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 group-based, independent and outstanding fundamental research.

Researchers under the age of 40 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. Researchers in all fields can apply, but note that 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 candidate'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 who are ineligible to apply to lead a CAS project. The programme is supported by The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (DNVA).

CAS will select two Young CAS Fellows for the period of January 2022 to December 2023.

• Read about the current Young CAS Fellow projects here >

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 Fellow will arrange three intensive workshops.

Budget: up to NOK 250 000.

During the second year, the Fellow will gather a group from her/his network at CAS in Oslo. The group will work together on the candidate’s project for a period of two months.

Budget: up to NOK 500 000.

CAS will offer administrative support to the 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.

Further details about materials and activities that may be covered by the budget are described in the ‘What can the budget cover?’ section below.

Detailed two-year programme

This is how the programme is structured:

Year 1 (January 2022 – December 2022):

• The first gathering will last for four to five days in January or February 2022 and may be held on CAS premises at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in Oslo or in another suitable meeting space nearby. CAS offers offices and seminar rooms.
• The second gathering will last between three and five days and will preferably be held at the Fellow’s home institution, or at a location that serves the objectives of the project, in May or June 2022.
• For the third and final gathering in fall 2022, the Fellow will return to CAS for three to five days. This gathering will culminate with an open meeting and reception hosted in the beautiful conference room of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. DNVA will also contribute financially to refreshments during the reception.  

Year 2 (January 2023 – December 2023):

This year is designed to resemble a regular CAS project. The project leader will gather a core group of collaborators at CAS for two months of continuous work on the research project. This research stay will provide 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 core group should consist of four to five participants (including the Fellow) at all times during the two-month period. Each participant's stay should last at least four weeks in total, but participants may split their stay in two, staying twice for two weeks. The Fellow must be present to lead the group for the whole two-month period.

Who can apply?

In order to become a Young CAS Fellow you must:

• Be below the age of 40 at the application deadline. Exceptions may be made for applicants who have previously taken medical or personal 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 in Norway during the entire period from January 2022 to December 2023. The position does not have to be permanent, and you may change institutions as long as it is from one partner institution to another.

Project leadership experience is preferred.             

*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 (January 2023 – December 2023).

Allocation of funds will, however, be contingent upon you being hired by one of our partner institutions when the second year begins in January 2023, and CAS must receive a letter of support from your closest leader.

What can the budget cover?

• The core research group’s travel and accommodation costs associated with the gatherings and research stay at CAS.*
• Daily lunches: CAS does not provide a per diem allowance, but the budget can cover daily lunches during all three gatherings and the research stay. CAS adheres to the government’s fixed rates for dinner outings.**
• Miscellaneous conference expenses.
• Buyout: The project budget may only cover documentable teaching replacement costs that incur due to a participant’s stay at CAS in the second year. Young CAS Fellows keep their salary from their home institution and will thus not need any buy out.

*Young CAS Fellows (project leaders) based outside of the Oslo area will get their accommodation expenses at Frogner House Apartments covered by CAS during the two months research stay, hence this cost does not need to be included in the project budget.

**Other food expenses: Participants staying in a hotel can have their dinner expenses covered, but the amount must be agreed upon in advance.

The application must include:

• A description (3-4 pages) of the proposed research, including plans for the three gatherings and the research stay.
• A plan (1 page) for the implementation of the work during the project period. The plan must state how the applicant will organize and lead the project in order to achieve its goals, and how the gatherings and the research stay will contribute. The plan should also clearly explain how the stay will benefit the applicant's professional development and research. The purpose of the gatherings and the research stay is not to write applications. However, it will be considered an advantage if a project can be developed with the goal of applying for funding from other research funding agencies such as the Research Council of Norway and Horizon Europe.
• A preliminary list of 3-5 participants constituting the ‘core group.’ Additional participants may be added at a later date.
• A budget draft following the guidelines described above. The following budget template must be used. Download the template here.
• A brief ethical self-assessment (no more than half a page) certifying that the applicant is familiar with the ethical guidelines in his or her field.
• A CV including publications (no more than four pages). The following CV template must be used. Download the template here.
• A letter of support from the head of your section at your home institution for the period of January 2022 to December 2023. As noted above, you can still apply even if you do not know where you will be employed during the second year.

• 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 secured by August 2021. The application must confirm whether this is the case and, if so, that the necessary pre-approval has been secured.

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

How do I apply?

To apply, please send the application as a single combined PDF file by email with the subject line ‘Young CAS Fellow application’ to Marit Fiksdal at marit.fiksdal@cas.oslo.no. The application can be written in Norwegian or English.

The application deadline is June 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 ultimately select the two Young CAS Fellows in September 2021. The applications will be assessed by an interdisciplinary panel and must be written in such a way that researchers from other subject areas can assess them.

The quality of the proposed research and the applicant’s merits and experiences will be evaluated. The board will also assess the feasibility of the projects and whether they are aligned with 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' primary objective is to further excellent research by providing its fellows with uninterrupted time for research. Since its opening in 1992, the Centre has hosted more than a thousand researchers.

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.