YUFE4Postdocs is an ambitious postdoctoral program launched by the University of Antwerp in a partnership with eight other universities of the YUFE alliance. It is co-funded by Horizon Europe’s Marie Sklodowska Curie program (GA 101081327). The project has the following objectives:
- attract excellent early-career researchers to the YUFE universities
- start or further develop research collaborations
- develop a novel training program for junior postdoctoral researchers
- support research that contributes to urban challenges linked to the alliance’s focus areas: digital societies; sustainability, citizen’s wellbeing and European identity
Two competitive calls resulted in the appointment of 55 international postdoctoral researchers at the YUFE universities.
The selection procedure was inspired by the principles of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), assessing applicants on a broad and qualitative set of criteria. The application files included a structured CV template in which applicants described their main achievement in (a) research, (b) teamwork & leadership, (c) community engagement and societal outreach (via dissemination and engagement with stakeholders or broader public). Further merits were to be indicated including publications, projects and conferences participation and knowledge valorization. The Structured CV was based on the narrative CV developed within the Horizon2020 supported YUFERING project.
The evaluation procedure comprised a thorough peer-review followed by a final selection by two interdisciplinary Selection Committees. These consisted of academics and a number of societal members of municipalities/business organizations or civil society organizations. They co-decided on the selection by assessing the potential contribution of the project to societal and/or economic impact.
The two cohorts of postdocs are now trained in a structured program featuring interactive stakeholder engagement seminars (all taking place in Antwerp) and joint transferable skills trainings online. Each postdoc is supported by a supervisors team, involving two academics and a societal stakeholders to follow up on the execution of their research training project, with a Career Development Plan as their individual roadmap.