Oxford Sociology invites Expressions of Interest to participate in the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme 2021

16 July 2021

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 26 July 2021
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme applications close: 12 October 2021 

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme is now open and Oxford Sociology is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) to participate. The fellowships foster excellence in research and support researchers’ careers.

Sociology at Oxford has a strong analytical, empirical and comparative orientation with a focus on developing and testing theories that engage with real world problems. Our strengths include statistical analysis of social surveys, social demography, collection management and analysis of complex datasets, the development of rational choice theory, microsocial experiments and simulation studies.

This year’s call for MSCA applications closes on 12th October 2021. Successful applicants will be able to start their projects within the 12 months from March 2022. Oxford Sociology will be able to support a limited number of applications to this year’s scheme and so we will be operating an internal selection process. If you would like to apply with us you will need to send a completed EOI set of forms to research@sociology.ox.ac.uk by Monday 26th July 2021. In the week commencing 2nd August 2021, selected candidates will then be contacted and invited to submit their applications developed to the ‘final draft’. Full applications will be required by the Sociology Department internal deadline of 24th September 2021.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are highly flexible funding schemes offered to experienced researchers with a minimum of PhD level experience who move to be based at the hosting institution, where they will work with their supervisors to deliver a specific project involving research, innovation, training and networking activities. The funding guarantees mobility and financial independence with a generous set of allowances. We would be happy to host both European and Global Fellows whose research profile falls or overlaps with the following research areas:

  • Social inequalities of gender, class, and ethnicity (including mobility, labour market and social class inequalities);
  • Families, population, and demography;
  • Health and wellbeing;
  • Crime, justice and governance;
  • Social movements and political sociology;
  • Digital Societies, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence;

Proposals are expected to be built around a Career Development Plan at the host organisation. In addition to research activities and objectives, this should address the researcher's training and career needs, including training on transferable skills, planning for publications and participation in conferences.

Applicants can be of any nationality (specific eligibility criteria apply – check against the summary table below). There is no upper limit to age.

Radcliffe square as the sun is setting

 

 

 

Please review the following information to apply for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships. 

  • Read the Guidance for Applicants and FAQ documents on the funders’ website
  • Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria outlined in the table below
  • Register your interest by sending your EOI to: research@sociology.ox.ac.uk by end of play on 26th July 2021. The EOI pack should consist of the following: (i) EOI information form which can be found below; (ii) the Applicant’s CV (iii) 3-page summary proposal with an outline of the research project, and information on the professional development and implementation/dissemination plans; and (iv) for GPF Applicants only: an evidence of the commitment of the partner institution who will host the Fellow during the outgoing phase.
  • The internal evaluation and selection panel will assess all EOIs received within the deadline in accordance with the EC selection criteria for the scheme: 1) Excellence; 2) Impact; 3) Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation.
  • Selected Applicants will work closely with the departmental and central University research support teams to complete the application to its top quality.

 

Eligibility

European Postdoctoral Fellowship

Global Postdoctoral Fellowship

Applicant’s Nationality

Any nationality

EU Member State national or legal and continuous resident within one or more EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries of at least 5 consecutive years

Duration

12-24 months

If requested and justified in the proposal, an additional period of up to six months can be awarded for a placement at a non-academic organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

24-36 months:

Outgoing: 12-24 months

Return (mandatory): 12 months

If requested and justified in the proposal, an additional period of up to six months can be awarded for a placement at a non-academic organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Residence

Cannot have resided or carried out their main activity in the UK for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the call deadline.

Cannot have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host organisation for the outgoing phase for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the call deadline.

 

Experience

On 12th October 2021, in possession of a PhD and no more than 8 years full-time postdoctoral research experience

On 12th October 2021, in possession of a PhD and no more than 8 years full-time postdoctoral research experience

Mobility

Fellow will move or have moved from any country to the UK

Fellow will move or have moved from any country to the UK

Hosting

Entire Fellowship hosted in Oxford

Partner organisation for the outgoing phase must be located in a TC*. Letter of commitment is a mandatory attachment to the application.

Secondments

Optional, in EU Member or Associated countries only, cannot exceed one third of the standard fellowship duration and should be in line with the project objectives.

Optional, max one third of the outgoing phase in EU Member or Associated countries. A max of three months can be spent at the start of the project at the beneficiary. Secondments to third countries cannot take place during the mandatory 12-month return period to the host.  

Placements

Optional. An additional period of up to six months to support researchers seeking a placement at the end of the project to work on R&I projects in an organisation from the non-academic sector in an EU Member or Associated country. Placements must be an integral part of the proposal and are subject to evaluation. Letter of commitment from placement host organisation is mandatory with application.

Optional. An additional period of up to six months to support researchers seeking a placement at the end of the project to work on R&I projects in an organisation from the non-academic sector in an EU Member or Associated country. Placements must be an integral part of the proposal and are subject to evaluation. Letter of commitment from placement host organisation is mandatory with application.

Monthly Allowances (full time)

Living: €5,080 | Mobility €600 | Family €660 (if applicable) | Long-term leave allowance €5,680 (if applicable)

Subject to taxes on-costs and country correction coefficients

Living: €5,080 | Mobility €600 | Family €660 (if applicable) | Long-term leave allowance €5,680 (if applicable)

Subject to taxes on-costs and country correction coefficients

* Non-associated Third Countries (TC) are countries which are neither EU Member States (MS), nor associated to Europe (AC)

Please download and complete the Oxford Sociology Expression of Interest Form as part of your application. This document also includes a list of required attachments to support your EOI.

Download the EOI Form (Word Document)