Dear researchers,

We are pleased to inform you that La Caixa Foundation has opened the call Junior Leader RETAINING Postdoctoral Fellowships. Please, find below more information.

a) Objective: Hiring excellent researchers—of any nationality— who wish to continue their research at any university or research career in the areas of the health and life sciences, technology, physics, engineering and mathematics, in Spanish or Portuguese territory.

b) Eligibility criteria:

* Common eligibility criteria for both fellowships:

Postdoctoral researchers of any nationality are eligible to apply.

Candidates must have obtained their doctoral degrees two to seven years prior to deadline for applications (between 08/10/2012 and 08/10/2017). In the cases of interruption of the research activity (illness, accident, maternity/paternity) between the date of obtaining the doctoral degree and the call deadline (8th of October 2019), the candidate may request an extension of the corresponding period.

* Specific eligibility criteria:

RETAINING:

Candidates must have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the deadline for applications. Short stays, such as holidays, will not be taken into account.

Candidates applying to carry out the research in a Spanish university or research centre, must have carried out predoctoral or postdoctoral research at non-Spanish research centres or universities, in the continuous or discontinuous manner for at least six months prior to the deadline for applications.

c) Number of fellowships offered: 15

d) Duration: The fellowships have a duration of one year, with the possibility of being renewed for a maximum of two additional years, provided that the follow-up reports requested on an annual basis are favorable. Fellows should pursue international and/or intersectorial secondment in the institution of their choice for the period of 3-6 months during the course of the fellowship.

Fellowship amount:

The maximum payment amount will be €305,100, as broken down below:

Three maximum annual payments of €97,500 which include:

Salary: €59,000 to cover the total labor cost

Annual research project costs of €38,500, which include:

Acquisition and maintenance of scientific equipment and consumables.

Travel expenses and per diem, registration fees for scientific congresses, seminars and conferences.

Personnel costs linked exclusively to the fellowship project.

Management fees for industrial and intellectual property rights related to the project, patenting costs.

Gross annual family assistance of €1,200 for each of the researcher's child dependent (calculated based on 2 children).

Mobility assistance (moving and housing) of €5,400 when applicable.

Application:

Candidates should register and apply using the online application platform

The application must be completed entirely in English.

Documents required:

Personal statement with the project proposal

Three reference's contact information

Doctoral diploma stating the date the thesis defense took place

Candidates should state the research centre that they would prefer to join on their fellowship application on a provisional basis. To do this, a declaration of interest letter signed by a researcher of the research center of preference must be attached indicating the predisposition to accept the fellow. Researcher who choose VHIR as host institution, should provide letter signed by VHIR’s director.

Important Deadlines:

Official deadline: 8th of October 2019 at 2:00 p.m. (Central European Time - CET).

Internal deadline: Please, inform VHIR (ajuts@vhir.org) if you want to submit an application before 1st of October 2019.

Interviews in Barcelona:

RETAINING: 24th and 25th of February 2020.

Announcement of final results: 18th of March 2020.

Start of the fellowship : from 1st of April to 30th of September 2020.

More information:

“la Caixa” Junior Leader – Retaining Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme website

“la Caixa” Junior Leader Retaining Postdoctoral Fellowship – guide for applicants – (attached documents in English and Spanish)

Please, do not hesitate to contact VHIR’s Research Grant Office if we can help you in this application.