Iciq Severo Ochoa Predoctoral Fellowships for Researchers..

The **ICIQ Severo Ochoa Predoctoral Fellowships for Researchers Training**are aimed at exceptional graduate students from all over the world. These PhD studentships will support your enrolment in a training and research program in the field of chemistry, ultimately leading to the completion of a PhD in Chemistry in partnership with the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV).The PhD will be ascribed to the CEX2024-001469-S project funded by the ‘Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades / Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MICIU/AEI)’ in the framework of the 2024 ‘Centros de Excelencia «Severo Ochoa» y Unidades «María de Maeztu»’ call for proposals.

The PhD trainees will have the opportunity to receive comprehensive training in order to successfully prepare for their professional career in academia or industry. This objective is achieved by the following activities:

- The performance of each individual research project is aligned with one of the research lines of the ICIQ-Severo Ochoa Strategic Plan - Innovative Catalysis, Renewable Energy Vectors, and Molecular Medicine
- in a creative and stimulating scientific environment.
- The Thesis project will be supervised by two ICIQ Group Leaders (supervisor and co-supervisor) to ensure that the PhD student benefits from a multidisciplinary project and dual mentorship.
- Opportunities for short-term placements in distinguished international research institutions.

The process of evaluation and selection guarantees the principles of competition, publicity and transparency.

**I. Available positions**:See Annex

**II. Application process**

After completing the online form, applicants must attach the following documents:
a. A full **Curriculum Vitae** (maximum two (2) DIN A4 pages, in PDF format). It should include education, work or research experience, publications, conferences, grants and awards, other relevant merits and contact details for letters of recommendation.

Applicants should select only one Thesis project.

**III. Eligibility criteria**

The fellowships are addressed to graduate students from any nationality who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
b. Individuals who already hold a PhD degree, whether from a Spanish or foreign university, or those who have previously benefited from a predoctoral training fellowship under the ‘Plan Estatal de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica’ or any of the previous Spanish National Plans by MICIU/AEI are not eligible.

**IV. Evaluation criteria**

According to the 2024 ‘Centros de Excelencia «Severo Ochoa» y Unidades «María de Maeztu»’ call for proposals, the evaluation criteria are the following:
**V. Evaluation and Selection Process**

b. The selection will be based on the evaluation criteria described in Section IV.

d. All applicants will be informed of the final selection decision by early September 2025.

ICIQ follows in its selection processes a gender equality opportunity policy and a non-discrimination policy based on age, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, language and disability.

**VI. Fellowship Conditions**

a. The awardees of a ICIQ Severo Ochoa Predoctoral Fellowship for Researchers Training will be considered research personnel in training, and they will have an employment contract (a predoctoral contract), which is regulated in the Spanish Law 14/2011, of June 1st, of Science, Technology and Education.

b. The fellowship conditions are set out in the 2024 ‘Centros de Excelencia «Severo Ochoa» y Unidades «María de Maeztu»’ call for proposals, in the framework of the ‘Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023’. Articles 10, 11 and 29.

c. The fellowship includes the salary, the enrolment fees to a PhD program (up to 4 years) and funding to carry out short stays in other institutions, companies or universities abroad.

e. The gross yearly salary of the contract shall be split into 12 monthly payments and distributed as shown below:
The first year of PhD: 19,479.01 €/year

The second, third and fourth year of PhD: 24,348.77 € /year

The amounts are stated according to the ‘Estatuto del Personal Investigador en Formación (EPIF)’ rules and Article 10.4 of the 2024 ‘Centros de Excelencia «Severo Ochoa» y Unidades «María de Maeztu»’ call for proposals. They will be increased if the EPIF is updated.

The contract will take effect on the date when the awarded student joins the centre. The fellowship holders can become postdoctoral researchers during a postdoctoral training period (POP) if they defend their PhD thesis before the end of the fellowship. The total duration of both periods (doctoral and postdoctoral) cannot exceed 48 months.

The fellowship includes full social security coverage through the Spanish Social Security system, providing access to the Spanish public health care system and pension and unemployment benefits.

The fellowship holder is entitled to temporarily interrupt the fellowship under the circum