Momentum for European Research Career at ICIQ

🌍 Mobility rule

Researchers of any nationality are eligible to apply, however applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline

🎓 Doctoral degree

Researchers must be in possession of a doctoral degree at the call deadline.

🏢 Employment status

Researchers should not be permanently employed by ICIQ at the call deadline.

⭐ Experience

Researchers must have between 2 and 10 years of postdoctoral experience at the call deadline.

MERCI is a postdoctoral innovative co-funded programme (Choose Europe) that aims to recruit four highly talented and autonomous postdoctoral researchers who will be integrated within the European R&D&I system, reaching the R3 level during their employment at ICIQ. This level is required for them to be able to become a 'Group Leader' at the centre or at related research centres and universities, with the possibility to keep connected to ICIQ as 'Associated Researcher'.

The programme offers four five-year positions, each mentored by an internationally renowned Group Leader at ICIQ. Each position is divided into two phases (Phase 1: 3 years and Phase 2: 2 years) and includes both an intermediate and a final evaluation by ICIQ's SAB (Scientific Advisory Board).

Postdoctoral candidates will be given freedom to choose their mentor and propose a research project within the three main research areas of the centre, aligned in a complementary way with the group's framework research lines.

By joining ICIQ through MERCI, researchers will follow a clear career development path, including:

• Close mentoring by an internationally renowned Group Leader.

• Progress monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

• Personalised Career Development Plan (CDP) and research career support.

Fellows will also be able to explore interdisciplinary and intersectoral mobility through secondments. ICIQ has active participation in international networks and platforms, as well as working collaborations, and more than 20 research and industry actors have already shown interest in hosting secondments.

💼 Contract

Full-time employment contract of 36 months (Phase 1) and 24 additional months (Phase 2). Fellows will be affiliated to the Spanish Social Security General Regime, which includes standard health and accident insurance, maternity and paternity leaves, pension and unemployment benefits.

💰 Salary

• Phase 1: average gross salary (including living, mobility allowances) of 60,000 €/year, funded by the EU.

• Phase 2: average gross salary (including living, mobility allowances) of 50,000 €/year, funded by ICIQ.

👨👩👧👦 Family allowance

Included, when applicable, €100/month as supplementary remuneration for family support. Any changes in family situation during the project will result in a corresponding salary adjustment from the date of status change.

🧪 Research support

A budget of €400/month for research expenses (consumables, reagents and materials, etc.) and additional support for the salary of a co-supervised PhD student between the fellow and the mentor.

🎁 Welcome stipend

A unique starting allowance of €1,800 to be included in the salary at the beginning to settle down in Tarragona.

🧭 Training and networking

€350/month to cover specific training courses, attendance at conferences worldwide, secondment costs and dissemination costs.