Periodic Reporting for period 1 - R2STAIR (R2 boosting your postdoctoral career in Prehistory at IPHES)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2023-04-30
IPHES-CERCA develops the complete research lifecycle in Prehistory and Human Evolution studies by encompassing fieldwork, data processing and analysis, publications, postgraduate training, public science and cultural heritage enhancement. The complete research lifecycle in Prehistory and Human Evolution has been already completed by IPHES-CERCA in a number of sites (Sierra de Atapuerca, Barranc de la Boella, Abric Romaní, Camp dels Ninots).
These processes are providing, at different scales, evidences of scientific, social and economic impact, as examples of how Prehistory and Human Evolution Studies can be lead to Public-Private Partnerships for Tourism Master Plans or intersectorial innovation and development projects.
The aim of R2STAIR programme is to hire eight (8) researchers who defended their doctoral thesis less than 4 years ago (considering the deadline of the call), corresponding to R2 (Recognised Researcher) profile according to the European Framework for Research Careers. The general objectives are:
1.- IPHES’ attraction of the the best researchers boosting the development of their research careers, offering them outstanding training and research opportunities in the field of Prehistory and Human Evolution.
2.- Boost the career prospective of 8 junior R2 fellows, providing them a professional experience in a whole research lifecycle in Prehistory and Human Evolution studies, as is usually carry out by the Beneficiary.
These processes are providing, at different scales, evidences of scientific, social and economic impact, as examples of how Prehistory and Human Evolution Studies can be lead to Public-Private Partnerships for Tourism Master Plans or intersectorial innovation and development projects.
The aim of R2STAIR programme is to hire eight (8) researchers who defended their doctoral thesis less than 4 years ago (considering the deadline of the call), corresponding to R2 (Recognised Researcher) profile according to the European Framework for Research Careers. The general objectives are:
1.- IPHES’ attraction of the the best researchers boosting the development of their research careers, offering them outstanding training and research opportunities in the field of Prehistory and Human Evolution.
2.- Boost the career prospective of 8 junior R2 fellows, providing them a professional experience in a whole research lifecycle in Prehistory and Human Evolution studies, as is usually carry out by the Beneficiary.
R2STAIR programme has successfully evaluated and selected eight (8) R2 researchers with their own projects, with supervisors by IPHES-CERCA researchers and from other institutions abroad. Gender balance has been achieved with four (4) women and four (4) men.
R2STAIR programme is now providing to the fellows a first-hand experience in multidisciplinary research and intersectoral collaboration with international Partner Organizations (Research Institutes, Universities, Museums, and City Councils) that will host specialised secondments and short and medium stays.
The research projects of the fellows, with its supervisors, are focused on these specific subjects and lines of research: Zooarchaeology, Lithic technology, Paleoecology and Paleoanthropology.
The fellows are now benefiting from training, mainly focused in non-research oriented transferable skills at international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary, such as:
- Introduction to IPHES’ procedures on research integrity.
- Open Access and Data management best practices.
- Dissemination, public engagement and communication skills, exposing them, to non-academic environments.
- Musealization in Prehistory and Human Evolution.
- Heritage enhancement processes: Management of archaeological parks, didactic activities and amenities on cultural tourism, combining natural and archaeologic heritage.
- Grant writing to prepare applications adapted to their professional needs as R3 researcher.
R2STAIR programme is now providing to the fellows a first-hand experience in multidisciplinary research and intersectoral collaboration with international Partner Organizations (Research Institutes, Universities, Museums, and City Councils) that will host specialised secondments and short and medium stays.
The research projects of the fellows, with its supervisors, are focused on these specific subjects and lines of research: Zooarchaeology, Lithic technology, Paleoecology and Paleoanthropology.
The fellows are now benefiting from training, mainly focused in non-research oriented transferable skills at international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary, such as:
- Introduction to IPHES’ procedures on research integrity.
- Open Access and Data management best practices.
- Dissemination, public engagement and communication skills, exposing them, to non-academic environments.
- Musealization in Prehistory and Human Evolution.
- Heritage enhancement processes: Management of archaeological parks, didactic activities and amenities on cultural tourism, combining natural and archaeologic heritage.
- Grant writing to prepare applications adapted to their professional needs as R3 researcher.
