MSCA-Postdoctoral Fellowship

MSCA-PF stands for Marie-Skłodowska Curie Action - Postdoctoral Fellowship and is funded by Horizon Europe, EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. It is a two-year research and career development programme where the fellow  moves to a new country.

The candidates apply with their own research proposal in any field of research, supported by a supervisor at the host university. Secondments at other research facilities, companies or the public sector can be conducted. Training and career development activities are an integral part of the programme in addition to the research project.

The highly competitive grant provides an allowance to cover living, travel and family costs. In addition, the European Union contributes to the training, networking and research costs of the fellow, as well as to the management and indirect costs of the project.

You can read more about the call on EU’s funding and tender portal.

Note: The applicant will write the application with the support of the host organisation. If the MSCA application with Linnaeus University is successful, the applicant is expected to move to Sweden and work on site, at Linnaeus University.

Formal requirements (Eligibility)

• External researchers, meaning that you have not lived or worked in Sweden more than 12 month in the last three years. Cut-off date  is 10 September 2025. 
• You must have a PhD at the application deadline, on 10 September 2025, or at least the document confirming that you have defended your PhD thesis successfully.
• You must have a maximum of 8 years full-time experience in research. This is calculated from the date of the doctoral degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (for examaple due to parental leave) can be deducted. If you are a citizen or long-term resident in an EU or associated country, then time spent outside Europe can also be deducted. However, all extensions need to be documented and will be checked.

These formal requirements are strictly applied by the EU Commission. If you have any questions, please contact us for help.

We expect you to take a very active part in writing the MSCA proposal. This includes to take part in the workshops, keeping internal deadlines, and exchange with your supervisor(s).

Field of research for the Expression of Interest Programme

The centres and knowledge environments describe their research fields below, including names of potential supervisors. Importantly, your research idea should fit into their field of interest, in addition to the criteria above. If you cannot find one yourself, the research environments will assign a suitable supervisor to support you and your project.

Note: It is always the supervisor who decides who they accept as candidate in this programme. 

Linnaeus University has an expression of interest programme at selected centres and knowledge environments. Each of these environments have dedicated researchers who are interested in becoming supervisors in an MSCA grant and who will support fellows in their respective field of study. The programme is organised in collaboration with the Grants and Innovation Office (GIO) at Linnaeus University.  

The deadline for your expression of interest and the contact person can be found below.

Expression of interest programme in pdf

Infomation sheet in pdf

What we offer in the Expression of Interest programme?

• Early contact with your supervisor and co-supervisor(s)
• Lively and welcoming research environments
• Support when writing the application, such as time planning, commented templates, detailed feedback both from researchers and MSCA experts
• Help with contacts to companies, organisations and other research groups

Together with your great research ideas, your ambition and your engagement when writing the proposal, we aim to help you to write a proposal with higher chances to succeed.

During the programme, you will learn about proposal writing from professional support staff. Furthermore, the contacts you make with our researchers during this process can pave the way for further collaborations and alternative ways of funding in the future.

Linnaeus University offers a dynamic and supportive environment for researchers and is an attractive choice for researchers looking to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact.

Diverse Research Opportunities: The university covers a wide range of research subjects, with over 100 research areas and more than 30 doctoral student subjects. This diversity allows researchers to explore various fields and collaborate across disciplines.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Linnaeus University emphasizes interdisciplinary research, integrating education and collaboration to address societal challenges. This approach fosters innovative solutions and broadens the impact of research.

Prominent Research Environments: The university hosts several Linnaeus University Centres, which are internationally recognized for their high-quality research. These centres provide a stimulating environment for cutting-edge research.

Support for Researchers: Researchers at Linnaeus University benefit from comprehensive support services, including assistance with research applications, budget planning, and coordination. . This support helps researchers focus on their work and achieve their goals.

Sustainable Development Focus: The university is committed to sustainable societal development, making it an ideal place for researchers who want to contribute to a sustainable society.

International Networks: Linnaeus University has well-established international contacts, prioritizes international exchange, and offers opportunities  for global research cooperation. 

• LNUC-DISA - https://lnu.se/en/research/research-groups/linnaeus-university-centre-for-data-intensive-sciences-and-applications/
  Contact diana.unander@lnu.se
  
  
• LNUC-EEMiS - https://lnu.se/en/research/research-groups/linnaeus-university-centre-for-ecology-and-evolution-in-microbial-model-systems/
  Contact hanna.farnelid@lnu.se 
  
  
• LNUC Concurrences - https://lnu.se/en/research/research-groups/linnaeus-university-centre-for-concurrences-in-colonial-and-postcolonial-studies/
  
  
• Knowledge Environment - Education in Change - https://lnu.se/en/meet-linnaeus-university/knowledge-environments/education-in-change/