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EMBL Interdisciplinary, International and Intersectorial Postdocs

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EI3POD (EMBL Interdisciplinary, International and Intersectorial Postdocs)

Reporting period: 2017-12-01 to 2020-11-30

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a center of excellence for basic research in the Life Sciences. The laboratory is funded by public research monies from its member states and operates across 6 sites in 5 countries in Europe (Heidelberg and Hamburg, Germany; Hinxton, UK; Grenoble, France; Rome, Italy; Barcelona, Spain). EMBL provides a truly interdisciplinary research environment with scientists with diverse backgrounds (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering etc.) and nationalities (over 80 nationalities are represented by its 1800 members of staff) collaborating to develop cutting-edge technologies and to answer important research questions. EMBL faculty also engage in a high number of external collaborations with laboratories from both academia and industry.

The EI3POD fellowship programme is embedded in the rich research environment of the EMBL. It builds on previously successful versions of the EIPOD programme offering supported researchers a broad choice of collaborative research opportunities in academia and industry. The programme is designed to nurture the careers of future research leaders via excellent scientific training, coupled to tailored training in transferable skills, mentoring and career development support. Fellows work on interdisciplinary research projects involving at least two EMBL group leaders. Additional external partners from academia or industry may also participate on EI3POD projects as defined by the research interests and career aspirations of supported fellows. Fellows with external partners may spend up to 9 months in the external partner lab providing them with additional training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

EI3POD fellows take part in a mandatory training curriculum focused on non-scientific research skills designed to provide them with ethical, societal and entrepreneurial awareness. They also have access to vocational and personal skills training courses via EMBL’s Professional Training and Development programme and Complementary Scientific Skills programme. Fellows received tailored mentoring from the groups involved in their research projects. They also have access to a dedicated career service to help them define their career goals early in their fellowship time and to prepare and execute an action plan to maximize their chances of realizing their goals.

The EI3POD programme aims to produce a cohort of well-trained, open-minded, industrially aware independent scientific thinkers and future leaders for the European Research Area. The fellows who benefit from the programme will be well placed to identify and pursue a range of career opportunities available to scientists in both the academic and corporate setting. They are expected to bring the benefits of their innovative training to their next positions thus acting as ambassadors following their time at EMBL. They will significantly enrich the European Research Area and beyond with their insights and expectations.
1) Calls for application and recruitment
Four open calls were advertised to an international audience of experienced researchers interested in high quality postdoctoral programmes. Both paid and free web-based advertising, print advertising (posters, brochure), social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook) and meetings and career fairs were used to promote the programme. Applications were evaluated via a transparent and defined procedure that included externals experts. Seventy-six experience researchers from 31 different countries participated in the EI3POD programme.

The EI3POD programme follows a bottom-up approach with candidates putting forward the research projects they are interested in working on. Fellows can work on projects involving two or more EMBL faculty which was the most popular project type in EI3POD. They can also have an external academic partner from another institute in addition to two EMBL faculty members. This was the second most popular type of project. Finally, fellows can work on industry-based projects involving two EMBL group leaders and an industry partner or on an applied project where EMBL’s technology Transfer arm (EMBLEM) would play a role. This was the third most popular type of project chosen by EI3POD fellows.

b) Support for fellows
Fellows are supported by a dedicated team during all stages of their interaction with the EI3POD programme. The EIPOD programme is under the direction of the Head of Internal Scientific Training/Dean of Graduate Studies. The programme has a full-time programme manager and career advisor. The programme manager is the main point of contact for EI3POD fellows for all questions that arise. Furthermore the programme manager supports fellows with travel and accommodation to visit partner labs located at other sites and coordinates the reporting obligations associated with the 3-year positions. EI3POD fellows also benefit from access to a career advisor and a dedicated career development service that provides individualized career advice, access to structured career information and career workshops and seminars.

c) Reporting
The reporting obligations as defined in Annex 1 of the grant were completed.

2) Mandatory training for all fellows
EI3POD fellows benefit from a dedicated training programme focused on non-scientific research skills designed to provide them with ethical, societal and entrepreneurial awareness.
EI3POD is an innovative research postdoctoral fellowship programme. The 76 fellows who take part benefit from:

• excellent scientific training
• training in the commercial side of science
• individualized career development support and mentoring
• excellent working conditions (competitive salaries, unemployment, pension, health care etc.)

The EI3POD programme enhances the career perspectives of supported fellows. Fellows develop skill sets that make them competitive on the job market. This includes excellent training and mentoring from the groups involved in their research projects. Furthermore, the career development service, including one-to-one access to a career advisor, provides a platform for fellows to explore career options and to take the steps needed to identify and realize future career goals.
EI3POD fellows make up approximately 25% of EMBL’s postdoctoral community) and thus have a major impact on postdoctoral training in general at the laboratory. The EIPOD programme has long served as a training ground to test innovative approaches in postdoctoral training. Successful formats have been subsequently made available to all Postdocs at EMBL. The institute is also recognized for developing and sharing successful training formats in postgraduate education with other institutes.

The EI3POD programme is committed to following the principals set out by the EU for human resources development as detailed in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers. EIPOD fellows receive a competitive salary and excellent social security benefits (including health insurance, pension, unemployment and family and children allowances if relevant). Flexible working times as well as part-time work options are also possible to foster a healthy work-life balance. EMBL has received the EU’s badge of excellence for the working conditions its fellows enjoy. Fellows will take with them the expectations of access to comparable conditions to their next place of employment.
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