Letter to Members

17 Pages·2011·0.37 MB·English

November-December 2010-
1 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

November-December 2010-January 2011

Dear MCFA Member,
Welcome to a new issue of the Letter to Members with news concerning our
Association!
The MCFA Board

Contents
U
Life of the Association.........................................................................................................2
T T
Careers, funding, and networking opportunities...................................................................5
T T
Publications........................................................................................................................12
T T
The Speaker's Corner.........................................................................................................13
T T
Upcoming events...............................................................................................................13
T T
News in Brief.....................................................................................................................15
T T
National Groups and Mailing Lists.....................................................................................17
T T
November-December 2010-
2 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

Life of the Association
0B

MCFA Annual General Assembly his opinions on leadership from an
and Career Workshop institute’s point of view with examples on
the evolutions of a modern leadership.
20-21 November, Paris, France
Other talks include an insight overview on

current FP7 framework; a study on post-
From industry to management,
doc research and their career follow-ups
sharpening the translational by Chris Armbruster of the Max Planck
skills for the next step Society; tips on good practices in getting
research articles
Following last year’s
published by Caroline
success, MCFA
Ash, Senior Editor at
organised another
Science, and Pierre
career workshop,
Goldberg, Vice-
together with its
Director of the
Annual General
Association Bernard
Assembly, in a
Gregory, described
historically scholar
their extracurricular
quarter at the heart of
training projects for
Paris. Whereas the focus of the previous
PhD students with emphasis on the
workshop was on self-promotion, CV
translational skills for future industrial
shaping and interview s kills, this year, the
applications.
topics were instead aiming at
communication, leadership and With all these skills at hand, Kitty
management. Fehringer of the European Commission
urged Fellows to consult the portal of
Natalia Balcazar, founder of a company
Euraxess (http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/)
ENVIROpro and an ex-Marie Curie
for job vacancies, funding opportunities
Fellow, explained the qualities of a good
and services on mobility issues. Most of
management. In addition, she illustrated
all, this portal can also be used to enhance
different monitoring stages throughout a
individual’s profile visibility at European
project and visualising tools to make
and international levels.
collaborating partners aware of the
achievement status. This career workshop was very particular
by its active interaction between speakers
Guggi Kofod and Vanessa Dias-
and audience, often with pungent
Zuccarini, two MCFA members and
questions and constructive comments.
young principal investigators of research
The remarks from the audience gave
projects, gave advices on how to become
equally useful information, for example,
a PI and how to manage it based on their
other funding sources, criteria for certain
experiences. Inderjit Seehra, Diretor of
funding or how researchers should
the Human
prepare themselves for non-academic jobs
Resources at
from an industrial’s view.
University of
Cambridge, In all, this workshop has been very
also shared successful. Member fellows had the
November-December 2010-
3 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

opportunities exchanging their Moreover, the event is a unique chance to
professional experiences, obtaining discuss about Association’s life.
information on the administrative advices,
The Assembly has been opened by Guggi
or even, sharing their difficulties in
Kofod, Chair of the Association. Then,
personal lives on various practical subjects
the Activity Report of the year has been
like mobility, dual career and tax/pension
illustrated by Maria-Antonietta Buccheri,
issues.
Vice-Chair, and the Financial Report has
been presented by Eric Buchlin, the
Treasurer. If you were not present, but are
now curious to learn more about the
Reports, you can find them in the private
area of the website.
Following the two presentations, a short
debate took place: some participants asked
for more information about some MCFA
activities as Science Policy Group and
Although still uncertain where was their
National Groups. Many Fellows showed
best pitch in the European research-
enthusiasm about the MCFA and asked
related job market, member fellows were
for more involvement in MCFA activities!
surely motivated by this gathering and,
Also, new propositions arose from the
perhaps, a bit more relaxed after a boat
Assembly.
dinner and a night cruise on the Seine.
It was really nice (and rewarding!) to have
Nan-Chin CHU
such a feedback from the Assembly and
we hope that this year the MCFA will
Outcome of the Annual General continue to evolve and reach new goals. If
Assembly you are now willing to share your
experience as Marie Curie Fellow or if you
On a cold, but sunny winter day, the
wish to devolve some of your time to the
MCFA Board was glad to welcome
MCFA, please, contact us at the following
participants to the second MCFA
address: [email protected]. The
workshop on soft skills and to the MCFA HTU UTH
more we are, the more we can do.
Annual General Assembly.
A key moment of the AGA is the election
The workshop is meant to be an
of the new Administrative Board.
opportunity to enrich Marie Curie
Unfortunately, the quorum was not
Researchers’ portfolio of competencies
reached. Thus, the elections were not
with some training on complementary
valid. An Extraordinary General Assembly
skills. It is now at its second edition and
has been organised in Paris again on
the MCFA is already planning the third
January the 20th. You will find more in
one!
the next piece. Have a nice read!
During the same day, the MCFA Annual
Maria-Antonietta Buccheri
General Assembly took place. According

