MSCA MaRaThoN 2026

We are seeking experienced researchers (holding a PhD by the application deadline), with an excellent curriculum vitae and a strong track record (for example, a publication without the PhD supervisor, a first-author publication, a monograph). We are looking for talented people who are open to challenges and eager to collaborate with the University’s research teams.

The training course is open to 50 potential MSCA candidates. 2 places are reserved for candidates of African nationality. The University of Padua will cover the travel and accommodation costs of the selected participants. Bookings and payments will be handled directly by the University and no reimbursements are provided for participants.

At the time of application, it is necessary to check and select the type of Fellowship (European or Global) in which you intend to participate. Participants must comply with the MSCA Mobility rule.

To participate in the MSCA Marathon 2026, it is necessary to meet the following requirements by the deadline of the MSCA-PF 2026 call (9 September 2026):

• Hold a PhD degree
• Have no more than 8 years of full-time research experience from the date the PhD was awarded (exceptions are provided for under the MSCA-PF rules)
• Comply with the MSCA Mobility rule
• Choose the University of Padua as the host institution.

Starting from the HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF call, the threshold for resubmission corresponds to a score of 80% (instead of the 70% applicable to previous HORIZON-MSCA-PF calls). This means that proposals submitted to the previous MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call under Horizon Europe that received a score below 80% and involve the same host organisation and the same individual researcher (and, for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships, also the associated partner hosting the outgoing phase) cannot be submitted again the following year.

The evaluation of candidates is based primarily on their research profile, the proposed project, and the completeness of the application.

Before applying, you must consult the section “Attachments to the application” below and contact a potential supervisor at the University of Padua by following the instructions provided below.

In order to apply, you must have the Department Acceptance Letter signed by the Head of Department.

The deadline for submitting applications is 9 March 2026 at 13:00 (Italian time).

It is necessary to download the documents below (all forms are mandatory; incomplete applications will not be accepted), complete the Google form and upload all the documents after completing them:

Several researchers at our University are available to act as supervisors for MSCA-PF applications. Applicants may freely choose and contact the supervisor they prefer. For those who do not yet have contacts at Unipd, an updated list of potential supervisors is available below:

List of potential MSCA supervisors at the University.
Download the document to apply filters in the Excel table.

As a further point of reference, you may consult the full list of Unipd departments.

Unipd lecturers available to act as supervisors of an MSCA Fellow are invited to complete the following form.

Last updated: March 2026

You have chosen the University of Padua as the host institution for the MSCA-PF call, but your project was not selected by the European Commission for funding? Do not worry. If you have received the prestigious "Seal of Excellence – MSCA", the University offers you alternative funding under the MSCA Seal of Excellence@University of Padua programme.

Once the Seal of Excellence has been awarded, you can apply for a grant covering an employment contract for the duration of the project, as well as a budget for research, networking and training activities.