UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS (WITH THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARK)
UC Davis California-Denmark Innovator Fellowship
full · phd
- Full salary + benefitsFunding type
- ~€40,000–€60,000 (est.)Estimated package value
- 6 monthsFellowship duration
- Within 5 years of PhDCareer stage
- Denmark + CaliforniaTwo-country programme
- Travel + housing coveredRelocation support
At a glance
full
Funding
€60k
Max amount
May 18, 2027
Deadline
Open to international applicants affiliated with Danish universities (residency in Denmark required)
Country
University of California, Davis (with the Technical University of Denmark)
Provider
The California-Denmark Innovator Fellowship is a fully funded research and innovation programme co-hosted by the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). It is built for postdoctoral researchers based at Danish universities who want to move their work from the laboratory toward commercialisation. The fellowship runs for about 6 months across a structured 2026 schedule: pre-fellowship networking in Denmark during January and February 2026, the main residency in California from February to June 2026, and a final colloquium in California in June and July 2026. Fellows work inside the UC Davis innovation ecosystem, including the Innovation Institute for Food and Health, and gain access to venture mentors and global events such as Future FoodTech and SynBioBeta. Eligible applicants must have completed their PhD within the past 5 years and work in fields such as sustainable food systems, planetary sciences, health, or food sciences. The award covers full salary and benefits for the fellowship duration, plus travel, flights, accommodation, and help with housing and visa processing; the total package is estimated at around 40,000 to 60,000 EUR (est.) for the six-month term. Because the exact stipend, deadline, and cohort size are set each cycle, confirm the current figures and the closing date on the official UC Davis innovation page before you apply.
What's covered
- Salary and benefits — Full salary and benefits for the entire 6-month fellowship duration, estimated at around €40,000–€60,000 (est.) in total.
- Travel and flights — All travel and flight expenses between Denmark and California are covered, including the pre-fellowship and final colloquium phases.
- Accommodation — Accommodation costs in California are covered, with assistance arranging suitable housing for the residency period.
- Visa and relocation — Support with U.S. visa processing and relocation logistics for the six-month stay, estimated at several thousand euros (~€3,000 (est.)) in administrative and relocation costs.
- Training and mentorship — Access to UC Davis innovation events, entrepreneurial training, venture-capital mentorship, and a Final Showcase Event to present research and innovations.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the START Denmark-California Fellowship application form, with supporting documents combined into a single PDF.
- Prepare your CV — Compile a resume/CV that includes your publication record and relevant research and innovation experience.
- Write your letter of interest — Draft a letter of interest of up to 2 pages covering your current research and its impact, your motivation for joining, your career aspirations, and relevant experience.
- Gather support letters — Obtain a one-page letter of support from your PhD advisor, and optionally a letter of recommendation highlighting your business or innovation strengths.
- Combine into one PDF — Merge the CV, letter of interest, advisor support letter, and any optional recommendation into a single PDF file as required.
- Submit the application — Upload the combined PDF through the START Denmark-California Fellowship application form before the deadline around 18 May 2026 (est.).
Eligibility
Career stageMust be a postdoctoral researcher employed at a Danish university who completed their PhD within the past 5 years.
Research expertiseMust have expertise in food science/technology/engineering, biotechnology or biosolutions, agricultural sciences, nutrition and metabolic health, planetary or environmental health, or computational/data science.
Visa eligibilityMust be eligible to obtain a U.S. visa for a six-month stay in California.
AffiliationInternational scholars are welcome provided they are affiliated with and based at a Danish university.
The programme combines work in Denmark and California; applicants should be available for the full pre-fellowship, residency, and colloquium phases scheduled across January to July 2026.
Eligible countries
Open to international applicants affiliated with Danish universities (residency in Denmark required)
Deadlines
2026 cohort~18 May 2026 (est.)
Selection
Candidates are assessed on the quality and impact of their research, the strength of their letter of interest, the fit of their expertise with the fellowship's themes (sustainable food systems, planetary sciences, health, and food sciences), and their potential to translate research into real-world innovation. The advisor support letter and any innovation-focused recommendation also inform the decision.
Verified sources
- UC Davis Innovation and Technology Commercializationinnovation.ucdavis.eduofficial
About the provider
The University of California, Davis is a public research university in California known for food, agricultural, and health sciences research; it runs this fellowship with the Technical University of Denmark to connect Danish postdoctoral researchers with California's innovation ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who is eligible for the California-Denmark Innovator Fellowship?
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Postdoctoral researchers employed at a Danish university who completed their PhD within the past 5 years and work in food, health, agricultural, planetary, or related sciences.
Is the fellowship fully funded?
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Yes. It covers full salary and benefits for the duration, plus travel, flights, accommodation, and help with visa processing and relocation.
How long does the fellowship last?
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About 6 months, with the main residency in California running roughly February to June 2026, framed by pre-fellowship and colloquium phases.
Which institutions host the programme?
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It is co-hosted by the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).
Do I need to be a Danish citizen to apply?
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No. International scholars are welcome as long as they are employed at and based at a Danish university.
What fields of study are supported?
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Sustainable food systems, planetary sciences, health, and food sciences, including biotechnology, agricultural sciences, nutrition, and data science.
Where does the fellowship take place?
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Activities begin in Denmark, then move to California for the main research and innovation residency, ending with a final colloquium in California.
What is the estimated value of the award?
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The total package, including salary and travel, is estimated at around €40,000–€60,000 (est.) for the six-month term; confirm the exact figure officially.
What documents do I need to apply?
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A CV with publications, a letter of interest (max 2 pages), a one-page support letter from your PhD advisor, and an optional recommendation letter, combined into one PDF.
When is the application deadline?
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The deadline is around 18 May 2026 (est.) for the 2026 cohort; check the official page for the confirmed current-cycle date.
Will help with the U.S. visa be provided?
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Yes. The programme assists with U.S. visa processing and relocation for the six-month stay, and applicants must be eligible for a U.S. visa.
Where can I confirm the official details?
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On the official UC Davis innovation page, which lists the current eligibility, benefits, fields, deadline, and application form.