PSL Young Researcher Starting Grant - Call for proposals 2023

Envelopes will be allocated for operating and personnel expenses related to the winning researcher. It is specified that this sum may not be used in any way to pay the prize-winning researcher.

Projects must begin in the fall of 2023 and must last a minimum of 2 years and up to 4 years. If necessary, the funding may be used over a period of time to cover the hiring of a doctoral contract (in this case, this must be specified in the application).

The maximum amount granted will be €150,000 (including tax and management fees)

Eligible profiles  :

• Holders of research organizations whose doctoral thesis was defended less than 7 years ago, currently outside PSL, who are preparing a mobility operation towards PSL for a planned arrival as of the beginning of the academic year 2023;
• Researchers from outside PSL whose doctoral thesis was defended less than 7 years ago, currently being recruited by PSL for a planned arrival as of the beginning of the 2023 academic year;
• Tenured or contract researchers from PSL institutions (MCF or equivalent), or tenured researchers from research organizations within the PSL perimeter (CR or equivalent), recruited less than 2 years ago at the time of application.

Ineligible applicants are :

•  Researchers who have been granted an ERC

Other conditions of eligibility :

• The institution hosting the candidate must be a component school or associate member of PSL;
• The candidate's host laboratory must have a PSL institution as its main tutelage. Only candidates newly recruited as full members by a PSL component school may apply even though they are not attached to a laboratory under its main tutelage;
• The candidate's salary must be guaranteed for a minimum of 2 years, beyond September 2023 and for the entire duration of the project.

Selection criteria :

The main criteria are the scientific excellence of the project, its originality and its ambition. The level expected from candidates is that of the best in their field, and such that they must be capable within 2 to 3 years of obtaining a tenured position (institution of higher education or research organization - for those who are not yet tenured) and of being ERC laureates within 3 to 4 years.
The selection panel will evaluate the applications on the basis of its reading of the dossier and the reports of the international experts.

Requirements for submitting applications :

Projects must be submitted in two stages to the PSL Research Department (dir_recherche@psl.eu), with a copy to the research vice-president of the candidate's host institution.
Writing language:
- The application must be written in English;
- Letters of recommendation should preferably be in English in order to allow for international expertise;
- Letters of support from institutions may be written in French.

• Step 1 : Pre-submission

Submission by March 15, 2023 at the latest:
o Short abstract of 1/2 page
o Project keywords
o 3 names of potential experts

Note: The purpose of this pre-submission stage is to allow the PSL Research Directorate to become familiar with the candidates' subjects and themes in order to identify suitable experts. There will be no selection at this stage.

• Stage 2 : submission of complete projects

Sending by April 14, 2023 at the latest:
o Application form
o Detailed scientific project (no imposed format)
o CV
o Letter of motivation
o 2 letters of recommendation
o Letter of support from the management of the host institution that commits to host the candidate and specifies that his/her salary is guaranteed for a minimum of 2 years, beyond September 2023

The selection panel will be held in June 2023.