Call for MRC Oulu research funding applications 2026

Deadline for applications is 16th November 2025

Medical Research Center Oulu (MRC Oulu, https://oys.fi/mrc-oulu/) is a strategic research organization of the Wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia and the University of Oulu. MRC Oulu offers a multidisciplinary research environment for clinical, translational and health care socioeconomic research, and promotes high-level clinical research and internationalization of the research in the field of medical sciences.

Call for research funding 2026 MRC Oulu announces a call for research funding for 2026 with a total call allocation of 100 000 EUR. Several smaller grants will be awarded, primarily for 12-month 10% part-time work or for 1-month 100% work. The funding is aimed at MRC Oulu researchers, and it is intended for personal salary expenses for a post-doctoral researcher for 2026 (including all indirect employee costs) or for acquisition of services, equipment and supplies for research use with a maximum of 10 000 EUR. The salary will be based on University's levels (OV04 - OV06) depending on the merits of the applicant. If funding will be used for salary expenses, the researcher will be employed at the University of Oulu according to its employment policy. Regarding procurement, the general procurement guidelines of the University of Oulu must be followed.

Who can apply? The applicant must be a researcher of MRC Oulu (i.e. listed as a group leader or a researcher in MRC Oulu documents) with a doctoral degree who is in the early stages of a group leader position or who is just establishing their own research group. Docents can apply, but professor level applicants will not be considered. Either personal salary or project funding (acquisition of services, equipment and supplies) can be applied, not both.

How to apply? Combine all the required parts of the application (1*4) in the order 1*4 below and submit as a single PDF file. Use the headings provided. Name the file with the applicant's lastname_firstname.pdf.

Required parts of the application: 1) Cover letter (max. 1 page). Informal letter of application, also including the following information:

* the name of the applicant and contact information * the name of the MRC Oulu research group * the applied funding (personal salary vs. project funding) 2) Summary of the research plan (max. 2 pages, font size 10, spacing 1):

* title of the research project * background and objectives * methods and implementation * research funding plan (justify the funding to be applied for) * references (not counted in the 2 pages of the research plan) 3) CV (max. 2 pages). The CV must follow the Research Council of Finland's CV template (https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/how-to-apply-for-fu...) 4) List of publications. Must follow the Research Council of Finland's template https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/how-to-apply-for-fu...

Submit the application via email to katja.riipinen@pohde.fimailto:katja.riipinen@pohde.fi by 16th November 2025 at the latest. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be processed.

Selection procedure The applications will be evaluated by the scientific committee of MRC Oulu and if necessary, an external evaluation panel. Selection will be based on the evaluation and an overall assessment by the governing board of MRC Oulu. The results of the call will be announced in December 2025 and funding will be available to use in 1.1.2026. All applicants will be notified when the selection process is completed.

Further information For more information about eligibility and how to apply, contact MRC Oulu coordinator Katja Riipinen, katja.riipinen@pohde.fimailto:katja.riipinen@pohde.fi.

Yst. terveisin / Best regards, Katja Riipinen

-- Katja Riipinen Koordinaattori, FT, TtK Medical Research Center Ouluhttps://oys.fi/mrc-oulu/ | MRC Oulu Oulun yliopistollinen sairaala, Oulun yliopisto 08 315 4680, 050 448 4955 katja.riipinen@pohde.fimailto:katja.riipinen@pohde.fi [cid:image001.png@01DC4CA6.4C44C650]