Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
How to get funding for postdocs?
We would like to introduce you to Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) - a programme of the European Union that offers funding for postdocs in the form of 2-year fellowships.
The chances of getting the funding are really high thanks to other related grant programmes.
That is why we would like to give you more information about what the MSCA programme has to offer and to support you in submitting a proposal!
What is the idea behind MSCA? What is in the core of proposal?
The idea behind MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) is a universal support of both scientific and career development of young researchers.
The application is based on an excellent scientific proposal and a development plan of the researcher's professional skills under the guidance of an experienced supervisor. The role of the supervisor is very important not only while writing the proposal, but also during the project implementation.
Another important thing is a plan of the postdoc's career development in other areas, such as intellectual property, Open Science, publishing strategy, group management or communication of scientific results with the professional and the lay public. Reagrding the plan of the postdoc's career development you can seek advice from the project support.
Who can apply for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship?
MSCA-PF is designed for postdocs who are currently changing their place of work or who have recently moved to another institution.
The applicant must meet the following conditions:
- get their PhD degree before the call deadline
- their PhD degree must not be more than 8 years old (counting from the call deadline)
- the applicant must not have spent more than 12 months in the Czech Republic in the last 3 years prior to the deadline (short-term stays such as family visits do not count)
Tip!: If you are recruiting a postdoc coming from abroad, we recommend checking if they are eligible for MSCA-PF!
What does the fellowship have to offer?
MSCA-PF offers funding of the postdoc's wage (Living Allowance) as well as Family and Mobility Allowance and Research costs for the period of 2 years:
What are the chances of getting the fellowship?
MSCA-PF is a highly competitive programme. In order to get funding from MSCA-PF, the postdoc must usually reach an evaluation score of 93 %. This score is reached by approximately 10-15 % of the applicants.
However, next to this main competition there are two other "side-competitions" which you can enter with your proposal and which provide the same level of support:
- ERA Fellowship (former Widening Fellowship) - An additional support is allocated for postdocs in selected countries (including the Czech Republic). This programme can take additional number of applicants. The evaluation needed is about 90 %. Approximately 20-30 % of the applicants reach the evaluation score between 90 % and 100 %.
- MŠMT OP JAK - A programme carried out by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports made for applicants who did not get the MSCA-PF funding but their proposal was evaluated very positively (so far the minimum evaluation score required was 70 % and it was reached by 70-80 % of the applicants. This call will be announced with a little delay, but the probability of getting into this programme is very high - the limit of 70 % will be officially confirmed after the call announcement on 18. 5. 2021).
The evaluation score is based on the quality of the scientific proposal, of the career plan and the quality of the applicant and the supervisor. Approximately 90 % proposals at Masaryk University get a score higher than 70 % and therefore these proposals are eligible for funding from OP JAK.
Dates and deadlines
- MSCA-PF call published: 22. 6. 2021
- Deadline for submitting proposals: 12. 10. 2021
- Call results announcment: February 2022
- Expected project start: June 2022
- MSCA OP J.A.C.: expected in spring 2022, but subject to change
Tip!: Become a project evaluator and gain experience
Besides from new applicants we are also searching for experienced researchers that would be interested in becoming internal reviewers of the proposal drafts or even official evaluators of MSCA-PF.
If you are interested in joining the internal group of researchers that are willing to read the proposal drafts and give feedback to postdocs, please contact Jakub Zeman at zeman@rect.muni.cz.
If you want to become an official evaluator, you can find more information here:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/work-as-an-expert
Both options will certainly bring you valuable experience.
Who can help you with submitting the proposal?
- Mgr. Jakub Zeman - zeman@rect.muni.cz - the main coordinator of MSCA at MUNI
- Ing. Klára Špetíková - spetikova@sci.muni.cz - the coordinator at Faculty of Science MUNI
- Mgr. Lucie Nesvadbová - lus@sci.muni.cz - the support at Department of Experimental Biology
- Mgr. Veronika Jálová, Ph.D. - veronika.jalova@recetox.muni.cz - the support at RECETOX
- the project support at your department
We can check your eligibility to submit a proposal and help you with the proposal creation in general. Do not hesitate to contact us - the sooner, the better!