Marie Curie Post-doctoral Research Fellowships (RESPIRE 2)

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no PCOFUNDGA-2012-600368

The ERS is pleased to present the ERS/EU RESPIRE 2 Post-doctoral Research Fellowships Programme co-funded by the European Union (EU) under the PEOPLE Marie Curie Actions COFUND programme of the EU’s Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). Grant number: RESPIRE 2, PCOFUNDGA-2012-600368, REspiratory Science Promoted by International Research Exchanges 2.

In 2012 the ERS applied for the EU COFUND programme (Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes) which provides funding for research training and career development within existing or new fellowship programmes. Our RESPIRE 2 post-doctoral fellowships programme was selected for funding by the European Commission after a competitive evaluation process with the aim to boost the applicants’ careers and to enhance scientific networks in Europe in the field of respiratory research.

Summary

ERS/EU RESPIRE2 post-doctoral Marie Curie Fellowships offer opportunities in the broad field of respiratory science, co-funded by the European Union. The programme is aimed at experienced researchers from any discipline and will help fellows to become the future leaders in respiratory research.

RESPIRE2 builds and expands on the previous EU co-funded programme, RESPIRE1 and its evaluation.

Aims and Target

RESPIRE 2 Fellowships are established to enable promising researchers from any field to carry out advanced research projects (24 months) of scientific excellence in the area of respiratory medicine and science. The Fellowships are open to all nationalities but need to be undertaken in a European country other than the candidate’s own, within a certified RESPIRE 2 Host Centre. The RESPIRE 2 Programme targets outstanding and experienced investigators, clinicians & allied respiratory professionals (with a PhD or at least 4 years full-time research experience). Applicants are also required to have at least 1 first author publication in an international peer-reviewed journal at the time of application.

Benefits

supports the most talented scientists to strengthen the respiratory specialty
increases transnational mobility by enabling access to some of Europe’s top centres
increases career development and networking opportunities
offers attractive post-doctoral funding (€64,600 per fellow-year) and excellent working conditions

Timeframe (3 rounds)

1st round extended deadline: 31 January 2014 (CLOSED) – list of selected fellows
2nd round: 31 October 2014 – (CLOSED) – list of selected fellows
3rd and final round: now open

Who can apply (MCF RESPIRE 2)?

Open to experienced researchers from any discipline, even those not traditionally associated with respiratory research (immunology, modelling and systems biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biophysics, mathematics, etc.), being ERS members or not, to carry out a project in the broad field of respiratory science.
At a minimum, candidates must be PhD degree holders or postgraduates with the equivalent of 4 years full-time research experience.
Candidates must have at least one first-author publication in an international peer-reviewed journal.
There is no upper age-limit criterion of eligibility, nor will the programme discriminate candidates who experienced a career break.
Open to candidates of all nationalities, whether based in Europe or not.
Candidates should carry out a 2-year research project in an eligible RESPIRE 2 Host Unit located in Europe in another country than one’s own (transnational mobility across borders is required) offering them new research prospective to which they did not have access before.
ERS Fellows who already benefited under the previous RESPIRE 1 will not be eligible, as RESPIRE 2 aims to create new opportunities reaching out to researchers who did not yet have an opportunity to benefit from an ERS/Marie Curie post-doc fellowship.

Further Information

ERS RESPIRE 2 Fellowships are granted to perform advanced research of scientific excellence in the broad respiratory specialty. They are intended to support clinical research, translational research and basic science.
When applying the candidate’s application must already involve an agreement with the host centre.
Distinguished pre-selected respiratory centres in Europe are exclusively eligible to host the post-doctoral fellows. These centres have committed to provide excellent working conditions and support to the fellows during their fellowship, such as contribution to research costs (€20,000 per fellow-year), mentoring, career support and development, social security coverage, an employment contract, etc.
Candidates can look for a research group and apply directly via the respiratory host centres’ web registry to check the host centres’ recruitment interest and submit an application to ERS for a RESPIRE 2 fellowship together with the relevant host unit/supervisor.
Duration is 24 months exactly (may not be reduced nor split).
RESPIRE 2 aims to develop the “future leaders in respiratory research”. It aims to attract experienced researchers from any discipline that are seeking to develop and strengthen their career.
The proposed research should be of scientific significance and have high impact to the broad domain of respiratory science, while serving the goal of promoting the ERS Roadmap and efforts on chronic disease across all disciplines.
Compliance with ethical provisions within the submitted application files will be required, as well as the outline of a career development plan.
Fellowships must commence after funding decision dates as there is no retroactive funding.
Candidates can expect a funding decision within 5 months of the application submission deadline.
It will not be possible for fellowship recipients to combine a RESPIRE 2 COFUND Fellowship co-financed by the European Union with other Marie Curie Actions Grants or any other double-funding concurrently towards the fellow. An individual researcher cannot benefit, at the same time, from more than one Marie Curie Action nor from any other concurrently running double-funding.

For further information the timeline and application process, please click here.

Deadline: 31 July 2015

Application guidelines 2015 (3rd round)

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