Lab exchange grants

The Lab exchange grant is a travelling grant that aims to support scientists working in a Nordic country that would like to visit another lab in a the Nordic Country to do experimental work, use or learn specific procedures, or visit a field site.

General rules

• You must be a member of SPPS. Join here!

• The maximum budget applied for cannot exceed 30,000 SEK.

• Applications can be submitted at any time and they should be handled by SPPS before the exchange. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the proposal reaches SPPS in good time. SPPS suggests to avoid any bookings until a decision has been reached.

  • Grants up to 10,000 SEK will be evaluated on a regular basis (allow 2-3 weeks processing time).

  • Applications above this amount should reach SPPS at least 2 weeks before a council meeting.

• SPPS Lab exchange grants cover:

  • Reasonable traveling expenses
  • Reasonable accommodation

  • If needed, personal insurance for the duration of the travel

• SPPS Lab exchange grants do NOT cover:

  • Food
  • Lab materials, platform fees, or other expenses related to the project

  • Overhead fees and/or booking fees

• SPPS has committed to work towards the UN sustainability goals. Avoidable CO₂ emissions will negatively impact applications that include traveling, even if a train ticket is more expensive than a flight. However, we acknowledge that time is a limited resource and that some places within the Nordic countries are difficult to reach without an airplane. If you feel that you cannot avoid air travel, you must include a comparison between air-bound and ground transportation options including a door-to-door time plan, financial cost and CO₂ footprint. The CO₂ footprint can be calculated with the help of many free resources on the web like this Emmission Calculator.

• After the activity, grantees are expect to submit a picture (at least 500 pixel width) and a report (ca. 1/2 page) for the SPPS webpage.

How to apply

Incomplete or faulty applications will be automatically rejected.

1. Download the cover page template from one of the links below

2. Make one single pdf file containing:

• A filled and signed cover page

• A project description/motivation describing planned activities and the benefits of the exchange for the researcher's career (max. 1 page)

• A clear budget divided in items with estimated costs and a justification for each item.

• A CV and publication list (max. 2 pages). For PhDs and Postdocs, this should also include contact information for one referee.

• Documentation for the applied expenses (e.g. screenshot showing train/flight/accommodation prizes).

• Documentation (e.g. screenshot) of at least 2 alternative accomodation possibilities to the option included in the budget. One of them should typically be in a lower prince range. The council might fully reject an application if acomodation costs seem excesive.

• A written justification of the need for air travel, including a comparison to ground transportation with respect to CO₂ footprint, finantial costs, and door-to-door time plan.

• An invitation letter from the host lab.

3. Send the pdf file as an e-mail attachment to the grant office (grants@spps.se) with the subject 'Grant application'