Offer Description
TALENT4RURALSCIENCE offers 10 full-time contracts for international postdoctoral researchers through an international public call for applicants. Postdoctoral researchers will carry out a 36-month project, freely chosen by them within the objectives and topics described in the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme.
The projects will be carried out at one of the 9 University Research Institutes participating in the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme at the University of Extremadura and will also include at least one compulsory secondment at an international academic organisation and another at a non-academic organisation (both for a period of between 3-6 months), which will contribute to broadening the researchers\' training experience and their exposure to different learning environments.
HOST INSTITUTION
The UNIVERSITY OF EXTREMADURA (UEx) is the main public research institution in Extremadura (Spain) with 4 university campuses. It has more than 24,000 students and 2,405 researchers and professors.
UEx has extensive laboratories and state-of-the-art research infrastructures. The Campus addresses high levels of excellence in teaching and research activity, knowledge transfer to the productive sector and entrepreneurship, as well as the dissemination of science and innovation to society, producing a high socio-economic impact within a cross-border campus of international dimension.
RESEARCH AREAS
Research topics that postdoctoral researchers can work on within the framework of each of the challenges defined for the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme:
Challenge 1:Sustainable development and natural resource management
* Research Topic 1.1: Assessing land degradation neutrality and land abandonment trade-offs across Europe
* Research Topic 1.2: Design and evaluation nature based solutions for the adaptation and mitigation to climate change of silvopastoral systems
* Research Topic 1.3: Sustainable Valorisation of Agri-Food Plant By-Products for Novel Ingredients and Functional Food Design
Challenge 2:Innovation in health and technology for rural development
* Research Topic 2.1: Pharmacological aspects of Equality and Inclusion in Extremadura
* Research Topic 2.2: IoT and Distributed Computing for Health Improvement in Rural Environments
* Research Topic 2.3: Quality and safety of animal origin foods
* Research Topic 2.4: Personalized Medicine Program for Prevalent Diseases for rural development
Challenge 3:Education, inclusion and community development
* Research Topic 3.1: Identities, territory and demographic change: an approach to rural depopulation in Europe
* Research Topic 3.2: Community development in rural contexts from an educational and inclusive perspective
Detailed information on each research topics can be found in ANNEX I: RESEARCH TOPICS (available in the CALL FOR RESEARCHERS section on the website www.talent4ruralscience.eu)
Each postdoctoral research may select only one research topic.
Where to apply
E-mail
Requirements
Research Field All Education Level PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Be in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the co-funded program’s call. The date of defence and approval of the thesis is considered as the date of award of the doctoral degree.
Candidates should be fluent in English, both spoken and written, and have good academic writing and presentation skills. An intermediate level of Spanish is recommended.
Additional Information
* An employment contract for a period of 36 months.
* Receive the necessary cooperation and support from the University of Extremadura to carry out the research work.
* Use the services of the University of Extremadura and participate in its activities
* Have a supervisor from the University of Extremadura and another from each of the host organizations (Associated partners) where the secondments take place (co-supervisors), as well as an Individual Career Development Plan (ICDP).
* Scientific training through their individual research projects and specific training events as established in the project\'s Grant Agreement.
Remuneration:
A breakdown of the total amounts allocated to each fellow:
* Living allowance: 3,736.18 euros/month. This concept includes labour costs corresponding to the salary of the full-time postdoctoral researcher.
* Family allowance: 101.13 euros/month (if applicable).
Postdoctoral researcher will receive this amount if they move to Extremadura with their family and/or dependents.
The above amounts are calculated based on current taxes costs and may be subject to change during the duration of the contract.
The net salary will be the amount resulting from subtracting the living allowance (and family allowance if applicable), the contribution to personal income tax + the employee\'s share of social security contributions in accordance with the personal circumstances of each postdoctoral researcher hired.
The amount of redundancy compensation will be paid to the postdoctoral researcher at the end of their contract, in accordance with the Spanish System\'s hiring regulations and in proportion to the actual length of employment.
* Mobility allowance: The maximum amount to be received by each postdoctoral researcher will be 3,499.92. This amount must be used for relocation and travel expenses.
If this cost is to be included as part of the researcher\'s salary, the legal percentage indicated in the regulations would be deducted.
