6 March 2024
Opening of the call for Expression of Interest

14 April 2024
Deadline for Expression of Interest

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Deadline for the call ‘Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024’ (MSCA PF 2024): 11 September 2024

The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) consists of nine departments (Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Engineering Physics, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Department of Informatics Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Mining Engineering Department). This organization in large areas of knowledge and know-how in engineering, supported by qualified services and with the articulation externally through research and technology organizations to which the Faculty is associated, constitutes a striking aspect of FEUP’s position in pursuing third mission activities, valorization of knowledge and active contribution for the economic and social development of the society. FEUP recognizes the prevailing paradigm in the contemporary global world, made of international cooperation and competition. In this framework, FEUP guides its training and research activities by internationally recognized quality standards and adopts a strategy of widespread internationalization of these same activities.

FEUP’s Research and Innovation structures are made up of:

• Research and Development Units

• Associated Laboratories

• Interface Institutes

If you are a postdoctoral researcher aiming to foster excellence in your research area and develop your career in Portugal, at one of the country’s most esteemed higher education and research establishments, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), then the MSCA PF 2024 opportunity is certainly for you.

Furthermore, in order to attract top-notch researchers and project proposals under the above-referred programme, FEUP has prepared a tailor-made initiative ‘MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships: Proposal Writing Bootcamp at FEUP’ which gives you the opportunity to get aqcuainted with the work and infrastructures of the relevant research group and prepare, in close cooperation with this selected group/supervisor, an excellent project proposal for the MSCA PF 2024 call. In addition you shall benefit from various webinar sessions that all aim at contributing to a successful proposal preparation.

Therefore, if you meet the formal aspects of the MSCA PF 2024 call and you are interested in applying for the Proposal Writing Bootcamp at FEUP, please e-mail the following documents to europe@fe.up.pt no later than April 14th 2024:

– Filled in ‘MSCA PF Bootcamp application form‘ (this form includes a slot for your research concept note / idea / one page proposal for MSCA PF application)

– Recent CV (max 3 pages)

– Copy of the PhD Diploma

If you don’t yet have a PhD diploma in your possession, other proof/evidence of the successful completion of the PhD by the date of the MSCA PF call deadline (11 September 2024) can also be presented.

Important note: The language for all documents and communication is English (you can, however, present your PhD Diploma in the original language).

Evaluation – Expressions of Interest

– 15 – 17 April: Administrative check

– 18 – 25 April: Remote interviews by host institution/research group

– 26 April – 7 May: Selection of candidates and communication of results

Bootcamp

– 21 May: Main webinar – Detailed information on call criteria and how to write a competitive proposal as well as experiences from successful grantee(s)
(audience: selected candidates & respective supervisors)

– 28 May: Webinar – Experiences from MSCA PF evaluator(s)
(audience: selected candidates & respective supervisors)

– 4 June: Q&A Webinar – funding support webinar for selected candidates & respective supervisors with the Research and Innovation Support Unit (INOV Unit)

– 19 – 21 June: In-presence meetings at FEUP for selected candidates & respective supervisors to draft section B of the MSCA PF application

– 22 June – 30 August: Proposal writing and submission for peer review at the selected research groups

– 6 September: Peer review feedback from the expert(s) of research groups

– 11 September: Deadline for MSCA PF proposal submission at the Funding and Tenders Portal (**)

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(**) ERA Fellowships: This action builds on the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024. The target group are host organisations located in Widening Countries (including Portugal). In order to apply for the ERA Fellowships call, applicants must submit their proposal to the MSCA PF 2024. The application to the MSCA PF 2024 will be automatically resubmitted to ERA Fellowships in case the proposal fails to reach an adequate place in the ranking to be funded. Applicants can only be considered for this additional funding opportunity by ticking “YES” to the question “Do you wish to participate to the ERA Postdoctoral Fellowships and thus increase your chances of being funded?” in the MSCA PF application form. This simplified submission procedure to the ERA Fellowships call presents applicants moving to Widening countries with an additional funding opportunity but there is the possibility to opt out during the application stage. The proposals submitted under the ERA Fellowships must fulfil all the admissibility and eligibility conditions of the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 and pass all the thresholds for that call.

Eligibility criteria for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships:

• Applicant for MSCA PF, must be postdoctoral researcher at the date of the call deadline, i.e. in a possession of a doctoral degree (PhD degree).
  Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered as postdoctoral researchers and will be considered eligible to apply. The successful defence must be unconditional (no further requirements/corrections that need to be addressed) and take place before the call deadline, i.e. 11 September 2024. Supporting documentation may be requested.

• At the call deadline (11 September 2024), applicants must have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research, measured from the date of award of the doctoral degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave), will not count towards the amount of research experience. For nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to pursue their research career in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, years of experience in research in third countries will not be considered in the above maximum.

• Applicants must comply with the following mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Portugal for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline (11 September 2024).

The 2024 call will open on the 10th of April in the Funding and Tenders Portal, and may change the call eligibility criteria referred above. In case of any inconsistencies between the two versions, the Funding and Tenders Portal applies.

– Scientific quality of your research proposal/idea

– Alignment of your proposal/idea with the research interest of the selected research group

– Quality of your curriculum vitae

– Interview performance

After reviewing the eligibility and quality of your proposal, we will communicate if you were selected to participate in the bootcamp.

For any questions, please contact us at europe@fe.up.pt

FEUP will cover the following costs:

• Up to €500 for flight tickets to candidates travelling from other EU member states (including EU Associated Countries)
• Up to €1000 for flight tickets to candidates travelling from other countries
• Up to 4 nights’ stay in Porto (single room, breakfast included)
• Network dinner