MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

Types of postdoctoral fellowships

European Postdoctoral Fellowships (EPF) are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe.

Duration: 12-24 months.

Global Postdoctoral Fellowships (GPF) are open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in R&I projects with organisations outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Duration: 24-36 months (12-24 months outgoing phase in a non-associated Third Country & 12 months mandatory return phase to a host organisation in Europe).

Additional funding opportunity

ERA Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who submit EPF proposal to the 2023 MSCA PF call with the host institution in a Widening Country*, one of which is Lithuania. The application to the MSCA PF call will be automatically resubmitted to ERA fellowships call in case the proposal fails to reach an adequate place in the ranking to be funded.

Worldwide secondments and placements in the non-academic sector

Researchers may include a secondment, within the overall duration of their fellowship in any country worldwide for 1/3 of the standard fellowship duration in the case of EPF and for 1/3 of the outgoing phase in the case of GPF.

At the end of the project both EPF and GPF can be extended by an additional period of up to 6 months to support researchers seeking a placement to work on R&I projects in an organisation from the non-academic sector established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Eligible applicants

• Mobility rule: fellows must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for EPF), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for GPF) for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline.
• Excellent researchers of any nationality. However, researchers applying for GPF must be nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
• Supported fellows must be in possession of PhD at the call deadline (applicants who have successfully and unconditionally (no further requirements/corrections that need to be addressed) defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible to apply).
• Up to 8 years full-time experience in research from the date of award of the doctoral degree at the call deadline (exceptions: maternity/paternity leave, career breaks, compulsory national service, long-term sick leave, work outside research, research outside Europe for reintegrating researchers).
• All domains of research and technological development are eligible for funding.
• Fellows in the research areas covered by the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2021-2025 must be nationals or long-term residents of an EU Member State or Euratom Associated Country
• Although not a formal eligibility requirement, but strong track record of the candidate significantly increases chances of being funded. Please also keep in mind, that you will not be able to resubmit your proposal involving the same recruiting organisation (and for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships also the associated partner hosting the outgoing phase) for the next MSCA PF call, if you receive a score of less than 70%.

Applicable unit contributions

MSCA PF provides an attractive allowance to cover your living, family, research, travel costs and secures funds to cover indirect costs of the host organisation.

Postdoctoral researcher will be employed at VU under a full-time employment contract.

The above rates apply to postdoctoral researchers working on their project full-time, but they also may, in agreement with the supervisor and beneficiary and with prior approval by the granting authority, implement the action on a part-time basis.

VU as your host institution

Founded in 1579 VU is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Eastern and Central Europe and the largest university in Lithuania involved in multidisciplinary academic activity. It tops the ranking as the number one university in Lithuania and leads the country in education, a broad spectrum of fundamental and applied research, training and retraining programs, and consultancy services and provides research and development services to a wide range of businesses. VU offers dynamic research and training environment and is well integrated into numerous academic, business, social and other networks and associations.

VU is a member of the Arqus European University Alliance which brings together nine longstanding comprehensive research universities with deep regional engagement – the universities of Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon 1, Maynooth, Padova, Wroclaw, Minho and Vilnius. Among other priorities Arqus aims to increase joint research capacity of the partner universities by enhancing actual research collaboration within the Alliance and with European and global partners, sharing best practices and resources, fostering joint doctoral and post-doctoral initiatives as the basis for researcher career development, offering training and thus making Arqus an attractive space for talent from around the world.

VU provides opportunities for doctoral graduates from other institutions to engage in the university-based research, to take advantage of research infrastructure at the university and to acquire new research skills and scientific knowledge under the direction of an experienced supervisor.

Technologies and inventions developed at VU.

Eligibility check. Make sure that you are eligible to apply for MSCA PF. Please refer to the Guidelines on the Calculation of 8-years Research Experience in MSCA PF and use the MSCA-PF Self-assessment Tool for the Calculation of the 8-years Research Experience (self-assessment tool for the 2024 call will be available later this year). VU Research projects office (VU RPO) can assist you with verifying your eligibility for the programme.

Finding a supervisor. Find yourself a suitable supervisor or a potential host faculty via the websites of VU’s academic units, Research Teams search or check out VU researchers’ hosting offers on EURAXESS (expected to be announced in February-March).VU RPO also can help you find a supervisor at VU – contact us at .

Endorsement of the candidate. Please note that you need to receive supervisor’s endorsement letter signed by her/him and the head of the host department and send it to VU RPO (). After the supervisor agrees to endorse you as a candidate, you can start preparation of MSCA PF project proposal. 

Getting acquainted with the funding scheme. Read the call documents and guidance material thoroughly. Make sure that you fully understand the aims, rules and requirements of the programme. If you have questions, reach out to VU RPO.

Proposal writing. From VU RPO you will receive guidelines on how to register on the EC Funding & Tenders Portal and how to initiate your MSCA PF application with VU. You will download proposal templates from the Proposal Submission System (standard application form, not for completion) and prepare your project with the support from your supervisor and VU RPO.

Proposal review. VU RPO will check your proposal Part A and you will have an opportunity to send us your draft proposal Parts B1 and B2 for review. We will provide feedback only on completed or nearly finished version of the proposal. Send your draft proposal by August 11, 2024 and we will work together to improve it. Time slots are limited, so we strongly encourage you to contact VU RPO as early as possible.

Proposal submission. Submit your proposal until September 11, 2024. Although, we strongly recommend to do this at least 48 hours before the call deadline, in order to check for possible technical issues that may block proposal submission and to avoid system congestion.

Support services at VU

VU Research Projects Office () in collaboration with Lithuanian National Contact Point (NCP) is ready to support you by providing guidance and consultations on preparing and submitting your MSCA PF application. Contact us in case you have rising questions.

Support offered:

• Assistance with eligibility check
• Help in finding a supervisor at VU
• Support during the preparation and submission of the MSCA PF proposal
• Individual consultations and help in finding answers to your questions
• Proposal review
• Providing guidance material with tips for proposal writing and information about VU, including on its training, support services and hosting arrangements offered
• MSCA PF Webinar, dedicated to acquainting with the rules of participation in the program, the content of the application, the experiences of successful VU MSCA IF/PF applicants.

MSCA PF Webinar 2025

All the applicants will also have an opportunity to participate in VU MSCA PF Webinar. The aim of the event is to present requirements and share recommendations for the content of MSCA PF applications, as well as to provide an opportunity to learn from the successful applicant, and later apply this knowledge in preparing your own competitive MSCA PF proposals.

The exact timing of the webinar will be announced in spring 2025. For more information, please contact VU Research Projects Office ().

Important Documents and Useful Links

MSCA Work programme 2023-2025

MSCA PF Guide for Applicants 2024

HE Programme Guide

Standard MSCA PF Application Form

MSCA Specific Evaluation Forms Used by the Expert Evaluators

Guidelines on the Calculation of 8-years Research Experience in MSCA PF

MSCA PF Self-assessment Tool for the Calculation of the 8-years Research Experience 2024 

Specific Keywords (in the proposal template you will be asked to select specific keywords, that will be used to choose appropriate expert evaluators)

MSCA Green Charter

MSCA Green Charter Guidance Material (compilation of guidance documents and best practice examples)

MSCA Guidelines on Supervision

MSCA PF 2023 call cut-off scores for funding, available in the Call updates section

Contacts

VU Research Projects Office: