Info meeting April 23, 2025
Unlock Your Future: 6 Month Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California UC Davis!
Join us at the first Info Session for California-Denmark Innovator Fellowship 2025.
California—Denmark Innovator Fellowship
An exciting new opportunity to experience the California foodtech, bioinnovation & sustainability ecosystem. Learn how to translate your research to innovation with leading research labs and venture capital investors and develop a unique network.
Program details
Call for application opens April 1 2025. Deadline for applications May 18, 2025.
Application Requirements
Please prepare the following documentation as part of your application:
- Resume or CV with publication record(PDF)
- Letter of interest (max 2 pages) detailing:
- current Postdoc research and its potential impact,
- why the program is of interest to you,
- how your career goals align,
- relevant prior experience
- Letter of support from PI approving the applicant’s participation (max. 1 page)
- Optional: Letter of recommendation from someone other than PI, speaking to complementary strengths (eg. business or professional experience outside the lab)
Please combine items 1-3 above ( or 1-4, if you also add the optional letter of recommendation), in the order they are listed, into one single PDF for submission. Further information can be found on the submission form.
Please note:
- Applicants will not need to upload a copy of their passport at the time of application, but will be required to disclose it upon selection.
- You must be employed at a Danish university to apply.
- Postdoctoral Scholars from all Danish universities can apply for the fellowship
If you experience any problems with your application, please contact us here: cadk-innovatorfellowship@food.dtu.dk
- Prepare Your Documents: Fill out the questionnaire (basic information, including nationality), gather your CV and publication list, a personal statement, a letter of support from your PI; Optional: letter of recommendation.
- Personal Statement: Write a personal statement (2 pages) outlining your research interests and your interest in innovation (research translation, commercialization, interest in start-ups), career goals, and why you are interested in this fellowship.
- Letter of support: Recommendation letter from Postdoc’s PI that confirms their ability to participate in this program if selected (at a minimum) and speaks to their strengths (ideally).
- Online Application: Visit our application online form to fill out the online application form
- Submit Supporting Materials: Upload your CV, personal statement, letter of support from your PI, and letter of recommendation (optional) through the online portal.
- Selection process: Shortlisted candidates will be selected by a US-Denmark selection committee, ensuring there are no biases towards the overrepresentation of any one Danish institution.
- Notification: Successful applicants will be notified via email and provided with further instructions.
Please note: Candidates must have support from PI approving the applicant’s engagement and approving their absence for 6 months.
Postdocs employed in Denmark with nationalities other than Danish, are welcome to apply, but must consider the immigration policies of the USA.
For Danish applicants: if you do not have a valid Danish passport with a suitable expiry date. How to apply for a Danish passport
Timeline for Danish fellows selected to go to California:
January – February 2026
Preparation and engagement with US fellows in Denmark:
- Danish fellows would connect with fellows coming from UC Davis, attending events together in Denmark and creating a network
February 2026 – June 2026
Danish fellows travel to UC Davis:
- Danish fellows would relocate to UC Davis to begin their engagement with the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, conducting both technical and commercial research.
- Starting in June, UC Davis fellows will return to California and reconnect with their Danish counterparts on the UC Davis campus for networking and activities
- July 2026: Final Colloquium Event in California
Eligibility criteria
- Open to all citizens who have completed their Ph.D. within the last five years.
Please note: Applicants from all nationalities should consider whether they will be able to obtain, within a reasonable amount of time, the visas necessary for entry and stay in the USA for a period of at least 6 months. - Strong research background and a passion for innovation.
- Food Science, Technology or Engineering
- Biotechnology and Biosolutions
- Agricultural Science, Technology or Engineering
- Nutrition, metabolic health
- Planetary or environmental health
- Computational, data science or related methodologies applied to of the fields above
- Any other field as it relates to solving food and planetary health challenges
Selections Criteria
Looking for candidates with:
- Interest in using use-inspired research to solve food or health challenges
- Interest in using innovation and entrepreneurship to advance novel ideas
- Professional drive to bring their scientific expertise to the business sector and help shape the future of the food and health industry
- Interest in remaining a part of the California - Danish ecosystem beyond the dates of the program
Compensation and Support
- Postdocs: Full coverage of salary + benefits while in California
- Full support for flights, travel and accommodation while in California
- Access to professional development, events and networking opportunities in California and Denmark through Spring 2026
Selected fellows will be connected to UC Davis program coordinators, to assist with guidelines and help regarding housing, visa support, and cultural integration.
