Call for Researchers

DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFER

TALENT4RURALSCIENCE PROGRAMME will train researchers in the areas of sustainable development, natural resources management, innovation in health, technology for rural development, education, inclusion and community development, thus contributing to rural development and to the Spanish and European context of research and innovation.

TALENT4RURALSCIENCE offers 10 full-time contracts for international postdoctoral researchers through an international public call for applicants. Postdoctoral researchers will carry out a 36-month project, freely chosen by them within the objectives and topics described in the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme.

The projects will be carried out at one of the 9 University Research Institutes participating in the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme at the University of Extremadura and will also include at least one compulsory secondment at an international academic organisation and another at a non-academic organisation (both for a period of between 3-6 months), which will contribute to broadening the researchers’ training experience and their exposure to different learning environments.

Each researcher will have a supervisor at the University of Extremadura and co-supervisors at each of the associated partners where they will carry out secondments to support their professional development with an Individual Career Development Plan (ICDP) that will guide researchers in achieving their scientific and professional development goals. All researchers will benefit from the training programme with specific scientific modules and others on cross-cutting skills.

RESEARCH TOPICS

Research topics that postdoctoral researchers can work on within the framework of each of the challenges defined for the TALEN4RURALSCIENCE programme:

Challenge 1

Sustainable development and natural resource management

Research Topic 1.1: Assessing land degradation neutrality and land abandonment trade-offs across Europe
Research Topic 1.2: Desing and evaluation nature based solutions for the adaptation and mitigation to climate change of silvopastoral systems
Research Topic 1.3: Sustainable Valorisation of Agri-Food Plant By-Products for Novel Ingredients and Functional Food Design

Challenge 2

Innovation in health and technology for rural development

Research Topic 2.1: Pharmacological aspects of Equality and Inclusion in Extremadura
Research Topic 2.2: IoT and Distributed Computing for Health Improvement in Rural Environments
Research Topic 2.3: Quality and safety of animal origin foods
Research Topic 2.4: Personalized Medicine Program for Prevalent Diseases for rural development

Challenge 3

Education, inclusion and community development

Detailed information on each research topic can be found in ANNEX I: RESEARCH TOPICS.

HOST INSTITUTION

The UNIVERSITY OF EXTREMADURA (UEx) is the main public research institution in Extremadura (Spain) with 4 university campuses. It has more than 24,000 students and 2,405 researchers and professors.

UEx has extensive laboratories and state-of-the-art research infrastructures. The Campus addresses high levels of excellence in teaching and research activity, knowledge transfer to the productive sector and entrepreneurship, as well as the dissemination of science and innovation to society, producing a high socio-economic impact within a cross-border campus of international dimension.

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTES

These are centres dedicated to research related to science, technology and technology, human and social sciences, as well as artistic creation, which encompasses all the areas of knowledge that exist at the UEx. They also provide technical advice around their competence.

The University Research Institutes have a transdisciplinary nature, an integrating function of different areas of knowledge and a high level of specialisation, bringing together researchers and research groups immersed in related and/or complementary research that can generate coherent research structures, facilitating collaboration. between researchers, enabling access to scientific infrastructures and attracting, as far as possible, researchers from other universities, research centres and/or countries, at the same time cooperation with other R&D centres should also be encouraged in both public and private.

UEx has 15 University Research Institutes, including two mixed.

Below is a list of the University Research institutes at the University of Extremadura participating in the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme and their main workplaces.

Name of the Research Institute where the research activity will be carried out	Main workplace within the University of Extremadura
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF HERITAGE RESEARCH	URI buildings (Cáceres)
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF BIOMARKERS FOR MOLECULAR PATHOLOGIES	URI Buildings (Cáceres/Badajoz)
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF THE DEHESA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EXTREMADURA	University Center of Plasencia (Plasencia)
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND PROSPECTING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EXTREMADURA	URI Buildings (Badajoz)
RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND DEVELOPMENT	URI Buildings (Cáceres)
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF APPLIED INFORMATION TECHONOLIGES RESEARCH	URI Buildings (Cáceres)
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF BIOSANITARY RESEARCH OF EXTREMADURA	URI Buildings (Cáceres)
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH	URI Buildings (Badajoz)
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS	Faculty of Veterinary (Cáceres)

