GREAT-ITN Recruitment
NEWS 20110216: see updated recruitment info on the new GREAT-ITN site at http://www.great-itn.eu/great-itn/great-itn-recruit

These pages provide interim information concerning the GREAT Initial Training Network ESR Recruitment.
Seventeen Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher (ESR) Fellow positions will be available across the GREAT-ITN network commencing from May to Oct 2011 depending at which host institute the ESR post is located.
The positions are for three years and will be available at the following locations, with starting dates largely in Oct 2011, although some positions are available from May 2011 - further details can be found for each below on the linked pages:
  1. Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK (2 positions)
  2. University of Leiden, The Netherlands
  3. University of Lund, Sweden
  4. University of Barcelona, Spain (2 positions)
  5. University of Heidelberg, Germany
  6. MPIA, Heidelberg, Germany
  7. University of Geneva, Switzerland
  8. University of Leuven, Belgium
  9. Peking University, China
  10. INAF (Bologna and Padua), Italy (2 positions)
  11. Adam Mickiewicza University, Poznan, Poland
  12. CAUP, University of Porto, Portugal
  13. CNRS (Bordeaux and Besancon), France (2 positions)
Please check each of the above pages for descriptions of the positions at each institute - and find there the link to the specific contact and application materials for that institute.
Applicants (if eligible, see below), may apply to more than one institute, but please note that these applications must then be made independently to each institute. Each institute operates its own selection procedures.
Each ESR will embark on a PhD programme (typically 3 to 4 years duration depending on the host institute). For those PhD programmes lasting longer than the 3 year duration of the ESR funding, the additional year will be funded through a locally provided scholarship or equivalent. Please refer to the individual host institute details at the links above.
Each ESR will receive a generous salary (at a rate set by the European Commission) to cover their living costs, mobility and travel. Their will be additional funding available for each researcher to participate in network wide training and research events. The ESR positions are through employment contracts and include full social benefits according to the requlations of the host country. A contributions to some family related expemnses and the cost of annual travel back to the home country of the ESR fellow are also included.
Requirements for doctoral study vary depending on the host institutes specific requirements. In general though, applicants should have achieved (or expect to achieve) a Masters degree in Astronomy or Astrophysics or a related subject (e.g. Physics or Mathematics).
Review of applications by the GREAT-ITN network will continue until the positions are filled.

Important Eligibility Information concerning ESRs:

Early-stage researchers are those who are, at the time of selection by the host institution, in the first four years (full time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged. Researchers are normally required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment. One general rule applies to the appointment of researchers in a network:

At the time of selection by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account. As far as international European interest organisations or international organisations are concerned, this rule does not apply to the hosting of eligible researchers, however the appointed researcher must not have spent more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the selection by the host organisation in the same appointing organisation.