Call
Call
Timeline
-
Recruitment campaign call opens: January 13th, 2025.
-
Recruitment campaign call closes: March 13th, 2025 (11:59pm) CET.
-
Evaluation and Selection: March-June, 2025.
-
Onboarding: July-August, 2025.
-
Fellowship start date: September 1st, 2025.
.png)
In support of equality and non-discrimination principles, gender, age, nationality, race, or any other discrimination or inequality issues will not be considered during the application and selection process.
​
Scientific/academic merits and excellence of the candidates are the only criteria for evaluation. To avoid that 'unconscious' or 'implicit' bias unintentionally influences judgements and opinions about others, the members of the Panels involved in the selection process will be properly trained and provided with instructions (guidelines for the evaluators) around how to be aware of potential biases . Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for the positions.
​
Eligibility criteria:​​
​
Mobility rule: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of the Employing Institution for more than twelve (12) months in the thirty-six (36) months immediately preceding the deadline for the programme call. Experience rule: researchers must be doctoral candidates at the date of recruitment, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the open calls. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. Recruited researchers must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. For the positions where a dual degree with RMIT University is applicable, researchers must also be enrolled at RMIT University at the time of signing their employment contract with the Employing Institute (EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country). Entry requirements at EU and AU universities are similar, being principally to have completed a Master's Degree or equivalent in a discipline related to the research topic; and provide evidence of English language proficiency. In cases where conditions differ between the EU and AU Partners, the least restrictive condition will cede to the greater to ensure eligibility at both organisations. Applicants must be able to agree to the conditions of the Fellowship, including an up to twelve (12) month research secondment to RMIT University. Recruited researchers can be of any nationality.
Who can apply?
The selection process is carried out in six (6) main steps over
seven (7) months duration (13th January 2025 - 13th July 2025).
​
Step 1: Online Application:​​​​​​​​
Applications must be submitted through the SlideRoom online application portal within the eight (8) weeks of the open Call (13th January 2025 - 13th March 2025). The online application process requires Applicants complete two main tasks: a) Creating the application profile: enter personal/contact details and choose the employing Partner(s) and research project(s) they wish to apply for. Applicants will receive an email acknowledgement with login details to access the online portal, a unique reference number for their application, and further instructions for completing the application. b) Completing and submitting the application: Once the online application process is completed (including uploading necessary documentation), the option to submit becomes available. Applications must be submitted before the Call deadline and will require the completion/upload of: . application form and declaration that of meeting the MSCA and mobility criteria; . scanned copy of valid photo ID (national ID, passport or equivalent); . curriculum vitae; . motivation letter; . scanned copy of official academic degree(s) and academic transcripts; . proof of English proficiency*; . two letters of recommendation; . optional 1-page overview of their Master (or equivalent) research project. In addition to this minimum eligibility criteria, Applicants must comply with the eligibility and admission requirements of the Research Host of their chosen position, as described in the corresponding position description and the Research Host websites.
.png)
Evaluation process
Step 2: Administrative Eligibility Check:​​​​​​​​
The DREAM + PLAN Management Team, will respond to all queries whilst the Call is open. After deadline, the Management Team will have 3 weeks to check that Applicants: •have provided all required information and documentation and meets the MSCA and mobility criteria. Once this check is complete, applications will be passed to the enrolling EU and AU Partner administrations who have 4-weeks to check applications: •meet the academic criteria for admission to the doctoral programs at both EU and AU; as well as English language requirements. Notifications and Appeals: Applicants experiencing minor issues with their applications (scans not fully legible, residency status unclear) or where further information is needed to evaluate eligibility, will be contacted by the DREAM+PLAN Project Manager and asked to provide further documentation within three (3) working days. Applications that are incomplete or do not meet all eligibility criteria will be rejected and will be immediately informed, by the Management Team, of this decision by email. The notification email will explain the grounds for rejection and details the procedure for appeal. Applicants will be given seven (7) days to lodge an appeal. Applicants cannot use the appeal process to submit documentation not submitted in their original application. Final decisions will be communicated to Applicants within 7 days of the Appeals deadline to enable successful applicants to be included in the next stage of selection.
Step 3: First Ranking of Applicants:​​​​​​​​
Applications passing the eligibility check will be forwarded to the corresponding Selection Panel who have four (4) weeks for evaluation and first ranking. Where Applicants have nominated more than one host/project combination, the application will proceed simultaneously in each of the selection processes. Evaluators will evaluate each application individually following the evaluation guidelines. Scores will be combined to produce a first ranking and shortlist of Applicants to be invited for interviews. Applicants will receive notification of the outcome. Appeals will be processed as described before.