to the MCFA Statutes, the General
Assembly has to be organised once per
year. At that time, the elections of the new
Administrative Board take place.
November-December 2010-
4 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

Second General Assembly of Gianna Avellis
MCFA, and update on the Natalia Balcazar
change of Statutes
Maria Bostenaru Dan
20 January, Paris, France Maria-Antonietta Buccheri
As the first General Assembly in Eric Buchlin
November did not reach the quorum, we Francesca Casini
needed to organize a second General
Yegor Domanov
Assembly. The original plan was to
Diana Garcia-Alonso
organize this meeting at our notary's
office in Brussels, so as to finally validate Rui Pinto Guimaraes
the changes of Statutes. Unfortunately,
Anett Kiss
our notary changed his mind about the
Guggi Kofod
procedure we agreed on last year (and that
was suggested by the Belgian Ministry of Esperança Manuel
Justice!), and then it was too late to Erwan Lejeune
organize the second General Assembly at
Federico Montesino Pouzols
another notary's office. As a result the
Nusrat Jahan Mobassarah Sanghamitra
changes of Statutes can still not be
validated this year, and we have organized Fernando Perez Cruz
the second General Assembly (without a
Malte Rehbein
notary) at Institut Curie in Paris on
January 20, 2011. This Assembly has
A first meeting is planned in February.
approved the activity report, and the
Congratulations to the new board!
financial report and the budget. It has
Eric Buchlin
voted the discharge of the previous board,
and it has elected the new board members
(see below).
Membership renewal 2011
The changes of Statutes have also been
We would like to thank all of you who
(again) approved by the General
already renewed their membership for
Assembly, but these changes still cannot
2011 and also the new Fellows who have
be made valid because the law requires us
recently joined the Association.
to do so in front of a notary, with
conditions that are obviously very difficult We would like to remind fellows who
to meet for us. We do not understand why have not paid the membership fee for
the requirements of the Belgian 2011 to do it before 31 March. After this
administration for changing the Statutes date all non-paying members will be
of a non-profit organization are so strict considered “MCFA Affiliates”, with very
(and costly). If you have any experience limited access to the MCFA membership
about changing the Statutes of an benefits. If you are currently an Affiliate,
association in Belgium, please contact us. we invite you to upgrade your status to
Full Member. To do so, you only have to
New administrative board:
pay the fee for the current year.
Following the General Assembly on
Full membership benefits include access
January 20, 2011, the new board is
to the database of current and former
composed of:
Marie Curie Fellows (including contact
November-December 2010-
5 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

details, professional profile, and contract -Marie Curie Host fellows (EST, RTN,
data), access to the MCFA discussion ITN, TOK, EXT and IAPP) from FP6
forum, and access to internal documents and FP7;
(including administrative and financial
-recipients of Marie Curie reintegration
reports, meeting minutes, collaboration
grants (IRG and ERG);
documents). Furthermore, MCFA
membership entitles you to vote at the -Marie Curie fellows from FP 5
Annual General Assembly and to (Improving Human Potential - IHP) and
participate actively in decision making, FP 4 (Training and Mobility of
policy formulation, and contribute to Researchers - TMR);
MCFA publications. Full membership is
-individual fellows from the Human
also required in order to candidate for a
Capital and Mobility programme of FP3;
position in the Administrative or Advisory
Board. -individual fellows within one of the
programmes for Research, Training and
Membership fee is payable either by
Mobility of FP 2 or FP 1;
international bank transfer, PayPal or by
credit card on our website -fellows within a Research Training
(http://mcfa.eu/site/memberArea/fees. Network from one of the framework
pHTU hp). Please keep in mind that the MCFA programmes up to and including FP 5
memUTH bership is endorsed by the European whose fellowship had a duration of at
Commission and the annual membership least one year;
fee can be charged to the Marie Curie
-Considering the statutes of the MCFA
project (eligible participation costs).
"Any person not completing a Marie
Finally, if you know any other Marie Curie Curie fellowship or having held a Marie
Fellows in your institution, please invite Curie fellowship for less than one year can
them to join the MCFA. become a full member at the discretion of
the board". Therefore fellows with
MCFA membership is open to researchers
fellowships like IRSES are also welcome
who have benefited from mobility
to join the association; they just have to
research training grants by the European
make a request to the MCFA Board.
Commission:
Thank you for your support!
-individual Marie Curie fellows (EIF, IIF,
OIF, COFUND) from the 6th and 7th MCFA Board
Framework Programmes (FP6 and FP7);

