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Sie sind hier: FRIAS Förderprogramme Marie S. Curie FRIAS … FAQ

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Marie Skłodowska-Curie FRIAS COFUND Fellowship Programme


  1. Who may apply?
  2. Application deadline for the Marie S. Curie FCFP?
  3. How do I apply?
  4. What if there are difficulties in accessing the online application site?
  5. How are the applications evaluated?
  6. When will a decision be made?
  7. Are there specific research priorities?
  8. Will working space be provided?
  9. Am I eligible to submit an application for a Marie S. Curie FCFP Junior fellowship before submitting the PhD thesis or is thesis submission a prerequisite?
  10. Can I apply for two Marie Curie Action fellowships at the same time?
  11. Do I need to find an academic host at the University of Freiburg?
  12. Do fellowships need to start September 1, 2022?
  13. What does the „mobility rule“ mean?
  14. Is the research cost contribution allocated per month or per fellowship?
  15. Are language classes offered to the FRIAS fellows at the university?
  16. What does “contact details of two referees” mean?
  17. Are there any rules for the format of the project proposal?
  18. Is there support for fellows with families?

 


 

1. Who may apply?

Marie S. Curie FCFP fellowships are available to researchers regardless of their nationality and field of research. However, according to the EU mobility rule, applicants may not have (a) have resided or (b) have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in Germany for more than a total of 12 months during the 3-year period prior to the application deadline. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.

All applicants are expected to provide proof of their particular academic achievements for the fellowship level sought (Senior or Junior).

There are two fellowship types:

a) External Senior Fellowship (ESF)

The applicant must hold a PhD plus a minimum of six years postdoctoral research experience or a tenured professorship or equivalent permanent position.

b) Junior Fellowship (JF)

Applications for Junior Fellowships are intended as temporary positions for young researchers. The applicant must hold a PhD plus one to six years post-doctoral experience at the time of the application deadline (time off for family or medical reasons or non-academic professional activities is not counted towards these six years, the effective elapsed time is calculated in accordance with the ERC Standard Eligibility Conditions).

For each of the funding measures (ESF, JF) there is a separate application form including information regarding necessary enclosures.

 

2. Application deadline for the Marie S. Curie FCFP?

The completed FCFP application form together with the required documents has to be uploaded via the application portal for External Senior Fellowships (https://www.frias.uni-freiburg.de/fcfp-senior-fellowships-202122/) or Junior Fellowships (https://www.frias.uni-freiburg.de/fcfp-junior-fellowships-202122/) and submitted by August 15, 2022, 24.00 h CET.

 

3. How do I apply?

Candidates apply exclusively through the online application portal (senior scheme, junior scheme)

Applicants complete and submit the application form. After sending the application form you need to register. After registration you can edit the application form, upload the required annexes as detailed below and complete the ethical issues questionnaire. All required documents should be in pdf format. After final submission of the documents the applicants will receive an acknowledgement of receipt. To view the application data and documents the applicants log in their application portal account.

The following materials (in English) are required to submit the application:

Formatting:   font Arial, 11 pt, line spacing 1.5, all margins 2.5 cm.

Page limits may not be exceeded.

All required documents should be in pdf format.

1. Cover page (max. 1 page).

  1. Title, name (last, first), e-mail address, link to webpage (optional)
  2. Date of doctorate (PhD defense)
  3. Current institution (Name of institution/city/country)
  4. Research field
  5. Project title
  6. Envisaged period of research stay at FRIAS
  7. The two most important reasons for choosing FRIAS at the University of Freiburg as a host for the research project.
  8. Established contacts at Freiburg University (name, department; where applicable: host laboratory).

 

2. Project proposal (max. 6 pages). 

The compulsory structure of the project proposal is as follows:

  1. Research field, title and short abstract of the research project.
  2. Aims, theoretical framework and methodology of the project.
  3. Work plan and feasibility (time schedule and projected costs).
  4. Innovative potential, originality and relevance of the project.
  5. Added value of conducting research at FRIAS and the University of Freiburg (both for the applicant and the local research community).
  6. Issues concerning research ethics.
  7. Bibliographical references.

In exceptional cases and only after consultation the project proposal can be formulated in German or French.

3. CV in tabular form (max. 2 pages), incl. contact details of two referees (only in the junior scheme). For the compulsory structure of the CV please use the CV template you can download in the applicant’s account.

4. Publication list (in the senior scheme: especially of the last ten years) highlighting the most important publications and the most important project-specific publications (max. 2 pages).

5. Completed ethical issues table (questionnaire in the applicant’s account, mandatory for all disciplines).

6. If applicable - experimental scientists are required to identify a host laboratory in Freiburg where their research project can be carried out and submit a letter of support with their application.

We do not accept applications submitted by email or surface mail.

 

4. What if there are difficulties in accessing the online application site?

If for reasons of any disabilities you encounter difficulties in submitting your online application, please contact the Institute by email (fcfp-fellowships@frias.uni-freiburg.de) or phone (+49 761 203 97351).

