FAQ – frequently asked questions about Sapere Aude

FAQ for Step 1: DFF-Postdoc (scroll down for Step 2)

I want to apply for both an Individual postdoctoral grant and Sapere Aude: DFF-Postdoc grant – do I have to submit one or two applications?

- You only have to submit one application, which is to be submitted under the instrument Individual postdoctoral grants.  Your application to the instrument Individual postdoctoral grants will in case of a grant have the possibility for taking part in the competition for also receiving funds from Sapere Aude: DFF – Postdoc when you in section 15 of the application form (supplementary information) indicate that you also wish to apply for Sapere Aude: DFF – Postdoc. DFF reserves the right to nominate candidates for a Sapere Aude: DFF – Postdoc grant even if the candidates themselves have not indicated this intention in section 15.

Please note that the Sapere Aude: DFF – Postdoc project description should only be submitted if you are selected to take part in the competition for a grant under Sapere Aude: DFF – Postdoc. You will in this case be contacted by The Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF).

Is it possible to apply for DFF-Postdoc if I already have attained an Individual postdoctoral grant from the DFF?

- It is not possible to have more than three years’ individual postdoctoral grant financed from DFF. But if you, for example, have received an Individual postdoctoral grant for two years and now apply under the instrument Individual postdoctoral grant you can apply for financing for only one year. This applies whether or not you indicate that you also apply for Sapere Aude: DFF – Postdoc in section 15 in the application form.

I am a PhD student and will graduate in the beginning of 2012. It is possible for me to apply to Sapere Aude in March 2011, or do I have to wait until I have attained my PhD degree?

- As a PhD student, you can only apply if you include a statement from your supervisor that you are expected to hand in your PhD thesis within 6 months of the application deadline. You cannot start a project which has received funding before you have attained your PhD degree. Sapere Aude: DFF-Postdoc will also be open for application in September 2011.

I received my PhD degree in November 2007 – can I apply for Sapere Aude: DFF-Postdoc if my project commences in December 2011?

- The PhD age of four years is calculated on the basis of the application deadline – so yes, you can apply for the application deadline March 2011.

How soon can I start my project?

- The project can commence no sooner than after the council’s consideration meeting. The application procedures of the different scientific research councils can be viewed under the Sapere Aude section of fi.dk . Specific dates are published as soon as they are decided upon.

How late can I start up my project?

- Your project can commence on December 31, 2012, at the latest.

Is it possible to apply again in a subsequent Call If my application for DFF-Postdoc is rejected?

- Yes, this it is possible. You can apply an unlimited number of  times for Sapere Aude: DFF-Postdoc as long as you honour the formal requirements mentioned in the Call.

Is it possible to submit two applications for Sapere Aude: DFF-Postdoc? One to for example The Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences (FNU) and one to The Danish Council for Independent Research | Technology and Production Sciences (FTP)

- Yes, this it is possible.

I was employed in a non research based position in industry for 1.5 years. It has thereby been more than four years since I obtained my PhD. Can I deduct the 1.5 years?

- It is up to you as the applicant to assess whether you can argue your case sufficiently convincing for the council to accept that this is in fact a special scientific circumstance that have been necessary for your career as a researcher and that therefore can be deducted the time span since you obtained your PhD.

FAQ for Step 2: DFF-Starting Grant

I received my PhD degree eight years and one month ago. Can I apply for DFF-Starting Grant when it says that “DFF-Starting Grant is for very talented researches, typically at the level of associate professor, who within the past 8 years have attained the PhD degree or have obtained similar qualifications (e.g. a positive assistant professor assessment)”?

- The 8 years are calculated from the application deadline. Dispensations from the 8-year rule can be approved on the basis of very particular academic grounds (apart from taking periods of leave into consideration) – e.g. clinical stays or similar which are a necessary part of a career path, and where time allocated to research has been very scarce. 

Do I have to be employed as an associate professor in order to apply for Sapere Aude’s Step 2?

- You can be employed as an associate professor when applying to Sapere Aude: DFF-Starting Grant, but it is not a requirement. 

How are the projects of the Principal Investigator and the participating PhDs/Postdocs connected scientifically? Is leadership about heading a complete project, or is it about being a leader like a research school programme leader (ie. to supervise skilled individual PhDs)?

- DFF-Starting Grant is a complete, concise project where the head scientist (the applicant) sets the pace and actively participates in the research efforts.

How large a salary can I apply for for myself as a DFF-Starting Grant Holder?

- You can apply for anything between DKK 0 and having your wages fully financed. It is up to you to put together an application where research activities and budget allocations match up. 

How soon can I start up my project?

- The project can commence no sooner than after the council’s evaluation meeting. The application procedures of the different scientific research councils can be viewed at www.fi.dk/dff. Specific dates are published as soon as they are determined. 

How late can I start up my project?

- Your project can commence on December 31, 2012, at the latest. 

If my DFF-Starting Grant application is rejected, can I apply for DFF-Advanced Grant in a subsequent application round?

- Yes, you can apply for alle three career steps regardless of whether you have previously received a grant from the programme.

Can I submit two DFF-Starting Grant applications simultaneously, i.e. one to The Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences and one to The Danish Council for Independent Research | Technology and Production Sciences?

- You can only submit one DFF-Starting Grant application. It is not possible to submit to different applications to two scientific councils. However, you can submit the same application to two different scientific councils at the same time, if the project is cross-disciplinary.