Talent@UniPD: Call Consolidator Grant 2025

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

Candidates, of any age and nationality, who have defended their first PhD thesis no fewer than 7 and no more than 12 years before 1 January 2025. Exceptions are предусмотрены in the event of maternity or paternity, long-term illness, national military service, disability, clinical training, disasters (geological, meteorological or man-made), asylum application.

The project proposal must demonstrate that it is innovative and visionary. Based on the recent changes introduced in the 2024 call, the evaluation focuses primarily on the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of the proposed research. The focus is therefore on the project, and the candidate consequently receives a qualitative assessment in relation to the project idea and their ability to bring it to a successful conclusion. A competitive candidate must demonstrate creativity and originality and possess the potential to conduct the proposed research independently.

The CV of most PI funded by the ERC must demonstrate their scientific independence and advanced knowledge in their field, typically including:

• excellent research outputs (including publications, patents, etc.);
• invitations to internationally recognised conferences;  
• awards of international significance;
• research periods at prestigious institutions;
• awarding of research funding as PI;
• ability to manage a research group as team leader.

The CV may also indicate

• career breaks;
• particular or non-conventional career paths (including outside academia);
• particular contributions to the scientific community.

If you believe you have an ambitious project idea and intend to choose the University of Padua as the host institution, you must complete the application form available at https://forms.gle/Puhj3CCkPQu3AQfp9 by 16 September 2024, by 1.00 p.m., uploading the following documents:

• CV and track record
• description of the project idea, maximum 4,000 characters (including spaces)
• signed declaration of “Commitment of the PI”

All information received will be treated confidentially.

Incomplete applications and/or applications not drawn up in accordance with the templates provided will not be taken into consideration.

Selected candidates will be supported at all stages of preparing and submitting the project proposal only once their application has been accepted by the host Departments.

Candidates must send by email to the International Research Office the “Host Institution Support Letter”, which is required in order to submit the ERC project proposal and must be signed by the Director of the Department chosen as the research host institution. In the absence of a commitment from the Department, the candidate will be considered excluded from the programme.

Candidates are responsible for contacting the host Department well in advance and obtaining the Host Institution Support Letter signed by the Director of the Structure.

Candidates may then make use of the following consultancy services.

A) At the stage of submitting the ERC Consolidator Grant 2025 project

• Enhancement of the CV and project idea through targeted interviews.
• Support at every stage of proposal preparation (Part B1 and B2) and review of draft versions.
• Preparation of the budget and of the section concerning the justification of the requested resources.

B) If the first ERC evaluation step is passed and the candidate is invited to interview

• Support in preparing for the interview and organisation of mock interviews.

C) If the candidate is awarded ERC funding at UNIPD

• The PI, with the agreement of the Department hosting the research, may be offered a permanent position at the University of Padua, in compliance with the regulations in force.
• The PI may benefit from certain benefits provided for by the University Regulations.
• The PI will be supported throughout the negotiation phase with the 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 evaluation (A category) but is not funded by the ERC owing to budget limitations

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

Examples of funded projects:

ERC Funded Projects | ERC: European Research Council (europa.eu)   
Success Stories @ Unipd | ERC grantees & ERC meets MSCA
ERC grantees a Unipd