure, References (minimum font 9).
• Applicant’s publication list. The list shall cover a maximum of 5 page-numbered A4 pages in Arial, font size 11, single line spacing. List the publications in reverse chronological order under 1) The most important publications 2) Relevant publications from the last years.
• The protocol from the defense of the thesis or the degree diploma. Where the defense has not yet taken place, the defense application must be submitted and a copy attached to the application. 
• All applicants must attach a certificate from the Swedish host institution, stating that the applicant is assured of a workplace and basic equipment required for the intended research activities. The cerificate should be issued and signed by the head of department or research group leader.
• For applicants to the international grants, a certificate from the host institution abroad must be attached, stating that the applicant is assured of a workplace and basic equipment required for the intended research activities is required. The cerificate should be issued and signed by the head of department or research group leader.
• For half-time applications, a certificate must be issued by the operations manager or equivalent. It must confirm that the applicant will be clinically active at 50 % during the grant period.

Be sure to check that the correct documents are attached to the application form!

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note that only one application per call opportunity may be submitted.

Reporting of grant

Grant recipients should submit a mandatory half-time report with focus on the scientific progress that the grant has made possible.

Financial reporting of the grant must be submitted annually. The reporting form is available for download below.

Final scientific and financial reports are submitted at the end of the grant period.

Financial and scientific reports are generated using SBS Manager, where the reporting deadlines are specified.