A new fully funded research mobility opportunity has opened for early-career scholars working on energy, climate, and marine governance in Europe. The Governance Frameworks for the Nordic Energy Transition at Sea (GNTS) initiative has officially launched its call for six (06) External Early-Career Researcher Fellowships for the 2026–2027 cohort, inviting PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to join a two-year interdisciplinary training and mobility program focused on offshore energy governance in the Nordic region.
Funded by Nordic Energy Research, the GNTS mobility grant aims to strengthen long-term academic collaboration and researcher mobility between leading Nordic universities, including the University of Bergen (coordinator), the University of Copenhagen, the University of Gothenburg, and Åbo Akademi University. Through this call, GNTS is extending its network to external researchers across Europe who are not affiliated with the project’s partner institutions.
Funding Plan: What the GNTS Fellowship Covers?
The GNTS External Early-Career Researcher Fellowships are fully funded, removing financial barriers for selected researchers to participate in the complete two (02) year program. All approved fellows will receive comprehensive coverage for:
- Travel and accommodation linked to GNTS activities
- Participation costs for GNTS summer schools
- Mobility and training-related expenses during the program period
- Access to GNTS mentoring, seminars, and collaborative research activities.
This funding structure allows fellows to focus entirely on research, training, and interdisciplinary collaboration without personal financial contribution.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the GNTS External Early-Career Researcher Fellowships, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Be a PhD candidate or postdoctoral researcher enrolled or employed at a European institution
- Not be affiliated with the four GNTS partner universities
- Demonstrate clear research relevance to offshore energy governance, marine regulation, climate policy, energy transition, ocean sustainability, or closely related fields
Researchers based in the Nordic countries, the North Sea region, or the Baltic region are especially encouraged to apply.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed holistically based on:
- Academic background and research trajectory (CV)
- Quality and relevance of the research statement
- Motivation and potential contribution to GNTS activities
- Commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration
- Consideration of gender, racial, and geographical diversity in line with GNTS’s inclusive researcher development goals.
Application Timeline
The application window for the GNTS External Early-Career Researcher Fellowships 2026–2027 closes soon. The last date to apply is January 5, 2026. The selection process will be completed by mid-January 2026, with the program officially starting in March 2026 and continuing through the full 2026–2027 period.