About the fellowship
DTU is thrilled to announce a new fellowship program for postdocs from Danish universities working in food, agro, biosolutions or related areas, who are interested in learning how to commercialize their research into innovative solutions for sustainable food systems and planetary health.
The California-Denmark Fellowship program is a unique opportunity to spend 6 months at the University of California, Davis, advancing your career in the American research and innovation environment. The objective of your stay will be to learn how to translate your research discoveries into innovations that can have an impact.
Live in Davis, California for 6 months, where you will be immersed in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a fellow with the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, you will be immersed in a leading translational research lab, learning techniques for how to effectively bring research to market such as understanding technology readiness levels and de-risking technologies. Simultaneously, as part of IIFH you will conduct commercialization research activities such as developing an investment thesis and market assessment map, learn to conduct due diligence and more, with mentorship from IIFH venture capital partners. Supplemental seminars from UC Davis business faculty, startup founders and investors will round out your experience and prepare you as a leader in the academic innovation space.
Why University of California?
- A Global Leader: The University of California is the world’s leading research institution with a network of 10 campuses, 6 academic centres, 3 national laboratories, 41 Natural Reserve System locations and over hundreds of research outposts. Davis is the leader of this system when it comes to food.
- World-Class Research Facilities: Collaborate with leading experts in food, metabolic health, nutrition, agricultural and environmental sciences, life sciences and more, and get involved in their state-of-the-art laboratories.
- Applied Opportunities in Innovation: Build on the lab research experience at UC Davis by complementary exposure to commercialization research through the Innovation Institute for Food and Health’s venture capital network, partners, the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, and more.
- Beautiful California: Experience the laid-back but exciting and professional lifestyle of Northern California while advancing your academic and business journey.
Program Overview
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is a global leader in food systems research, innovation, and translation. UC Davis and universities in Denmark intend to strengthen their ties through collaborative development of sustainable solutions for food and planetary health.
Each country is identifying top talent to immerse in each other’s ecosystem, learning tools for turning research into real-world solutions while connecting and learning from each other in each country.
- Get to know top food and health research fellows from California while they visit Denmark in Autumn, showing them Danish life and culture
- Then, move to Davis, California for 6 months.
- Learn how to apply your research and understand how to transform it into use-inspired innovation
- Engage in UC Davis labs where you will be able to experience cutting edge technologies in the fields of food, metabolic and planetary health. We will help you identify a lab relevant for your research area.
- Understand the process of research commercialization, including how investors select the most promising technologies for impact. Understand how to assess a market, the promise of a technology, how to differentiate your venture from others, and build networks and connections.. Participate in business and educational programs such as management seminars, entrepreneur academies, and presentations from local founders and innovators
- Participate in excursions and conferences with focus on food and planetary health innovation, entrepreneurship and networks
- Reconnect with California fellows when they return to UC Davis in Spring
- Present with these fellows at a final colloquium event in California, sharing your learnings, research, startup ideas and more.
About the program In-Depth
This bilateral innovation exchange program “California - Denmark Innovator Fellowship” is strategically positioned to enhance the robust innovation ecosystems of both California and Denmark by focusing on critical areas of food and planetary health. Over the 3 years, we will recruit, train and engage up to 18 early career researchers from Denmark and the UC system at the rate of six per year–three fellows from each country. The fellowship programme is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and UC-Davis.
Mission: The fellows will be able to understand the translation of academic research into innovation and entrepreneurial activities.
Vision: Fellows will become the next generation of innovative leaders driving use-inspired research bringing development of better solutions for human and planetary health.
Value: The project is also aiming to strengthen the relationship between Denmark and the U.S. that supports and invests in innovative leaders. We believe that the fellows will play an important role in the future commercialization of groundbreaking academic research helping to solve the challenge of sustainable healthy food production.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to elevate your research career at one of the top universities in the world! Apply now and take the next step towards a brighter future.
About the Innovation Institute for Food and Health
IIFH fosters impactful partnerships with food companies, investors, and researchers to drive interdisciplinary solutions in food and planetary health. Through programs like this fellowship, IIFH bridges the gap between academia and industry, accelerating the commercialization of innovative technologies.
