30th Anniversary of the MSCA - MSCA postdoctoral fellowships: Learning to design impact, not just research
From preparing a competitive Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF) proposal to mentoring others through the MCAA Chapters, I learned that the MSCA PF is not just about funding a project, but about shaping a researcher’s trajectory. In this piece, I reflect on how structured guidance, mobility, and impact-driven planning have shaped my own thinking about research careers and contributed to my development as a more confident and independent researcher.
Every year, the MSCA PF call attracts thousands of highly qualified researchers from around the world. Its reputation is well deserved. The MSCA PF is not simply a funding scheme; it is a career-shaping experience that forces researchers to think deeply about who they are, where they want to go, and how their research can generate lasting impact.
The MSCA PF as a turning point in a research career
From my own MSCA PF journey, I can say with confidence that the fellowship fundamentally changed how I approach research. Prior to the MSCA PF, I saw projects primarily through a scientific lens: hypotheses, methods, and results. The MSCA PF forced me to expand that view. It required me to articulate why my research mattered, to whom, and beyond the duration of the project. Through my interactions with MSCA support structures, I have seen that successful MSCA PF proposals are not defined by the most ambitious technical claims, but by coherent narratives linking excellence, training, mobility, and long-term impact. They are about the researcher as a future leader, not only the science.
Designing a researcher, not only a project
One of the most valuable aspects of the MSCA PF is that it treats the researcher, not the project, as the central unit of evaluation. This understanding has also been shaped by my engagement with MSCA alumni and my own proposal development process. Advice on structuring the proposal using narrative tools such as the ABT framework (And-But-Therefore) resonates strongly with my experience. MSCA evaluators read dozens of proposals; clarity, flow, and purpose matter.
During my own fellowship preparation, learning to align the Impact section with my narrative CV and long-term career goals was transformative. The MSCA PF taught me to think strategically about skills acquisition, leadership development, and knowledge transfer. It forced me to define not only what I would do during the fellowship, but who I would become because of it.
Training, mobility, and independence
Another defining feature of the MSCA PF is its emphasis on training through mobility. Moving to a new research environment is not simply a change of location; it is an intellectual reset. Exposure to new institutional cultures, interdisciplinary collaborations, and alternative ways of thinking accelerates independence and maturity as a researcher.
Questions about host selection and mobility rules are among the most common concerns I encounter when mentoring applicants. My advice, based on experience, is simple: choose a host that challenges you, complements your expertise, and genuinely invests in your development. The MSCA PF is a partnership, not a transaction.
Planning for impact and feasibility
One of the most practical yet impactful lessons from my MSCA PF experience relates to planning. The requirement to develop a detailed Gantt chart, dissemination strategy, and exploitation plan may initially feel bureaucratic. In reality, it trains researchers to manage complexity and risk, skills that are indispensable across academia, industry, and the public sector. Throughout my mentoring and proposal-support activities, I emphasise the importance of setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives and distinguishing between short-term outputs and long-term outcomes. The MSCA PF encourages realistic ambition. It rewards proposals that demonstrate feasibility, awareness of European Union priorities, and a credible path to impact, rather than speculative promises.
Beyond the fellowship: Lasting impact
Perhaps the most enduring value of the MSCA PF lies in what happens after the project ends. The fellowship strengthens international networks, enhances visibility, and opens doors to leadership roles, funding opportunities, and cross-sector collaborations. It also embeds researchers within a wider community, exemplified by the MCAA, that continues to provide support long after the grant period. This lasting impact is also visible in the way MSCA fellows actively support and mentor the next generation of applicants. By bringing together National Contact Points, alumni, and prospective researchers through community-driven initiatives, the MSCA ecosystem demonstrates how fellows give back, strengthen collective expertise, and raise the quality of future applications.
Reflections from my experience
Looking back, the MSCA PF was not just a prestigious line on my CV. It was a structured opportunity to reflect, reposition, and grow. It taught me to design research with intention, to communicate across audiences, and to think of impact as a responsibility rather than an afterthought. For those preparing to apply, community-driven mentoring initiatives and peer-exchange spaces are invaluable. They remind us that, while competitive, the MSCA PF is also deeply human, built around curiosity, resilience, and the belief that research careers can be both excellent and meaningful.
