Two possibilities from FORTHEM for Early-Stage researchers

Secondments for Postdoctoral Researchers for research stays in 2024 

The FORTHEM Academy for Early-Stage Researchers aims to boost the career option for postdoctoral fellows by providing funding for Research stays abroad at a non-academic partner in one of the FORTHEM partner countries/regions. 

Boost your career as a postdoctoral researcher and go abroad with a FORTHEM funding to exchange with non-academic partners! 

You are a postdoctoral researcher of a FORTHEM partner university and would like to spend up to three months with a non-academic partner in one of the FORTHEM partner countries? Then apply for the funding of a research stay abroad. The grant allows you to work together with your host on a project idea and to learn new methods that are useful to enhance your international career opportunities. You are curious? Then visit our website and learn more about the secondments and other training opportunities provided by our FORTHEM Academy for Early-Stage Researchers. You would like to apply for a secondment? Then don’t miss the deadline! The call will close on November 30, 2023. 

Don't miss this first call for funding as a part of a series of activities aimed at enabling and supporting all discipline postdoctoral researchers from FORTHEM's partner universities to strengthen their networks with non-academic partners and to launch their own future research projects together with them. 

3 financial aids for secondments/research to non-academic partners in a foreign country linked to a concrete prospective research project in which the host will be involved (e.g., MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship, ERC Starting Grants, any bilateral funding scheme, etc.). 

Secondments must take place in the period 01/03/2024 and 31/12/2024 (for up to 3 months (maximum). Reporting must be done at the latest 60 days after the end of the secondment period. 

Results will be published end of February 2024. FORTHEM can only co-fund the research stay; at the time of turning in their proposal, applicants already need to have at least an informal agreement in place with one non-academic hosting institution. A simple letter of confirmation would be sufficient. If applicants don’t have a partner yet, they may contact the FORTHEM Research Services and Policy office (research-support@forthem-alliance.eu) or the local FORTHEM offices first to get some help with the partner search, or support with contacting FORTHEM associated partners for a cooperation request. 

Secondments in their own home country are in general not eligible unless they would be for example still be eligible to apply for an MSCA together with them (should be carefully explained in the proposal). During their research stay, the postdoctoral researchers will act as ambassadors for FORTHEM, e.g., by giving a lecture/talk at their host institution, a public environment etc. 

Requirements: 

•  PhD obtained no longer than 8 years ago at stage of application  
• Linked to one of the FORTHEM universities (working contract or official stipend/fellowship) 
•  Linked to a concrete prospective research project  
• Secondment must take place in one of the nine FORTHEM countries 

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) will be the management university responsible for payments to the beneficiaries or postdoctoral researchers. Each secondment will be co-funded with a maximum of 3.000 €. On an individual basis it may be decided if the total amount for each secondment will be paid as an extra top-up to the salary, directly to cover the travel and accommodation costs, or as a stipend going directly to the postdoctoral researcher. This depends on the status of the applicant. 

The local FORTHEM Office will be the responsible for helping during the process for applications. If you have questions, please contact Agnese Rusakova (agnese.rusakova@lu.lv). 

Further information: 

For partner search you may also contact: research-support@forthem-alliance.eu  

For any clarification on Alliance level: info@forthem-alliance.eu 

Link: Forthem | FORTHEM Secondments (forthem-alliance.eu) 

Forthem | FORTHEM Academy for Early-Stage Researchers (forthem-alliance.eu) 

The Call is open and the deadline for secondments in 2024 end on November 30, 2023. 

To apply visit: FORTHEM Secondments for Postdoctoral Students 2023/2024 | Forschung und Technologietransfer (uni-mainz.de) 

Workshop on funding opportunities in Poland 

As a part of the FORTHEM Academy for Early Stage Researchers, we would like to invite you to the first online workshop on funding opportunities in Poland. During this workshop, you can learn about the main institutions and how foreign students and researchers in Poland can obtain scholarships or grants for research projects. Workshop will be carried out by the specialists from two leading Research Agencies in Poland: 

Mrs. Marta Pobiega from National Science Centre Poland 
Mr. Piotr Serafin from Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange 

Who can join? 

The workshop is open to students, PhD students, and early stage researchers from the nine FORTHEM partner universities. 

Where? 

Online via MS Teams 

Program (CET) 

11:00-11:30 – Funding possibilities in Poland: main institutions and programmes 
11:30-12:30 – National Science Centre: programs dedicated to foreign researchers and PhD. students 
12:30-13:30 – National Agency for Academic Exchange: programs dedicated to foreign researchers and students 
13:30-14:00 – Discussion 

Registration to the workshop By November 27, 2023 (Register here)