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Interview with Maria Ibars Serra

Radboudumc is Steppin‘ Up the support for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships

If you are a postdoc or a Ph.D. candidate who is about to graduate, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) is a fantastic opportunity for you. As one of the many instruments under the new European Framework Program for Research & Innovation Horizon Europe, it is a 2-year program that aims for the researchers to gain the necessary skills to run an independent research project. As a bonus, you get to do this in a new environment abroad that allows for unique experiences, new networks, and knowledge transfer.

Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) is now launching the Steppin’ Up program, which will train applicants to write a successful MSCA-PF application and prepare them for the experiences to come. As the 7th-ranking European participant in Horizon 2020 regarding ‘Health, demographic change, and well-being,’ Radboudumc very much appreciates the concept of the MSCA-PF and the knowledge transfer it will bring.

Maria Ibars Serra is a postdoc at the Radboudumc, department of Physiology, who was awarded an MSCA fellowship. She is now also involved in designing the Steppin’ Up program to help prospective fellows. Maria is from Catalonia, Spain. She moved to the Netherlands for her postdoc and now lives in Nijmegen with her husband and little son. She specializes in nutrition and metabolism. For her Ph.D., Maria studied polyphenols and their role on brain regulation of energy homeostasis in obesity.

Why Radboudumc?

“I was looking forward to applying my knowledge in the medical field but continuing my research on fundamental science, and also acquire a new set of skills” says Maria, when asked why she chose Radboudumc. She was thrilled to find a vacancy within the group of Prof. Hoenderop, with a link to nutrition and metabolism but from a molecular and mechanistic point of view. She also appreciates having access to vast patient data here at Radboudumc. Maria was supposed to spend a part of her fellowship period at the Jackson Laboratory in the USA, continuing her current work focusing on magnesium transport. But then, the pandemic hit. She is now looking forward to that new experience once our lives get back to a sort of normalcy.

When asked about the most important things the MSCA fellowship brought her, she replies: “The freedom to work on a project that I planned and designed myself and opportunities for training not only scientifically but also related to personal development.” Maria thinks that the Radboudumc provides a highly stimulating atmosphere with state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge research, close contact with patients, and many brilliant international and national researchers. And, last but not least, a very active group of postdocs, organized through the Radboud Postdoc Initiative.

Of course, life is not all about your workplace. So, what about the city of Nijmegen, where Radboudumc is located? Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands, with over 2000 years of history. Apart from historical sites and museums, Nijmegen also provides a vibrant social life, thanks to the large population of students. Maria says, “It is a big city with all the services, but it is not too big that it becomes stressful. Before corona times, there were a lot of (cultural) activities the whole year-round.” One of those activities is the famous Vierdaagse (Four Days) festival taking place every July. For the quiet types and nature lovers, there are also lovely natural areas close by, such as Ooijpolder and  Hatertse Vennen. After a short bike ride or walk, you can be alone in nature, enjoying the scenic Dutch landscape away from the city hustle.

Apply before 30 April!

If you are a highly motivated young researcher seeking stimulating experiences to develop yourself like Maria, MSCA-PF would be a good fit for you. And you are in luck because Radboudumc is more than happy to help you with the Steppin’ Up program. The program is aimed at both incoming and outgoing candidates. The support will include workshops and guidance from the Grant Support Office. Once you know what you want to work on and found a supervisor who can be the host, you can submit an Expression of Interest (Eol) before 30 April.

But first, Maria has some advice: “Show the outline of your project to your peers, brainstorming with them can be very useful before writing the whole proposal. Once you have a draft let other people read your proposal to get feedback. It will help to have a proposal that shows that your research is relevant, has societal impact, and can be implemented thanks to your work and the support of your hosts. Book enough time in your schedule to work full-time on the writing. In my case, it helped a lot that I was able to spend an entire month only on the writing. Although there is a limit of 10 pages, I also spent some time creating a visual overview of the project, which can help the readability of the proposal.“

Radboudumc is looking forward to welcome you!

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Research Training and career Postdocs Marie Curie Fellowship

About

Are you a postdoc or a PhD candidate nearing graduation looking to give your career a boost by working abroad? The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) might be of interest to you.

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About

Are you a postdoc or a PhD candidate nearing graduation looking to boost your academic career? Then a postdoctoral fellowship abroad might be of interest to you.

The MSCA-PF programme supports high-quality research across borders and offers an outstanding learning experience, extensive training options, and the chance to strengthen your international network, key elements for advancing your career at a leading institution in Europe or beyond.

Radboudumc opens an Expression of Interest for talented researchers from abroad who wish to apply for an MSCA-PF with Radboudumc as their host institution. Candidates must have identified a Radboudumc supervisor who is willing to host and support their fellowship project.

