The «FSR Post-doc 2025» call is now open for incoming post-doctoral researchers in international mobility within your research entities. The 2025 call is funded by FSR funds and will allow to award 15 post-doctoral 3 years-fellowships.
Applications (maximum 1 proposal per supervisor) must be submitted electronically to the UCLouvain Research Administration (crec-adre@uclouvain.be) by Tuesday 1 October 2024 at 9 AM at the latest.
Aim of the action
The program, which is targeted at incoming researchers, aims at reinforcing the international dimension of the host institution by supporting highly-qualified post-docs from abroad. The ultimate ambition is to build scientific and technological (S&T) collaborations and long-lasting networks between the respective research fields. The fellowships are assigned to researchers holding a PhD degree, proving their expertise and research capacity by a personal scientific record.
Eligible scientists
Applicants to a FSR Incoming post-doc Fellowship must:
- Hold a doctoral degree (PhD), obtained after defense of a thesis, issued by an academic institution no later than May 1st, 2025.
- At the reference date of February 5th, 2025, the candidate may not have obtained his/her doctoral degree for more than 5 years.
- The maximum period laid down in the above paragraph shall be increased by one year per childbirth and / or adoption following the award of the PhD academic degree.
- Be in mobility condition, i.e. not having resided nor carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 24 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the starting date of the project1.
All nationalities are eligible.
Duration of the stay
The stay should cover periods of 12 up to 36 months. The project will start maximum 12 months after the call deadline. The FSR grant can only be awarded if the stay takes place in Belgium.
Research fields and potential host units
The research stay must take place in the frame of the ongoing research activities taking place in a research unit of Université catholique de Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels, Tournai, Mons, Charleroi and Namur): www.uclouvain.be; The program is based on a bottom-up approach as all research fields are eligible (Sciences and Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Health Sciences).
Submission of applications
The application will be submitted in electronic copy by the applicant/researcher who will have been in contact with a supervisor in the host institution (the name of the supervisor must be identified in point 17 of the application form). The list of all research entities and supervisors is available on UCLouvain’s website (see point 4).
The application form will be introduced to the following e-mail address: crecadre@uclouvain.be by October 1st, 2024 at 9 am (Brussels time) at the latest.
The “Application form 2025” will have to be accompanied by:
- A curriculum vitae (Europass template : www.europa.eu/europass/en/create-europass-cv);
- A narrative curriculum vitae (max. 1 double-sides A4 sheet);
- A list of scientific publications of the applicant;
- A description of the research project to be performed during the stay at UCLouvain (max. 4 pages describing the objectives, methodologies, research calendar, expected outcome and optional secondments);
- A recommendation letter by an academic member of the home institution of the candidate describing the added value of the stay;
- A recommendation letter by an internationally recognized scientific personality;
- A recommendation letter by the host institution supervisor (in this letter, the host supervisor should also add a comment on what he/she intends to do in relation to the candidate’s career placement).
For the three recommendation letters, please use the template of the institution (including its logo).
For confidentiality reasons, the letters of recommendation of the home/host institution can be directly sent to the UCLouvain Research Department (crec-adre@uclouvain.be). Please pay attention to duly specifying the name of the applicant/researcher in the object of the email.
Very important information:
- The file (application form and annexes) must be sent in one PDF format.
- The file has to be filled in English in order to facilitate the evaluation by international experts. Exceptions are possible according to the research topic but must be duly justified (written request addressed to the President of the UCLouvain Research Council prior to the application submission).
- Only complete applications will be eligible.
- All applicants will receive an email notification soon after the call deadline.
Please consult the hereafter support documents
Checklist for the eligibility of the application
This check-list is intended to help to fill out the application.
- I am eligible to submit my application (required experience, max. 5 years after PhD, mobility condition)
- I have been in contact with a supervisor in the host institution who is willing to support my application
- I am planning to stay 12 up to 36 months
- My application file is complete (Application form + requested annexes) and filled in English (or I have received a written agreement from the President of the Research Council)
- My application is in accordance with the required evaluation criteria
- My application file contains the required signatures
- I have checked that the experts I propose are not in conflict of interest with myself or my UCLouvain’s supervisor
- Subject to my eligibility, I have applied / will apply to other funding opportunities (F.R.S.- FNRS Grants and Fellowships Call 2025, HE-MSCA-PF Call 2025, etc.)
- An electronic version of the complete file was sent to crec-adre@uclouvain.be in one PDF format
- The application file is introduced by the 1st of October 2024 at 9 am (Brussels time)