NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme: University of Eastern Finland60 Views

1. Prevention & Care – risk factors, mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets for brain disorders, often using human-based disease models and advanced imaging.
2. Methods & Data – development of data-driven tools, neuroinformatics, AI and multi-omics methods to analyse complex brain-related datasets.
3. Innovation in Society – studies of how health innovations emerge, spread and create impact across health systems, markets and communities.
4. Ethics & Well-being – legal, ethical and social dimensions of brain health, including patients’ rights, ageing, and access to justice.

Examples of potential host groups

The NOVEL website lists 18+ research groups, for example:

• • Biomedical MRI and Image Analysis groups developing advanced neuroimaging methods and biomarkers.
  • AIVI Stem Cell Center using iPSC-based models for neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Neuro-Ethics and Law research team focusing on legal protection and rights of people with brain diseases.
  • NOVA Neuro-Innovation and Impact team studying health-related innovation, co-creation, and impact.

You must select and contact at least one potential supervisor from this list as part of your application strategy.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply to the NOVEL Postdoctoral Programme

The official “How to Apply” page outlines a clear workflow.

1. Check the call schedule

For the second call:

• • Call open: 1 December 2025 – 28 February 2026
  • Eligibility and ethics check: early March 2026
  • External peer review: March to late May 2026
  • Selection Committee review and ranking: July 2026
  • Final decisions: August 2026
  • Appointments: from September to November 2026

2. Confirm your eligibility

Verify that you meet the PhD, experience and mobility rules. If you are unsure, use the guide for applicants and, if needed, contact the NOVEL office for clarification.

3. Explore research areas and supervisors

• • Study the research areas and host group descriptions on the NOVEL website.
  • Identify 1–2 groups where your expertise and project idea align well.

4. Contact a supervisor and obtain a Letter of Support

This step is mandatory:

• • Email only one supervisor initially with a concise description of your proposed idea, focusing on aims, required data or infrastructure, and its fit with brain health and NOVEL’s areas.
  • If there is a good technical fit, you may receive a Letter of Support, which must use the official template.

Supervisors cannot help you draft or edit your proposal, so you must write the research plan independently.

5. Prepare application documents

Using NOVEL templates, you must upload:

• • Electronic application form (UEF recruitment system)
  • At least one signed Letter of Support
  • Detailed Research Proposal + summary
  • Curriculum Vitae with research experience
  • PhD diploma or statement of thesis submission
  • Ethics declaration and self-assessment
  • Preliminary Data Management Plan
  • Proof of English proficiency (if requested)

6. Submit via the UEF recruitment portal

Once your documents are ready, submit a single application for the call through the specified online portal links on the official NOVEL “How to apply” page.

Expert Tips, Common Mistakes and Application Strategy

A competitive NOVEL application requires more than meeting basic eligibility. Consider the following expert tips:

1. 1. Start with the host group, not the form.
      Review recent publications of the group and tailor your project to their strengths and infrastructure.
   2. Align clearly with “brain health”.
      Even if you come from data science, law, economics or management, explain how your work advances brain health outcomes, equity or innovation.
   3. Design a realistic 36-month work plan.
      Break your project into coherent work packages with feasible deliverables. Reviewers look closely at implementation and risk management.
   4. Plan a meaningful secondment.
      Think about a partner organisation (industry, hospital, NGO, regulator, or international academic lab) where you can gain skills and broaden impact.
   5. Show independence and future potential.
      Emphasise how the fellowship will help you mature into an independent researcher who can later secure PI-level grants.
   6. Avoid common mistakes.
      • Vague research questions with no clear methods
      • Overly ambitious data collection with weak feasibility
      • Minimal link to NOVEL research areas or UEF’s strategic profile
      • Ignoring ethics and data management in sensitive brain-related work

For many international applicants, including those from India, a strong emphasis on methodology, clarity of impact, and a well-reasoned mobility plan significantly increases competitiveness.

Program Summary Table

Conclusion: Is the NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme Right for You?

The NOVEL MSCA postdoctoral programme at the University of Eastern Finland offers far more than a conventional postdoc. It combines cutting-edge brain health research, structured career development, generous funding, and a supportive environment in one of Europe’s most liveable regions. With the freedom to design your own project, access to advanced infrastructures, and mandatory intersectoral secondments, it provides an ideal platform to build a truly international research profile.

If you are an ambitious early-career researcher with a strong interest in brain health, now is an excellent time to explore the programme in detail. Review the official programme pages, study potential host groups, and start shaping a focused project idea well before the deadline. Consider bookmarking this guide and sharing it with colleagues who may also benefit from this unique opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)