Inicio Excelencia Severo Ochoa

Opportunities for Young Group Leaders
CNIC International Incoming Fellowships

First stage evaluation results

Purpose

The CNIC IIF aims to increase the mobility within Europe of experienced researchers in the cardiovascular research area. The programme has been designed to support transnational mobility of researchers and to broaden and deepen their individual competence, particularly in terms of acquisition of complementary skills needed to attain or strengthen a senior independent position in biomedical research.

The programme offers fellowships for experienced researchers at two career stages, depending on experience and profile: 1) Starting Fellowships (SF), and 2) Advanced Fellowships (AF).

Number and duration of fellowships

The present call offers six fellowships: 4 Starting Fellowships (SF) and 2 Advanced Fellowships (AF). In both cases, the duration of the fellowship will be of 3 years.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must, at the time of the deadline for submission of their individual fellowship application, fulfil the following requirements:

  1. Hold a PhD/ MD, independently of the time taken to acquire it.
  2. Have a minimum of 3 years’ postdoctoral training in centres of international reference.
  3. Meet the following transnational mobility condition: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the deadline for proposal submission.

Appointment conditions

Selected fellows will be offered

  • Contracts with salaries on the internal salary scales in force at the CNIC. Fellows will also receive a yearly travel allowance.
  • Relocation allowance. This will include travel expenses, removal expenses and a compensation pack for general expenses.
  • The benefits package available to all CNIC employees. Benefits include full social security cover; a flexible salary package (a personalized remuneration system permitting significant tax savings); life insurance for death or permanent disability; civil liability insurance; a work and family life balance plan; assistance for nursery care; language training programme (English and Spanish).
  • A yearly contribution to research and training.

Technical conditions and infrastructure

The CNIC is a new centre housed in a splendid building fitted with the latest generation of technological equipment.

The CNIC Technical Units are core support facilities providing key scientific services to the CNIC’s research groups. Technical Units include proteomics, genomics, cellomics, dynamic and quantitative microscopy, gene targeting, viral vectors, transgenesis and cell culture suites. The CNIC is currently investing in the creation of a new facility, within the Epidemiology, Atherothrombosis and Imaging Department, devoted to the latest multimode cardiovascular imaging techniques for precise anatomic and functional cardiovascular studies.

General and administrative support

Each researcher is assigned laboratory and office space according to his/her category. Apart from general administrative and logistics support, selected fellows will have direct support within their Departments through specialized Department Research Assistants and Department Managers.

Moreover, selected fellows, like all CNIC researchers, will be supported by the Centre’s specialized scientific support services, which will facilitate their research and provide training. Scientific support services include a Projects Office, Technology Transfer Office, Scientific Training, Communication, Revision and Editing in English, Library and Scientific Documentation, and a Bio-security and Radiation Protection Department.

Scientific-technical and complementary training

Recruited researchers will also have the possibility to participate in the large number of seminars and workshops that take place on a regular basis at the Centre, such as the weekly international seminar series, ad hoc scientific seminars, the CNIC internal seminar series, institutional retreats and focused cardiovascular research workshops.

The CNIC makes major efforts to promote the development of researchers’ complementary skills. To this end, a series of internal workshops and presentations are organised on a regular basis. These series of workshops focus on different areas related to research ethics and bioethics, writing of proposals/grant applications, research project management and technology transfer/patent applications.

How to apply

Applications for CNIC-IIIF are accepted exclusively online through our online application system. The 2011 call will open on the 3rd of May.

Selection process

First Stage Evaluation

An internal selection committee will carry out the First Stage Evaluation.

A maximum of three candidates for each available position will pass the First Stage Evaluation: that is, twelve for the Starting Fellowships and six for the Advanced Fellowships.

Preselected Candidates will be given two weeks to write and submit a short project proposal in collaboration with their prospective Department Director.

Selection

An external international selection committee will carry out the final step of the selection.

The top candidates (up to a maximum of four for Starting Fellowships and two for Advanced Fellowships) will be offered a fellowship and will be invited to sign an acceptance letter. Candidates will be expected to start the fellowship within two months of acceptance.

Further information about the selection process can be found in the Call text and the Guide for Applicants, below.

Indicative Timetable

Publication of call 3 May 2011
Deadline for submission of proposals (FIRST STEP) 28 June 2011
Pre-selection of candidates Early October 2011
Submission of project proposals by pre-selected candidates (SECOND STEP) 31 October 2011
Evaluation of projects and selection of candidates November 2011
Notification to candidates December 2011
Start date of fellowships January- March 2012

More detailed information can be found in the Guide For Applicants.

CNIC-IFF is supported by CNIC and the European Commission under the FP7 Marie Curie Actions- PEOPLE- COFUND Programme.