After PMT was established, Open Call was prepared and the A2M2TECH dedicated website was created. 291 profiles were created, from 31 different countries, on our project website (www.a2m2tech.org.tr). 79 applications out of 291 passed the eligibility check. SEC and Interview Panel Members were selected. 22 ESRs were selected as a result of the selection process. 20 out of 22 ESRs completed their paperwork and arrived in Türkiye. One of them could not come to Türkiye because he could not obtain the necessary permissions to leave Pakistan. Another one joined us with a delay as the process of obtaining a Türkiye visa was prolonged. ESRs who started taking the selected courses at their hosting institutions and their details were uploaded into the portal. After the ESRs settled in Türkiye and started taking their Ph.D. courses,1 ESR failed to pass some of the courses and was dismissed by the Middle East Technical University (ParyaTeymoory, ESR 16). We continued with 20 ESRs. In May 2023, one of the ESRs; namely Abid Ullah - ESR 12, left Türkiye and the project without any permission. Also, ESR 13, KashifAzher, resigned on the morning of 21 August 2023 and left the project due to family problems. Therefore, now we have 18 ESRs recruited.
Detail of the Work Performed
Establishment of A2M2TECH Designated Website
A comprehensive and dynamic website was designed, finalized, and has been in use. Profiles and applications were made/collected through the special “Application Form” generated.
The website address is: www.a2m2tech.org.tr
In line with our principle, as published on our website, a job ad/open call was posted in the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) with a view to encouraging female researchers. Similarly, the same job ad was posted on “Find a Ph.D. website (www.findaphd.com)” without any gender discrimination. 54 applications were received from female applicants. Only 2 of them were included in the 44 best-ranked applications. 1 female applicant rejected our offer after being selected. Additional information is given below.
Open Call & Job Alert were published in EURAXESS and on the website as reported in the delivery reports. Social media where the A2M2TECH project was published: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram and YouTube. The A2M2TECH introduction video link was also published on our YouTube channel.
Job alert was also published on the Find a Ph.D. website.
Information on the project was also published on the hosting Institutions’ websites.
Launch Event took place on 21 September 2021 Media: On-line / Microsoft Teams meeting. Details of the event were provided in the deliverable report.
Dissemination Tools/Materials Created
To disseminate A2M2TECH to target groups, a specific flyer and a brochure were designed and produced. Copies of those materials were shared in the relevant deliverable report.
SEC and Interview Evaluation Processes were conducted as exactly outlined in the GA and reported in the relevant delivery report.
There was only 1 redress case and it was reported in the Deliverable report D2.1.
Selection Process & Information on Applicants’ Decisions
In line with the GA, the 22 best-ranked applicants were first listed. There were some applicants who were included in the first 22 best-ranked applications but turned down our offer for personal reasons (this was explained in Deliverable D2.1 in detail). For those empty slots, the reserved list was used.
Recruitment Report/Status
Information on the number of profiles created, eligible applications, and so on was given in the relevant delivery report.
Information about the recent status of the ESRs; how many of them have already completed their PhD courses, how many of them have passed the PhD qualifying exam, was given in the Periodic Report 1.
Scientific Highlights of the Work So Far were given/shared in the Periodic Report 1.
Training
As also reported in the Periodic Report 1, several training activities were organized for ESRs.
Mobility
Until now, 1 summer school took place in Urla/İzmir. It was a very fruitful event, details of which were shared/covered in the deliverable report.