Internal Fellowship Programme (IFP)

 

In  order to fully achieve the integration effort, the MUSCLE Network of Excellence is to manage, according to the Description of Work (DoW), an Internal Fellowship Programme (IFP).

Inspired by Marie Curie Actions and the ERCIM Fellowship Programme, the following document outlines the overall objectives of the IFP and provides a detailed overview of the organisation and management of this activity.

 

Objectives

 

Hosted by two research facilities for two distinct 9 month periods, young researchers will be brought to the MUSCLE Internal Fellowship Programme to closely interact with major actors and leading scientific communities. The Fellows will participate in regular in-house discussions and seminars and contribute to the MUSCLE effort to integrate scientific activities disseminated across Europe.

 

The IFP is intended for postgraduate Fellows who want to work in advanced research groups dedicated to MUSCLE related technologies. Accepted Fellows must agree to the research topic proposed by the two hosting institutions.

 

Beyond training activities, the IFP will promote career development, ideally within the network to preserve excellence in the research environment.

 

 

General principles

 

1.      The fellowship period of 18 months is to be spent in two distinct European research institutes with a joint research agenda. The two institutes will have to negotiate to reach agreement on the joint research agenda. This research proposal will be submitted to the Steering Committee for evaluation. It must clearly outline the research topic and the links to the MUSCLE Description of Work.

2.      The MUSCLE IFP is meant to stimulate genuine mobility and integration. For that reason, a  MUSCLE institute is not allowed to host a candidate of the same nationality, unless the candidate has been conducting research outside of the country for at least two years prior to the start of the fellowship period. By the same token, a MUSCLE institute is not allowed to host a Fellow who was previously affiliated to this same institute, unless there is a gap of at least one year between the time of last affiliation and the start of the fellowship.  Finally, a Fellow cannot spend the entire 18 month period at institutes in the same country.

3.      Fellowships will be open to all nationalities.

4.      The application deadlines will be set by the Steering Committee.

5.      MUSCLE members institutes will be allowed to host a maximum of two Fellows throughout the entire duration of the project.

6.      Particular care will be paid to ensure that all candidates get equal opportunities and all partners are well aware of the necessity to promote the gender issues during the recruitment procedure.

7.      Throughout and on completion of the fellowship programme, the network will provide support and guidance to the Fellow in his/her effort to obtain a position in related research activities.

 

Operations

 

1.      Steering Committee provides MUSCLE member institutes with a template form and will publish a list of criteria for evaluation.

2.      Member institutes return expressions of interest (in the form of a joint research agenda) to the Steering Committee.

3.      Evaluation process under the responsibility of the Steering Committee.

4.      Fellowship positions are advertised inside and outside the network.

5.      Applications from prospective students are collected by MUSCLE Central Office and circulated among the awarded institutions.

6.      Awarded institutions organise the selection of the Fellows.

7.      Successful candidates are selected and research work will start then.

8.      Internal Fellowship Programme managed by MUSCLE Central Office: contract, salary, social security, etc.

 

Financial regulations

 

The Fellow will receive a fixed stipend per month.  Each and every Fellow, regardless of the location of the hosting institute, will receive 29 660 Euro net per year, or approximately 2 470 Euro net per month.

 

The Fellow’s social security will be paid by the MUSCLE network and managed by an external non-profit organisation in France, EGIDE (http://www.egide.asso.fr/index.uk.html).  The stipend figures shown above reflect the deduction of these costs corresponding to approximately 170 Euro per month.

 

Time lines for the first call

-  3rd June                     Launching of the internal call

-  1st July                       Deadline for submission by MUSCLE member institutes

-  1st August                  Announcement of the results by the Steering Committee

-  1st August                  Call for candidates posted on the web site

-  1st October                Closing date for candidates to apply; Negotiation between the receiving         institutes and the selected Fellows begins

-  1st November            End of negotiation period

-  1st March at latest     Fellowship periods begin

 


Application form for the MUSCLE Internal Fellowship Programme (IFP)

 

Important notice:  Only one member institute is to submit an application on behalf of the two partnering institutes.

 

Closing date : 1st July 2004

Application to be completed at :

The total application size must not exceed 5 A4 pages.

 

1.      Name of the hosting institutes

1st institute

      Name and address:

      Scientific to host the Fellow:

      E-mail:                                                Phone number:

2nd institute

      Name and address:

      Scientific to host the Fellow:

      E-mail:                                               Phone number:

 

2.      Specific links with the MUSCLE Description of Work

 

3.      Added value for the MUSCLE Network of Excellence

 

4.      If you have a candidate to propose for the IFP, please provide his/her name, nationality, current affiliation and attach a copy of his/her Curriculum Vitae (Please note:  In the case where two applications are of equal merit, preference may be given to an application which has already identified a suitable research fellow.)

 

5.      Description of the proposed joint programme of activities