The rePLANT (Reconstruction Biology in Plant Sciences) Doctoral Training Programme is an ambitious research and training initiative coordinated by the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomic12/s (CRAG; Barcelona, Spain) together with the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ; Cologne, Germany) and the John Innes Centre (JIC; Norwich, UK). CRAG and MPIPZ participate as recruiting institutions and JIC as implementing partner.
The rePLANT Programme offers 14 predoctoral grants, 7 at CRAG and 7 at MPIPZ. This Programme offers the possibility for rePLANT researchers to perform highly innovative and multidisciplinary research projects using state-of-the-art facilities within a scientifically-oriented nurturing environment.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND grant agreement No 101081581) and it will be co-funded by the grant CEX2019-000902-S funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
rePLANT is designed to conduct, and train in, interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaborative research projects between the three participating institutions, with the additional collaboration and support of associated partner organisations (private companies, and research centres and academic institutions), both national and international.
What the programme offers:
The MSCA-COFUND project rePLANT ((Reconstruction Biology in Plant Sciences) Doctoral Training Programme) is an international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral programme that is advertising fourteen (14) four-year doctoral fellowships. Recruiting entities are CRAG (7 fellowships) and MPIPZ (7 fellowships). This programme is focused on:
Training in advanced research topics and technologies and training in non-research oriented transferable and transversal skills. rePLANT researchers will enjoy a common training programme in which all rePLANT researchers will have the opportunity to interact with researchers of the three institutions from inside and outside rePLANT.
Collaborative research projects and secondments. This programme will be implemented by collaborative research projects led by researchers at CRAG and MPIPZ in close collaboration with JIC´s researchers. The alignment, complementarity, and synergy of the research conducted at CRAG, JIC and MPIPZ is evidenced by the organisation of their activities into four similar Scientific Programmes (CRAG), Research Areas (JIC) or Scientific Departments (MPIPZ). rePLANT fellows will be strongly encouraged to have secondments abroad. Secondments abroad are considered an essential step for fellows to improve the quality of their training. In addition, the collaboration with Associated Partners and mentors will help them to build a strong international network.
International networking in both the academic and the industrial sectors. rePLANT has 27 Associated Partners interested in participating in the Programme through the collaboration in research projects, hosting of researchers in secondments, mentoring or training.
Eligibility criteria and application requirements:
Researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the call. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will NOT be considered eligible. Researchers must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in one of the Universities participating in the programme at the time of signing the contract.
Candidates must hold a degree that allows admission to the official doctoral programme at the University linked to the institution of their interest at the time to join the host institution (it is not requested the candidate to hold the degree when the candidate applies). For instance, to join CRAG, candidates must hold a degree with a minimum of 300 ECTS credits in university studies of which at least 60 must be at Master level. Similarly, to join the MPIPZ, candidates must hold a degree equivalent to a German Master, i.e. a degree with at least 4 years of studies in a related subject, which is not a Bachelor degree.
Applicants must not have resided in, or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.), in the country of the recruiting institution (Spain in case of CRAG applicants or Germany in case of MPIPZ applicants) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the call deadline. Short stays, such as holidays, will not be taken into account. Exceptions to the mobility rule will be considered only in duly justified exceptional cases and upon approval by the REA project officer, for example for researchers undergoing a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention, parental leave or military services.
Researchers from any nationality may apply. If selected, candidates will have to demonstrate an acceptable level of English language before they can be admitted onto the programme.
Gender dimension and other diversity and inclusive aspects
CRAG and MPIPZ are committed to excellence in recruiting according to the principles of equal opportunity. In addition, individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Timeline:
- Publication of the call:13th February, 2023.
- New Application Deadline : 2nd April 2023.
- Evaluation and Selection: 2nd April -May 28th, 2023
- Expected publication of results: end ofMay, 2023
- Fellowships start date: October-November, 2023
Application process
All applications will be submitted through CRAGjobs (CRAG online job application portal): CRAG Jobs
The application must be complete and include all obligatory information and documents. When available in the “Documents and Templates” section on the website of the programme, templates must be used. Applicants will need to provide the following information via CRAGjobs:
1) Statement of research interest (Template available in the website), it should include (3-page limit):
- a motivation letter (1-page limit);
- a short comment of the research project proposed by the Host Group of interest (2-page limit) to be conducted at the contracting institution (CRAG or MPIPZ). Applicants are required to include elements of interdisciplinarity and/or cross-sectoral collaboration in their research proposal that might include the proposal for collaboration or secondment in JIC or/and Associated Partner;
- A short review of one key publication emerging from the host group of their interest (1 page limit);
2) Curriculum Vitae (Template available in the website) including the following information: applicant data and research experience; scientific output; fellowships, grants, awards and honours; dissemination and scientific communication activities;
3) Higher education qualifications (previous Bachelor and official University Master degree or equivalent) in English; In case of not providing Master Degree certification, the candidate must include a declaration of compliance with all requirements to access to the doctoral programme at the time of starting the fellowship.
4) Higher education academic transcripts (transcript of records), ideally in English;
5) Mobility Declaration (Template available in the website); and,
6) Ethics Declaration (Template available in the website)
7) In addition, applicants must ensure the submission of at least two reference letters (template available in the website) from scientists with whom the applicant has studied or worked. Letters should be sent directly by the referees to the specific e-mail address of the rePLANT programme (replant@cragenomica.es), and should also be received by the application deadline.
For more information about the programme and the application process please visit the Programme website: https://recruitment.cragenomica.es/jobs/14-predoctoral-fellowships-on-msca-cofund-project-replant