News & Events

18.9.2025 Call 2 peer review results are in

We have now received peer review results for our Call 1 applications. The peer review was conducted independently by the European Science Foundation. Each research proposal and CV was evaluated by three scientific experts.

Applications that received enough points from the peer reviewers to pass the threshold will now move onto the next round: Selection Committee review. The committee will provide both numerical scores and written feedback. Additionally, they will ensure that the peer review process was conducted fairly and consistently.

Applications that did not receive enough points to pass the threshold to proceed to the next stage won’t continue further in the selection process. However, in cases where there were considerable differences between the peer reviewers’ scores, the NOVEL Selection Committee will review the situation in a consensus meeting.

Also, in the case an applicant finds any factual errors or misunderstandings in the reviewers’ comments, they have the opportunity to make an appeal by submitting a rebuttal to the assessments they received. The Appeals Committee of the NOVEL Programme will consider the rebuttal, and if deemed necessary, it will be presented to the Selection Committee alongside the peer review reports. If the rebuttal is declared admissible and justified, corrective action can be taken.

All applicants have been contacted personally. Thank you to all applicants and good luck in the next stage! The Selection Committee will make its decisions by October 27, 2025.

17.6.2025 Call 1 applications in peer review

We have now conducted an eligibility check on all applications that we received for Call 1. Eligible applications have also undergone an ethics check. Eligible applications that passed the ethics check have now moved on to the next stage of the selection process: external peer review.

The peer review process is organised by the European Science Foundation. Each research proposal and CV will be evaluated independently by three scientific experts. We will receive the peer reviews in September 2025, after which applications whose points pass the threshold will move onto the next round (Selection Committee review).

All applicants have been contacted personally. Thank you to all applicants and good luck in the peer review process!

Stay tuned to hear about the next steps of the process.

2.5.2025 Call 1 is now closed

The first call of NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme has closed on May 31, 2025. We received many fascinating proposals focused on brain health research. A big thank you to all applicants!

Next, all eligible applications will go through an external peer-review process. Next, all eligible applications will undergo an external peer-review process. We will contact each applicant individually.

Our second call will open on December 1, 2025, with positions open in the research areas of Innovation in Society and Ethics & Wellbeing. Stay tuned for more info on that!

1.3.2025 Call 1 is now open

NOVEL’s first call is now officially open and will close on May 31, 2025.

APPLY HERE: https://uef.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:799200/

25.2.2025 Recording of Launch Event available

Recording of the Launch Event is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/L1KNhVMmfFM?si=uofr4fDJnAUZFf9N.

Programme:

Introduction to NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme, NOVEL Coordinator Prof. Tarja Malm
Research Opportunities We Offer, NOVEL Coordinator Prof. Tarja Malm & NOVEL Impact Manager Dr. Piritta Parkkari
Opportunities for Partners, NOVEL Impact Manager Dr. Piritta Parkkari
Q&A

Materials from the webinar can be downloaded via this link.

13.2.2025 Recording of Webinar for Applicants available

Materials from the webinar can be downloaded via this link.

27.1.2025 NOVEL research groups introduced on YouTube

We are busy recording interviews with NOVEL research group leaders! You can already find the first interviews in this playlist on our YouTube channel.

22.1.2025 NOVEL will be officially launched at the Launch Event on February 24, 2024

We are inviting applicants to follow the livestreamed part of the Launch Event on February 24, 2025, from 3PM to 4PM (EET, local time in Finland) on our YouTube channel. No need to pre-register, you can join via this link.

We are inviting our programme’s partners and potential partners to join us in person at the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus for the Launch Event.

14.1.2025 Info session for Call 1 on February 12, 2025, 2PM to 3PM (EET)

Welcome to NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme’s first info session for applicants! This webinar introduces the programme, its research opportunities and practical issues related to the application process. The webinar is launching the first call, which opens on March 1, 2025 and closes on May 31, 2025.

PROGRAMME
14.00 Introduction to NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme, NOVEL Coordinator Prof. Tarja Malm
14.20 Research opportunities we offer, NOVEL Cordinator Prof. Tarja Malm & Co-coordinator Prof. Päivi Eriksson
14.30 Application Process, NOVEL Co-coordinator Prof. Päivi Eriksson
14.40 Q&A, moderated by NOVEL Impact Manager Dr. Piritta Parkkari
15.00 Webinar Ends

The webinar is conducted via Microsoft Teams. The webinar is recorded and the recording will be available on NOVEL’s YouTube channel.

Register to the “Introduction to the NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme: Webinar for Applicants” here by February 11, 2025.

If you have any questions about the webinar or NOVEL, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]!

15.8.2024 NOVEL receives funding from the EU

15.8.2024 UEF: EU funding for an interdisciplinary postdoctoral programme in brain health