Independent Research Fund Denmark gains 35 new research council members in 2025

Note: The news article has been updated as of 12 November, with Karen Timmermann added as a new council member for 2025 for DFF | Natural Sciences. This brings the total to 20 newly appointed council members and 15 reappointed in 2025. The figures in both the news article and the headline have been adjusted accordingly.

The 20 new and 15 reappointed council members will use their expertise to help identify the most excellent ideas and initiatives within Danish research.

The five research councils distribute risk-tolerant funds, approximately DKK 1.9 billion in 2024, to researcher-driven, independent research in both basic and applied sciences. Additionally, Independent Research Fund Denmark advises the Minister for Higher Education and Science, the Danish Parliament, and the government on research-related issues.

Term of appointment

The council members are appointed by the Board of Directors of Independent Research Fund Denmark in a personal capacity following an open call and nominations from research communities and other stakeholders. Appointments are effective from 1 January 2025, for a four-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for an additional two years.

Following the Act on Independent Research Fund Denmark (Lov om Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond) of 1 July 2017, the Board of Directors appoints the members and chairs of the councils. 

New members of the research councils

Independent Research Fund Denmark | Humanities 

• Professor, Nete Nørgaard Kristensen, University of Copenhagen
• Professor, Dorthe Duncker, University of Copenhagen
• Professor, Kristine Rømer Thomsen, Aarhus University
• Associate professor, Lone Koefoed Hansen*, Aarhus University

*Reappointment 

Independent Research Fund Denmark | Natural Sciences 

• Professor, Mikael Bols, University of Copenhagen
• Professor, Jacob Kongsted, University of Southern Denmark
• Professor, Aasa Feragen-Hauberg, Technical University of Denmark
• Professor, Anders Albrechtsen, University of Copenhagen
• Professor, Karen Timmermann, Technical University of Denmark
• Professor, Kresten Lindorff-Larsen*, University of Copenhagen
• Professor, Shfaqat Abbas Khan*, Technical University of Denmark
• Professor, Steen L. Hannestad*, Aarhus University
• Professor, Torsten Nygård Kristensen*, Aalborg University

 *Reappointment 

Independent Research Fund Denmark | Social Sciences

• Professor, Signe Vikkelsø, Copenhagen Business School
• Professor, Lars Jakob Buur, Roskilde University
• Professor, Carl-Johan Dalgaard, University of Copenhagen
• Professor, Maria Knoth Humlum, Aarhus University
• Professor, Christoph Grimpe, Copenhagen Business School
• Professor, Robert Tranekær Klemmensen*, Lund University
• Associate professor, Lisbeth Funding la Cour*, Copenhagen Business School

*Reappointment

Independent Research Fund Denmark | Medical Sciences

• Associate professor, Charlotte Mehlin Sørensen, University of Copenhagen
• Professor, Christian Morberg Wejse, Aarhus University
• Professor, Bo Torben Porse*, University of Copenhagen/Rigshospitalet
• Professor, Peter Rossing*, University of Copenhagen
• Clinical professor, Marianne Skovsager Andersen*, University of Southern Denmark/OUH
• Professor, Nanna Brix Finnerup*, Aarhus University/AUH

*Reappointment

Independent Research Fund Denmark | Technology and Production Sciences

• Professor, Lars Stoumann Fosgrau Jensen, University of Copenhagen
• Professor, Krist Victor Bernard Gernaey, Technical University of Denmark
• Professor, Søren Alexandersen Aarhus University
• Professor, Camilla Foged, University of Copenhagen
• Senior Department Manager, Mikael Rørdam Andersen, Novonesis A/S
• Professor, Michael Havbro Faber-Nielsen*, Aalborg University
• Professor, Susanne Bødker*, Aarhus University
• Professor, Susanne Brix Pedersen*, Technical University of Denmark
• Professor, Stephen Edward Rees*, Aalborg University

*Reappointment