Careers, funding, and networking opportunities
1B

Marie Curie Career Integration of researchers who are offered a stable
Grants (CIG) research post in Europe after a mobility
period in a country different from the
Marie Curie Career Integration Grants
country where the researcher has been
HTU UTH
are intended to improve considerably the
active during the past years. The duration
prospects for the permanent integration
of these grants is between 2 and 4 years.
November-December 2010-
6 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

Experienced researchers (with at least 4 Deadline: 14 March 2011 at 4 pm
years full-time postgraduate research
Further information and application form:
experience or a doctoral degree) of any
http://www.belspo.be/belspo/home/cal
nationality van apply who, at the time of HTU
ls/retour11_en.stm
the relevant deadline for submission of UTH
proposals, have not resided or carried out
their main activity (work, studies, etc) in
CEA Eurotalents
the country of their host organisation for
more than 12 months in the 3 years 'CEA Eurotalents' program of the French
immediately prior to the reference Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy
deadline. A researcher who has benefited Commission (CEA – Commissariat à
or is benefiting from a FP6 or FP7 l'énergie atomique et aux énergies
Reintegration Grant alternatives) is a European Commission
is ineligible for co-funded program aimed at increasing
funding under this and facilitating international mobility of
call. scientists in the following five research
domains:
Next deadline:
08 March 2011  Microelectronics, nanosciences
and nanotechnologies

 Energy, environment and climate
Return grants to Belgium for
change
researchers working abroad
 Science and technology of high
In the frame of the promotion of the
performance computing
European Research Area, the Federal
Science Policy has launched a programme  Life sciences and biotechnology
of return grants. These grants are aimed to
 High energy physics, high energy
promote the reintegration of highly
density physics and astrophysics
qualified Belgian researchers working
since at least 2 years in a foreign in which leading CEA laboratories
country.Eligible candidates must be contribute at the international level.
Belgian nationals OR having spent at least
Research scientists applying to this action
3 years in Belgium for R&D or higher
are expected to identify and develop a
education purposes, before their post-
research training project leading to
doctoral stay abroad.
increased professional maturity and
There is no difference between a stay independence, and enlarged scientific
inside the EU and outside the EU, but the competencies such as
stay abroad must be post-doctoral. These inter/multidisciplinary
mandates are granted for 24 months and research and research
on a full-time base. Concerned researchers management skills.
may propose a research project to be
In the context of advanced training and
performed in a Belgian research unit, in a
life-long training, the fellowship is
research team related a.o. to
expected to be part of a structured, long-
Interuniversity attraction poles (IAP) or
term professional development plan that
other research programmes financed by
is coherent with past achievements and
the Federal Authority.
November-December 2010-
7 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

clearly defines the researcher’s future related project or initiative at CRASSH
aims. during their two-year fellowship.
The program is set up for the period Essential criteria:
2009-2012 and will fund two types of  A good first degree and a
actions: doctorate in a relevant subject area
of the arts, social sciences, or
 Incoming CEA Fellowships (ICF)
humanities, the doctorate being
to financially support scientists
awarded not more than three years
selected by the program to initiate
before 1 October 2011;
and carry out an innovative
 Evidence of ability to engage in
research project in one of the
high-level research in an
CEA laboratories.
interdisciplinary context, with
 Outgoing CEA Fellowships publications and participation in
(OCF) to financially support scholarly activity commensurate
scientists with a research project in with stage of career;
a partner laboratory established  Evidence of ability and/or
outside France and that identifies
aptitude for organising and
a CEA laboratory as a return host
participating in collaborative
laboratory after the training period
research initiatives/projects;
to be funded.
 Native or near native competence
For the detailed eligibility criteria and the in English.
application procedure please visit:
Application deadline: 1 April 2011
http://eurotalents.cea.fr/
HTU UTH
Further information:

http://www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/page/102
HTU
Mellon/Newton 0/mellonnewton-fellowships-11-12.htm
UTH

