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Travel abroad and strengthen your research

Health offers annual mobility and sabbatical scholarships for established researchers at the faculty who wish to travel abroad to conduct research. You can apply for the scholarships now.

 "The purpose of the scholarships is to develop our employees both professionally and personally, to give them international experience and to expand their network. This is important for their own career and for the faculty. Strong international networks are for example important for the researcher's own EU applications and for Health's recruitment. I can only encourage everyone who is interested to apply," says Vice-Dean for Talent Development Lise Wogensen. 

Very beneficial – both professionally and personally 

Martin Roelsgaard Jakobsen is an associate professor and research director at the Department of Biomedicine. He took a three-month sabbatical stay as a visiting scientist at the J. David Gladstone Institute in San Francisco, USA in 2016. 

"I benefited a lot from my stay in San Francisco. I was focused on things like networking and consolidating new collaborative projects, and it paid off. I have established collaboration with several groups at both Berkeley, Stanford and Gladstone. Plus, in the case of Gladstone, my visit has also opened doors for one of my PhD students to carry out part of her project there," says Martin Roelsgaard Jakobsen. 

He also says that the collaboration with the research groups at Gladstone has resulted in several joint manuscripts and visits. During 2017, several of his new American colleagues have visited Aarhus University and presented their research. 

Bente Lomholt Langdahl is a professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine and the Department of Biomedicine. In 2016, she was affiliated with Edinburgh University and the Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine and the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine for three months. She agrees with Martin Roelsgaard Jakobsen that a study abroad period is rewarding.

"During my stay in Edinburgh I found the peace and tranquillity that in-depth research requires, but which is difficult to find during a busy working day with both clinical and research demands. The main objective of my trip was to analyse samples that I had previously collected from 180 healthy, young people. During my stay I carried out various types of sequencing and, in addition, I got a valuable insight into how patients with osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases are treated in Edinburgh," says Bente Lomholt Langdahl. 

The scholarships are advertised – and you can apply all year round

There was previously an annual application deadline. Now the faculty's teaching staff and researchers can send applications on an ongoing basis and apply until the funding pool is empty. The vice-deans for research and for talent development are the ones who review the applications and decide who should be granted scholarships. Once the decision has been made, both the applicant and the relevant department head receive an email informing them of this.

Read more about the scholarships and find the link to the application form via Health's website.

You are welcome to contact adviser at the faculty secretariat Henry Andreasen at hga@au.dk with any questions about the scholarships or the application process.


Facts about mobility and sabbatical scholarships at Health

The faculty has an adjustable grant from the Aarhus University Research Foundation (AUFF) for mobility scholarships and can therefore offer mobility and sabbatical scholarships.

Who can apply? 

All researchers and lecturers employed at Health at least at associate professor level (ordinary and clinical positions) can apply for the scholarships. The application must be approved by the department head.

What can you apply for?

It is possible to apply for up to DKK 200,000 for the co-financing of a stay at a relevant foreign top institution for a minimum of three months and a maximum of nine months.

What is funding available for?

  • Travel and accommodation expenses
  • Workload reduction from teaching or from the clinical part of employment
  • Other documented additional expenses for the department in connection with the study abroad period

What should you be aware of?

  • A maximum of DKK 200,000 may be applied for
  • Funding may be granted for one or more of the department's core activities: research, education, talent development and knowledge exchange
  • Funding cannot be given for participation in international conferences or congresses
  • Funding cannot be given for accompanying family members’ travel and accommodation