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Postdoctoral Fellow - Momentum MSCA Programme
Job Summary
Category
Post-doctoral Positions and Fellowships
Institution
HUN-REN Research Centre For Astronomy and Earth Sciences
Department
Konkoly Observatory
Number of Positions Available
1
Duration
2 Years
Could the duration be extended?
Yes
Work Arrangement
In-Person
In-Person Location(s)
Budapest
Hungary
Job Description
The Konkoly Observatory of the HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (Budapest, Hungary) invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in observational cosmology, as part of the Lendület large-scale structure research group led by Dr. András Kovács. The selected fellow will enjoy great conditions, provided by the Momentum MSCA Postdoctoral Programme of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, co-funded by the European Union's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme.
Some important conditions about the application:
- a detailed research proposal is required (8-10 pages, please leave time for this and contact the host group as early as possible)
- before the 31 May deadline, the host group leader and the applicant should both sign the application, after agreeing on a research plan
- applicants must be in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the call
- there is no upper academic age limit in the call
- MSCA mobility rules will apply (max 1 year in Hungary from the last 3 years)
- the selection will be done by an international panel
The host group’s main objectives include cosmic web analyses and cross-correlations with cosmic microwave background anisotropy maps. Candidates with a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics are encouraged to apply. The appointment is available for 2 years from January 2026, with the possibility of extension.
The fellow will participate in the simulations and observational analyses from multiple galaxy/QSO surveys, based on the group’s membership in the Euclid Consortium, the WEAVE-QSO survey, and the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) project at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Funded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the main objective of the group is to extend the mapping and cosmological analysis of cosmic voids and superclusters to un-probed, key redshift ranges, and study the growth of structure in such extreme cosmic environments.
Applications should be submitted via the Momentum MSCA website where further information is provided about all aspects of the process, including newsletters, webinars, etc. Inquires about the position should be sent to Dr. András Kovács via email ([email protected]). Complete applications should be received by the 31st of May 2025 for full consideration (please leave time to prepare the research proposal).
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation Type
Salary
Currency
365
Compensation Range
$42,000USD to $45,000USD
Included Benefits
Based on eligibility:
-
Relocation allowance up to gross 3600 €; one-time payment, that will be paid after the first three months of research at the host research group have been completed, along with the salary applicable at that time. For the criteria and document requirements for the Relocation Allowance, please refer to the Programme's Relocation Allowance Guidelines.
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Family allowance of gross 300 €/month, paid if the researcher has or acquires family obligations during the fellowship, i.e. persons linked to him/her by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognized by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalized; or (iii) dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher.
-
Special Needs Allowance: The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) pay particular attention to physical accessibility and inclusion of researchers. The MSCA foresee financial support for the additional costs entailed by recruited or seconded researchers/staff members with disabilities whose long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments are such that their participation in MSCA would not be possible without extra financial support. If a postdoctoral researcher wishes to request a Special Needs Allowance, they should contact [email protected]. The Secretariat of MTA, Hungarian Academy of Sciences will submit a formal request to the European Research Executive Agency (REA) on their behalf, who will assess the request. For more information, please refer to Special Needs Allowance details here: Management of the MSCA special needs in H2020 legacy grants and Horizon Europe grants.
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Depending on the internal rules of the host organizations, they may receive additional benefits such as discount on railways, cafeteria, contribution to leisure activities, etc.
-
Social security coverage will be guaranteed for the entire duration of the researchers' employment and during secondments.
Compensation Notes
The following salary and benefits package are offered to selected researchers who have signed and fulfilled the employment contract with Implementing Partners, host Research Groups:
-
Salary: super gross monthly 3980 €/month, that, after the compulsory employer’s deduction will amount to 3522 € gross monthly
-
Mobility allowance of gross 150€/month
Working conditions:
All Momentum MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme host institutions are committed to enforcing equal opportunities policies and have
-
established Gender Equality Plans;
-
equal working conditions regarding salaries, opportunities for training, access to grants and funding, research infrastructures;
-
flexi-time, home working will be guaranteed for all fellows across host organizations, with ongoing monitoring throughout the program if it is compatible with the operation of the host research groups and it does not undermine the implementation of the project.
Application Details
Application Instructions
The application process is organized by the Momentum MSCA programme and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, but the interested candidates have to agree on a research plan with the host group's leader. Please note that a detailed research plan must be attached to the application, which will require significant work to prepare. Contact the host group as early as possible before the 31 May deadline.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Requirements:
- Candidates of all nationalities may apply.
- All research fields covered by the Momentum host Research Groups are eligible from all three domains of science ranging from the History of literature to Neuroscience or Quantum physics;
- Applicants must be in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the Momentum MSCA call.
- Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be eligible to apply.
- The successful defence must be unconditional (no further requirements/corrections that need to be addressed) and take place before the call deadline.
- Supporting documentation will be requested and checked before contracting.
- A mobility rule will be applied: applying researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Hungary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the call’s deadline. *
- Researchers already employed at one of the Momentum Implementing Partners at the call deadline are not eligible to apply.
- Only candidates having submitted complete applications (including all requested compulsory information and documentation) in English through the online submission platform by the designated deadline, will be considered for further technical evaluation.
Evaluation and Selection Process:
- The evaluation and selection process of Momentum MSCA Programme will be in line with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers endorsed by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
- The organization and the composition of the different committees, panels for the selection will ensure an open, transparent and merit-based process, it will be objective, independent, free of conflict of interest: external expert evaluations, online interviews will be carried out taking into consideration gender and other diversity aspects.
- Freedom of choice of research, and transparency will be ensured by communicating all details of the selection procedure to the applicants.
- The selection process will include eight stages and then will be followed by negotiations and employment contracting.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Requirements:
- Candidates of all nationalities may apply.
- All research fields covered by the Momentum host Research Groups are eligible from all three domains of science ranging from the History of literature to Neuroscience or Quantum physics;
- Applicants must be in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the Momentum MSCA call.
- Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be eligible to apply.
- The successful defence must be unconditional (no further requirements/corrections that need to be addressed) and take place before the call deadline.
- Supporting documentation will be requested and checked before contracting.
- A mobility rule will be applied: applying researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Hungary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the call’s deadline. *
- Researchers already employed at one of the Momentum Implementing Partners at the call deadline are not eligible to apply.
- Only candidates having submitted complete applications (including all requested compulsory information and documentation) in English through the online submission platform by the designated deadline, will be considered for further technical evaluation.
Evaluation and Selection Process:
- The evaluation and selection process of Momentum MSCA Programme will be in line with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers endorsed by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
- The organization and the composition of the different committees, panels for the selection will ensure an open, transparent and merit-based process, it will be objective, independent, free of conflict of interest: external expert evaluations, online interviews will be carried out taking into consideration gender and other diversity aspects.
- Freedom of choice of research, and transparency will be ensured by communicating all details of the selection procedure to the applicants.
- The selection process will include eight stages and then will be followed by negotiations and employment contracting.
Link to Online Application
Publication Start Date
2025 Apr 11
Application Deadline
2025 May 31