Visit UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health website
Key Collaboration Partners and Hosts
While at UC Davis, fellows will engage in a research lab learning tools for applying use-inspired research. Simultaneously, fellows will engage with the Innovation Institute for Food and Health,, where they will conduct commercialization research including landscape analyses, crafting investment theses, understanding how to perform due diligence, and more, with mentorship and guidance from venture capital investors.
Examples of activities include:
Siegel Lab: Primary translational research lab host
The UC Davis Siegel Lab at the Genome Center at UC Davis is available to host the initial fellows coming from Denmark. The goal of Siegel Lab is to live up to the classic tagline “Better Living Through Chemistry”, which they achieve through computational enzyme engineering. The Siegel Lab has developed and discovered enzymes that have resulted in a myriad of start-up companies in the food industry. Examples of this are Digestiva, an enzyme that helps with protein synthesis and digestion; and PVP biologics which developed an enzyme enabling people with celiac disease to tolerate accidentally ingested gluten. The Siegel Lab is a hub on the UC Davis campus, mentoring many students interested in food, health, and sustainability. Additional labs in the Food Science and other departments can be hosts as well.
The March Group (TMG): Innovation Institute for Food and Health venture capital mentor
The March Group is a venture capital firm located on the UC Davis campus, whose vision is to “lead the transition to better planetary health”. The March Group has invested in a variety of food companies, such as Meati, offering delicious mycelium “meat”; and Rivalz, a high-protein, high-fibre snack made in a highly sustainable fashion. Experts from the March Group will mentor fellows in their commercializaiton projects..
The fellow will learn what makes a venture investable, how to assess a promising market, how to craft an effective investment thesis and more under their guidance.
Events
The UC Davis university has an institute ( UC Davis Business School) that offers workshops and intensives on entrepreneurial thinking, first steps for a startup, etc.
- 3.5 day intensive Entrepreneurship Academy in February
- UC Davis Graduate School of Management hosts a unique immersion class - food & ag business challenges, led by c-suite executives of those companies, where students are called on to work collaboratively to solve real challenges in the business world.
- UC Davis biotechnology immersion (same as above but for biotechnologies)
- "Learn from a local” talks at local incubator
- IIFH companies and hear the stories from their founders.
- Attend conferences in the bay area such as Future FoodTech and SynbioBeta
Informal get-togethers such as our book club serving as a chance to get together and discuss prevalent topics in business, startups, and food.Some previous books: Zero to One, Technically Food, Metabolical, Barons.
Ever wondered what happens in California and how life is there?
Check this exciting video with our American colleague Scott and discover the sunny California - from cost of living to lifestyle and culture.
Get ready for your next adventure!
I can confidently say my time as an IIFH Fellow has greatly changed my career path...
By working as an IIFH Fellow I was forced out of my scientific comfort zone and have proven to myself I am capable of understanding science in extremely diverse contexts. Beyond science, I have been able to understand other basic business considerations by participating in exit analysis, market analysis, regulatory fundamentals, intellectual property, and patent processing. It has been extremely useful to have this basic framework to put my scientific experience into context.
The Innovator Fellowship opened my eyes to the diverse approaches taken to commercialize academic research...
This experience has broadened my potential career path and provided me with a fundamental framework to apply to my future endeavors.
I am thrilled to have been part of the Innovator Fellowship program...
Through comprehensive market research in the agriculture and venture capital sectors, I gained a deep understanding of the critical importance and inherent challenges of fostering diversity and inclusion in a traditionally homogeneous space. Additionally, I gained valuable experience in deal sourcing, marketing, and logistical planning.
Housing, Visa and Support
Selected fellows will be connected to UC Davis and International office Staff at UC Davis, to assist with guidelines and help regarding housing, visa support, and cultural integration.
For overall information and help regarding housing, visa, the lab appointments, VC engagement, excursions, and more, please contact Innovation Institute for Food and Health here: innovatorfellowship@ucdavis.edu
FAQ
You can apply either via the program website – California (University of California - UC Davis) Fellowship Programme 2025 – by clicking on the online application form or via the START Denmark – California project page.
Note: Please, be aware that there is a specific period for application, and consider preparing the relevant documents in advance. For any type of questions regarding the documents, please contact us here: cadk-innovatorfellowship@food.dtu.dk
Yes, the Fellowship will line up with the academic calendar.
