Fifteen fully-funded doctoral positions in Resolution Pharmacology, hosted across seven European countries. One application, up to three project choices.
We welcome applications from candidates of any nationality who are enthusiastic about conducting ambitious biomedical research in an international and collaborative environment.
We are particularly interested in candidates who:
Applications will be evaluated on scientific excellence, alignment with the selected projects, interdisciplinary potential, relevant research experience, motivation, initiative, flexibility and communication skills.
At the proposed date of recruitment, applicants must meet the following requirements.
Requirement 01
Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment. Candidates who have successfully defended a doctoral thesis but have not yet formally received the degree may also be considered ineligible under the applicable MSCA rules.
Applicants must possess the academic qualifications required for enrolment in a doctoral programme at the relevant degree-awarding institution. The precise degree and subject requirements may differ between projects and will be stated in each position description.
Requirement 02
Applicants may be of any nationality but must satisfy the MSCA mobility rule for the country in which their selected project is based. In general, an applicant must not have resided or carried out their principal activity, such as work or study, in the country of the recruiting organisation for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the recruitment date. Short stays such as holidays and compulsory national service are normally excluded from this calculation.
The mobility rule will be assessed separately for each project because HARPNET positions are hosted in different countries.
Requirement 03
Candidates must have sufficient proficiency in English to undertake doctoral research, participate in network training and communicate their findings. Individual host institutions may require formal evidence of English-language proficiency.
Requirement 04
Applicants must also meet any additional academic, technical or institutional requirements specified in the description of their selected project.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee shortlisting. Applications will subsequently undergo scientific and comparative assessment.
Candidates will complete one central online application and may indicate their first, second and third project choices.
Candidates should select projects carefully and explain clearly how their experience, interests and longer-term ambitions align with their choices. Applications submitted after the deadline or without the required documentation may not be considered.
Applicants will be asked to provide:
HARPNET will use a coordinated three-stage process to ensure that selection is efficient, consistent, transparent and based on merit. Vacancies will be advertised internationally, including through the HARPNET website, participating institutions and EURAXESS. MSCA-funded projects are expected to recruit internationally through open, transparent and merit-based procedures.
Candidates will submit their application through the HARPNET website.
The application will include:
Applications will first undergo an administrative eligibility assessment. This will confirm:
Eligible applications will then be assessed scientifically by the relevant supervisors using agreed consortium-wide criteria. Candidates will be evaluated on the quality of their academic and research profile, project fit, scientific potential, motivation, interdisciplinary outlook and ability to contribute to the wider network.
Because applicants may rank three projects, a strong candidate who is not shortlisted for their first choice may, with their agreement, be considered for another suitable HARPNET project. This centralised approach supports consistent assessment and enables applications to be considered across the network rather than by individual host organisations in isolation.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual interview, provisionally scheduled for late October or early November.
The virtual interviews will use a common assessment framework across the consortium. This will help ensure that candidates applying to different projects are assessed according to consistent principles.
The interview is expected to examine:
Candidates may also be asked to give a brief presentation or discuss a scientific question relevant to their preferred project. The exact format will be communicated in advance.
Following the virtual interviews, the panels will identify the strongest candidates for each project and agree on the candidates progressing to the final stage.
Candidates selected following the virtual interviews will be invited to attend a final in-person interview in London.
The London interviews will allow candidates to meet project supervisors and representatives from the wider consortium. They will also provide an opportunity for the selection panels to explore scientific fit, motivation and collaborative potential in greater depth.
The final stage may include:
The purpose of the in-person stage is not simply to repeat the virtual interview. It will assess how candidates engage with scientific discussion, respond to questions, communicate across disciplines and contribute to the collaborative culture of the network.
After completion of the London interviews, preferred candidates will be identified for each position. Reserve candidates may also be selected in case a preferred candidate is unable to accept the position or does not satisfy the host institution’s final appointment requirements.
HARPNET is committed to an application process that is:
Positions will be advertised internationally and will be accessible to eligible candidates of any nationality.
The principal eligibility requirements, application documents, assessment criteria and selection stages will be communicated in advance.
The mobility rule will be assessed separately for each project because HARPNET positions are hosted in different countries.
Decisions will be based on candidates’ qualifications, achievements, scientific potential, motivation and alignment with the relevant doctoral project and network.
A common assessment framework will be used across the consortium, while allowing panels to assess the specialist requirements of individual projects.
HARPNET welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Recruitment panels will be appropriately balanced and will seek to avoid conscious or unconscious discrimination. The consortium’s recruitment strategy explicitly commits to open, internationally comparable procedures and to supporting diversity and gender balance.
Selection decisions will not be based on nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or family status, socioeconomic background or other characteristics unrelated to the requirements of the position.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for candidates with disabilities or other accessibility requirements during the application and interview process.
As a HARPNET Doctoral Candidate, you will:
HARPNET’s recruitment strategy and training programme are designed to develop researchers who can work confidently across disciplines and translate discoveries from fundamental mechanisms to therapeutic innovation.
Candidates should:
Questions concerning the central application process should be directed to:
HARPNET Recruitment Team
Questions specific to an individual project should be submitted through the central recruitment contact rather than sent separately to multiple supervisors.
15 fully-funded doctoral positions
15 doctoral positions in Resolution Pharmacology across 7 countries.
