SciLifeLab International Postdoctoral Program – SciLifeLab PULSE
SciLifeLab has received a funding invitation from Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND, part of EU’s Horizon Europe, for SciLifeLab PULSE (Program for Future Leaders in Life Science), a comprehensive 5-year postdoctoral program. The program will train 48 future leaders in life sciences with a launch following the final grant decision in fall 2024. Postdocs will be recruited in two calls (January 2025 and 2026), with the first cohort of 24 postdocs starting in October 2025.
PULSE will focus on innovative, fundamental and translational research carried out in supportive and diverse academic and industrial environments, preparing postdocs with necessary skills for long-term career sustainability. The program will offer 3-year fellowships hosted by one of nine Swedish universities with secondments at 24 academic and non-academic partners in Sweden and abroad.
Important dates ahead
- October-November 2024: Information webinars
- January 1, 2025: Call for PULSE postdoc applications opens
- March 31, 2025: Application submission deadline
- September 1, 2025: Formal start of the PULSE program
- October 2025: Start of postdoc fellowships
In summary
The purpose of the program is to strengthen the research network in Sweden and abroad in the long term by increasing the recruitment of international, highly qualified postdoc candidates in Life Science, and through mobility between universities, research infrastructures, research institutes and companies within the program.
SciLifeLab invited representatives from the Universities of Sweden, as well as representatives from the Life Science industry to participate in the design of the program. The resulting international consortium will ensure excellence and the implementation of the program in the best possible way.
The program has 9 university implementing partners, and 24 associated partners representing research infrastructures, research institutes and companies, that will contribute to postdoc training and host secondments.
PULSE will offer a unique setup, enabling candidates to choose between academic (32 positions) or entrepreneurial (16 positions) tracks. There will be 48 postdocs, recruited in two phases:
- Call 1 in January 2025: 16 positions on the academic track and 8 positions on the entrepreneurial track
- Call 2 in January 2026: 16 positions on the academic track and 8 positions on the entrepreneurial track
Timeline of application
In February, 2024, the application for the program was submitted in the HORIZON-MSCA-2023-COFUND-01 call.
In June, 2024, SciLifeLab received a funding invitation from the EC Horizon-MSCA-COFUND initiative for the program.
In September-October 2024, the final COFUND contract agreement for SciLifeLab PULSE is expected.
Organization
PULSE Management Group
- Mia Phillipson, SciLifeLab Co-Director, Director of SciLifeLab PULSE
- Per Ljungdahl, Campus Solna Director, Co-Director of SciLifeLab PULSE (academic track)
- Kristian Sandberg, Platform co-Director DDD, Co-Director of SciLifeLab PULSE (entrepreneurial track)
- Jessica Lindvall, SciLifeLab Training Hub Lead, Director of SciLifeLab PULSE Training
- Disa Hammarlöf, Program Manager SciLifeLab PULSE
- Maria Bäckström, Program Coordinator SciLifeLab PULSE
PULSE Support functions
- Kristen Schröder, Training Coordinator
- Per Lek, External relations
- Anna Frejd, Communications Manager
- Karin Nedler, Communications Officer
- Emma Hagy Kasholm, Controller
Partners
Implementing partners
Associated partners
FAQ
Applicants must hold a doctoral degree awarded within the last three years or have successfully defended their thesis at the time of application. Additionally, they must meet the MSCA mobility requirement, which stipulates that applicants cannot have lived or worked in Sweden for more than 12 months in the past three years. Applicants are responsible for selecting their own research topic, host organization, and supervisor. Details about and support for the application process will be posted during autumn.
The primary host for a PULSE postdoc should be a SciLifeLab Group Leader. Co-hosts can be researchers affiliated with any of the PULSE academic, industry, or infrastructure partners.
The first call for 24 postdoc positions will open in January 2025, followed by a second call in January 2026. All PULSE applications must be submitted through a central application portal.
Contact
Please get in touch with pulse@scilifelab.se or directly with contact persons below.