For the most part, you will need to put your Danish university research on pause. While at Davis, you will have a full slate of activities in both lab and commercial research. While the topics and learning outcomes should end up being applicable to your Danish research, there should not be an expectation for you to make meaningful progress in your home university responsibilities while abroad.
Yes, as long as you remain a postdoctoral scholar there is no limitation in applying for the fellowship program.
This is not a mandatory requirement but having business or innovation experience could be considered as an additional benefit when making the overall evaluations of the candidates.
All Danish and International postdocs that have current ongoing research at any Danish university.
Yes, there will be two more rounds of calls.
Privacy policy
As a data controller, DTU processes data about students, staff, visiting researchers, business partners, applicants, alumni, participants in research projects and conferences and people who subscribe to DTU’s newsletters and web services, among others.
The DTU privacy policy has been prepared in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. We process information on the basis of Article 6(1)(b), (c) and (e) of the Regulation and in some cases on the basis of your consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the Regulation.
In the case of sensitive data, we process your information on the basis of Article 9(2)(b), (f) and (j) of the Regulation and in some cases on the basis of your consent in accordance with Article 9(2)(a) of the Regulation, or because the data has been published, see Article 9(2)(e) of the Regulation.
The legal entity responsible for processing your personal data is:
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Anker Engelunds Vej 101
Building 101A
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Contact details for DTU’s data protection officer are:
DTU
Attn. DPO
Anker Engelunds Vej 101
Building 101A
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Email: dpo@dtu.dk
Tel.: +45 45 25 25 25
Types of data
The data about you which DTU processes will depend on your connection with DTU but is typically your name, address, telephone number, occupation, company name (one-man businesses), account and payment information, traffic data and location data and logins
For students, applicants and employees, DTU will typically also process data about academic qualifications and personal competences, diplomas or other information about academic degrees, publications, previous employment, photos, date of birth, your next of kin, civil registration number, salary, absence and health information
DTU may also process sensitive data such as genetic, health and biometric data, for instance in connection with your employment or if you participate in a research project.
The vast majority of data we receive directly from you, but the data may also come from publicly available sources, your previous employers or partners and public authorities.
In connection with research projects, we may also receive data from others who have collected information about you for research purposes.
Purpose
We process data about you for a variety of purposes, depending on your connection with DTU. If you are a student, we will process personal data about you in order to manage your enrolment at DTU, just as we, for instance, pass on data to the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme Agency. If you are an employee, we will process data about you in order to manage your employment at DTU, and we will pass on data to SKAT. If you participate in a research project, the processing of data will be used only for research purposes.
DTU also processes personal data when we supply a service to you or enter into collaboration in which DTU receives a service. Among others, we use the personal data to communicate with you, whether you are one of DTU’s partners or attending a conference or event. In a number of cases, DTU’s processing of personal data will take place as a result of compliance with legal obligations.
Storage and disclosure
We store your data for as long as it is necessary for the purpose or purposes for which the data are processed. When it is no longer relevant to store your data in order to fulfil its purpose, the data will be deleted or archived.
In some cases, we pass on your data to partners such as suppliers and vendors, grant givers, other public authorities, other research institutions and in connection with the use of external data processors. DTU will not disclose data to others, unless DTU is obliged to provide the data as a result of a legal obligation or in order to perform a task in the public interest.
Your rights
If DTU processes data about you, as the data subject, have a number of rights:
- You have the right to request access, rectification or erasure of your personal data.
- You also have the right to oppose the processing of your personal data and, in some cases, to have the processing of your personal data limited.
- Particularly, you have an unconditional right to oppose the processing of your personal data for direct marketing.
- If the processing of your personal data is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Your withdrawal will not have any impact on the lawfulness of the processing carried out prior to your withdrawal of your consent.
- You are entitled to receive the personal data which you have submitted in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format (data portability).
- You can always file a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, for example The Danish Data Protection Agency.
There may be conditions for or restrictions to these rights. This applies particularly to personal data which DTU processes for use in research. It is therefore not certain that you, for example, have the right to data portability in some cases – this depends on the specific circumstances surrounding the processing activities.
Background
DTU sends you this to inform you that DTU has received personal data about you from you.
According to Articles 13 in the Data Protection Regulation[1] DTU shall provide you with a variety of information when DTU receives data about you from you.
