Novo Nordisk Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) supports postdoctoral training for exceptional early-career researchers. Fellows are appointed at MIT under a formal collaboration agreement between MIT and the fellow’s home institution (usually a Danish university). These fellowships are externally funded and require careful coordination with MIT’s administrative offices to ensure compliance with MIT policies.

At Proposal

  1. Complete proposal in Kuali Coeus to include:
    • Proposal to Novo Nordisk Foundation
    • Completed IPIA by fellow
    • Budget for MIT portion
  2. If already awarded, provide Confirmation Award Letter [DOCX] for completion by home institution:
    • The home institution (e.g., Technical University of Denmark) issues a Host Agreement allocating the funds to MIT for the fellow’s training period. The agreement must be reviewed and signed by RAS (on behalf of MIT) — not by the PI or department.
    • Confirmation Award Letter must specify the total amount allocated to MIT and allowable cost categories.

KC Guidance

  • KC Direct Sponsor: home Danish university of the Fellow
  • KC Prime Sponsor: 012239  -  Novo Nordisk Foundation
  • Activity type: Fellowship Post-Doctoral
  • Title: Novo Nordisk – Project Title – Fellow Name
  • Key Personnel – The fellow needs to be added in KC as Key Person/Postdoctoral Fellow and to certify. Please ensure that “PCK-PI, Co-I and Key Person (s)” is designated/selected for COI Discl. Req. on the Supplemental Info tab, since this is a nonfederal/non-PHS-hierarchy proposal.

At Award

  • Early notification: Prospective MIT host PIs must alert their RAS CA and Postdoctoral Services as soon as they are aware of a fellowship award. Fellows must be registered with MIT Postdoctoral Services.
  • Sponsor Award letter: The fellow (or their home institution) should provide the Sponsor Award letter to DLCI Administrator with copy of award notice from Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Account Setup

Once the award is finalized, RAS will set up the account. All Novo Nordisk Foundation fellowships must be set up as parent fellowship accounts.

Post-Award

  • VPF processes the F&A manually upon request. DLCIs must work with VPF to make sure the one-time overhead charge has been taken well before closeout.
    • With funds issued in foreign currency, the precise amount must be calculated after the converted US dollars arrive at MIT.
    • The F&A amount that VPF will charge is the USD equivalent of the “Program Support fee.”
  • When funding arrives and is converted to US dollars, DLCIs need to notify RAS of the actual amount received for updating the obligated total in KC. This is important for accurate and timely Section 117 reporting on international funding.

Supplemental Salary

DLCIs should be aware of the salary the fellow receives through their home institution, so that the PI can provide a salary equalization supplement from other allowable sources to meet MIT's minimum postdoc salary, if needed. Supplements must be paid from non-sponsored discretionary funds.