TRANSVERSAL SERVICES THAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE UEX AS A HOST INSTITUTION

More information about the cross-cutting services available at UEx to postdoctoral researchers, such as the Cultural Services Secretariat, the University Office for Cooperation and Solidarity Action, the Coexistence Committee, the University Social Responsibility Office, the Healthy University Office, the University Office for the Environment, the Office for Equality, the Social Action and Assistance Service, and the Religious Assistance Service: www.unex.es

REQUERIMENTS

To be eligible to file an application, researchers will have to comply with all the following eligibility criteria:

Individuals eligible for this grant can be of any nationality but must comply with the MSCA mobility rule: not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain (the host country) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding the deadline of the program’s call.
Be in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the co-funded program’s call. The date of defence and approval of the thesis is considered as the date of award of the doctoral degree.
Meet the minimum legal age required for establishing an employment contract and not have reached the legally established retirement age.
Have the functional capacity necessary for the performance of the position subject to the call.
Not have been separated through disciplinary proceedings from the service of any public administrations, nor be under disqualification for the performance of public functions by a final judgment.
Not have been previously employed under a doctoral research personnel access contract, in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 of Law 17/2022, of 5 September, amending Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on Science, Technology and Innovation in the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System, or under the extinct contract modality, when the total cumulative duration of all contracts signed, in the same or different entities, including that corresponding to the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme (with a duration of 36 months) , exceeds 6 years, or 8 years in the case of applicants applying under the provision for persons with disabilities. More information on this can be found in the ‘EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS’ section of the Guide for applicants to the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme.

All of the above requirements must be met on the date of submission of the expressión of interest. No additional or supplementary information will be accepted after the deadline for submission of expression of interest.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The application process consists of two phases:

Phase A of the application process (Expression of interest).

In Phase A of the application process, the following documents must be sent for the expression of interest in PDF file to the email address: info@talent4ruralscience.eu

(Email subject: Name and Surname_Expression of Interest – TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme)

Expression of interest: including personal details, the research topic they are applying for, and the scientific proposal to address that research topic, following the template provided.

Affidavit of compliance with the MSCA mobility rule: using the template provided.

Affidavit of not having enjoyed a contract as a doctoral research personnel or under an extinct modality of contract within the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System. If applicable, the candidate must prove proof of employment for the period of said contract by means of a certified document attached to the expression of interest, using the template provided.

Copy of doctoral degree.

Complete curriculum vitae. In free format, including the following information:

Include articles published in scientific journals, books or chapters of scientific and technical books, patents granted or licensed, conference presentations, awards, mentions and distinctions, contributions to society, including technological development activities, innovation, dissemination, collaboration with industry, the private sector, public institutions, and other end users of research.

Include information on stays at national and international centers and the candidate’s contributions to the lines of work of the center and group(s) with which they have worked, as well as the importance for their own lines of research and, where applicable, the results obtained during these stays.

Include information on actions related to international programs and projects, especially those related to predoctoral and postdoctoral international mobility, as well as participation or funding in projects and contracts carried out in international collaboration.

Include information on participation in R&D&I projects as a researcher or principal investigator, supervision of doctoral theses, and any other relevant scientific and professional experience.

To complete your CV, please take into account the evaluation criteria, which can be found in section of the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Guide for Applicants.

Only documents in English language will be accepted (except for the copies of official the academic degrees).

At this stage of the application process, it will be verified that the candidate meets the eligibility requirements and has provided all the above documentation, duly completed.

A confirmation email will be sent to the applicants when the expression of interest is received. Expression of interest sent after the deadline will not be accepted. Expression of interest not including all the necessary documentation will be considered ineligible and therefore eliminated from the process. Applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria may be declined without further review. All applicants will receive an email confirming their eligibility or informing that they are ineligible according to the eligibility criteria. Applicants have the right to request a redress if they will consider there was a procedural flaw during the eligibility check. The list of admitted and excluded candidates will be published on the program website and University of Extremadura website, ensuring a transparent process and equal opportunities.