Interdisciplinary Post-doctoral
Research Fellowships Nature Careers columnist
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competition
The Centre for Research in the Arts,
Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH) Nature's Careers section is pleased to
HTU UTH T
at the University of Cambridge is announce a new international competition
delighted to announce the first year of a to select 5 young scientist columnists for
five-year programme of interdisciplinary 2011. All currently enrolled science
postdoctoral research fellowships funded graduate students and working postdocs
jointly by the Mellon Foundation and the are eligible.
Isaac Newton Trust.
Over the course of the year, each
T
Applications are invited for two 2-year columnist will write 2 or more columns to
interdisciplinary Post-doctoral Research be published in Nature. Columnists will
Fellowships aimed at researchers working also be asked to write 3 or more online-
in any field of the arts, social sciences or only journal entries that chart their ups
humanities, starting in October 2011. The and downs through the year and describe
fellowships will enable post-doctoral how their experiences
fellows to consolidate their research and have shaped their
publication record while developing a future career choices.
November-December 2010-
8 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

We ask that applicants provide three Please email the cover letter, sample entry
T T
things: and CV as Word document attachments
to [email protected].
1. A cover letter explaining why you HTTU UTTH
T In the subject line, write 'Careers column
want to be considered and what would
contest' and state the country you are
make you a good columnist. Include your
based in and your discipline (example:
institutional affiliation, general area of
Careers column contest, Canada, cell
research, the focus of your graduate
biology).
degree, and how long you've been a
graduate student or postdoc.
2. A sample first column, 600 words The European Young
T T
long, that uses personal experience to Researchers’ Award
provide insight on a topic of great interest
to young scientists. The winning The European Young Researchers’ Award
T
columnists will likely have these entries (EYRA) is granted to researchers
published first (after some editing), so demonstrating outstanding research
they should be written as if they were to performance as well as deep insight of the
appear in the Careers section. European Research Area. The award aims
to inspire early stage researchers and
3. Your CV.
experienced researchers to think
T
For examples of past columns, including ‘European’ by incorporating the European
T
some from past Postdoc Journal keepers, level into their research. The Award is
see here: granted each year but the prize-giving-
ceremony is held every two years at the
http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/archi
THTTU Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) where
ve/col/2010.html
UTTH the two recipients will present their work.
http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/archi The Award consists of a Medal and a
THTTU
ve/prospects/2010.html Certificate. A part of the award will be
UTTH
monetary in the form of a travel and
For past journal entries, see here:
T accommodation grant for the stay in the
http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/archi
ESOF city.
THTTU
ve/postdocj/2011.html
UTTH Qualification Criteria
http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/archi T
THTTU
ve/postdocj/2010.html  The research needs to have a link
UTTH T
to the European Research Area, to
The deadline for applications has been
T have a clear European dimension.
extended — it is now March 14, 2011.
It can be a collaboration of
The applicants will be judged by a panel researchers in different European
T
that includes Careers editorial staff and countries or a research project in
past Postdoc Journal keepers. Applicants one European country that
must commit to submitting regular addresses a research topic of
contributions, whether columns or journal European significance.
entries, for one year regardless of any
 The candidate does not need to
changes in student or employment status. T
have a European nationality but
Columnists are not paid. The winners will
he/she should work in a
be notified by late March.
European country.
November-December 2010-
9 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

