Postdoc

Postdoc LF MU supports the recruitment of productive early-career researchers with significant international experience and their integration into established research groups at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University (LF MU). The programme also aims to strengthen the international character of the academic environment at LF MU.

Key Information

Funding period: maximum 24 months from the start of support for the position
Funding: CZK 972,000 per year per project
The funding corresponds to the cost of 1.0 FTE postdoctoral researcher and a gross monthly salary of CZK 60,000
The call is announced once a year by decision of the Dean of LF MU.

Each research group may advertise only one research topic within the call and may nominate only one candidate for the shortlist as part of the selection process.

Who Can Be Supported

The programme supports early-career researchers who meet the following basic qualification criteria:

are within 7 years of obtaining their Ph.D.; this qualification requirement may be fulfilled no later than the date on which funding under the scheme begins,
have, during the past 3 years, conducted research outside the Czech Republic for at least 2 full consecutive years, with an employment fraction of at least 0.5, or have successfully completed their doctoral studies abroad, with no more than 3 years having elapsed since graduation,
have published at least 3 original research articles above the field median during the past 3 years, with at least 2 publications in Q1 journals, as recorded in the Thomson Reuters Web of Science database.

Additional criteria may be established depending on the specific requirements of individual fields.

What the Funding Supports

The funding is intended to support the position of an early-career researcher – postdoctoral researcher and their integration into an established research group at LF MU. The postdoctoral researcher’s work focuses on the research topic advertised by the respective research group.

Eligible Costs

The funding may be used for:

personnel costs of the early-career researcher (salary, bonuses, statutory contributions, and social fund contributions),
consumables,
minor tangible and intangible assets,
services.

The annual funding of CZK 972,000 corresponds to 1.0 FTE and a gross monthly salary of CZK 60,000. If the postdoctoral researcher is simultaneously funded from other sources, their FTE may be lower than 1.0. In such cases, the remaining InGA funds may be used to cover other eligible costs.

Ineligible Costs

The funding may not be used for:

costs that cannot be financed from public funds (e.g. refreshments),
travel costs.

Candidate Selection

The recruitment of candidates for supported positions is carried out in accordance with the Rules for the Selection Procedure for Filling Academic and Other Staff Positions at Masaryk University and Dean’s Directive No. 3/2023 – Rules for Selection Procedures at LF MU.

Job vacancies are advertised on international platforms for academic and research positions, such as Science, Find A Postdoc, Euraxess, and THEuniJobs.

As part of the selection procedure, applicants submit, in particular:

proof of completed education – diploma,
a CV including a publication record, documenting the required publication activity in the relevant field,
a brief description of the proposed research plan and topic, including a justification of its relevance to the field,
evidence of research experience outside the Czech Republic for at least 2 years during the past 3 years and/or evidence of completion of doctoral studies at a foreign institution.

Selection Procedure

The selection process consists of two main stages:

1. Formal assessment of applications by an internal committee

The internal committee assesses whether the basic criteria have been met based on the submitted written materials. The committee consists of the head of the research group that advertised the position (or a designated representative) and a representative of the LF MU Project Support Office.

2. Interview with a field-specific committee

Candidates who pass the first stage are invited to an interview with a field-specific committee. The interview may take place in person or online. The outcome is a recommendation to appoint or reject the candidate. For recommended candidates, the committee establishes a ranking based on the overall score awarded by its members.

The field-specific committee consists of the head of the relevant department, the Vice-Dean for Science, Doctoral Studies and Organisational Development at LF MU, a representative of the LF MU Human Resources Department, and at least one additional member of the InGA Council. The head of the research group participates in the interview but does not evaluate the candidates.

The professional criteria used in the selection include, in particular:

the number and quality of the candidate’s publications in impact-factor journals,
the candidate’s focus on the research topic,
experience with participation in R&D projects and international projects,
alignment of the candidate’s profile with the advertised professional requirements.

Depending on the specific requirements of the field, the field-specific committee may establish additional criteria and assign different weights to them. The total weight of all criteria must equal 100%.

Evaluation During the Funding Period

Progress is evaluated as part of the regular annual evaluation of employees by the head of the research group.

The mandatory evaluation indicators are:

the number of IF publications above the field median on which the postdoctoral researcher is listed as first or corresponding author,
the number of project proposals submitted to external funding agencies as principal applicant or co-applicant,
the number of projects awarded by external funding agencies as principal investigator or co-investigator.