At fellow level, the training programme is having a great impact on the culture of research in all the fellows. The fellows are benefiting from IPHES’ experience in hosting postdoctoral fellows, interdisciplinary and intersectoral expertise of its senior staff and their network of (inter)national collaborators. Hands-on training on the usage of scientific instrumentation is provided by the corresponding laboratory responsible at IPHES-CERCA and Partner Organizations.
At organisational level, the programme is having an impact on IPHES-CERCA and the partner organizations in:
- Development high quality human resources, giving the fellows new tools and training to empower them to become independent researchers. Their hosting in IPHES research groups will exposed them to numerous disciplines and their interplay, fostering excellent researchers and the development of a highly qualified work force.
- Boosting R&I capacity among participating organisations, performing secondments provided by participating organisations in interdisciplinary and collaborative research. These will lead to innovative and cross-sectorial research lines and will increase the creativity and interdisciplinarity of the institutions and, consequently, their research and innovation capacity, of which the fellows will be benefited.
- Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines. The mandatory secondments (minimum 2 months, maximum 4 months) will reinforce the intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Strengthening of international and intersectoral collaborative networks, not only among the PO (Research Institutes, Universities, Museums and City Councils) but also take advantage of the network of the fellows and different participants in the programme.
At system level, the programme meets the objectives of both ‘New Skills and Jobs’ and ‘Youth on the move’ flagship initiatives of the EU 2020 Agenda and EU 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on strong development of transnational learning and employment mobility, researcher mobility across sectors, countries and disciplines and seek stronger links between academia, research and innovation. The objectives are being met by:
- Improvement in the working and employment conditions for researchers in Europe at all levels of their career, starting from the doctoral stage.
- Strengthening of Europe’s human capital base in R&I, training the fellows to evolve to a R3 profile, helping them to improve their professional profile and their employability.
- Increasing Europe’s attractiveness as a leading destination for R&I, as 2 of the fellows are from no UE countries (Argentina, China).
- Contributing to Europe’s competitiveness and growth, training a next generation of innovative and interdisciplinary scientists working on a whole life-cycle in Prehistory and Human Evolution (Fieldwork, Data processing and analysis, publications, postgraduate training, public science and Cultural Heritage enhancement). This will change their minds, empowering their own scientific agenda and fostering their careers with a clearbenefits for the European Research Area, contributing to Europe’s competitiveness and growth.
At organisational level, the programme is having an impact on IPHES-CERCA and the partner organizations in:
- Development high quality human resources, giving the fellows new tools and training to empower them to become independent researchers. Their hosting in IPHES research groups will exposed them to numerous disciplines and their interplay, fostering excellent researchers and the development of a highly qualified work force.
- Boosting R&I capacity among participating organisations, performing secondments provided by participating organisations in interdisciplinary and collaborative research. These will lead to innovative and cross-sectorial research lines and will increase the creativity and interdisciplinarity of the institutions and, consequently, their research and innovation capacity, of which the fellows will be benefited.
- Enhanced cooperation and transfer of knowledge between sectors and disciplines. The mandatory secondments (minimum 2 months, maximum 4 months) will reinforce the intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Strengthening of international and intersectoral collaborative networks, not only among the PO (Research Institutes, Universities, Museums and City Councils) but also take advantage of the network of the fellows and different participants in the programme.
At system level, the programme meets the objectives of both ‘New Skills and Jobs’ and ‘Youth on the move’ flagship initiatives of the EU 2020 Agenda and EU 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on strong development of transnational learning and employment mobility, researcher mobility across sectors, countries and disciplines and seek stronger links between academia, research and innovation. The objectives are being met by:
- Improvement in the working and employment conditions for researchers in Europe at all levels of their career, starting from the doctoral stage.
- Strengthening of Europe’s human capital base in R&I, training the fellows to evolve to a R3 profile, helping them to improve their professional profile and their employability.
- Increasing Europe’s attractiveness as a leading destination for R&I, as 2 of the fellows are from no UE countries (Argentina, China).
- Contributing to Europe’s competitiveness and growth, training a next generation of innovative and interdisciplinary scientists working on a whole life-cycle in Prehistory and Human Evolution (Fieldwork, Data processing and analysis, publications, postgraduate training, public science and Cultural Heritage enhancement). This will change their minds, empowering their own scientific agenda and fostering their careers with a clearbenefits for the European Research Area, contributing to Europe’s competitiveness and growth.