Detailed Description of the PhD Application and Selection Procedure

The recruitment process for the Excellent Brains Postdoc Program consists of three steps:

Step 1: Eligibility, Written Application, Evaluation:

• Applicants must hold or anticipate a PhD degree before the contract is issued.
• Applications are submitted online via MS FORMS.
• Referees will be contacted via email and asked to upload their confidential reference letter via MS FORMS until the end of the deadline.
• All CoE KRs constitute the review panel. Applications are reviewed by 3 KRs, who score candidates (1-5) based on qualifications, research experience, motivation, intellectual engagement, and creativity. Only applicants with an average score of at least 3 proceed to the next step (the top 20% of applicants).

Step 2: Interviews and matching phase:

• Shortlisted applicants participate in an online interview with their chosen host supervisors and their lab members.
• Candidates and KRs submit mutual preferences, and only those who find a match are admitted to the Excellent Brain Postdoc Program.

Step 3: Research Plan development phase:

• Selection of the key co-supervisor: The postdoc and the primary KR discuss and select the most suitable co-supervisor from among the KRs of the CoE. Ideally, the co-supervisor will also act as a collaborator on the proposed research project.
• Research plan development: The primary supervisor and co-supervisor meet with the postdoc fellow to discuss the research plan that matches the scope of the CoE. Then, the postdoc fellow develops a research proposal, including detailed experimental plans. Creativity and independence are highly valued, and fellows are encouraged to incorporate new ideas and leverage their unique expertise.
• Approval: The Board of Directors reviews and approves the final research plan. Once approved, the postdoc fellow can begin their research project.

Postdoc start date: Flexible, from November 2025