Talent@Unipd: Call Starting Grant 2025

The ERC supports frontier research through competitive calls for ambitious projects in any field of knowledge, conducted by researchers of high international profile and proposed in agreement with a Host Institution campused in an EU Member State or an Associated Country.

Candidates, of any age and nationality, who have defended their first PhD dissertation from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 7 years on January 1, 2025. Extensions are provided in the event of maternity or paternity, long-term illness, national military service, clinical training, natural disaster, asylum application.

The design idea must prove to be innovative and visionary. Based on the recent changes in the 2024 call, the evaluation mainly focuses on the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of the proposed research. The focus is therefore on the project and the candidate receives, as a result, a qualitative evaluation in relation to the project idea and his/her ability to successfully complete it. A competitive candidate must demonstrate that he or she is creative and original and that he or she has the potential to conduct the proposed research independently.

The course track of most ERC-funded IPs typically includes:

• excellent research products (including publications, patents, etc.).
• invitations to internationally recognized conferences;  
• awards of international relevance;
• research periods at prestigious institutions;
• allocation of research funding as PI.

The CV may also include:

• career breaks;
• particular or unconventional career paths (including outside the academy);
• contributions to the scientific community.

If you believe you have an ambitious project idea and intend to choose the University of Padova as your host institution, you must fill out the application form available at the link https://forms.gle/kffZknYUNBJfZ9tF8 by 3 June 2024, at 1.00 pm, by uploading the following documents:

• CV and track-record
• Description of up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) of the project idea
• signed declaration of "Commitment of the PI"

All information received will be treated confidentially.

Applications that are incomplete and/or drafted in a way that does not conform to the forms provided will not be considered.

The selected candidates will be supported in all phases of preparation and presentation of the project proposal only after acceptance of their application by the host Departments.

Candidates must send by email to the International Research Office the "Host Institution support letter", necessary to present the ERC project proposal, signed by the Director of the Department chosen as the campus of the research. In the absence of commitment by the Department, the candidate will be considered excluded from the syllabus.

It will be the candidate's responsibility to contact the host Department well in advance and obtain the Host Institution support letter signed by the Director of the Facility.

Candidates will then be able to take advantage of the following consulting services.

A) During the presentation of the ERC Starting Grant 2025 project

• Enhancement of the CV and the project idea through targeted interviews.
• Support at every stage of proposal preparation (part B1 and B2) and proofreading.
• Elaboration of the budget and the section related to the justification of the required resources.

B) If you pass the first step of the ERC assessment and are called to the interview

• Support in the preparation of the interview and organization of mock interviews.

C) If you are awarded ERC funding at UNIPD

• The PI, with the agreement of the Research Campus Department, may be the recipient of a permanent position at the University of Padua, in accordance with current legislation.
• The PI will be able to enjoy some benefits provided for by the University Regulations.
• The PI will be accompanied throughout the negotiation phase with ERCEA and, subsequently, in the management and reporting of the project, alongside the Department where the research is carried out.

D) If the project receives an excellent rating (band A) but is not funded by the ERC due to budget constraints

The University of Padova offers the opportunity to participate in the Supporting TAlent in ReSearch@University of Padua - STARS Grants (Wild Cards scheme), for alternative funding. 

ERC Funded Projects | ERC: European Research Council (europa.eu)         

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