RECRUITMENT

IGNITION Doctoral Network (DN) offers 13 PhD positions fully funded by the European Union’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). This MSCA-DN action is distributed across 10 host institutions in 8 different European countries (Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, Poland).

AIM

To advance knowledge in neuroimmunology and neurodegeneration having as a model anti-IgLON5 disease, a human disease where both disciplines are intertwined.

We are a European consortium ready to train the new generation of young resilient and passionate researchers, equipping them to become experts and future leaders in the fields of neuroimmunology and neurodegenerative diseases.

Our doctoral programme brings together complementary expertise in neurology, neuropathology, neuro-immunobiology, fluid biomarkers, OMICs, basic science, and animal models of autoimmune disorders. Doctoral Candidates (DCs) will be enrolled in the study of one, or more than one, scientific question.

WHAT do we offer?

Our multidisciplinary doctoral programme integrates cutting-edge techniques, leading academic expertise, entrepreneurship, and patient organizations to address critical challenges in understanding, diagnosing, and treating neuroimmunological and neurodegenerative diseases.

Each selected DC will receive a 36-month PhD employment contract to fulfil an Individual Research Project, which includes an international secondment.

All DCs will join a research group and benefit from high-level supervision throughout the project’s implementation. In addition, they will have access to a wide range of training and career development opportunities of their choice, such as the participation in IGNITION’s own Network Schools

The project culminates when the PhD thesis is defended.

WHO can apply?

Candidates from any nationality are welcomed to apply, but all applicants MUST meet the following criteria:
Academic background

Not hold a doctoral degree.

Doctoral program

Be eligible to enrol in a university doctoral program in the European Higher Education Area.

Mobility rule

Applicants must not have resided or carried out the main activity in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior the recruitment deadline.

Have a good English level

You can refer to the Guide for Applicants or contact us for any doubts.

You can refer to the Guide for Applicants or contact us
for any doubts at IGNITION@recerca.clinic.cat

HOW to apply?

If you comply with all the eligibility criteria, you can complete the online
application form. Recommendations BEFORE fulfilling the form:
STEP 1

We recommend you downloading and checking out the Form Template available in advance, so you can better prepare your answers. Bear in mind that there are several steps and it takes time to complete.

STEP 2

We recommend checking the Guide for Applicants and other documents that may be relevant in the end of this website.

STEP 3

We recommend examining the Individual Research Projects before starting the online application form, as you can select only three different Individual research project (IRP) priorities (check below). Please consider that you must be eligible in terms of mobility for each of the hosting labs leading the chosen IRPs.

VIEW AND CHECK DOCUMENTS

Once the online application form has been finished, an automatic Pdf file will be generated and sent to your e-mail address. To finalize the application, you must send this document to IGNITION’S Project Management  IGNITION@recerca.clinic.cat along with the academic records.

Please check the Guide for Applicants for more information.

HOW is the evaluation process?

IGNITION partners will guarantee that the selection process complies with the Open, Transparent, and Merit-Based Recruitment (OTM-R) guidelines, as well as the MSCA Guidelines for Inclusion of Researchers at Risk, and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (CCRR).
  • 1

    Once the candidate is confirmed to meet the eligibility criteria, which is mandatory to comply, the application will be sent to a gender-diverse Selection Panel, composed of two supervisors and another relevant member of the individual research project.

  • 2

    First step: background evaluation – the Selection Panel will assess the following features and provide merit points for each one.

  • 3

    Second step: online oral interviews – all candidates that obtain a minimum score will proceed to the interview with the Selection Panel.

  • 4

    A standardized evaluation will aid the Selection Panel to reach a final decision. Note that those candidates that were not chosen will form a “reserve list”. Selected candidates will have 1 week to accept or reject the formal offer.

Individual Research Projects

DC1

Advancements in clinical understanding and treatment of anti-IgLON5 disease.
(IDIBAPS)

DC2

Understanding contributions of adaptive and innate immunity in neurodegeneration.
(EMC)

DC3

Multiparametric analysis of biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in anti-IgLON5 disease and other tauopathies.
(UKSH)

DC4

From Lab to Market: Developing diagnostic kits for antibodies against cell surface antigens and leveraging new biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases.
(Biosystems)

DC5

Dissection of cell-intrinsic and cell-nonautonomous anti-IgLON5 disease mechanisms in vitro.
(HT)

DC6

Neuropathological studies on anti-IgLON5 disease human brains and other neurodegenerative diseases
(MUV)

DC7

The mechanisms of tau pathological spreading in anti-IgLON5 disease.
(UC)

DC8

Connecting scRNAseq to CyTOF single cell proteomics in anti-IgLON5 disease. Involvement of lysosomal cathepsins and legumain in tau cleavage using iPSC-derived neurons treated with anti-IgLON5 antibodies.
(PWR)

DC9

Anti-IgLON5 disease animal model: Passive transfer of anti-IgLON5 antibodies in a humanized MAPT knock-in mouse.
(UC)

DC10

Anti-IgLON5 encephalopathy induced in mice by active immunization and therapeutic approaches.
(IDIBAPS)

DC11

Study of the prognostic value of IgLON5-ab subclasses and pathogenic effect on muscle cells.
(MUV)

DC12

Crosstalk between IgLON5, binding partners and synapse in health and disease.
(CNRS)

DC13

In vivo mechanisms of IgLON5 antibodies on learning and memory consolidation.
(UKJ)

TRAINING PROGRAM

IGNITION is a training program designed to foster the next generation of neuro-immunologist leaders empowered to explore ground-breaking ideas and fuel innovation to solve urgent challenges in the field.

The training program is based on the Principles of Innovative Doctoral Training

Providing research excellence, attractive institutional environments, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral elements to enhance future career opportunities, international networking, and quality and sustainability measures to maximize impact.
 

Doctoral Candidates will receive technical training and supervision in performing their cutting-edge, high-quality and original individual research projects at the leading host institutions and industrial partners.

 

Our advanced programme is structured in Modules:

Module 1 – Scientific and research skills

Doctoral Candidates will receive institute-specific training and doctoral program.
This local training includes Hands-on courses, Seminars and external local training activities.

There are more than a dozen online training events and conferences planned throughout the IGNITION project, where different partners will be the hosts. Some of them include Career planning, bioinformatics, mindfulness in workplace, communication, among others.

Each institution holds different courses to enhance soft skills, such as experiment design, scientific communication, and statistical methods.

Four annual doctoral schools of about 3-4 days duration, will be organized to enhance the complementarity and collaboration among network members, including Doctoral Candidates, supervisors, and academic and industrial partners. In addition to scientific modules, the training will incorporate complementary and transferable skills. Team building and strategies for exploiting research results will also be included.

Doctoral Candidates, Supervisors, invited experts and External Advisor Group (EAG) will meet annually online for 2-3 days to monitor the progression of Doctoral Candidates individual projects with presentations, identify problems and propose solutions, among others. Additionally, the feedback from the DCs will be evaluated through an informal talk named “The PhD experience: achievements, challenges and doubts”.

Doctoral Candidates, will participate in different congresses throughout the project.

All Doctoral Candidates will participate in secondments ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months as outlined in the planned secondments within the Individual Research Projects. Furthermore, additional short visits between network members will be encouraged for a more effective knowledge exchange.

The Career Development Plan (CDP) ensures that they are not only equipped with deep research expertise but also with the skills, strategies, and resources needed to succeed in diverse career paths after completing their PhD. Moreover, they will participate in mock interviews to receive feedback and refine their skills, as well as training on building a professional online profile, or other interesting skills.