* Travel allowance: up to a maximum of 50,000.04 euros.
Costs for secondments at associated partners and other trips to scientific conferences and networking and communication activities. This section includes travel and subsistence costs, and the University of Extremadura\'s travel regulations will be used as a reference.
* Research costs: Postdoctoral research hired will have a maximum of 9,000 euros to fund the R&D&I activities outlined in the research proposal. This section includes the cost of consumables, publication costs, and other expenses necessary for the project\'s development.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to file an application, researchers will have to comply with all the following eligibility criteria:
* Individuals eligible for this grant can be of any nationality but must comply with the MSCA mobility rule: not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain (the host country) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding the deadline of the program\'s call.
* Be in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the co-funded program\’s call. The date of defence and approval of the thesis is considered as the date of award of the doctoral degree.
* Meet the minimum legal age required for establishing an employment contract and not have reached the legally established retirement age.
* Have the functional capacity necessary for the performance of the position subject to the call.
* Not have been separated through disciplinary proceedings from the service of any public administrations, nor be under disqualification for the performance of public functions by a final judgment.
* Not have been previously employed under a doctoral research personnel access contract, in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 of Law 17/2022, of 5 September, amending Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on Science, Technology and Innovation in the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System, or under the extinct contract modality, when the total cumulative duration of all contracts signed, in the same or different entities, including that corresponding to the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme (with a duration of 36 months), exceeds 6 years, or 8 years in the case of applicants applying under the provision for persons with disabilities. More information on this can be found in the ‘EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS’ section of the Guide for applicants to the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme.
All of the above requirements must be met on the date of submission of the application. No additional or supplementary information will be accepted after the deadline for submission of applications.
Selection process
The application process consists of two phases:
Phase A of the application process (Expression of interest). In Phase A of the application process, the following documents must be sent for the expression of interest in PDF file to the email address:
Expression of interest:including personal details, the research topic they are applying for, and the scientific proposal to address that research topic, following the template provided (Annex II).
(Email subject: Name and Surname_Expression of Interest – TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme)
Affidavit of compliance with the MSCA mobility rule: using the template provided (Annex III).
Affidavit of not having enjoyed a contract as a doctoral research personnel or under an extinct modality of contract within the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System. If applicable, the candidate must prove proof of employment for the period of said contract by means of a certified document attached to the expression of interest (Annex IV)
Copy of doctoral degree.
Complete curriculum vitae. In free format, including the following information:
Include articles published in scientific journals, books or chapters of scientific and technical books, patents granted or licensed, conference presentations, awards, mentions and distinctions, contributions to society, including technological development activities, innovation, dissemination, collaboration with industry, the private sector, public institutions, and other end users of research.
Include information on stays at national and international centers and the candidate\'s contributions to the lines of work of the center and group(s) with which they have worked, as well as the importance for their own lines of research and, where applicable, the results obtained during these stays.
Include information on actions related to international programs and projects, especially those related to predoctoral and postdoctoral international mobility, as well as participation or funding in projects and contracts carried out in international collaboration.
Include information on participation in R&D&I projects as a researcher or principal investigator, supervision of doctoral theses, and any other relevant scientific and professional experience.
To complete your CV, please take into account the evaluation criteria, which can be found in section \"EVALUATION CRITERIA\" of the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Guide for Applicants (available on the website www.talent4ruralscience.eu ).
Only documents in English language will be accepted (except for the copies of official the academic degrees).
At this stage of the application process, it will be verified that the candidate meets the eligibility requirements and has provided all the above documentation, duly completed.
The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is 31 March 2026
A confirmation email will be sent to the applicants when the expression of interest is received. Expression of interest sent after the deadline will not be accepted. Expression of interest not including all the necessary documentation will be considered ineligible and therefore eliminated from the process. Applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria may be declined without further review. All applicants will receive an email confirming their eligibility or informing that they are ineligible according to the eligibility criteria. Applicants have the right to request a redress if they will consider there was a procedural flaw during the eligibility check. The provisional list of admitted and excluded candidates will be published on the program website, UEx website, ensuring a transparent process and equal opportunities.
Phase B of the application process. Candidates who meet the requirements for phase A will be invited to participate in the University of Extremadura\'s TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Call for Researchers, where they must submit the following documentation.