Potential fellows can submit an Expression of Interest to be considered for our support programme. Radboudumc offers selected candidates comprehensive guidance in preparing a competitive MSCA-PF proposal and support throughout the submission process.

Interested? Then sign up!

More information

Susanne Koot
Steppin’ Up program manager

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Outgoing candidates

Are you currently a researcher at Radboudumc and interested in an MSCA abroad? Then you will follow a slightly different route.

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Outgoing candidates

The MSCA-PF support programme is primarily intended for postdoctoral researchers who wish to join  Radboudumc. However, outgoing candidates – researchers currently at Radboudumc who are interested in applying for an MSCA-PF to conduct their fellowship abroad – may also receive our  support, particularly if their future host institution does not offer similar guidance.

The eligibility criteria for joining the MSCA-PF support programme are the same for both incoming and outgoing fellows.

Interested? Then fill out the Expression of Interest.

What is a MSCA-PF?

A two or three-year postdoc fellowship program in which you will develop the skills and competences necessary to start an independent researchproject.

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What is a MSCA-PF?

Obtaining a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) is a great opportunity if you are a postdoc and want to boost your career by working abroad.

The MSCA-PF is a two or three-year postdoc fellowship program in which you will develop the skills and competencies necessary to start an independent research career. All this in a vibrant environment that is new to you, where you not only gain knowledge and experience but also expand your international network.

Who can apply?

Interested and want to know who is eligible for this program?

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Who can apply?

We are looking for ambitious, excellent researchers who want to become part of our vibrant community and take research and their career to the next level. You must have a PhD degree at the date of the call deadline, i.e. in a possession of a doctoral degree, defined as a successfully defended doctoral thesis, even if the doctoral degree has yet to be awarded.

Recruited researchers must comply with the following mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.”

Please note: Via this website you are submitting an Expression of Interest to apply for consideration of support for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship and an intense support program to improve your grant application. This is not a job application.

Support program

Interested and want to know more about the support program?

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Support program

  • Contact with potential supervisor should be established first and a suitable scientific topic to be addressed in the MSCA-PF proposal should be identified and agreed upon.
  • After the Expression of Interest has been submitted before the deadline of 30 April 2026, you can participate in 2 workshops (12 May and 9 June); please note that the dates might change when the deadline is provided by the European Commission, so check this website regularly for relevant updates.
  • During the workshops attention will be given to all aspects of writing the proposal, covering scientific excellence, impact and quality and efficiency of the implementation.
  • A first draft proposal, should be submitted before 7 July 2026; it will be reviewed by Grant Support Office and feedback will be provided.
  • A final draft can be submitted before 12 August to the Dutch MSCA national contact point for additional and final review and feedback.

Preparation

Please note

You are submitting an Expression of Interest to apply for consideration of support for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships and an intense writing workshop to improve your grant application. This is not a job application.

Send your Expression of Interest Incoming and outgoing candidates

To apply fill out the attached application form before 30 April 2026.

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Interview with Maria Ibars Serra

Maria Ibars Serra, postdoc at Radboudumc and MSCA fellowship awardee, is now involved in designing the Steppin’ Up program to help prospective fellows. Curious about what she has to tell us? Read further!

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An MSCA-PF at Radboudumc

We offer a vibrant and collaborative research and training environment with more than 3000 researchers from more than 30 different countries.

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An MSCA-PF at Radboudumc

What are the benefits of an MSCA-PF at Radboud university medical center?

  • We are a top research institute positioned in the Netherlands, surrounded by beautiful nature and close to Germany
  • Ranked 7th of all European participants in Horizon 2020’s Societal Challenge ‘Health, demographic change and well-being’
  • We collaborate on the same campus with Radboud University, the best broad-spectrum University of the Netherlands, in several multidisciplinary initiatives including social and natural sciences.
  • We offer state of the art research facilities and have a high-end infrastructure in our Radboudumc Technology Centers
  • At the Radboudumc, we offer a vibrant and collaborative research and training environment with more than 3000 researchers from more than 30 different countries and a multitude of disciplines leading to the development and implementation of health and healthcare innovations based on research
  • We offer the specially developed MSCA-PF a support program in which you will receive guidance in the process of submitting a competitive proposal
  • Radboudumc Grant Support Office offers support beyond the MSCA-PF
  • At the Radboudumc we can offer our best postdocs, on one hand, tenure-track positions to obtain an independent research group leader position and on the other hand, staff scientist positions, who have a more internally oriented, methodologically supportive role in our research organization.
  • Radboudumc has an active postdoc community regularly organizing relevant activities, and the Postdoc office facilitates and supports the personal development of all postdocs. See Radboudumc Postdoc Council for more information.