TOD-IS-RUR open call

Job openings

Are you interested in research on relations between urbanization and mobility in rural-urban regions, in the collaborative context of an Innovative Training Network?

The TOD-IS-RUR consortium offers 10 Early Stage Researcher (ESR) positions, with starting dates 01/09/2021 and 01/10/2021.

TOD-IS-RUR is looking for talented and motivated candidates with the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to help the Innovative Training Network (ITN) make significant research contributions to the scientific and societal challenge of countering sprawl in Europe. The 9 Beneficiaries and 12 Partner Organizations create a unique platform for 10 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs), providing interdisciplinary and intersectoral training to analyze rural-urban place-making and develop novel, context-based planning schemes for rural-urban regions (RURs). The network aims to extend the concept of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) to RURs with a context-based approach, in which interactions between mobility and urbanization are studied in relation to social and environmental qualities. Drawing on a wide range of European RURs and bringing in expertise from urban studies, research and training prepare a new generation of highly-skilled professionals to meet the challenge of sprawl and implement inclusive and sustainable planning schemes for RURs.

Benefits

The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 months (i.e., EC funding). In line with university regulations and following a positive evaluation, the host institution may provide additional funding for a maximum of 12 months to complete a doctoral degree.
ESRs are offered a competitive salary, plus allowances. Moreover, funding is available for technical and personal skills training and participation in international research events.
ESRs will benefit from the designed training program offered by the hosting organizations and the TOD-IS-RUR consortium.
ESRs will participate actively in international secondments to other organizations within the TOD-IS-RUR network and in outreach activities targeted at a broad audience.

General requirements

You have outstanding academic records.
You are interested in interdisciplinary research and have strong analytical skills.
You are quality-oriented, conscientious, creative and a team player.
You have strong communication skills.
Language proficiency: excellent use of English is essential (C1 level minimum). Knowledge of the respective local language (B2 level or more) is required; if necessary, language courses will be offered by the project partners.
Master students in their final year may apply. Final selection under the condition of showing transcripts of their master’s degree in July (15th at the latest).

H2020 MSCA eligibility criteria

H2020 MSCA Mobility Rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.

H2020 MSCA ESR eligibility criteria: Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) must be, at the date of recruitment by the host organization, in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-Time Equivalent Research Experience is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the degree entitling him/her to embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited, even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged).

How to apply

The closing date for applications is 29 March 2021.
Please apply through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform. First complete the eligibility check form. Secondly, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: Motivation letter (max. 2 pages); CV (Europass format, including a list of all countries of residence in the last 4 years); Details of at least two referees or two reference letters; Copies of certificates (Bachelor & Master’s degrees with list of completed modules, English and other language certificates); Work samples (e.g. publications; Master’s thesis summary); List of publications (if any).
The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. The online recruitment event with the shortlisted candidates will be organized in the first week of May.
The recruitment process of ESRs within TOD-IS-RUR is in line with the principles set out in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

The overview of the individual ESR PhD positions can be found here:

Download the job opening for ESR1 (pdf - 189kB)

Download the job opening for ESR2 (pdf - 176kB)

Download the job opening for ESR3 (pdf - 186kB)

Download the job opening for ESR4 (pdf - 179kB)

Download the job opening for ESR5 (pdf - 176kB)

Download the job opening for ESR6 (pdf - 175kB)

Download the job opening for ESR7 (pdf - 198kB)

Download the job opening for ESR8 (pdf - 174kB)

Download the job opening for ESR9 (pdf - 176kB)

Download the job opening for ESR10 (pdf - 179kB)

Eligibility criteria and selection process

Eligibility criteria

Applicants can be of any nationality.
Applicants must be eligible to enroll in the PhD programme of the host institution.
H2020 MSCA Mobility Rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date (for ESR1-ESR8: that is 31/08/2018 to 01/09/2021; for ESR9-ESR10: that is 30/09/2018 to 01/10/2021). Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account.
H2020 MSCA eligibility criteria: Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) must, at the date of recruitment by the host organization, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-Time Equivalent Research Experience is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the degree entitling him/her to embark on a doctorate (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited, even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged)

Further requirements

You can submit outstanding academic results.
Excellent use of English is essential (C1 level minimum). Knowledge of the respective local language (B2 level or more) is required: language courses will be offered by the project partners, if necessary.
You are interested in interdisciplinary research and have strong analytical skills.
You are quality-oriented, conscientious, creative and a team player.
You have strong communication skills.
You are expected to participate actively in international secondments to other organisations within the TOD-IS-RUR network and in outreach activities targeted at a broad audience.

The selection process

Process

The closing date for applications is 29 March 2021. In the first selection round a preselection of max 10 to 15 candidates per position is composed. Preselected candidates will be invited for a short writing assignment. On the basis of the writing assignment, the selection committees will make a shortlist of candidates to be invited for interviews. The final recruitment event consists of a series of teleconference interviews that will be performed by the appointed selection committee. The online recruitment event with the shortlisted candidates will be organized in the first week of May. Note that –for some ESR positions– the selection will require further administrative steps in order to comply with the HR regulations of the recruiting institution.

Selection criteria

Recruitment of ESRs within TOD-IS-RUR is in line with the principles set out in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, providing the reference framework for the roles, rights, and obligations of both researchers and employers. These principles and requirements ensure that the selection procedures are open, transparent, impartial, internationally comparable, merit-based, and tailored to the type of positions advertised. In the selection process, the candidates are evaluated based on their scientific background and potential for research, and following gender equality and minority rights. The evaluation of the candidates complies with the Code of Conduct definition of merit. This means that merit is judged qualitatively and quantitatively, focusing not only on the researcher’s grades but also on a broader range of evaluation criteria, such as research background, knowledge transfer, interdisciplinary knowledge, soft skills, personality ethics, character, interests and enthusiasm about working in a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment, ability to collaborate in a diverse environment, future scientific plans, project/institution fit.

The selection process, therefore, takes into consideration the whole range of experience of the candidates, including their overall potential as researchers, their creativity, and level of independence.

APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED!

The closing date for applications is 29 March 2021.

The application process: two steps

First step

Please fill in the eligibility check. In this online form you can also list the ESR-projects (max. 3 projects) you will apply for, with order of preference.

Submit the eligibility check form

Second step

Please apply to the individual ESR positions. You need to apply for each position separately (max. 3 projects), by clicking on the links below. For each position, you will be redirected to University of Antwerp’s online job application platform. Please complete the online application form as accurately as possible and be sure to upload the following attachments:

Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
CV (Europass format; including a list of all countries of residence in the last 4 years)
Details of at least two referees or two reference letters
Copies of certificates (Bachelor & Master’s degrees with list of completed modules, English and other language certificates)
Work samples (e.g. publications; Master’s thesis summary)
List of publications (if any).