10 PhD positions in MSCA Doctoral Networks

Candidates reseachers must:

• have MSc level training in life sciences (Biology, Medicine, Pharmacy, Biotech - DC 1,2,3,4,6,8,9,10), Technology (Bioengineering) (DC5), Health Economics (DC7) or any other field that matches the particular project for which they apply
• possess scientific skills for the project that they apply for and research experience (read the Specific Requirements for each project)
• possess a good working level of English: candidates must demonstrate during the interview a good ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English, sufficiently high to fully benefit from the experience (read the Specific Requirements for each project)
• be highly motivated
• be creative and possess a high level of independency

Specific Requirements listed below based on each project:

DC1:

• Master degree or equivalent in the fields related to the project
• Basic biology lab tecniques, scientific background
• Desirable technical competences: experience in handling lab animals, cells cultures
• Good English level - no certification required

DC2:

• Master degree in Biology or relevant fields related to the project
• Desirable technical competences: cell culture, regular molecular biology methods, preferable having experience of electrophysiology
• Good English level - no certification required

DC3:

• Master degree in the field of Biological Sciences or Biochemistry, Neuroscience,  Nanoscience or similar related to the project

• Technical competences: cell culture, molecular biology are needed. Experience in cloning techniques and knowledge of DNA chemistry are desired.

• Good English level - no certification required

DC4: 

• Master degree in the field of Biomedicine, Health Sciences, Neurosciences or similar related to the project
• Good English level - no certification required

DC5:

• Master degree with thesis
• GRE result of at least 151 in the quantitative score type or GMAT result of at least 465 in total
• Python knowledge
• English Proficiency Result Certificate (YDS:65, TOEFL:79, YÖKDIL:65) is required.(For English Language Education Program; YDS: 80, YÖKDIL: 80, TOEFL: 96)

DC6: 

• Msc in Life Sciences is required (from a highly qualified University and approved by LUMC Graduate School).

• Technical competences: laboratory research training (at least 6 to 9 months) during Msc, with a written Msc Thesis.

• Good English level - no certification required

DC7:

• Candidate must have obtained a standard of at least Second Class Honours, Grade I, in an approved primary degree, or other such other evidence under the University's policy for Recognition of Prior Learning for Admission to Research Degrees.
• Desirable technical competences: experience in conducting systematic literature reviews, experience in conducting economic evaluations
• All postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of  English language proficiency.
• For further information and eligibility please see:https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/

DC8: 

• Master degree in the field of Biomedicine, Health Sciences, Neurosciences or similar related to the project
• Good English level - no certification required

DC9:

• Master degree or equivalent in the fields related to the project
• Desirable technical competences: OMICS, animal models, molecular biology
• Good English level - no certification required

DC10:

• Master degree or equivalent in the fields related to the project
• Basic biology lab tecniques, scientific background
• Desirable technical competences: experience in handling lab animals, cells cultures
• Good English level - no certification required

RETORNA fellows will be employed according to the rules for Doctoral Candidates in MSCA DNs and the general regulations of each hosting institution.

The monthly financial package will include the following gross researcher allowances:

1) Living allowance of € 3,400.00 (country correction coefficient applies)

2) Mobility allowance of € 600.00

3) Family allowance of € 660.00 if applicable.

The final net monthly amount depends on the country destination and the family situation.

The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 months starting from autumn 2023.

Other benefits:

All 10 doctorates will benefit from a large variety of activities foreseen for them. DCs at RETORNA will be provided with a unique multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral training. First and foremost, DCs will be trained as scientists, each of them in their host institution, at their research secondments, and through local and network wide events. Next, thanks to the partnership between academic and non-academic entities, DCs will receive multi-sectoral inputs from both worlds. This will happen via lectures and workshops in our varied training program.

• candidates can be of any nationality
• must comply with the following mobility rule: researchers are required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e., move from one country to another) and participate in all the activities foreseen by the project when taking up the appointment (trainings, summer courses, annual meetings, lectures, participation in conferences, public activities).
• possess a Master degree or an equivalent that allows the access to the doctoral program in the University they would like to candidate for (read the requirements for each University)
• be, at the date of recruitment, a doctoral candidate (i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree). Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
• not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.

The RETORNA selection procedure is open, transparent, merit-based and in line with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers and the European Charter for Researchers.

The criteria for recruitment of DCs will respect the principles of non-discrimination contained in The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

It is the policy of the RETORNA project to promote and give equal opportunities regardless of gender and stimulate gender balance.

Documents required

Interested candidates should submit thefollowing documents via email to andreea.craciun@ucv.es for one (1) to maximum three (3) projects, indicating in the e-mail also the order of projects preference:

• a detailed CV, including – if applicable – relevant publications
• a motivation letter, indicating why you wish to conduct this research project
• two (2) letters of reference
• transcripts of bachelor and master degrees
• English certificate (mandatory if requested in the project applying for)

We encourage candidates to send any other certificates, representative publications, academic references or links demostrating the experience and interest in the project. 

All documents must be named as "type of document_NameSurname" (i.e. Motivation letter_Andreea Craciun")

Selection process

The selection process will foreseen the following steps:

1.  Eligibility: the RETORNA recruitment committee will check that each application is complete and that applicants fulfil the eligibility criteria described in the previous section.

2. Evaluation: each eligible application will be assessed independently by the principal investigators of our network, according to the project interests indicated by the candidate. The principal investigators will select up to four candidates per position for the following steps:

a. Online interviews: online interviews will be scheduled, in person interview will be organized where possible. Short-listed candidates will be invited for an online interview with the supervisor responsible for the research project of interest. At least one member of the recruitment committee will attend the online interviews.

b. Selection results: our recruitment committee will notify short-listed candidates of the results.

c. Hiring process and enrollment: the selected candidates will be put in touch with the corresponding principal investigator and the HR Department of the hosting institution to initiate the hiring procedure.

Applicants who have not been successful but who have received a positive evaluation will be put on a waiting list to cover possible withdrawals and future positions.

Project official description: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101073316

Recruitment calendar:

• Call opening: 31st of January 2023
• Deadline for applications: 19th of March 2023
• Eligibility and Evaluation: 20th of March - 31st of March  2023 
• Online Interviews: April 2023
• Notification to candidates: first week of May 2023
• Hiring process: May - July 2023
• Start date of the fellowship: September 2023