Narrative CVs: (almost) everything you need to know

Narrative CVs are a new CV format that is being rolled out by several funders with the goal to help researchers share their varied contributions to research while moving away from metrics such as JIF and H-index in a consistent way. This session will focus on the background and different formats of narrative CVs and their potential to shape the future of research assessment. It will also show how the research community is engaging with this new CV format, and how the new mentoring platform for narrative CVs hosted by the MCAA (PEP-CV) will help those who are developing their first narrative CV.

Sustainability, what is being done?

More info coming soon.

MSCA Fellows Outside Europe: Challenges and Perspectives

Being the MSCA fellow is as rewarding as challenging. It is especially true for two categories of fellows: (1) European citizens, whose research projects suppose the outgoing phase outside Europe; (2) non-European citizens, who receive European research funding to carry out their projects in Europe and in a third country or in Europe only. Based on the data collected from the MCAA members of non-European MCAA chapters, we will reflect on the challenges the fellows of both groups encounter during the MSCA programs and comprehend on the ways how could we make their experiences even better.

How to Win a Competitive MSCA Global Postdoc Fellowship

The MSCA Global Postdoctoral Fellowship is a 3-year fellowship that facilitates research mobility between Europe and third countries with a return phase of 1 year at a European Institution. Do you have excellent research ideas with potential global impact? Then an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship can be a path for supporting your career development. Join this grant writing session and meet successful applicants, evaluators, and research officers to learn how to write a competitive MSCA grant.

MCAA Volunteering: your Career Catalyst

This panel aims to showcase the transformative power of MCAA volunteering opportunities on career trajectories. Our speakers will share practical examples, illustrating how volunteering within the MCAA community has led to significant positive impacts on their professional journeys.

The session will cover diverse experiences, from leveraging MCAA activities for a successful academic career to transitioning from fundamental research into a variety of other careers. Through these real-life narratives, attendees will gain insights into how volunteering can contribute to finding one's true vocation.

Furthermore, our panellists will provide a professional perspective from career advisors outlining the various skills that can be cultivated through volunteering activities. Attendees will learn the value of enhancing their CVs with concrete examples of acquired experience, making a compelling case for the impact of volunteering on career development. Whether you're seeking a career change or aiming for an academic path, this session promises to be a source of inspiration and practical guidance for maximising the benefits of MCAA volunteering opportunities.

The MCAA path on achieving inclusive Family & Career balance

This session focuses on actions taken to ensure all MSCA fellows work and thrive in a safe environment, where balancing career & family or making plans for a family is a realistic option. It highlights past and present good practices and achievements. It discusses current and future plans led the GEDI Family TF in collaboration with Policy and Surveys WGs, ReMO and the MSCA Unit, aiming at producing evidence-based guidelines for all MSCA participating countries. It also provides space for discussing new collaborations within the MCAA and with external partners to maximise impact generation.

Stakeholders within Citizen Science- Don’t forget the citizen

The academic world is often depicted as an ivory tower of the elite. Untouched by the ordinary (non-academics), researchers traverse through various fields of knowledge and have an irreversible impact on life. Yet, the research process mostly undermines the importance of the main players- the people! Black, brown or white- people are constantly (often crudely) transforming the world. This session explores aspects of including diverse groups of citizens to participate in research; and its importance in democratising Science, promoting equitable data access and reducing social barriers.

Funding opportunities under the MSCA Doctoral Networks

The MSCA Doctoral Networks (DNs) provide invaluable interdisciplinary training and work-experience opportunities, ensuring PhD fellows are equipped to become the future problem-solvers of Europe. DNs are also an alternative, often not explored, opportunity for early to mid-career researchers who are trying to become independent researchers and develop their own European network.

The session aims to:

1. Encourage alumni to apply for DN funding, giving tips and advice

2. Highlight benefits of DNs from those who’ve learnt from the past, present and envisage the future of MSCA DNs

Evolution of Intersectorial Brain Circulation in Doctoral Candidates

In past 10 years, mobility between industry and academia has extensively increased. Intersectorial mobility is more frequent and taken under consideration in both sides. Industrial sector is targeting and recruiting more talent among researchers, while the academic sector is easing these transitions, like MSCA call 2023 displayed regarding the recent changes in the eligibility rules (maximum of 8 years full- time equivalent experience in research academia, section 2.3.2.

This panel aims to discuss the evolution on the profile of Doctoral Candidates (DC), current trends in the mobility.