Call for applicants

11 positions of Early Stage Researchers and 4 positions of Experienced Researchers within a Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN)

Sustainable and Integrated Urban Water System Management

SANITAS

SANITAS consortium – (Marie Curie Initial Training Network) – invites applications for several full time research vacancies, including experienced researchers (ER) and early stage researchers (ESR). Selected researchers are expected to undertake mobility in order to implement an Individual Research Project at one of the consortium partner institutions, as well as to participate in a sustained training programme.

1. Brief description of SANITAS

SANITAS (Sustainable and Integrated Urban Water System Management) is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under the 7^th Framework Programe, and coordinated by LEQUIA research group (Laboratori d’Enginyeria Química i Ambiental – Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering) from Universitat de Girona. SANITAS aims to create a platform of mobility and training of young researchers, both pre-docs (Early Stage Researchers) and post-docs (Experienced Researchers), by means of individual research projects (IRP), exchange of knowledge among appointed fellows, researchers and consortium partners, attendance to workshops and seminars, as well as training in research complementary skills (project management, team leadership, intellectual property rights, environmental policy, etc). SANITAS will facilitate the contact between researchers, the water authorities and industry, thus promoting synergies among them.

SANITAS aims to create the next generation of professionals for sustainable and integrated Urban Water System (UWS) management by providing a unique, European-wide training platform in the technical and complementary skills they require. This is needed to face the current critical challenges in wastewater management. Besides, the near future might bring about dramatic regional variations in water supply – either as local excessive surplus or local deficiency in water supply – as well as unpredictable variations in water quality, placing unprecedented demands on UWS’s. SANITAS is acutely aware of many unmet needs regarding deficiencies in manpower and application of innovation to the field.  Partners of SANITAS aim to create a critical mass of excellence that will drive the innovation required to comprehensively address the fundamental rethinking of water use and management that current and future situations demand. By drawing on expert participation from academia, industry, water authorities and policy specialists, SANITAS will critically examine and develop the cutting edge skills required to meet the UWS challenges that the world needs in facing water quality and supply and energy requirements of wastewater management. SANITAS will explore the use of existing and new developments on modelling, control and multicriteria decision making for UWS optimisation.

2. Eligibility criteria

Nationality: Nationals from any country may apply

Mobility: at the time of the recruitment, the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.), in the chosen country for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of the recruitment

Research categories:

a. Early Stage Researcher (ESR): researchers who, at the time of the recruitment, have not yet been awarded a doctorate degree and are in the first 4 (full-time equivalent) of their research careers, including the research training period that would entitle them to a doctorate.

b. Experienced Researchers (ER): researchers who, at the time of recruitment are 1) in the first 5 years (full time equivalent) of their research career and 2) already in possession of a doctoral degree, independently of the time taken to acquire it or 3) having at least 4 years of research experience (full time equivalent) after obtaining the degree which formally allows them to embark in doctoral studies in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country where the Individual Research Project IRP is implemented.

For more information see:

Marie Curie Actions webpage: http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/

3. General evaluation criteria

• Educational background relevant for the chosen position/IRP (for both ER and ESR). For ESRs, a master degree is desirable.
• Previous research experience, relevant to the chosen position/IRP
• Language skills (English compulsory)
• Networking and communication skills (to be evaluated in the interview)
• Others (depending on IRP chosen)

4. Salary (Gross salary + social security)

–ESR: 38.000,00EUR/year

–ER: 58.500,00EUR/year

–adjusted (by a country correction factor) for country of host institution

5. How to apply

Application must be completed entirely online and will include:

• Application form (including a brief research statement of on how the applicant may contribute to the chosen IRP*)
• Curriculum Vitae (Mandatory. Europass format recommended)
• 2 recommendation letters (Highly recommended)

IMPORTANT: No copies of diplomas or other supporting documents are necessary at this stage. However, please note that shortlisted candidates will be required to provide with certified copies of their degrees before the interview.

6. Recruitment calendar

• Deadline for applications: March 5^th, 2012 (Extended)
  
• Notification of shortlisted candidates:  March 15^th, 2012
• Interviews** with selected candidates: March 23^rd (in Barcelona or by Skype), 2012
• Notification of selected candidates: April 1^st 2012
• Contract begins on: see starting date for each IRP

* You should apply for at least one IRP and explain your choice, but also state 2 more IRPs (by order of preference)

**Funding can available to cover the return trip to Barcelona of selected candidates upon request. Skype interviews can also be arranged on a case-by-case analysis.

Related links

List of research vacancies »
Application form »
Download pdf »