Phase B of the application process.

Candidates who meet the requirements for phase A will be invited to participate in the University of Extremadura’s TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Call for Researchers, where they must submit the following documentation.

Application form in the format provided.
Copy of identity card or passport.
Curriculum vitae including the requested information.
Documents proving compliance with the requirements established for the call for applications.
Documents proving the merits presented.

All detailed information regarding phase B of the application process will be sent by email to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and have passed phase A of the process. It will also be published on the project website (www.talent4ruralscience.eu) and on the University of Extremadura website (www.unex.es).

Applicants who have been invited to phase B will be informed of the documentation to be submitted, where to submit it and the deadlines, and will be provided with the required templates.

The scientific-technical proposal sent by candidates will be evaluated at this stage according to the evaluation criteria found in the ‘EVALUATION CRITERIA’ section of the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Guide for Applicants.

The expected date for applying for the University of Extremadura’s TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Call for Researchers (phase B of the selection process) can be found in section ‘APPLICANTS AND SELECTION TIMETABLE’.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION TIMETABLE

STEP 1:

Open call for Expression of Interest

Feb – Mar 2026

STEP 2:

Elegibility check

Apr 2026

STEP 3:

Application to UEx TALENT 4 RURALSCIENCE Call for Researchers

May 2026

STEP 4:

Scientific-technical evaluation of applications

Jun – Jul 2026

STEP 5:

Selection of the candidates

Aug 2026

Publication of results of selected postdoctoral fellows

Sep 2026

Signing of contracts and immigration procedures

Oct 2026 – Mar 2027

Postdoctoral researchers join the University of Extremadura

Mar 2027

Note that these dates may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. We therefore recommend that you check the website frequently.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

Postdoctoral research will be hired under the terms of a contract for access to doctoral research personnel, in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 of Law 17/2022, of 5 September, amending Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on Science, Technology and Innovation, on a full-time basis for a fixed term of up to 36 months from the start date of the contract.

FULL TIME CONTRACT	36 months
LIVING ALLOWANCE*	3,736.18 €/month
MOBILITY ALLOWANCE	3,499.92 € maximum
FAMILY ALLOWANCE (if applicable)	101.13 €/month
TRAVEL ALLOWANCE	50,000.04 € maximum
RESEARCH COSTS	9,000 € maximum

The above amounts are calculated based on current taxes costs and may be subject to change during the duration of the contract.

* The net salary will be the amount resulting from subtracting the living allowance, the contribution to personal income tax + the employee’s share of social security contributions in accordance with the personal circumstances of each postdoctoral researcher hired.

More information about Social Security System Contribution, Redundancy Compensation and Personal Income Taxes in Spain: https://www.euraxess.es/spain/news/understanding-msca-funding-and-researcher-salaries-spain-new-guide-fecyt

TRAINING

Training for postdoctoral researchers in the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE program is divided into three areas, as detailed below:

Area a). Researching Transversal Skills
Area b). Specific training for individual research project objectives
Area c). Training to improve science for rural development and talent retention

Description	Modality of implementation
Area a). Researching Transversal Skills
10 compulsory individual hours a year (30 hours)	Virtual/In-person
10 compulsory individual hours a year (30 hours)	In-person (Summer schools)
Area b). Specific training for individual research project objectives
20 compulsory individual hours a year (60 hours)	Virtual/In-person
Area c). Training to improve science for rural development and talent retention
10 compulsory joint hours a year (30 hours)	In-person (Summer schools)
10 compulsory hours a year (30 hours) in EU brokerages and networking events for EU projects and/or participating in networking local activities	In-person

CONTACT INFORMATION

For any information about the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE programme, please contact by email: info@talent4ruralscience.eu

All the information about the call for researchers can be found in the TALENT4RURALSCIENCE Guide for Applicants.

CALL DOCUMENTS AND TEMPLATES

Phase A of the application process:

Phase B of the application process:

The information will be available soon.