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The research talent policy of Amsterdam UMC aims to stimulate excellence by recognizing professionals who are in the lead in their research field. In line with Recognition and Rewards in academic institutions, Amsterdam UMC recognizes researchers who have established their own research line and research group by distinguishing them as Principal Investigator (PI). Currently, Amsterdam UMC has about 850 PIs. They are an important contact point for the divisions, departments, research institutes, project administration and the domains of Research Support. Being appointed as PI of Amsterdam UMC increases their internal and external visibility and encourages them to take up further leadership roles and to engage in (inter)national cooperation and joint grant writing.

How to become Principal Investigator?

Every year, the Board of Directors invites department and subdepartment heads to nominate researchers who meet the overall picture and minimum criteria for PI-ship via the application form on this webpage. Other profiles, management roles or strategic considerations do not qualify. Researchers should have a personal research profile in Pure, as well as an appointment with Amsterdam UMC, or the Amsterdam UMC Research BV, or a guest appointment. The Amsterdam Research Board (ARB) will evaluate the Portfolio of the PI-candidates to provide advice to the Board of Directors (BoD), who will decide on the appointment of new PIs.

Application form PI round 2026

PI-nomination round

After online nomination, the (sub)department head will receive an email confirmation and request for a letter supporting the PI-nomination (see the planning below for the deadline). The nominated PI-candidate also receives an email confirmation, as well as instructions on how to prepare their ‘PI-Qualification Portfolio’ (PI-QP) for evaluation by the ARB. This PI-QP should provide insight into their role as leader of an own research line and research group within Amsterdam UMC. Most of the data in the QP will be obtained from the researcher’s Pure profile, the Doctoral School and Project administration. The PI-candidate is given sufficient opportunity to check the data, to request for corrections in the data sources of Amsterdam UMC and to provide additional data in numbers and narratives.

After submission, each Qualification Portfolio will be evaluated by several members of the ARB, followed by a plenary discussion in the ARB-meeting, on the basis of which positive or negative advice is provided to the Board of Directors. Note that the PI-nomination will not be taken into consideration in case the PI-QP and/or Pure research profile is incomplete. The PI-candidates and their department heads will receive a letter with the positive or negative decision, sent on behalf of the BoD by the coordinator of the PI-nomination round. The new PIs will be made known within Amsterdam UMC and receive relevant research-related information via the PI email list of Research Support.

Criteria

Overall
The researcher has an own research line and research group within Amsterdam UMC and is embedded and active within the organisation, for example in the research institutes, and is supported by the head of department.

In addition, all of the following minimum criteria should be met:

Publications
  • At least six publications in the last six years as first or last author, of which at least one last authorship.
  • NB Publications in ‘predatory journals’ do not count (see: Submitting and publishing).
Funding
  • Active, external funding of at least 300.000 Euros obtained as main applicant, or coordinator of an EU Workpackage;
  • Of the total amount, at least one grant is 150k or more;
  • Also, at least 50k of the total amount is active until 31/12/2027 or longer (to ensure continuity);
  • ‘Eerstegeldstroom’ funds, including from the research institutes, do not count;
  • In general, the type of funding is not relevant (e.g. from Foundations or industry, peer or non-peer-reviewed); it is important what the researcher has done to generate output;
  • In specific cases, the ARB can request for additional explanation or substantiation.
PhD supervision
  • Having acted at least once as (co)supervisor of a successfully completed PhD trajectory;
  • In addition, supervisor of at least one current PhD candidate who is registered with the Doctoral School of Amsterdam UMC;
  • Of all current PhD trajectories, the end date of one is until 31/12/2027 or longer (to ensure continuity);
  • In case a PhD trajectory has been completed but the defense ceremony has not taken place yet, proof of agreement of the manuscript or planned promotion date should be provided
Additional clauses, to be determined per case by the ARB
  • In case the PI-candidate has been (co-)promotor of a completed thesis abroad without formal affirmation on the thesis cover pages, a confirmation letter of the role as supervisor should be provided by the former promotor.
  • After a period abroad (> four years), not having been (co-)promotor of a completed PhD trajectory may be compensated by demonstrated supervision of postdocs.

Planning PI-round 2026

May: Invitation from Board of Directors to department heads to nominate PI-candidates.

Deadlines department heads

Deadlines PI-candidates

  • From June 2nd until Sept 18th: check pre-filled data and complete your PI-Qualification Portfolio (PI-QP). Start asap!

  • Friday Sept 18th: submission (strict deadline) of PI-QP

Evaluation and decision period

  • October & November: Evaluation by the Amsterdam Research Board (3 reviewers per PI-candidate, plenary discussion, final decision by dbARB/chair)
  • December: Advice to Board of Directors and decision
  • January 2027: Appointment or rejection letter to PI-candidates and department head. New PIs Announcment on Tulp, to research institutes & Research Support domains

    Contact

    In case of questions, please contact the coordinator of the PI-nomination round, Dr. Hannerieke van der Boom, Research Policy Office, rs-pi-benoemingsronde@amsterdamumc.nl.

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