NordStruct Access Grants support research visits to structural biology infrastructures across the Nordic region. They are aimed at junior researchers and technical staff who need access to specialised equipment that isn't available at their home institution.

Applying is straightforward — the application itself is a single page.

What the Grant Covers

Each grant provides up to 25,000 NOK towards:

• Travel, such as airfare and train tickets
• Accommodation during the visit
• Access fees for the host research infrastructure
• Consumables for experiments

Salary, per diems, and personal expenses such as insurance cannot be covered.

Who Can Apply

Junior researchers employed at or enrolled with a NordStruct partner institution:

• MSc students
• PhD students
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Research assistants and assistant professors who have not yet established an independent research group

Technical staff supporting structural biology work are also eligible.

Both the home institution and the host institution must be NordStruct partners, and the visit must take place within six months of the funding decision. Every Access Grant must involve collecting, processing, or analysing data at a research infrastructure hosted by a NordStruct partner.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online and consist of:

1. A one-page application form
2. A budget form
3. A support letter from the host supervisor
4. A support letter from the supervisor at the home institution
5. A one-page CV

Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed on five points:

• Infrastructure access — priority goes to applicants without equivalent resources at their home institution
• Relevance to structural biology — the scientific value of the proposed exchange
• Expected outcomes — contributions to research, training, or methodological advancement
• Cross-border collaboration — applications involving cross-border access are strongly encouraged and prioritised
• Feasibility — whether the plan is scientifically, practically, and financially realistic

After the Visit

Grant holders report back on two fronts:

• Financial — itemised expenses with original receipts, submitted within three months
• Scientific — a brief 100-word summary suitable for publication online, plus a social media feature crediting NordForsk and NordStruct

Any publications arising from the visit must acknowledge the funding.

Questions

Lucy Holt answers questions about eligibility — see the contact details in the sidebar.