SFOepi open calls

How to apply for the SFOepi Consolidator Grant in Epidemiology or Biostatistics – three year grant

The Strategic Research Program in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (SFOepi) at Karolinska Institutet hereby announces funding for up to three strategic Consolidator Scholar Grants to support the most excellent young researchers the opportunity to consolidate their research and broaden their activities within epidemiology and biostatistics. Leading junior researchers with particularly outstanding scientific merits and future potential within the strategic research area of epidemiology and biostatistics are welcome to apply.

The grant includes three (3) years of funding (provided continued funding from the Faculty Board) for younger researchers. Particularly meritorious is the ability of the applicant to demonstrate how the planned activities will involve collaboration with other research groups at KI, Region Stockholm or other national or international universities and health care centers.

Eligibility

• Applicants must conduct internationally leading research within epidemiology or biostatistics, must have their own research line and have demonstrated the ability to conduct research of very high quality, as well as demonstrate future development opportunities with continued high-quality research and the ability to attract external research funding.
• A doctorate or equivalent scientific competence should have been obtained on January 1, 2013, or later.
• Applicants who have received a PhD degree earlier than January 1, 2013, may be eligible if there are special grounds for deductible time (parental leave, long-term illness, general medical internship, further training/specialist medical internship for clinically active professionals, mandatory service in the total defense forces, positions of trust in trade union organizations). Reasons, dates and extent must be clearly specified in the application and verified with relevant documentation.
• Employed at KI or Region Stockholm or at an entity, based in Region Stockholm providing care under agreement with Region Stockholm, and affiliated to KI
• The applicant should not hold a position as senior lecturer/adjunct senior lecturer or professor/adjunct professor at the time of the application deadline, or have received a Consolidator grant through previous calls by the Board of Research, SFOepi or another strategic research area at KI.

Applicants who receive one of KI’s centrally announced grants issued 2026 will not be eligible to receive support also from this SFOepi consolidator grant

What does the funding entail?

The consolidator grant should be applied for by individual researchers. Up to 1.2 million SEK per year may be awarded for three (3) years (2026 - 2028). The funding for year 1 must be used up before end of December 31, 2027, the year 2 funding must be used up before end of 2028 and the year 3 funding must be used up before end of 2029. The grant may be used for salary (own or others) or research-related costs including social costs (LPK) and INDI. Researchers who receive a consolidator grant are expected to conduct research in epidemiology and/or biostatistics and act as a team or research group leader at KI or Region Stockholm. Payment of the consolidator grant will be made to the applicant’s KI department. The grant will end in case the employment at or affiliation to KI ends.

Applications will be assessed in four stages

1. Assessment of eligibility
2. Prioritization of the SFOepi steering group of applications to be reviewed by external experts
3. Review by external experts of the competence of the applicant and the scientific quality of the research plan
4. A final decision by the SFOepi steering group

Application procedure

The application shall comprise the following documents written in English: a personal letter (0.5 page, Calibri size 12, single spaced), a completed application form including the research plan, a certificate from head of current KI department of employment or affiliation which shows that the applicant may conduct research at the department, and relevant certificates in case deductible time is stated in the application.

Please send your application, as a single PDF file with the subject “Consolidator Grant application”, to janina.mahmoodi@ki.se no later than October 30, 2025

How to apply for a small grant

SFOepi has a small grants funding mechanism to support bottom-up initiatives in the field of Epidemiology or Biostatistics. You can apply for small grants of up to 100 000 SEK any time of the year for workshops, events, courses, retreats or other activities. The conditions are that the activity you plan must be open to and of interest to participants from all SFOepi departments at KI. 
The conditions are that (1) the activity you plan must be open and of interest to participants from all SFOepi departments at KI. Interaction with other SFOs and disciplines at KI are encouraged. (2) You must be clear in all your communication that this event is supported by SFOepi. (3) You will also need to send in a short report, shortly after your event, to SFOepi letting us know a little of how your event turned out and how you spent the money. 

To apply please fill in the application form and send it to janina.mahmoodi@ki.se