Step 4: Interviews:​​​​​​​​
Applicants will be given multiple options for interviews. Given at least one Evaluator in each Panel will connect remotely from Australia, all interviews will be via videoconference. Interviews will take place over four (4) weeks, mindful that time zone differences allow only small windows each day for scheduling. Interviews will comprise two parts: a short presentation (template provided) and a Q&A session (questions will be identical for all Applicants) with discussion to explore suitability to the research. Applicants and Evaluators will be given the same Interview Guide detailing process and scoring.
Step 5: Final ranking and allocation of research positions:​​​​​​​​
The DREAM+PLAN Management Team compiles final rankings from the Selection Panels and produces a provisional allocation of positions to Applicants, first applying the final ranking of the Applicants provided by the Selection Panels and then each Applicants’ order of preference. The Programme Committee will review the final allocation to ensure that all protocols have been followed and all standards and requirements met. Final rankings should be completed no later than three (3) weeks following completion of interviews. All interviewed Applicants will be informed of the final results and given details of how to accept offers or appeal decisions. Top-scoring unsuccessful Applicants will be placed on a reserve list until positions are filled. Successful Applicants will have seven (7) days after notification of the results to accept the offer. If an Applicant rejects an offer, the position is offered to the next Applicant on reserve list.
Step 6: Onboarding:​​​​​​​​
Applicants accepting an offer should sign their employment contracts and take up their chosen positions within three (3) months of the date of acceptance. Incorporating flexibility is contemplated in justified cases (visa delays; additional institutional or national recruitment requirements; health or family situations; etc.). The DREAM+PLAN Project Manager will liaise directly with the designated Human Resources personnel at the employing Partner to manage the onboarding of the Selected Applicants. Queries may be raised and assistance sought, either by direct communication with the designated contact points or through the already familiar route of the DREAM+PLAN Helpdesk. All Implementing Partners offer tailored relocation, onboarding, and welcoming support to incoming international students.
Evaluation criteria
Please check the “Guide for Applicants” for detailed information..
​​​​​​​​​​
First Ranking: ​​​​​​​​
Evaluators will assess each written application according to the criteria in the table below. Individual scores will be averaged to give an initial score for the application. In case of considerable discrepancy (>25%), the Selection Panel may meet via video-link to come to a resolution. The Project Manager and Programme Committee may also be consulted to help reach consensus or ask an additional Evaluator to review the application. A first ranking list will be produced from average scores. Where Applicants obtain the same score, priority is given to those with highest Academic merit, followed by Research skills. All these being equal, priority will be given to persons from underrepresented groups (e.g. female applicants). The Selection Panel will set a cut-off score for passing to the interview round, which will be no lower than 3.5 and will allow up to 6 Applicants to be invited for interview. The Selection Panel’s ranking and proposed shortlist for interviews will be reviewed by the Project Manager, who with the approval of the Programme Committee may adjust the cut-off to allow more Applicants to be interviewed for the following motives: i) there are fewer than 3 Applicants invited for interview and there are Applicant(s) only marginally below the cut-off; ii) expansion would result in a more even gender balance in the shortlist; iii) the risk of the doctoral research position not being filled is raised because one or more Applicants selected for interview are in multiple selection processes and this one is not their first preference.
Criteria and weighting to be used by Evaluators for scoring of Applications (first ranking):
Interviews:
The criteria for scoring interviews are detailed in the table below. Evaluators score interviews individually. Scores are averaged to give overall interview scores. Immediately after each interview, the Evaluators deliberate the scroes and agree feedback comments, including any dissenting views, to be sent to the Applicant.
An opportunity to submit a request for redress will be available for applicants after each evaluation phase if they believe that the process or scores obtained are not fair. A period of 10 days will be given for the redress procedure after receiving the email informing of their eligibility, evaluation of merits or final ranking position after the interview stage. Requests must be sent by email to info@dreamplusplan.eu using the redress template. The Project Management Team will carefully review each redress request on an individual basis before taking a final decision. A maximum of 10 days will be given to communicate the result of the redress procedure. If the appeal is accepted, the application will be reviewed again. For the evaluation of merits, the application will be sent to different experts to contrast with the original evaluation to spot inconsistencies in the process.
Guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Click the FAQs button to read through some frequently asked questions and answers. If you have any further questions, please contact the DREAM+PLAN Project Team info@dreamplusplan.eu - we would be delighted to help !
_edited.jpg)