Call for Proposals: BIOPOLIS 2024 – European Teaming Project
This call for proposals is part of a European project funded by the H2020 Teaming program (“Biopolis”). The Biopolis project1 aims to support the development in Portugal of a center of excellence in research, development, and innovation in the fields of biodiversity, agro-biodiversity, and ecosystem services. This center will be based on an existing laboratory, CIBIO2. The University of Montpellier (UM and its affiliated institutions) is a partner in this capacity-building project. The project funds mobility initiatives and events contributing to the center’s development, but also—and primarily—human resources, including young researchers, who are the focus of this call for applications.
OBJECTIVES
This call for proposals aims to hire young researchers using funds from the Teaming project managed by UM (i.e., with hiring conducted by UM). It is part of Work Package 5 (WP5) of the Teaming project. We are seeking situations where these young researchers can be trained in Montpellier (supervised by one or more researchers from Montpellier), as part of projects co-developed with one or more researchers from CIBIO (co-supervision). These young researchers will thus contribute to the transfer of knowledge from the University of Montpellier to CIBIO, and to the development of the project at CIBIO (which could ideally lead to future recruitment at CIBIO).
This third call for proposals offers the opportunity to fund contracts of up to 10 years for young researchers. To date, 5 PhDs and 5 contracts for young researchers have already been funded under the first and second calls for proposals. Biopolis Montpellier funding will also cover the travel expenses of the young researchers, their supervisors, and their Montpellier-based collaborators from France to Portugal. Travel expenses for partners from Portugal to France will be covered by Portuguese funding and are not included in this call for proposals. A limited budget will also be allocated to each researcher to cover research expenses and personal computer equipment.
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
The 11 joint research units (UMRs) involved in Biopolis are eligible: AGAP, AMAP, CEFE, CEEM, CBGP, DIADE, IHPE, IPSIM, ISEM, MIVEGEC, and LEPSE.
The research project must align with one of the following main areas3 of Biopolis (biodiversity, agrobiodiversity, and ecosystem services). All scientific disciplines are welcome; however, given equal quality, preference will be given to projects corresponding to areas 2 and 3 (agrobiodiversity and ecosystem services).
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Projects from each unit must be submitted exclusively by the Unit Directors (UD). Applications must be submitted in PDF format using the downloadable template and sent via email.
AMOUNT AVAILABLE
This call will provide funding for the salaries of early-career researchers for a maximum period of 10 years. Contracts may vary in length (12, 18, or 24 months), but the total duration will not exceed 10 years. Each recipient will receive a budget allocation for research and another for travel to the Portuguese laboratory (see eligible expenses below).
SCHEDULE
- Official opening: April 19 , 2024
- Submission of proposals by Unit Directors: by June 19, 2024
- Final decisions: mid-July 2024
- Recruitment process begins: September 2024
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Salary for a young researcher (calculated according to the UM pay scale, currently between €51,000 and €55,000 per year, depending on the level of appointment and experience) for a maximum period of 24 months; a budget for research expenses specifically justified by the project, which may include consumables, services, the purchase of a personal computer, and travel expenses other than to the Portuguese laboratory, for a maximum amount of €10,000 per year; a budget that may be used for travel expenses to the Portuguese laboratory (short- and long-term stays) for the recruits and their supervisors in Montpellier, as well as for events organized in Montpellier as part of the project, expressly justified and up to a maximum of €9,000 per year.
These two funds may be allocated over the course of the project as needed.
SELECTION PROCEDURES
Resources will be allocated based on the following criteria:
- Alignment of the project with the main scientific objectives of the Teaming project, particularly Areas 2 and 34
- Effectiveness of collaboration
- Contribution of the UM partner to the project’s development at CIBIO (scientific or technical expertise, financial or material resources, etc.)
- Prospects for the project's development at CIBIO, within this collaboration and/or more broadly
- Clarity and relevance of objectives and expectations
- Feasibility (logistical and financial) of the recruit's project
An evaluation committee will review the eligible applications and rank them for final selection.