Elegibility criteria

Early-Stage Researchers (ESR) from all nationalities can take part in Wit programme if they meet the following requirements (according to admission conditions of Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions):

1. Research experience-Early-Stage Researcher (ESR): candidates must be in the first four years (Full-Time Equivalent Research Experience: it is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree which would formally entitle him or her to embark on a doctorate, ) of their research careers at the time of submission of their application and not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree.

   Career breaks: exception will be made for career break due to maternity/paternity leave, illness or compulsory national services. These career breakers will be encouraged to apply for the WIT Programme and to restart their scientific careers. Besides, the research career path and any breaks caused by interruptions due to time spent working in the industry or other sectors will be considered an advantage of the intersectoral ability of the researcher.

2. Comply with the MSCA mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for longer than 12 months (whether consecutive or not) within the 3 years immediately prior to the deadline for submission of applications (18 March, 2023). Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.

   Spanish researchers who fulfill this requirement can also apply. Returnees from phases of international, intersectoral and/or non-academic mobility (such as research stays outside of Spain, working for industry, or after a career break e.g. due to family reasons or medical reasons) are especially encouraged to apply.

3. Hold a degree entitling them to embark on a doctorate: candidates must have completed the studies that lead to an official university degree from any country of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) awarding 300 ECTS, of which, at least 60 ECTS must correspond to master level. Or they must have completed a degree in a University not adapted to the EHEA that gives access to doctoral studies.

4. Applicants need to be able to comunicate and understand English fluently (written and spoken-B2 level at least must be certificated).

Employment Conditions

The successful candidates will be offered the following:

Main package

• Full time contract (up to 36 months, co-funded by MSCA COFUND grant) in the university where the doctoral programme will be done.
• Gross salary (living allowance) of 32.400€ per annum. The salary will be paid by the employer (recruiting universities UPNA, UNAV) and will include (Spanish law) all corresponding benefits such as national social security & health insurance, pension deductions, employee tax and maternity/paternity leave, etc.)
• Relocation expenses (mobility allowance) up to 2.400 €. Each ESR will receive a single payment at the beginning of the fellowship to cover relocation costs according to the average distance between the hosting institution and the ESR’s location.
• Family allowance of 3.600 € per annum for ESRs with family and/or dependent. Researchers with children and/or elderly dependent requirements will be offered a flexible organisation of work by individually-tailored solutions, such as teleworking or flexible working hours. In addition, maternity and paternity leaves will be paid in accordance with the Spanish national law, and additionally, in case of maternity or paternity leaves during the fellowship, a corresponding extension of the duration of the fellowship will be granted to enable them finishing their research.
• Personal research budget up to 4.800 € per annum for each ESR to cover comestible, conference attendance, publication costs, workshops, etc.
• Travel allowance up to 2.400 € per annum for each ESR to cover travel and subsistence during secondments or short stays at partner facilities.

Gender Equality Plan

Wit aims to achieve a representative gender balance at all levels, both in terms of the people selected to participate in it and at the level of decision making, supervision and management.

This gender equality plan is an open document that will be given to the members of the Wit committees and management bodies.  It will be updated and revised at any time during the project if necessary.

>>Document

Working conditions

Wit Programme is committed to offer the doctoral fellows the best facilities to run their researchs, and the best environment and support for their activities.

Administrative units form the recruiting institutions, such us, Human Resources, Research Management, International Center, Student Care, Research Departments, will work together to take care of the fellow in terms of contract signing, VISA issues, research funds management for his/her project, trips and accommodation arrangements, etc.

Additionally, at the beginning of the fellowship, each researcher will be appointed an academic supervisor who will be a senior researcher of the research group at the hosting institution, who will be responsible for the fellow’s overall well-being, career development and integration into the research community at the hosting institution and its environment. The academic supervisor within the hosting institution will support the fellow in order to:

• Ensure his/ her progress  by checking and supporting in the achievement of results according to plan and budget, and in the personal development in relation to planning trainings and secondments;
• Maintain direct relationship with the researcher and support her/him during the whole fellowship period.
• Monitor, evaluate and inform to the Steering Committee in the half-yearly reports.

Furthermore, the ESR will be assigned an external mentor from an industrial partner who will actively participate in his/her mentorship during the whole fellowship period providing critical mentoring and career guidance from an industrial point of view. The fellow will be invited by his/her mentor for short stays at industrial facilities to assess progress and provide training if required.

The fellow, assisted by the academic supervisor and industrial mentor, will draw up a Personal Development Plan (PDP) aimed at establishing a tailored career development strategy.

Additionally, the participants will take part in:

• Research and training activities organised by the hosting research group.
• Interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial skills trainings offered by both universities and by partner industrial organizations.
• Universities cultural and sport life.