PhD students and postdocs
Novo Nordisk is a focused healthcare company and the world leader in diabetes care. We know that we cannot create all the answers in-house, so we actively engage in collaborations with academia and simultaneously welcome innovation and talented young scientists through our fellowship programmes - our future depends on our ability to work with the best scientists with the competencies we need.
To support this, Novo Nordisk has for more than 20 years driven several dedicated fellowship programmes for joint PhD and postdoc projects.
Novo Nordisk R&D STAR PhD programme
The STAR (Science Talent Attraction and Recruitment) programme is designed to offer Novo Nordisk scientists the opportunity to conduct research jointly with academia, to train and supervise young scientists in industrial research, to generate new knowledge and skills to strengthen competences and innovation, and to build relations with academic research centres around the world.
The STAR programme
For fellows joining the STAR programme, it is a gateway to a life-changing career. With access to state-of-the-art technology we are able to fast track from basic/applied research to new innovative medicines, and by collaborating with our R&D organisation, the STAR fellow will be helping to change the lives of patients.
Currently, the STAR Programme supports:
- 3-year Industrial PhD fellowships co-funded by Innovation Fund Denmark for joint projects between a university and Novo Nordisk
The STAR Programme continues to support many young scientists and currently around 35 fellows are enrolled in the programme.
Applications
To ensure that the funding is used in line with the company’s research strategies, the PhD project applications must be initiated by a Novo Nordisk scientist, who after approval will be the supervisor of the project together with a university supervisor. This means that is not possible to apply directly for a STAR fellowship.
The project proposals are normally created jointly by a Novo
Nordisk scientist and an academic scientist, often together with an
identified candidate. Therefore, candidates can enter into a PhD
project with Novo Nordisk either through their connections with such
scientists, or by applying to a job ad at the Novo Nordisk career
website (for approved PhD project applications that didn't have a
candidate). Unsolicited applications unfortunately cannot be
considered.
Christian, PostDoc, Novo Nordisk R&D
Postdoc positions at Novo Nordisk
Postdoc projects are intended to generate new knowledge and skills, investigate a needed research or technology question, and to strengthen the recruitment base for Novo Nordisk R&D.
Departments or project groups across Novo Nordisk R&D therefore from time to time achieve internal or external funding to hire individual postdoctoral candidates for such a project, and these open postdoc positions are posted as job openings at the Novo Nordisk career website.
PhD/postdoc programmes with academic institutes of excellence
Novo Nordisk is furthermore engaged in collaborative fellowship programmes in joint setups with world class universities, also thereby supporting early careers of young scientists. Please see the respective links for more information.
Programmes
- LIFEPHARM Centre – PhD & postdoc programme with the University of Copenhagen: www.lifepharm.dk
- Aarhus-Novo Nordisk Science & Talent Network – PhD programme with the University of Aarhus: nat.au.dk/en/collaboration/research-and-innovation-collaboration/strategic-partnerships
- Novo Nordisk-Oxford Fellowships – elite postdoc programme with the University of Oxford: www.rdm.ox.ac.uk/work-with-us/novo-nordisk-oxford-fellowships
- Novo Nordisk-KI Fellowships – elite postdoc programme with Karolinska Institute in Stockholm: www.ki.se/en/srp-diabetes/novo-nordisk-fellowships
Furthermore, Novo Nordisk participates in a number of industry-academia collaborations and consortia supported by EU funding (such as IMI or Horizon2020 MSCA), which also includes a number of postdoc and PhD projects at the company.
Other programmes
PharmD fellowship
The Industry Practice PharmD Fellowship is the ultimate career opportunity for postgraduate professionals looking to gain hands-on industry experience.
Research & Development
Find other job opportunities within Research & Development at Novo Nordisk.
Meet us
Meet us
Interested candidates will have the opportunity to speak with Novo Nordisk representatives to discuss career aspirations, gain insight into the organization and ask questions. Come find us at one of the many events we attend throughout the year!
