The Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Distinguished Chair position provides U.S. scholars with the opportunity to conduct research at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) at the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Chair position is available for scholars and specialists in any field of Health Sciences and/or Public/Global Health, but priority will be given to research work in Cardiovascular Diseases and/or Metabolic Diseases.
The research area at UEF boasts an extensive international network of partners in Europe and the U.S. The specified research area focuses on the pathophysiology, genetics, molecular mechanisms, prevention and novel treatments of these diseases by using modern methods in molecular biology, genetics, nutrition, translational medicine and gene transfer. The research area comprises researchers from the fields of internal medicine, clinical nutrition, molecular medicine, vascular biology and cardiology. It brings together researchers from UEF and Kuopio University Hospital, and is closely linked to the activities of the Genome Center of Eastern Finland, and the National Virus Vector Laboratory.
The Scholar has an opportunity to serve as a resource for doctoral students as well.
The Chair and the UEF faculty will work together in designing the Chair’s activities.
Applicants are advised to include an invitation letter from the relevant unit at UEF in their application as well as a research plan in the project statement of the Distinguished Chair application. Proposals for medical research involving clinical training, patient care, or patient contact are not eligible. Please contact the Fulbright Finland Foundation if you have any questions about the eligibility of your project.
The Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Distinguished Chair is jointly funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation and the Fulbright Finland Foundation.
The Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Distinguished Chair in Health Sciences flex grant is available for two one months visits over two consecutive years. It includes:
* amounts are subject to change due to currency fluctuations.
** should be confirmed in the letter of invitation.
Distinguished Chair eligibility guidelines and review criteria are published on the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program website.
In Finland, the applications are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set by the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board.
Applicants residing in Finland are not eligible for a Fulbright grant.
The University of Eastern Finland is a multidisciplinary research university that hosts several Centers of Excellence research groups nominated by the Academy of Finland or the Nordic Council of Ministers. The University operates in two main campuses, Kuopio and Joensuu, and it has four faculties. The Faculty of Health Sciences is located at Kuopio campus.
UEF Kuopio campus is located in the city of Kuopio, about 400 kilometers northeast of Helsinki. Kuopio Science Park, which is located on the university campus, offers excellent opportunities also for extensive collaboration with local national research institutes like the National Institute of Health and Welfare, and the National Institute of Occupational Health. The city of Kuopio (founded in 1775) is a modern, developing center of economic life, scientific knowledge, and technological expertise in Eastern Finland. A unique natural setting and a high quality of life make it an appealing place to live, especially with children. It is the eighth-largest city in Finland with about 120,000 inhabitants.
The U.S. program partner in the Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program is the Institute of International Education IIE. Applications are submitted through IIE and forwarded to discipline-based peer review committees in the U.S. Applications that pass this initial peer review in the U.S. are forwarded to the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki to be reviewed by the Fulbright Finland Foundation’s review committees. The Fulbright Finland Foundation makes the funding decisions and final selections of grantees.
Additional information and detailed application instructions are available from the Fulbright Finland Foundation and the Fulbright Scholar Program websites.
NOTE: Late June, July and early August are traditionally summer vacation months in Finland and responses to inquiries may be delayed. Applicants are advised to contact the Finnish host institution well ahead of time to solicit an invitation letter for their application. Please note that the Fulbright Finland Foundation office observes the summer Finnish holiday season and is closed in July. If you have urgent inquiries, kindly contact us prior to July.
Contact Information |
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| Fulbright Finland Foundation (overall program related questions) |
University of Eastern Finland (host institution related questions) |
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Karoliina Kokko |
Dr. Riikka Pellinen Director of International Affairs +358 40 3552453 [email protected] |
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| Ms. Hanna Ollikainen-Richards Executive Head of Administration Faculty of Health Sciences +358 403552163 [email protected] |
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| Prof. Jussi Pihlajamäki Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences +358 50 3440 187 [email protected] |
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| Application period start: | February 1, 2023 |
| Application period end: | September 15, 2023 |
| Earliest possible starting date: | August 2024 |
Useful links:
The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private, independent, not-for-profit organization based in Helsinki, Finland. The Foundation’s aim is
Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Distinguished Chair in Health Sciences program is part of the global Fulbright program operating in over 160 countries worldwide.