In case of technical problems, please contact the institute. If there are any technical difficulties in the last 3 days before the application deadline, the application process will be extended by 48 hours.

 

5. How are the applications evaluated?

The selection of fellows under the Marie S. Curie FCFP is highly competitive and strictly merit-based. The selection process is organized as a multi-stage procedure:

The FCFP selection process involves three steps:

  1. Eligibility check
  2. Peer review by external experts
  3. Final selection by the external FRIAS Scientific Advisory Board

 

6. When will a decision be made?

An announcement of the final decision made on the applications in the current selection round is expected by April 2023.

 

7. Are there specific research priorities?

No. Application is open to proposals from all disciplines that can be supported at the University of Freiburg.  Not only disciplinary but interdisciplinary projects are possible. Projects of an open nature (e.g. preliminary projects which are intended to lead to larger third-party funding) as well as those of a concluding nature (e.g. leave of absence for the publication of research results gathered earlier) can be supported within this funding period.

As an attractive, but strictly non-obligatory option, future fellows may consider the opportunity of being connected with the 12-months FRIAS research focus or with larger research clusters and centers at the university, where the University of Freiburg is particularly competitive on an international scale.

For a comprehensive list of excellence clusters, priority programs, research centers, collaborative research centers (SFBs), EU-projects, graduate schools and research training groups as well for further information on the 11 faculties and their research profile please consult: https://uni-freiburg.de/research/research-profile.

An interest to be connected with one of the research areas of particular strengths can be indicated as part of the application.

 

8. Will working space be provided?

Yes. FRIAS will provide fully furnished offices for double occupancy, when possible from time to time single occupancy. Experimental scientists are required to identify a host laboratory in Freiburg where their research project can be carried out prior to submission of the application.

 

9. Am I eligible to submit an application for a Marie S. Curie FCFP Junior fellowship before submitting the PhD thesis or is thesis submission a prerequisite?

The PhD is a prerequisite. To be eligible for a Marie S. Curie FCFP Junior fellowship the applicant must hold a PhD plus one to six years postdoctoral research experience at the time of the application deadline (Time off for family or medical reasons or non-academic professional activities is not counted towards these six years, the effective elapsed time is calculated in accordance with the ERC Standard Eligibility Conditions).

 

10. Can I apply for two Marie Curie Action fellowships at the same time?

An applicant may apply for more than one MC fellowship programme at the same time. But it is very important to be aware that in the end he/she cannot benefit, at the same time, from more than one EU funding action.

 

11. Do I need to find an academic host at the University of Freiburg?

The applicant does not need an academic host at the University of Freiburg. Nevertheless, experimental scientists are required to identify a host laboratory in Freiburg (incl. letter of support) where their research project can be carried out prior to submission of the application.

A Marie S. Curie FCFP fellowship allows the researcher to conduct his/her own research project. The determining selection criteria are the academic excellence of both the applicant and of the project proposal. Personal qualifications with regard to experience and capability to conduct the research project are also taken into account during the evaluation of the applications.

 

12. Do fellowships need to start September 1, 2023?

Fellowships should be conducted within the period between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024.

 

13. What does the „mobility rule“ mean?

According to the EU mobility rule, researchers from all countries are eligible for the Marie S. Curie FCFP; however, applicants may not have resided or have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately preceding the call deadline. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.

Commuting from Germany to a place of employment abroad on a regular basis is thus not sufficient.

Main activity outside Germany is a crucial prerequisite. This regularly refers to a formal contract held with a research institution in a country other than Germany. Applicants need to provide documents upon request.

 

14. Is the research cost contribution allocated per month or per fellowship?

The mentioned research cost contribution is allocated per month.

 

15. Are language classes offered to the FRIAS fellows at the university?

FRIAS recommends that fellows learn German and supports them (as well as their partners) by personal language coaches or training at the university’s Language Teaching Centre (www.sli.uni-freiburg.de).

 

16. What does “contact details of two referees” mean?

In this context "referees" are understood as people who know the applicant (Junior scheme) and his/her scientific work, e.g. present/former supervisors/group leaders/employers, and who could be contacted for a recommendation.

 

17. Are there any rules for the format of the project proposal?

The formatting is font Arial, 11 pt, line spacing 1.5, all margins 2.5 cm. Page limits may not be exceeded.

 

18.  Is there support for fellows with families?

Yes, there is. Our FRIAS fellow support assists families in finding suitable accommodation in the Freiburg area considering their particular needs regarding price, size and location. Together with the University of Freiburg’s Family Service we provide information on the German system of child care and schools. Fellows are supported in finding appropriate child care facilities and in the process of enrolling their children at day-care centres, kindergarten and schools. Every effort is made to provide individually adapted solutions when general options are not suitable. Fellows accompanied by at least one child receive an additional monthly family allowance of 250 €. Fellows with children receive additional financial support through state child benefits (Kindergeld).

Do you have further questions? 

Please feel free to contact us

 

About the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Visit the website of the European Commission

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