BIOPOLIS 2024 Call for Proposals – 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 at an existing laboratory, CIBIO2. The University of Montpellier (UM its affiliated institutions) is a partner in this capacity-building project. The project funds mobility initiatives and events that contribute 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 byUM i.e., with employment throughUM). It is part of Work Package 5 (WP5) of the Teaming project. We are seeking opportunities where these young researchers can receive training in Montpellier (under the supervision of one or more researchers from Montpellier) as part of projects developed in collaboration with one or more researchers from CIBIO (joint supervision). These young researchers will thus contribute to the transfer of knowledge from the University of Montpellier to CIBIO, as well as to the development of the project at CIBIO (which could ideally lead to future employment at CIBIO).
This third call for proposals offers the opportunity to fund contracts of up to 10 years for young researchers. To date, 5 doctoral degrees 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 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 major research 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 (DU). Proposals must be submitted in PDF format using the downloadable template and sent via email.
AVAILABLE AMOUNT
This call for proposals will provide funding for the salaries of young researchers for a maximum period of 10 years. Contracts may vary in duration (12, 18, or 24 months), but the total duration will not exceed 10 years. Each recipient will receive one funding allocation for research and another for travel to the Portuguese laboratory (see eligible expenses below).
CALENDAR
- Official opening: April 19 , 2024
- Submission of proposals by Unit Directors: by June 19, 2024
- Final decisions: mid-July 2024
- Start of the recruitment process: September 2024
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Salary for a young researcher (calculated according to theUM pay scale, currently between €51k and €55k per year, depending on the hiring level 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 those to the Portuguese laboratory, up to a maximum of €10k per year; a budget that may be used to cover travel expenses to the Portuguese laboratory (short- and long-term stays) for the recruits and their supervisors in Montpellier, as well as events organized in Montpellier as part of the project, provided such expenses are specifically justified, up to a maximum of 9 k€ per year.
These two budgets 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 UM 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 the objectives and expected outcomes
- Feasibility (logistical and financial) of the recruit's project
An evaluation committee will review the eligible applications and rank them for final selection.