The Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) is now accepting applications for the Young CAS Fellow programme for the period of August 2022 to June 2024. Application deadline: December 9, 2021.

The Young CAS Fellow programme is an opportunity for researchers below the age of 40 to receive funding and support for their research projects, and gain valuable experience from organizing multiple workshops and a two-month research stay. CAS provides funds, office space and administrative support. Read more about CAS at the bottom of this page.

The aim of the programme is to support outstanding younger researchers by giving them the opportunity to build independent research networks and gain experience as research leaders. Young CAS Fellows can invite colleagues from all over the world to participate in their group and contribute to excellent fundamental research.

Researchers under the age of 40 at the application deadline who have completed a Ph.D. and are employed by one of CAS’ partner institutions can apply. The proposed research projects must have a clear fundamental research profile, be curiosity-driven, challenge given truths and have the potential to advance the research front in the relevant field(s). Researchers in all fields can apply, but it is not possible to conduct laboratory-based research at CAS. A successful application will clearly describe how the Young CAS Fellow programme, with its gatherings and networking opportunities, will help realize the objectives of the project and benefit the applicant’s career.

The Young CAS Fellow programme was created in partnership with the Young Academy of Norway (AYF) in 2019/2020 to expand CAS’ reach to early-career researchers. The programme is supported by The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (DNVA) and CAS’ partner institutions.

CAS will select two Young CAS Fellows for the period of August 2022 to June 2024.

Two-year programme

A Young CAS Fellow will receive a grant of up to NOK 750 000 over two years.

During the first year, the Young CAS Fellow will arrange three intensive workshops.

Budget: up to NOK 250 000.

During the second year, the Young CAS Fellow will gather a group from her/his network on the model of the regular CAS projects. The group will work together on the Young CAS Fellow’s project for a period of two months.

Budget: up to NOK 500 000.

CAS will offer administrative support to the Young CAS Fellow throughout the two-year period. The Young Academy of Norway will contribute to gatherings with discussions, advice on outreach and communications, and strategies for further project developments. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters offers its elegant venues for the final day of the last gathering and contributes to the reception.

Further details concerning the budget are described in the ‘What can the budget cover?’ section below.

Detailed two-year programme

The structure of the programme:

Year 1 (August 2022 – June 2023):

  • The first gathering will last for four to five days and take place in August 2022 on CAS' premises in Oslo or in another suitable location nearby. CAS offers offices and seminar rooms.
  • The second gathering will last between three and five days and will preferably take place in January or February 2023 at the Young CAS Fellow’s home institution, or at another location that serves the objectives of the project.
  • For the third and final gathering in May or June 2023, the Young CAS Fellow will return to CAS for three to five days. This gathering will culminate with an open meeting and reception hosted in the beautiful venues of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

Year 2 (August 2023 – June 2024):

This year is designed to resemble a regular CAS project. The Young CAS Fellow will gather a core group of collaborators at CAS to work for two continuous months on the research project. This research stay provides a unique opportunity for specialisation and continuity.

The core group should preferably consist of scholars who have participated in one or more gatherings during the first year.

The project will have five office spaces at its disposal and should have four to five participants (including the Young CAS Fellow) in residence at all times during the two-month period.

Each participant should stay for at least four weeks in total, but may split their stay in two. The Young CAS Fellow must be present to lead the group for the whole two-month period.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply you must:

  • Be below the age of 40 at the application deadline. Extensions will be granted for leaves of absence, compulsory military or civilian service or sick leave. There are no age limits for other project participants.
  • Have completed a Ph.D.
  • Be employed in a full-time academic position* at one of CAS’ partner institutions during the entire period from August 2022 to June 2024. The position does not have to be permanent, and you may change affiliation as long as it is from one partner institution to another.
  • Experience with leading a project is preferable but not required.

*An academic position entails research and/or teaching at the college or university level.

Are you currently employed in a temporary position?

You may still apply even though you may not know where you will be employed during the second year of the programme (August 2023 – June 2024). Funding for the second year will, however, require that you are hired by one of our partner institutions when the second year begins. In that case you must also provide a letter of support from your head of section at the new institution.

What can the budget cover?

  • Travel and accommodation expenses associated with the project’s gatherings and research stay at CAS.*
  • Daily lunches for you and the project participants during the three gatherings and the research stay. CAS adheres to the government’s fixed rates for dinner outings. Participants staying in a hotel can have their dinner expenses covered but the amount must be agreed upon in advance. CAS does not provide a per diem allowance.
  • Buyouts that cover documentable teaching replacement costs which incur due to a participant’s stay at CAS in the second year. Estimated costs for buyouts must be specified in the budget with the name of the scholar, cost per scholar and the period for the buyout. As a Young CAS Fellow you will keep your salary from your home institution and will therefore not need any buyout.

*As a Young CAS Fellow based outside of the Oslo area you will get your accommodation expenses covered by CAS during the two months research stay, hence this cost does not need to be included in the project budget.

The application must include:

  • A description (3-4 pages) of the research project which must include clear hypotheses/research questions and objectives. The project will be assessed by a generalist panel and must be written in such a way that researchers from other subject areas can assess them.
  • A plan (1 page) for the implementation of the work during the project period. The plan must show how you will organize and lead the project in order to achieve its objectives, and how the gatherings and the research stay will contribute to their realization. The plan should also clearly explain how the stay will benefit your professional development and research. Neither the gatherings nor the research stay should be used to write applications. However, it will be considered an advantage if the project can be developed with the aim of applying for funding from other research funding bodies such as the Research Council of Norway and Horizon Europe.
  • A list of 3-5 researchers who will belong to the ‘core group’. The list must include the participants’ academic title and institutional affiliation. Additional participants may be added at a later stage.
  • A budget draft in accordance with the guidelines described above. Please use the budget template. Download the template here.
  • A brief ethical self-assessment (no more than half a page) certifying that you are familiar with the relevant ethical guidelines. Please read CAS’ guidelines for ethics in research.
  • A CV including a publication list (no more than four pages). Please use the CV template. Download the template here.
  • A letter of support for the period of August 2022 to June 2024 from the head of section at your home institution. As noted above, you can still apply even if you do not know where you will be employed during the second year of the programme. The letter of support shall serve as a formal confirmation that:
    • You will keep your salary and be exempt from other obligations during the periods of absence due to your Young CAS Fellow activities.
    • The home institution will host the second gathering during the first year.
  • If the research requires pre-approval from the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics, or a similar body, this must be obtained before the start of the project. In the application you must confirm that the necessary pre-approval will be obtained.

Applications that do not meet the formal criteria will be rejected.

How to apply?

The application must be submitted electronically in UNIFOR’s electronic application system. All documents must be written in English and must be saved and uploaded as PDF files. Required templates are available in the application portal.

The application deadline is December 9, 2021.

The selection process

A selection committee comprised of representatives from CAS, the CAS Board of Directors, and the Young Academy of Norway will present a shortlist to the CAS Board of Directors, which will select the two Young CAS Fellows in February 2022.

The ranking will be based on the scientific quality of the project as well as on the applicant’s merits and experience. In order to succeed the project will also need to fit CAS’ mission and the criteria in this call.

If you have any questions about the application process, please do not hesitate to contact adviser Marit Fiksdal.

About the Centre for Advanced Study (CAS)

The Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) at The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is an independent foundation that furthers excellent, fundamental, curiosity-driven research.

CAS gives you the opportunity to invite colleagues from all over the world to join your research project. 

CAS supports both established leading researchers through the regular CAS programme and talented young researchers through the Young CAS Fellow programme.

Read more about CAS on our website.