CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

JYU Visiting Fellow Programme 2027

The University of Jyväskylä (JYU), Finland, invites applications for the JYU Visiting Fellow Programme 2027. The programme supports researchers with a doctoral degree, who are from outside Finland, to visit JYU for one month (30 calendar days) or two months in 2027. The visiting period may start earliest in January 2027 and should end latest on 31 December 2027. The Visiting Fellow grant must be used during the year 2027 and it cannot be postponed to subsequent years. JYU Visiting Fellow grants will not be awarded for virtual visits.

The aim of the JYU Visiting Fellow Programme is to support high-quality research, strengthen University’s global engagement and strategic collaboration with international partners as well as increase the impact of the research conducted at JYU. The main emphasis of the programme is in research collaboration, but the Visiting Fellows may also participate in some educational activities at JYU.

Who can apply

The JYU Visiting Fellow Programme is intended for researchers with a doctoral degree awarded before the start of the visit, whose place of residence and affiliation are outside Finland and will be hosted by one or more researchers in one or more faculties, departments or independent institutes at JYU. The applicant should have an excellent track record in conducting and publishing scientific research and establishing international networks, as well as to have an excellent command of English.

Before applying, the applicant is expected to contact a potential host at one of the JYU’s units for both to commit to collaboration and define joint research themes. A Visiting Fellow may be invited by a researcher with either a permanent or a fixed-term contract, as well as by a grant researcher, provided that the host will be working at JYU for the entire duration of the Visiting Fellow’s visit. A JYU researcher may invite or host only one Visiting Fellow in 2027.

An invitation letter from the JYU host is required for the application. Applications submitted without the invitation letter will not be considered. Both the applicant and the host are expected to commit to the schedule and objectives of the planned visit and to inform the host unit of the visit and its timing. The host is responsible for facilitating the Visiting Fellow’s integration into the local university community at JYU. By agreeing to host a Visiting Fellow, the JYU host also commits to preparing a brief report, together with the Visiting Fellow, on the outcomes and impact of the visit. This report must be submitted to the Research Council within 1 month after the visit has ended.

During the visit, the Visiting Fellow carries out research relevant to the host unit’s research. The collaboration with the host may be, for example

• Research in the context of a joint project, including the preparation of research articles and papers
• Research conducted at a laboratory, in the field or utilizing research data or other infrastructure of the host at JYU
• Preparation of future research plans and funding applications

What the JYU Visiting Fellow Programme offers

The funding is awarded in the form of a grant, not as a salary and therefore the Visiting Fellows will not be employed by the University of Jyväskylä. The amount of the grant is 4.000 euros/month and is paid directly into the Visiting Fellow’s personal bank account.

A Visiting Fellow grant may be awarded for a period of one month (30 calendar days) or two months. A two-month visit may be split into two separate periods, if necessary. The duration of the visit may be longer if the Visiting Fellow secures additional funding from other sources.

The grant is intended to cover costs related to the visit at JYU such as travel expenses to and from Jyväskylä and accommodation expenses in the University’s guest apartments or in a flat from the open housing market. Thus, travel and accommodation costs are not reimbursed separately. We kindly ask the Visiting Fellows to make travel and accommodation arrangements by themselves.

We plan to organise a seminar for Visiting Fellows to introduce their research conducted during the visit to the university community at some time during the year. As the visit may not coincidence with this seminar, we encourage the hosts and their Visiting Fellows to explore other opportunities to present their research at JYU.

Visiting Fellows will be part of our international and multidisciplinary university community. JYU has a lively academic community, consisting of over 1 600 researchers, and a versatile research infrastructure. To find more information about JYU, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, please see our research website and the Handbook for International Staff and Visitors.

How to apply

Before applying, please contact a researcher at the University of Jyväskylä directly to discuss your research plan and confirm they are willing to host your planned visit. Please note that we are not able to assist you with finding a suitable host. To apply, complete the online application form and submit it along with the required attachments by 14 August 2026 at 23.59 (Finnish time).

Obligatory attachments

• Curriculum Vitae, including personal ORCID id and affiliation information (home organisation, country), composed according to good scientific practice and, where possible, considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity. Name the attachment file as follows: Yoursurname_cv.pdf.
• Invitation letter from your JYU host, written on the template available on the Programme website. The invitation should include the following information: the name, title and home organisation (organisation, country) of the person invited, the JYU host’s name and unit, planned dates and objectives of the visit as well as commitment for hosting. Name the attachment file as follows: Yoursurname_LOI.pdf.
• Brief research plan (2 to 3 pages) clarifying the objectives of the visit, including a description of the potential benefits to the host unit. If an applicant has received a JYU Visiting Fellowship in some previous call, they should describe the added significance of the new research visit and its possible connection to the completed visit or the differences between the visits. Name the attachment file as follows: Yoursurname_researchplan.pdf.
• Complete list of publications. For each publication, give a complete literature reference. Highlight up to 5 publications that are the most relevant publications to your research plan. Name the attachment file as follows: Yoursurname_publ.pdf.

Selection process and selection criteria

The Research Council of JYU evaluates the applications. The Vice-Rector for Research makes the funding decision taking into account the views of the Research Council and the resources available. Decision-making follows the principles of responsible assessment of research and researchers (see for more information).

Applications will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:

• Scientific quality and feasibility of the research plan and its connection to the research interests of the host unit.
• Priority will be given to applications from applicants who have not previously been awarded a JYU visiting grant.
• If an applicant has previously been awarded a JYU visiting grant, the added significance of the new research visit and its possible connection to the completed visit or the differences between the visits must be clear.
• Applicant’s merits.
• Potential benefits of the research visit and the impact of the research outputs for the host unit and in general.

Special terms

In accordance with the principles of publishing at the University of Jyväskylä, the Visiting Fellows must mark the University of Jyväskylä as their affiliation in their publications and other outputs which are based on research carried out during the visit.

Applications from researchers already conducting research at JYU will not be considered.

If a JYU host has failed to submit the required report on completed visits they hosted in 2025 or 2026 by the set deadline, any application in which they are listed as a host will not be considered.

JYU is obligated to comply with sanction and export control legislation.

Visiting Fellows are committed to follow the ethical principles and other principles of JYU.

JYU reserves the right to cancel the grant if the Visiting Fellow is found to have committed a violation of the JYUs Code of Conduct or other principles.

Funding decisions

The decisions of the Visiting Fellow Programme will be announced by October 9, 2026. Applicants will receive an email notification after the funding decision has been made.

Reporting

The University of Jyväskylä will request a report on the results and impact of the research conducted during the visit. The JYU host must submit a report to the Research Council within 1 month of the end of the visit. If the visit is split into two periods, the report is submitted after the last period. The report may be written in English or Finnish. Hosts who do not submit the report on completed visits by the deadline will be ineligible to participate as hosts in applications submitted to an upcoming call.

More information

Programme website

Senior Specialist Anne Lyytinen, research-council@jyu.fi, Tel. +358 40 805 3906