This postdoc position gives Amsterdam UMC Principal Investigators the opportunity to attract talented early career researchers from outside the Amsterdam UMC.

Concept

The researcher is (or will be) embedded in a research group of a principal investigator (PI) at Amsterdam UMC. The position gives candidates the opportunity to strengthen their academic profile by generating scientific and societal impact with a view of improving chances of obtaining future EU (MSCA-PF, ERC-StG) or national (NWO-VENI) personal grants. The grant amounts to a maximum of 125,000 euros, with a maximum of 100,000 euros to cover salary for a minimum duration of 1 year and a maximum of 25,000 euros to cover other costs (for example; training, consumables, outreach activities). Mandatory departmental co-funding of an additional 20,000 euros on top of the grant amount has to be committed for the application to be eligible, which has to be spent to the benefit of the project (to be outlined in the budget proposal). A maximum of 3 postdoc grants will be awarded in 2024.

The postdoc grant encourages Amsterdam UMC applications for (EU) funding opportunities and initiation of novel (inter)national collaborations. The grant budget can be used to cover the salary of the candidate, publications, consumables, outreach activities (impact) and training in transferrable skills.The grant is intended for candidates able to personally spend at least 0.8fte to the research activities described in the grant.

In addition to the application form, a pdf version of this call text can be downloaded here to facilitate distribution of information. 

Application process

Together with the Amsterdam UMC host PI the candidate is expected to fill out this application form and send it to rgs@amsterdamumc.nl before Monday 15 January 2024 9:00 am CET. This deadline is subject to extension if less than ten applications have been received. The applications will be reviewed by the Amsterdam UMC Postdoc Career Bridging Grant Committee, who have the option to invite additional internal reviewers. The selection process will include an (online) interview of shortlisted fellows detailing their plans for the one-year period. Should candidates rank the same in the interview round, the written application score is decisive.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible for this grant the candidate has to:

  • Have obtained their PhD at the time of application (15 January 2024)*
  • Have the endorsement of an Amsterdam UMC Principal Investigator and department (evidenced by a signed letter of support)
  • Not have worked in Amsterdam UMC for more than 1 year in the 3 years up to the current deadline
  • Not have other funding available to initiate research at Amsterdam UMC. (Candidates are required to disclose any funding granted during the Postdoc Career Bridging Grant application process)
  • Be eligible for (re)application for early career funding opportunities with Amsterdam UMC host PI within the duration of the grant; for example the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship, EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship, NWO-VENI
  • Have not received the Postdoc Career Bridging Grant previously, or applied for it more than once before

*This can be extended to the start of the project (1-12-2024 at the latest) if the candidate can convincingly demonstrate the work for their PhD thesis has been completed and the promotion date is administrative only (in which case a certain level of independence of the candidate is expected).

      Evaluation

      The candidate is expected to fill out this application form together with their Amsterdam UMC PI. The evaluation criteria of the written application reflect requirements in the current and future funding landscape where societal Quality & feasibility of the proposed research activities 25%

      • Relevance of the proposed activities 10%
      • Interdisciplinary, interfaculty and/or intersectoral collaborations 10%
      • Quality & appropriateness of the proposed societal impact activities 20%
      • Expected impact of the grant on the career development of the candidate 20%
      • Quality of the CV of the candidate 15%

        The selection process will subsequently include an (online) interview of candidates shortlisted based on their score on the written application. The host PI does not attend the interview. During the interview, candidates are expected to detail their plans for the one-year period during a short presentation followed by questions from the committee. Should candidates rank the same in the interview round, the written application score is decisive.

        Duration and financial conditions

        The postdoc position is for a minimum duration of one year. The postdoc grant will be awarded to a maximum of three candidates in 2024 and should aim to start no later than 1 December 2024. Mandatory departmental co-funding of an additional 20,000 euros on top of the grant amount has to be committed for the application to be eligible, evidenced by the signed letter of support.

        The grant amounts to a maximum of 125,000 euros with a maximum of 100,000 euros covering the salary of the candidate and a maximum of 25,000 euros to cover other costs like publications, consumables, outreach activities (impact), or training in transferrable skills. The additional 20,000 co-funding needs to be spent to the benefit of the project.

        The feasibility of the budget as described in the application is reviewed by the Amsterdam UMC Postdoc Career Bridging Grant Committee. At the end of the project impact on the candidates career development should be evidenced by applications made towards (EU) funded personal or project grants.