INSPIRE (INnovative Sustainable Development InterdisciPlinary Post-Doctoral Research Excellence), is a postdoctoral research programme that is co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. This is the first Call where 10 postdoctoral fellowships are being offered. INSPIRE is hosted by APC Microbiome Ireland, the Science foundation Ireland centre for Microbiome research.
The INSPIRE project aims to lift the next generation of scientific leaders to the forefront of leading microbiome research. APC is also committed to research that aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). INSPIRE seeks to build on APC’s experience by encouraging the next generation of Experienced Researchers (ERs) to tackle global societal challenges related to food systems and health, such as anti-microbial resistance (AMR), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and Sustainable Food System (SFS).
Who?
Applicants may be of any nationality.
Applicants must be experienced researchers (ER). The definition of an ER in the H2020 MSCA programme will be applied: ERs must, at the call deadline, be in possession of a doctoral degree or have at least four years of full-time equivalent research experience. FTE research experience is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree that would entitle him/her to embark on a doctorate, either in the country that the degree was obtained or the country in which the researcher is recruited, irrespective of whether a doctorate is or was ever envisaged.
International Mobility: Applicants must comply with the relevant mobility rules. At the call deadline, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Ireland for more than 12 months in the previous 3 years.
Fellows must choose a global societal challenge that aligns with the APC's research thematic focus. The following are relevant to APCs thematic areas
Sustainable development. In 2015, the United Nations members adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which highlighted interconnectedness between people and planet, now and into the future. Sustainable Development is increasingly becoming a priority consideration for policy makers and business leaders, but numerous reports show that there is disconnect between market demand and availability qualified applicants. This topic is cross cutting across all four of APCs research thematic areas.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behaviours factors. According to the World Health Organisation (2018), NCDs are the leading cause of death in the world, representing 71% of all deaths globally (killing 41 million people each year). APC’s research looks at how gut bacteria interacts with the four main types of non-communicable diseases, which are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and stroke), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes. This also aligns with SDG target 3.4, which aims to reduce by one-third premature mortality from NCDs through prevention and treatment. This topic is cross cutting across all four of APCs research thematic research focus.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as one of the most pressing human health concerns worldwide. Public health organizations uniformly agree that tracking its emergence and prevalence is critical to minimize the threat to human health. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the last few decades in humans and animals has led the World Health Organization to warn of a “post-anti-biotic era” as treatments become ineffective and infections persist in the body. It is estimated that AMR is responsible for 33,000 deaths per year in the EU and globally 10 million deaths per year are projected between 2015 and 2050 if current infection and resistance trends are not reversed.
Sustainable food system (SFS): is a food system that delivers food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised. This means that it is profitable throughout (economic sustainability), it has broad-based benefits for society (social sustainability) and it has a positive or neutral impact on the natural environment (environmental sustainability). This SDG spans 5 areas: 1) Putting data within reach to support the transition to sustainable food systems; 2) Promoting evidence-based policy making and policy alignment; 3) Bolstering public-private collaboration in sustainable food systems development; 4) Facilitating local knowledge-building and knowledge-sharing and 5) Supporting countries in preventing and mitigating risks.
Deadline: 30 September 2022.