Deadline extended until 17th January!

Recruitment is now open

Apply for one of the 16 positions available
in the Adaptmet network and build your future
as a researcher in metastasis!

Adaptmet is offering generous three-year fellowships starting in the 2025-2026 academic year and funded by the DN– Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions call of the European Commission. We are now looking for 16 highly motivated Doctoral Candidates (DCs) to work towards their PhDs in one of the  research projects on offer.

DCs are the main asset of the Adaptmet network and thus the recruitment strategy is key to attract the most talented international researchers. Adaptmet’s partners’ recruitment policies are aligned with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Six of Adaptmet’s host institutions, including the coordinator (IRB), are holders of the HRS4R award.

The selection process will be coordinated by IRB (holder of HRS4R distinction and currently coordinator of 2 MSCA-COFUND doctoral programmes and 1 MSCA-ITN). Adaptmet will leverage the infrastructure and experience of IRB’s Academic Office in the organisation of international selection processes to coordinate Adaptmet’s centralized recruitment process.

All partners will use the centralised process with the exception of those whose institutional policy requires that their own call be used.

Additional arrangements will be made to ensure the compliance with Adaptmet’s quality standards and the presence of at least two additional Adaptmet supervisors in the interview panels will be required.

All DCs will be recruited with an employment contract. In line with the Charter and Code, host institutions will offer support during relocation, including personalised support to DCs relocating with family to counteract gender-related barriers.

Adaptmet will recruit prospective talented researchers of any nationality, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, or age to undertake a PhD in cancer research. To be eligible for an Adaptmet fellowship, applicants must:

  • Comply with the mobility rule, meaning that they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
  • Be doctoral candidates: at the time of recruitment by the hosting institution, candidates must not be in possession of a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.
  • Fulfil the requirements to be able to enrol in a doctoral programme at the hosting institution/country, and, if applicable, the specific eligibility requirements at the hosting institutions.

Submit a complete application within the submission deadline through the Adaptmet electronic application (1).

(1) Or through the electronic system of the hosting institution.

Please apply through the Adaptmet online application (https://phd2.irbbarcelona.org/) for one to a maximum of three positions and provide the following information (in English)*:

  • Personal information such as your first and last name, gender, nationality, and contact details.
  • Curriculum vitae.
  • Motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) highlighting your research experience and academic achievements and explaining why you are interested in Adaptmet and in a particular research project.
  • A scanned copy of certified academic records. These documents must show the grades attained in exam periods and evidence that the required degree will be obtained by the expected time of recruitment if it has not already been awarded.
  • Any additional files considered relevant to the application.
  • At least two recommendation letters from university lecturers or scientists who are familiar with your academic work and who can judge your potential as a predoctoral researcher. Applicants will be responsible for ensuring that referees submit these letters.
  • A summary of any work experience.

(*) Some specific positions will be coordinated with the regular PhD call of the hosting institutions. For these positions, please apply directly through the link provided by the hosting institution under the specific research project and follow their instructions. These positions are: DC3, DC7, DC14 and DC15.

 

The Adaptmet application and selection process will be organised in the following steps:

  • Eligibility check: the Adaptmet management office will check that each application is complete and that applicants fulfil the eligibility criteria described in the previous section.
  • Remote Evaluation: each eligible application will be assessed independently by the principal investigators of the Adaptmet network. They will select at least three candidates per position to pass through to the following stage. Evaluation criteria will be based in academic record and CV, motivation letter and letters of reference.
  • Interviews: Short-listed candidates will be interviewed by an online panel composed of 3-4 Adaptmet supervisors. In addition, each candidate will also be interviewed separately by each Adaptmet supervisor that they had expressed interest in or by Adaptmet supervisors proposed by the panel. Evaluation criteria will be based in candidate’s potential, motivation and academic background and theoretical fundamentals. .
  • Notification of the selection outcomes: the Adaptmet management office will notify short-listed candidates of the outcome, and those selected will be put in touch with the corresponding HR Department to start the official hiring procedure. Applicants who have not been successful but who have received a positive evaluation will be put on a waiting list to cover possible renunciations and future positions.

The DN Marie Skłodowska-Curie Programme offers highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. Each fellowship includes the following:

All researchers will be recruited under an employment contract that includes social security coverage.

