Assessment of proposals

Each proposal will undergo a thorough peer review process. The DNRF will assemble a peer review panel for each proposal, consisting of three international experts within the relevant research area(s) for external peer review.

The DNRF seeks advice on identifying potential peer reviewers from external sources such as:

• The Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF)
• The European Science Foundation (ESF)
• The National Science Foundation (NSF)

The DNRF takes pride in conducting a very thorough and transparent evaluation when assessing proposals. Thus, the applicant can suggest three potential reviewers – of which one can be selected to participate in the panel. Furthermore, the applicant is invited to comment on the composition of the review panel as well as the individual reports.

Each reviewer is asked to deliver a report of three to five pages addressing a number of questions stated in the Terms of Reference, developed on the basis of the evaluation criteria mentioned in the Guide for Applicants.

Assessment criteria

The Terms of Reference is devised on the basis of the assessment criteria of the program. In its assessment, the board will emphasize the following:

Research quality and leadership

• The Niels Bohr professor has a high standing in the international research community.
• The Niels Bohr professor acts as a catalyst, supporting scientific cohesiveness, and demonstrates scientific/scholarly leadership.
• The novelty, creativity and excellence of the proposed research program.
• The proposed research is ambitious and original and has the potential for breakthroughs in the relevant research field(s).

Research organization

• The focus, structure, and size of the proposed Niels Bohr Professorship is such that it sets the stage for research ventures that are not feasible within conventional funding from other sources.
• Applicants may freely construct an organizational structure that supports the objectives of the program. It must be clear and coherent in terms of optimizing the probability and potential for a strongly internationalized research environment and research area. The Niels Bohr professor can either start up his/her own group or enter into an existing one.
• The proposal displays a careful understanding of the correlation between the organization and the objective of the Niels Bohr Professorship in terms of advancing the internationalization of the research area and environment in question. This also includes the commitments of the host institution in terms of securing a lasting effect of the professorship as well as the plans for how much time the Niels Bohr professor will be spending in Denmark (expected to correspond to 50-100% of a full-time equivalent).

Added value and spillover effect of the Niels Bohr Professorship

• The presence of a Niels Bohr professor will significantly advance the research environment. It will also influence surrounding research environments.
• The Niels Bohr Professorship includes high-quality research personnel in order to establish a creative and dynamic international research environment.
• The Niels Bohr Professorship will provide an inspirational training ground for young researchers, including supervision and research training activities.

For further information, please refer to the Guide for Applicants.

Deadline for submitting proposals

The deadline for submitting proposals was December 2, 2011.

Written peer review will take place from December 2011 through May 2012. The board will process the proposals and make its decision in June 2012, where after the universities will be informed.

The DNRF will initiate contract negotiations with successful applicants from June 2012.

The Niels Bohr Professorships may start operating from August 2012 and it is expected that an inauguration of each professorship will be held.