 The definition of young researcher -explicitly comment on any
T T
in this context is all persons specific circumstances that would
preparing a PhD and who are make the award particularly
enrolled in her/his first PhD appropriate.
studies at the time of the
These two letters should be from
application deadline (for the T
individuals well qualified in the field, at
uneven years 2011, 2013 etc) and
least one of whom not associated with the
researchers having successfully
research itself.
defended their first PhD with up
The call for candidates is published in
to five years of experience after
T
February each year and the deadline for
their PhD (for the even years
submission this year is 22 April 2011.
2012, 2014 etc). There will thus be
one person awarded each year. Please find further information on:
T
http://www.euroscience.org/european-
 The application should be in THTTU
T young-researchers-award.html
English. UT
All nominations received will be
Application procedure and documentation T
T considered by, and voted upon, by the
 Cover page. Selection Committee.
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 Up to two pages A4 describing the Please submit the PDF application
T T
research and its European electronically via email attachment to
dimension [email protected] or PDF file on
HTTU UTTH
CD sent to the address:
 1 page CV, including statement of
T EUROSCIENCE
prizes/awards already received. 3
T
1 quai Lezay Marnésia
reference persons with contact
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F - 67000 Strasbourg
details.
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Name the nomination file as “last name-
The abovementioned documents should
T
T first name-date”.
be included in a single pdf-file. In addition
candidates must supply: Please note that your application will be
T
published on Euroscience’s website.
 Two letters in support of the
T
nomination consisting of no more
than 1 page A4 (it can be a letter
Role Models wanted from Marie
from the reference persons
Curie women Fellows
mentioned in your CV or other
persons linked to your research).
m-WiSET (Mobile Women in Science,
They should:
Engineering and Technology)
-describe why the candidate (http://mcfa.eu/site/public/workingGro
T HTU
deserves this award, ups.php) is the working group funded in
UTH
-comment on the specific 2006 inside the Marie Curie Fellows
T
research, Association aiming mainly at promoting
-explicitly comment on the quality and encouraging mobility amongst women
T
and relevance of publications from scientists.
the research work,
The Working Group will help raise
-explicitly comment on your
awareness of the different career obstacles
T
teamwork experiences,
November-December 2010-
10 January 2011 MCFA Letter to Members

faced by women researchers when they Contact details:
consider to uptake mobility programmes.
Dr Gianna Avellis
Basic questions arising from our m-
WiSET group are whether mobility Tecnopolis CSATA
effectively enhances the scientific career Training Division
and which difficulties are envisaged + 39 080 4670374
and/or actually encountered at all stages + 39 080 4670363
of their mobility programmes. Our [email protected]
HTU UT
activities are also in the field of women
Dr Nusrat Sanghamitra
participation in SET, career development,
excellence, decision-making. Institute for Integrated Cell-Material
Sciences
Aims of m-WiSET:
Kyoto University
1. Promoting mobility among [email protected]
HTU UTH
women scientists
Central e-mail: [email protected]
2. Empowering women scientists in HTU UTH
europe and discouraging
discrimination and marginalisation
Researcher’s Visa for third
3. Fostering gender equality and country nationals
scientific excellence in set
The Researcher’s Visa is a directive which
4. Encouraging the promotion of outlines guidelines regarding what rights
equality policies at national and European countries should give to
european level researchers from third countries (third
country researcher, TCR) who want to
This year the m-WiSET WiS working
take up research positions in Europe. It is
group intends to investigate on the issue
proposed that a work and residence
of Role Models inside MCFA, taking into
permit should be awarded to the TCR,
account the relationship with glass ceiling
and that the visa should also permit
issue, to publish a booklet of MC women
European-wide travel. This is typically a
Fellows, starting from the biography of
simple matter due to the Schengen
Marie Curie herself. The aim of this
agreements.
booklet is to mention and promote the
knowledge of the large heritage of We should be proud and happy whenever
scientific culture that women have built third country researchers choose Europe,
up during these years since the foundation which in the big world-wide battle for
of Marie Curie Fellows Association. Last minds happens too rarely. Europe also
but not least the aim is also to raise knows itself as the Social Union, and we
awareness especially in young researchers should therefore be able to offer TCR’s
on the career paths that could be taken the best social conditions.
and see success stories encouragements
In practice, the Researcher’s Visa does
for their current research.
face up to what is implied by the Social
We welcome MC women Fellows to Union. Not all countries have joined the
participate to the m-WiSET WiS working Schengen agreement; therefore
group and to send one page of their participation in conferences, even within
achievements of the current CV to be the EU, is made difficult. When TCR’s
included in the booklet. arrive with a spouse and children, typically