The European MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE Innovative Training Network (ITN) OptiVisT ("Optimal support of Visually impaired individuals through inclusive Tests and Tools for testing, training and augmenting functional vision") is a collaboration between 15 European labs and companies in the field of translational vision science and technology. We offer 15 (3-year) full-time PhD positions. This network has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 955590.

You can apply for one (or more) of the OptiVisT PhD positions on our project page on Workable.  In Workable, please submit:

• a letter with a statement of your motivation for a specific project (1-2 pages);
• a copy of your CV, and;
• the contact details for 2 referees (name, work address, phone, email) through the application form.

IMPORTANT: At the top of your motivation letter, make sure to indicate your nationality and country of residence over the last 3 years. Without this information, we cannot accept your application.

In the form, you'll have the possibility to indicate your preferred project, amongst multiple positions of interest (if applicable). 

You can apply for Project 10 only. Application still need to be submitted through our project page on Workable.

Qualifications

The candidates we are looking for should:

1. Have a strong interest in vision (psychophysics, eye-tracking, VR, non-invasive electrophysiology, neurological and ophthalmic disorders), computational approaches to vision science, deep learning and/or biologically motivated computer vision.
2. Be passionate about doing research and have or be willing to develop the skills to communicate this passion with other scientists and the general public
3. Have relevant skills and experiences, and a strong interest in both theoretical and applied science
4. Welcome the opportunity to conduct research abroad and to work within an international and multidisciplinary team
5. Hold a MSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (which can be, but is not limited to, biology, experimental and clinical psychology, medicine, physics, movement sciences, artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics)
6. Be an eligible candidate according to the eligibility conditions indicated below

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant apply. Only applicants who comply with the following conditions will be considered: conditions of mobility and experience.

Conditions of mobility

Researchers are required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment. One general rule applies to the appointment of researchers in a network:

At the time of appointment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.

Example A: a French researcher has moved to the Netherlands for the first time and has carried out research there for the last six months. He can be appointed by a team in the Netherlands.

Example B: a German researcher has spent 11 months in Germany just prior to his appointment. Before that period she’s been working in the UK for 3 years. Thus, she can be appointed by a team in Germany.

Example C: a Spanish researcher is doing his 2-year research master in Denmark and expects to graduate there in 2021. He cannot be appointed by the team in Denmark.

Conditions of experience

Early-stage researchers (PhD students) are those who are, at the time of selection by the host institution, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate (as a PhD student), either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged.

Example D: a researcher has graduated with a first degree in biology in 2013 and would like to start her Ph.D. in 2016. She is eligible as an ESR within the ITN as she has less than 4 years of research experience and no PhD.

Example E: a researcher obtained her PhD after 3 ½ years. She is not eligible as an ESR within the ITN even though she has less than 4 years of research experience. 

Selection procedure:

The recruitment procedure consists of the following five stages:

Phase 1: Initial selection / assessment (March '21)

After you have submitted the requested documents we will evaluate your application based on the EU eligibility criteria (see above). In case you pass initial selection phase, we will assess you on: (i) program and relevant research skills, (ii) current knowledge and expertise of the field, (iii) capacity and motivation to participate in high-level international and inter-sectoral research training program, (iv) creativity and the level of independence, (v) evidence of exceptional academic performance, (vi) expected impact of the OptiVisT research training on the candidate’s future career. 

Phase 2: Essay-based assessment (early April '21) 

In case you pass Phase 1 (i.e., you've been selected as one of the top-ranked candidates), you will be invited to write a 2-page (max) essay related to an OptiVisT project of your choice. As an indication, from experience we know that successful candidates in previous selection rounds spend about 2 days on writing and revising their essay. In order to submit the essay, you can simply reply to the e-mail with the invitation and include the essay as an attachment. The document will then be uploaded in Workable automatically​. ​

Phase 3: Remote interview (late April '21) 

In case you pass Phase 2 (i.e., you've written a high quality essay), you will be invited for a remote interview with a local selection committee at the host of your preferred project. 

Phase 4a: Scientific Presentation (late April '21 - early May '21)

In case you pass Phase 3, you will be invited to give a scientific presentation on your precious research Work.

Phase 4b: OptiVisT Start-Event (25-27th of May '21)

In case you pass Phase 4a, you will be invited to the OptiVisT Start Event to meet the OptiVisT consortium at large, i.e., meet the PIs of the other projects, consortium partners, External Advisory Board members, the other prospective ESRs and current members of the various participating labs. The event will take place virtually.

Phase 5: Final selection (June '21)

At or soon after the recruitment event, the final selection will be made.