In the document below, you can find the information that DTU shall provide you with, namely:
- How to contact DTU, which is the data controller
- Contact details of DTU’s data protection officer
- The purposes and the legal ground for DTU's processing of your personal data
- The categories of personal data that DTU processes about you
- The recipients or categories of recipients to whom DTU transfers your personal data
- Transfer by DTU to recipients in third countries, including international organizations
- The period for which DTU will store your personal data
- Your rights as a data subject
- How you, as a data subject, can lodge a claim with Datatilsynet (the Danish data supervision authority)
Below you will find more details with respect to the information to be provided to you by DTU.
This information is for information purposes only, and no further processing of the data is envisaged with respect to you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact DTU. The contact details can be found on the next page.
Information about DTU’s processing of your personal data etc.
1. How do you contact DTU, which is the data controller?
As data controller, DTU is responsible for the processing of the personal data received by DTU about you. You find the relevant contact details here:
DTU
Anker Engelunds Vej 101
DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby
E-mail: cadk-innovatorfellowship@food.dtu.dk
2. Contact details of DTU’s data protection officer
If you have any questions regarding DTU's processing of your personal data, please do not hesitate to contact DTU's data protection officer in one of the following ways:
- By e-mail: dpo@dtu.dk
- By letter: DTU, Anker Engelunds Vej 101 , 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, att. Data Protection Officer
3. The purposes and the legal ground for DTU's processing of your personal data
DTU processes your personal data with the following purpose(s):
As a data controller, DTU processes data about fellows in order to manage your stay at UC Davis, University of California.
The legal ground for DTU's processing of your personal data is based on:
General Data Protection Regulation Article 6(1)(a and e).
4. The categories of personal data that DTU processes about you
The data about you which DTU processes is that which you provide on the application forms, including your name, address, e-mail, linkedIn profile, telephone number, occupation, CV, and photo, place of employment, and any information that you include in the motivated application, which are the main points in both registration for the info sessions and application forms for being a fellow in the programme and if selected for the fellowship programme.
5. The recipients or categories of recipients to whom DTU transfers your personal data
- We will collect your data and share with your home university in Denmark for the purposes of administration of your stay at UC Davis, University of California
- We will transfer your personal data to recipients outside the EU and the EEA. Your personal data will be shared with the project leader institution UC Davis, University of California for the purposes of administration of your stay at UC Davis, University of California.
6. Transfer by DTU to recipients in third countries, including international organizations
All tranfer of personal data to third parties or international organisations will be done in complience with General Data Protection Regulation Article V
Based on your acceptance of our conditions, we will transfer your personal data to recipients outside the EU and the EEA. Your personal data will be shared with the project leader institution UC Davis, University of California for the purposes of administration of your stay at UC Davis, University of California.
7. For which period will DTU store your personal data
The personal data will be processed and stored for no more than 5 years after submission. DTU is legally obliged to store certain personal data for a longer period of time and to transfer it to an archive in accordance with archive legislation.
8. Which rights do you have as a data subject?
According to the Data Protection Regulation, you have a number of rights with respect to DTU's processing of your personal data. If you want to make use of your rights, you must contact DTU.
8.1 Right to see the data (right of access)
In certain cases, you shall have right of access to the data that DTU processes about you, as well as a variety of other information.
8.2 Right to rectification (correction)
In certain cases, you shall have the right to rectification of incorrect information about you.
8.3 Right to deletion
In certain cases, you shall have the right to deletion of your personal data before the date set for DTU’s general deletion of your personal data.
8.4 Right to restriction of processing
In certain cases, you shall have the right to restriction of the processing of your personal data. If you have the right to restriction of the processing, DTU shall, in future, only process the personal data (with the exception of storage), with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest.
8.5 Right to object
In certain cases, you shall have the right to object to DTU’s otherwise legal processing of your personal data.
8.6 Right to transmit data (dataportability)
In certain cases, you shall have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and have the right to transmit those data to another data controller without hindrance.
You can read more about your rights in Datatilsynet’s guidance on the rights of data subjects (“Vejledning om de registreredes rettigheder”) which you can find on www.datatilsynet.dk.
9. How can you as a data subject lodge a claim with Datatilsynet?
You can lodge a claim with Datatilsynet, if you are not satisfied with the way in which DTU processes your personal data. You can find the contact details of Datatilsynet on www.datatilsynet.dk.
[1] Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC. It appears from Article 14(1) that the data controller shall provide the data subject with a variety of information where personal data have not been obtained from the data subject.
Project Partners
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