Postdoctoral Researcher (InterACT MSCA Programme – First Call)

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number: 101260463

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No

Offer Description

InterACT is an MSCA postdoctoral programme cofunded by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Horizon Europe).

Are you a postdoctoral researcher looking for funding? The first call will recruit 7 postdoctoral researchers and is now open!

Selected researchers will be employed 36 months at VUB to carry out their projects, take part in training activities, collaborate with intersectoral and international experts, and showcase the implications of their results for EU, national, and regional policies.

Specific tasks include:

• carry out a high-quality research project
• participate in 2 in-person training weeks
• complete 3 online thematic trainings on policy making
• participate in 1 policy workshop
• undertake an international academic secondment of 3-5 months
• undertake an intersectoral secondment of 3-5 months
• deliver a final panel presentation

InterACT welcomes applications from all fields of science. The research should focus on societal impact and engagement of stakeholders in the R&I activities.

Where to apply

Website: https://interact-programme.be/apply

Requirements

Research Field: All

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Languages: ENGLISH

Level: Excellent

Additional Information

Benefits

What InterACT offers

Salary

• total gross salary of €4,700 per month (net salaries will vary depending on the fellow’s specific conditions)
• €300 monthly as mobility allowance for the fellow's relocation to Belgium

Reimbursements

• reimbursement of all visa-related costs (if any)
• travel ticket to and from Brussels reimbursed up to a maximum of €500
• research costs, including open access fees, conference registrations, and conference trips, will be funded by the hosting VUB research group
• free-of-charge participation in all the InterACT programme’s obligatory training activities and events, as well as full reimbursement for the costs associated with the secondments (accommodation, travel)

Financial extras & discounts

• eco-cheques (€240 per academic year for full-time employment)
• ample home working opportunities for structurally eligible positions (€60 net per month, pro rata employment); internet allowance if you are not eligible for structural homeworking
• premium for marriage/legal cohabitation and at birth/adoption
• financial support if children enroll at VUB
• childcare during summer and Easter holidays with financial intervention of €8/day/child
• discounts via VUB Benefits at Work in all kinds of shops, hotels, plane, petrol stations, amusement parks, cinema, car rental...

Insurance

• hospitalisation insurance which covers: hospitalisation costs; costs linked to outpatient treatment of serious illnesses (UZ Brussel and VUB services); outpatient concerns (UZ Brussel and VUB services). This insurance is free for VUB members. Family members can pay to join (children are included at a reduced rate of 5.5 euros per child, and adults at 11 euros per month).

Holidays

• 35 days of leave (20 legal days, plus 15 extra VUB days based on a full-time contract and full year of service)
• collective closure between Christmas and New Year
• 2/3 extra days of leave (11 July, 2 and 20 November)

The above vacation days are calculated based on your date of employment and your work regime.

Mobility

• Intervention for public transport via a third-party payment scheme, entirely at the expense of the employer, no individual contribution
• Bicycle allowance for commuting (€0.36 per km)

Campus facilities

• own medical service, physiotherapist, psychologist and dentist on campus with coverage by hospitalisation insurance in the case of outpatient care
• daycare for children from 0 to 3 years on the VUB campus (not free and dependent on available places: timely registration is important).
• remarkable sports facilities on campus: discount on Basic Fit subscription, use of athletics track and discount on swimming in VUB swimming pool
• budget-friendly meals in campus restaurant

Eligibility criteria

• Candidates cannot have resided in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline (i.e., 8 January 2027).

  IMPORTANT: time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention, compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account for calculating the 12 months.

• At the date of the call deadline, the candidates must be in possession of a doctoral degree. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered as postdoctoral researchers and will be eligible to apply.

  The successful defense must be unconditional (no further requirements/corrections that need to be addressed) and take place before the call deadline. Supporting documentation will be requested. In case your project is selected for funding, you need your awarded PhD degree before the start of your contract at VUB.

• The candidates cannot already have a permanent employment contract with VUB.

Selection process

See the guide for applicants: https://interact-programme.be/storage/files/msca-interact-guide-for-applicants.pdf

Website for additional job details: https://interact-programme.be

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 7

Company/Institute: Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Country: Belgium

State/Province: Brussels

City: Brussels

Postal Code: 1050

Street: Pleinlaan 2

Contact

State/Province: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest

City: Brussels

Website: http://vubtechtransfer.be/

Street: Pleinlaan 2

Postal Code: 1050

E-Mail: contact@interact-programme.be