New members of Independent Research Fund Denmark in 2026

The Board of Independent Research Fund Denmark has just appointed 13 members to the fund’s five scientific research councils. Each year, the members of councils help allocate approximately DKK 2 billion to groundbreaking research. Collectively, the five councils comprise 75 recognised researchers.

Red: The article is updatede on 18 December 2025 with another member of DFF | Medical Sciences.

The 10 new and 3 reappointed council members will contribute their expert knowledge to help identify the most groundbreaking and excellent ideas in Danish research.

The fund’s five scientific research councils allocates approximately DKK 2 billion in 2025 to researcher-initiated, independent research — from basic research to application-oriented research and everything in between — with a focus on original, groundbreaking ideas. Independent Research Fund Denmark also advises the Minister for Higher Education and Science, the Danish Parliament, and the government on matters related to research.

The council members have been appointed by the Board of Independent Research Fund Denmark in their personal capacity following an open call and nominations from research environments and other stakeholders. The new members will begin their work in the fund on 1 January 2026 for a four-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for an additional two years.

The fund’s board appoints the members and chairs of the councils, while the Minister for Higher Education and Science appoints the members of the board.

New members as of 1 January 2026

DFF | Humanities

Mads Dengsø Jessen, seniorforsker, Nationalmuseet

Bo Poulsen*, professor, Aalborg Universitet

Jacob Lund, professor, Aarhus Universitet

Tine Ravnsted-Larsen Reeh, lektor, Københavns Universitet

DFF | Natural Science

Jacob Schach Møller, professor, Aarhus Universitet

DFF | Social Sciences 

Janne Rothmar Hermann, professor, Københavns Universitet

Jakob Johan Demant, professor, Københavns Universitet

DFF | Medical Sciences

Kate Lykke Lambertsen, professor, Syddansk Universitet, Odense Universitetshospital

Niels Jessen* , professor, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus

Michael Lisby*, professor, Københavns Universitet

Tarec Christoffer El-Galaly, klinisk professor, Aarhus Universitet, Aarhus Universitetshospital (udpeget ved ekstraordinær udpegning)

DFF | Technology and Production Sciences 

Rikke Louise Meyer, professor, Aarhus Universitet

Karsten Rottwitt, professor, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet

Rikke Buhl, professor, Københavns Universitet

*Reappointed member