Application form in the format provided.
Copy of identity card or passport.
Curriculum vitae including the requested information.
Documents proving compliance with the requirements established for the call for applications.
Documents proving the merits presented.
All detailed information regarding phase B of the application process will be sent by email to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and have passed phase A of the process. It will also be published on the project website (www.talent4ruralscience.eu) and on the University of Extremadura website (www.unex.es).
Applicants who have been invited to phase B will be informed of the documentation to be submitted, where to submit it and the deadlines, and will be provided with the required templates.
The scientific-technical proposal sent by candidates will be evaluated at this stage according to the evaluation criteria found in the ‘EVALUATION CRITERIA’ section of the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Guide for Applicants (available on the website www.talentruralscience.eu ).
The expected date for applying for the University of Extremadura\'s TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Call for Researchers (phase B of the selection process) can be found in section \"APPLICATIONS AND SELECTION TIMETABLE\" of the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Guide for Applicants (available on the website www.talent4ruralscience.eu )
Additional comments
OBLIGATIONS OF POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS UNDER CONTRACT
o In order to formalize the contract, the postdoctoral researcher selected in the evaluation process must submit documentation proving that they have applied for the equivalence/validation of their doctoral degree, as established in the RESOLUTION of March 24, 2017, of the Management, which implements the regulatory agreement adopted by the Governing Council approving the regulations governing the procedure for the equivalence of foreign higher education degrees to the academic level of Doctor of the University of Extremadura (https://eid.unex.es/secretaria/tramites-y-modelos/equivalencia-del-titulo-extranjero-de-doctor/ ) and comply with the internal regulations for recruitment at the University of Extremadura.
o Depending on the researcher's nationality, apply for and obtain the necessary permits allowing the candidate to work under contract, in accordance with the terms established by current legislation and for the period indicated in this call for applications.
o Postdoctoral researchers will work at the University of Extremadura facilities.
o Full-time position at the University Research Institute within the period established in this call for applications.
o Compliance with the internal rules and specific regulations of the University of Extremadura, as well as those of the corresponding University Research Institute.
o Inform the University of Extremadura as soon as possible of any event, circumstance, or change in circumstances that may affect their fellowship.
o Conduct research in accordance with the research proposal and ICDP accepted by the supervisor, project management team, and the EU. Any deviation from the research proposal must be explicitly reported to and authorized by them.
o Each researcher must complete a mandatory secondment at an international academic organization and another at a non-academic organization dedicated to rural development (both lasting between 3 and 6 months).
o Inform the University of Extremadura if the research project requires additional short visits outside the University of Extremadura facilities (excluding secondments and dissemination/communication activities). Short visits will be subject to prior approval by the supervisor and the project management team during the project implementation phase.
o Complete the mandatory joint and individual training specified in the project Grant Agreement in the three defined training areas, as summarized below:
Area a). Researching Transversal Skills
Area b). Specific training for individual research project objectives
Area c). Training to improve science for rural development and talent retention
o Actively participate in the project communication and dissemination events set out in the project Grant Agreement.
o Submit progress reports within the deadlines and in the format established by the project management team, describing the progress of their research, achievements, and impact in accordance with the ICDP.
o Complete a final evaluation form to assess the program and provide feedback on their experience at the host institution.
o All project promotion, dissemination, or communication activities must include the relevant logos as indicated by the project management team.
o All postdoctoral researchers must disseminate their research and results in collaboration with the Scientific Culture Dissemination Service and the Communications Office of the University of Extremadura, providing information aimed at various audiences.
o Selected candidates must move their residence to Spain no later than the date of their hiring.
o Complete all economic-financial reports requested by supervisors and/or the project management team.
o Postdoctoral researchers must comply with the principles of good scientific conduct in accordance with the regulations of the University of Extremadura and the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. More information about the HS4HR seal is available on the website: https://vrinvestigacion.unex.es/acreditacion-hrs4r/
o All dissemination activities must comply with the University of Extremadura's Open Access policy and be in line with the Horizon Europe program's rules and regulations on this subject.
EVALUATION CRITERIA: Details on the evaluation criteria can be found in the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Guide for Applicants (available on the website www.talent4ruralscience.eu )
#J-18808-Ljbffr