The living allowance indicated above is the total EU contribution to the salary costs of the researcher. The estimated gross salary (result of deducting employer’s social contributions when applicable) is indicated under each position (https://adaptmet.eu/individual-research-projects/). The net salary is obtained after deducting from the gross salary the employee’s contributions and direct taxes (e.g. income tax).

The rate indicated here is for researchers devoting themselves to their project on a full-time basis.

The mobility and family allowances are fixed amounts, regardless of the country of recruitment, and may be taxable depending on the country in which the researcher is recruited.

For more details please see the Horizon Europe MSCA Work Programme 2023-24 version adopted on 6 December 2022 (European Commission Decision C(2022) 7550).

All network institutions are equal opportunity employers and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, nationality or ethnic origin.

Adaptmet is fully committed to equal opportunities and proactive measures have been implemented. To this end, during the application procedure, candidates will be asked to include information on any career breaks, and these will not be penalized during the selection procedure. In addition, when checking compliance with the mobility rule, the refugee procedure will not be taken into account as a period of residence in the country where the candidate is applying. When all scores and evaluation criteria are equal, preference will be given to candidates from under-represented groups, for example women, and candidates with disabilities or those from refugee backgrounds.

The PhD students recruited at the University of Basel and the University of Lausanne may complete their PhD thesis in the framework of the MSCA Doctoral Network project Adaptmet and be fully integrated in the project, but since the PhD student in Switzerland will not be financed by the EU, but by the Swiss government, the PhD student will not be considered an official MSCA PhD fellow by the EU.

Call opening: 15 November 2024

Deadline EXTENDED for applications and also reference letters: 17:00 CET on 17 January 2025. Please note that some positions are subject to the selection process of the hosting institution and have distinct deadlines. Please check the information under each research project.

Remote evaluation: 27 January– 14 February 2025

Interviews: 10-14 March 2025

Notification to candidates:  by mid-April 2025

Start date of the fellowships: August 2025

For enquiries about the application process, please contact the Adaptmet helpdesk.

Application Process

  1. How do I apply for Adaptmet positions?
    For most positions, apply via the centralized recruitment system at this link. For positions DC3, DC7, DC14, and DC15, applications must be made directly to the hosting institutions or supervisors as specified in the project details.
  2. Can I apply for multiple positions?
    Yes, you can apply for up to three positions in a single application. However, ensure your motivation letter covers all selected positions.
  3. Do I need to contact supervisors before applying?
    No, prior contact with supervisors is not required for your application to be considered.

Document Submission

  1. What is the documentation needed?
    Check the “How to apply” section on the Recruitment tab. All documents must be submitted in English to ensure compatibility with the participating universities. During the eligibility check phase, candidates will be contacted to provide any missing information or translations if needed.
  2.  Are there specific guidelines for the motivation letter or recommendation letters?
    There are no specific formatting requirements for the motivation letter. One letter should suffice to cover all positions applied for. Recommendation letters are acceptable even if the referee is retired.
  3.  What should be included in my academic record?
    A scanned copy of certified academic records showing grades and evidence of degree completion (or anticipated completion by the recruitment date) is required.

Selection Process

  1. How are candidates evaluated?
    Applications are evaluated on academic record, CV, motivation letter, and letters of reference. Career breaks or unconventional career paths will not be penalized.
  2. What qualities are valued during interviews?
    No specific qualities or skills are pre-established; each project may value different attributes based on its focus.

Eligibility Rules

  1. What if my Master’s degree is still in progress?
    You may apply if your degree is expected to be completed by the recruitment date. Mention this in your motivation letter for consideration during the evaluation.
  2.  Are English language certifications required?
    No specific language certifications are required. However, all Adaptmet activities, including interviews, are conducted in English.

Miscellaneous

  1. Will there be future recruitment calls?
    No additional calls are planned during the project’s four-year duration. However, host institutions frequently offer other opportunities, so consider checking their respective websites.
  2. Can I modify my application after submission?
    You can request the deletion of your current application to submit a new one.
  3. What happens if my application is incomplete?
    During the eligibility check phase, candidates will be contacted to provide any missing information or translations if needed.
  4. Can I still apply for centralized recruitment if I’m involved in an independent recruitment process?
    Yes, these processes are independent, and you can participate in both.

Contact Information

For further assistance, please visit the recruitment page or contact us through the specified channels.