This program is designed exclusively for postdoctoral fellows (PF) and is open to researchers of any nationality. The call, which offers opportunities for 12 PFs, will be managed by YTU in Istanbul and DEU in Izmir. Candidates may apply to either institution with a proposal of their choice and can select a supervisor who best suits their individual needs. In addition to a primary supervisor, a secondary supervisor from an external institution or an industry partner may be designated by the ECOSPHERE Program. It should be noted that researchers who are permanently employed by the host organization (as of the application deadline, June 30, 2024) are not eligible for COFUND funding. All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for the ECO-SPHERE Program.
All proposals must adhere to the templates provided on the ECO-SPHERE website. Applications submitted in other formats or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Application Requirements:
The process must be carried out only via the online portal, and candidates must first register and create a username and password. There are several mandatory application documents that candidates must provide as part of their application:
- A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) that includes an overview of the research background and expertise, relevant skills and techniques, reason for applying, and the expected impact on career development. It should briefly mention any relevant career breaks, if applicable.
- A copy of the PhD diploma and transcript of records (If the original documents are not in English, each document must be accompanied by an official certified English translation).
- A CV in the Europass template (max. 5 pages) (it should also indicate any periods of inactivity due to medical reasons, maternity/paternity leave, elder care, or professional preparation/experience in other fields).
- Two letters of reference.
- A research proposal (max. 10 pages) that includes objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, exploitation plans in a provided template.
- A list of publications and academic patents (if any).
- Softcopy (in PDF format) of 1 or 2 selected publications relevant to the call.
- A signed support letter from the proposed academic supervisor.
- Ethical self-assessment.
- General data protection consent form signed by the candidate.
!!! Please find more information about these criteria at https://ecosphere-msca.org.tr !!!
The ECO-SPHERE Program will adhere to ethical principles (including the highest standards of research integrity) and applicable international, EU, and Turkish legislation. ECO-SPHERE will also fully comply with the Horizon Europe ethics policy, including those reflected in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights and its additional protocols.
After completing the eligibility checks, the merit-based evaluation will begin. Each eligible proposal will be evaluated by international experts according to the candidate’s project/research area. Each application will be reviewed by three external reviewers for scientific evaluation. Experts will score the application according to the evaluation criteria specified in the expert guide. The maximum score that can be awarded at this stage is 80 points, calculated as the sum of the individual scores. Subsequently, applicants will be interviewed. Interviews will be conducted via video/web conference and will be held in English. A maximum of 20 points will be awarded for the interview.
Important: The candidate is responsible for arranging the necessary web/video conference facilities to participate in the remote interview session.
The selection of fellows will be based on an open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and fair evaluation and selection procedure, based on international assessment. Different criteria will apply for the evaluation and selection of candidates in ECO-SPHERE. These criteria will ensure an objective and consistent selection procedure, in accordance with the principles and requirements of the Code of Conduct.