AMAROUT Fellowships

IMDEA ("Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados" - Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies) is the new institutional framework established by the Government of the Region of Madrid (Spain) to effectively combine and increase both public and private support for research of excellence in the region. IMDEA comprises a network of research institutes in areas of high economic impact, including: energy, food sciences, materials, nanotechnology, networks, social sciences, software, and water.

AMAROUT Europe is a Marie Curie Action (PEOPLE-COFUND) to foster and consolidate the European Research Area by attracting to Europe and, in particular, to the region of Madrid (Spain) top research talent. AMAROUT contributes with IMDEA to turning Madrid into one of the top knowledge generation regions in Europe. To accomplish this, during the next 4 years, the AMAROUT program will finance up to 132 researchers to join the IMDEA network of research institutes for one year (renewable up to twice).

Available fellowships for this cutoff date (incoming or reintegration mobility):

• 20 fellowships for experienced researchers
• 10 fellowships for very experienced researchers

The AMAROUT fellowships
Both "experienced" and "very experienced" researchers from any country (worldwide) can apply for AMAROUT fellowships at any of the eight IMDEA Institutes participating in the programme (Software, Energy, Food, Materials, Nanoscience, Networks, Water, and Social Science) in one of the following two mobility types: "incoming" and "reintegration".

• "Experienced" fellows must have at least 4 years of research experience (full time) and a doctorate. (Only exceptionally applicants without a doctorate will be considered as eligible candidates.)
• "Very experienced" fellows must have more than 10 years research experience and occupy a position at the research leader level (e.g., Professor).
• "Incoming" fellows must be non-nationals/non-residents from Member States or Associated Countries.
• "Re-integration" fellows must be nationals from Member State or Associated Countries having carried out research in a Third Country for at least 3 years.

The average level of gross annual salary received by AMAROUT fellows is as follows:

• Experienced fellows: 48,775 euros
• Very experienced fellows: 76,667 euros

The final level of the fellowship depends on the experience of the fellow and on the particular IMDEA Institute.

AMAROUT fellows will enjoy the rights and benefits provided by the Spanish Social Security System, including: full health-care coverage, state pension, unemployment compensation, and maternity/paternity leave.

Committee
The AMAROUT Selection Committee consists of eight Evaluation Panels, one for each of the participating IMDEA Institutes. Each Evaluation Panel is formed by the Director of the Institute, three members of its Scientific Advisory Board, and two external, independent peer reviewers.

Each of the participating IMDEA Institutes has signed a Declaration of Commitment to the "European Charter for Researchers" and the "European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers". Therefore, the Selection Committee will abide to the principles of openness, efficiency, transparency, supportiveness, and international comparability stated in these documents.

Criteria
The main AMAROUT selection criteria is the candidate's demonstrated ability and commitment to research, as well as the match of experience and interests with the research theme and lines of the IMDEA Institute chosen by the candidate. Each candidate's merits shall be judged quantitatively as well as qualitatively. More specifically, the following criteria are considered:

• Applicant's CV: research experience, publications, skills and competences, impact and benefit of this fellowship in his/her research career, consequences of this mobility in his/her career. Candidates with career breaks or variations in the chronological sequence of career steps are welcome.
• Applicant's project: scientific/technological quality, originality, methodology, feasibility, relevance, and potential scientific impact within this Institute. Proposals that include unethical aspects or that inadequately deal with ethical aspects will be rejected. More specifically, FP7 rules on ethical issues will be followed.

Candidates will not be discriminated on the basis of gender, age, ethnic, national or social origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, language, disability, political opinion and social or economic condition.

Process
Applications to the AMAROUT programme are evaluated in batches according to quarterly cut-off dates. The selection process and its timing are as follows:

• after filing the application form, the candidates will receive an email confirming the reception of their application;
• applications will be opened within 7 days of receipt;
• applications will be formally evaluated within 30 days after closing the quarterly period of evaluation;
• candidates will be informed of the outcome of the scientific evaluation within 44 days after closing the quarterly period of evaluation;
• selected candidates will receive a contractual offer within 60 days after closing the quarterly period of evaluation.

Moreinfo: http://amarout.imdea.org