Exciting Opportunities for Postdoctoral Researchers

As a significant step towards promoting innovation and interdisciplinary cooperation, the partners of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Sustainable Living and Working (SustAInLivWork) invite proactive postdoctoral researchers to apply for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships under European Commission programme Horizon Europe call. For applicants whose proposals exceed a 70 percent threshold but were not funded by MSCA, Lithuania offers extra funding opportunities through the national Central Project Management Agency’s call.

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, aim to support the creative and innovative potential of researchers wishing to broaden their horizons through advanced training and international mobility.

“These fellowships represent a unique opportunity for postdoctoral researchers to immerse themselves in ground-breaking research projects and collaborate with leading experts in their respective fields,” says Agnė Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė, professor at Kaunas University of Technology and the project manager of the SustAInLivWork. “We are thrilled for the partner institutions to be able to offer these opportunities and are confident that they will play an important role in advancing knowledge and fostering innovation in AI.”

Six hosting institutions across Europe

The SustainLivWork project, coordinated by Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and in partnership with Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VilniusTECH) and advanced partners Tampere University (TAU) and Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), seeks to address societal challenges through development and application of R&I solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing, energy, health and transport themes.

With a focus on advancing knowledge and expertise in AI and its application in innovative manufacturing technologies, energy, transport, and healthy living areas, SustAInLivWork partners encourage young researchers to apply for postdoctoral fellowships, which present an unparalleled opportunity for fellows to make significant contributions to their fields.

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships offer two main tracks: European and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers from any nationality who wish to engage in research and innovation projects within Europe. Meanwhile, Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed for European nationals or long-term residents who want to contribute to projects outside of EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

“The beauty of these fellowships lies in their flexibility and scope,” explains Dr Roel Pieters, associate professor at Tampere University. “Whether you’re looking to collaborate with institutions within Europe or explore opportunities outside the EU, there’s something for everyone. It’s a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and gain invaluable experience.”

Key requirements for applicants include holding a PhD degree at the time of application and having a maximum of eight years of research experience post-PhD. Additionally, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activities in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships) or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the application deadline.

Additional funding opportunities

For applicants whose proposals score above a threshold of 70 percent but were not funded by the Horizon Europe MSCA scheme, and if the hosting institution is a Lithuanian university, there are additional funding opportunities available. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania has launched a call to support MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the national budget of Lithuania. This additional funding could provide much-needed support for successful applicants, allowing them to further their research ambitions.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for researchers to not only pursue their academic aspirations but also contribute to meaningful research initiatives that have real-world impact,” says Simona Ramanauskaitė, professor at VilniusTECH.

Interested postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to prepare and submit their applications in collaboration with the host organisations. The application process involves several steps, including an eligibility check, finding a supervisor, and developing the application with support from the host organisation.

With the application deadline set for 11th September 2024, aspiring postdoctoral researchers are urged to act swiftly and take advantage of this unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and make a lasting impact on society.

More information about the application process and supervisor profiles can be found here.