Talent Bridge
Talent Bridge identifies exceptional aging researchers outside the U.S. and helps them do field-moving work, join the longevity community, and relocate to where their impact can compound.
The primary goals of the Talent Bridge program are to:
Identify, recruit, and support exceptional global talent in aging research.
Support innovative projects that advance the scientific understanding and application of longevity research.
Facilitate their transition to the U.S. through introductions, provide financial and visa support
Produce publicly available field-resources that align with awardee’s interest and project.
Awardees
Learn more about our Talent Bridge awardees and their work.
How does it work?
Participants are selected through a proposal process. Each candidate presents a project idea aligned with Norn Group's mission, which must be approved by the Talent Bridge Selection Committee before the award proceeds. An ideal candidate is one that has and will continue demonstrate ambition and dedication towards pushing the aging field forward.
Approved candidates join Norn Group's Longevity Nexus and spend roughly 100 hours, typically over three weeks to four months, building toward a publish-ready deliverable with guidance from Martin Borch Jensen and Sufal Deb. Successful candidates can/will receive small awards in order to enable work on their project and fund logistical costs associated with propelling their career.
Awardees take on at least one collaborative project with Norn Group and are expected to relocate to the U.S.; the exact timing flexes to each person's situation. Norn supports the move with introductions across our network, connections to legal support and accommodation, and help navigating the rest of relocation. The aforementioned award is delivered on completion of the collaborative project.
How can I participate?
Apply by submitting a project proposal outlining your work and its relevance to aging research (form below). You may also be invited based on an existing relationship with Norn Group.
Applications are first reviewed by Martin Borch Jensen and Sufal Deb. Candidates who advance scope their project with the Norn team, then go to the Talent Bridge Selection Committee, where 4 of 5 votes are required to proceed.
Approved candidates are expected to join the Nexus community, further establish and complete project milestones and deliverables tied to their award. Direct outreach may be considered for exceptional candidates interested in, or already working on relevant projects.
What do you receive?
A ~$10,000 project award, delivered on completion (no restrictions on use).
Membership in Norn Group's Longevity Nexus community.
Access to an exclusive network of researchers and operators in aging.
Collaboration with Norn Group and its affiliates.
Relocation support, including visa guidance (O-1, H-1B) and network introductions.
Project Proposals
Every project must be directly tied to aging and longevity research, though it need not be traditional STEM. Each project is expected to advance knowledge or practical application in the field, optimizing for impact.
Topics can include (but are not limited to):
Innovative Scientific Research
Technology and Tool Development
Challenges and Improvements of Existing Aging Theories
Aging Policy Initiatives
Topics Addressing the Big Picture and More
Interested?
Get in touch with us or fill out our application form below to get started!
For more information, read through our Frequently Asked Questions below or shoot us an email.
Access the Print-Friendly Talent Bridge Overview Here.
Talent Bridge Selection Committee
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Kumar Garg
President of Renaissance Philanthropy
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Laura Deming
CEO at Until
Co-Founder of Age1 -
Vadim Gladyshev
Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School
Director of the Center for Redox Medicine -
Adam Marblestone
CEO at Convergent Research
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Martin Borch Jensen
President of Norn Group
CSO at Gordian Biotechnology
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Talent Bridge isn't just funding. It's a structured pathway for international researchers to plug directly into the most active longevity community, do work that moves the field, and build the record of specialized contribution that strengthens a U.S. visa case. Each project is shaped collaboratively with Norn Group's leadership, so the result serves as both a real scientific contribution and evidence of expertise.
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We fund projects that are directly related to aging and longevity research. Projects within and outside the scope of “STEM” wil be considered including: innovative scientific research, technology development, challenges and improvements of aging theories, policy initiatives, and others that contribute to the advancement of knowledge and practical applications in the field. For more examples of what types of projects we are looking to fund, see our open calls, we encourage applicants to bring their own topic proposals or existing projects.
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Norn Group cannot guarantee provision of resources for all research projects. On rare occasions there may be opportunities for direct support. Generally the responsibility of acquiring needed resources falls on the applicants, we will however provide support to locate appropriate resources to meet the needs of the project.
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We reply only to applicants we're moving forward with. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates we advance are contacted within 2–4 weeks.
A referral from someone affiliated with Norn Group or its programs can speed up review. -
The Talent Bridge Selection Committee is a diverse panel of experts in the field of aging research, responsible for evaluating applicants for the Talent Bridge program after they have been initially selected for. Composed of Norn Group board members and distinguished figures from academia and industry, the committee assesses each candidate’s potential for contribution to aging research and alignment with the program’s mission. The committee’s review process is unbiased and ensures that selected candidates demonstrate a track record of excellence, innovation, and commitment to the field and Norn Group’s goals.
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Duration depends on the project, its milestones, and individual circumstances. Awardees commit a minimum of roughly 100 hours to their project, and support begins as soon as an application is successful.
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Yes. Relocation is a core intention of the program, so all awardees are expected to relocate.
The timing accounts for constraints that vary by individual, and we offer visa support based on each participant's situation and proposal. -
All nationalities are eligible to apply except U.S. citizens. We give preference to candidates from regions with less-developed research infrastructure for longevity work.
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Candidates in the middle of a visa application or relocation are still eligible.
Those who have already relocated are eligible only if they plan to apply for a different visa later (for example, moving from a student visa toward an O-1). -
Yes. We encourage applicants who are already committed and contributing to the aging field to apply. The Talent Bridge Award and program is designed to accelerate existing research or offer new growth opportunities.
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Yes, students enrolled in a Masters or PhD program are encouraged to apply.
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The Talent Bridge program is primarily designed for individuals, but we may consider projects that involve small teams or collaborations, provided they align with the goals of the program.
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No, this renewed TB program is structured differently to better achieve the original objective of empowering global talent in longevity. Our legacy Talent Bridge program launched in 2022 is no longer available for application.
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You can contact team@norn.group for any additional questions or to learn more about Talent Bridge