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Kiel Training for Excellence

Project description

An academic boost for research careers

To thrive in today’s complex scientific landscape, researchers require more than just technical expertise. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the KiTE 2.0 project aims to address this by providing exceptional postdoctoral fellowships with a transformative, interdisciplinary platform at Kiel University. Operating across diverse fields (from marine sciences to social change), the programme offers three-year contracts. By integrating specialised training and cross-sector secondments, KiTE 2.0 aligns with European Research Area priorities to modernise research careers. This merit-based initiative empowers fellows to build international networks and diversify their professional prospects both within and beyond academia. Ultimately, KiTE 2.0 will strengthen Europe’s innovation potential by cultivating a new generation of versatile, globally minded scientific leaders.

Objective

"KiTE-Kiel Training for Excellence 2.0 is an advanced career development programme for 16 excellent postdoctoral fellows seeking an international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral experience. The fellows are recruited in two open-topic calls following a merit-based, gender-balanced and transparent selection process. Selected according to the interdisciplinary potential of their project and their individual excellence, they will find competitive working conditions and an excellent infrastructure in Kiel. The fellows receive a three-year employment contract and the opportunity to advance their project in the truly interdisciplinary research environment in one of the four cross-faculty research areas at Kiel University: Nano-, Surface and Interface Science, Life Science, Marine Science and Social, Environmental and Cultural Change. Early independence, an accompanying training programme to promote hard and soft skills and two three-month secondments to gain new professional experience within and outside academia will enable them to unleash their potential and diversify their career prospects.
By contributing €2.7million in co-financing, Kiel University recognises the transformative strength of KiTE 1.0 (2023-2027) in terms of recruiting, qualifying and supervising postdocs. Building on this, KiTE 2.0 is embracing and advancing the ERA priorities of “Strengthening Research Careers” and ""Reforming Research Assessment"". This alignment with European standards makes Kiel University an attractive workplace for international talent. The opportunity to develop their own research agenda, build new international and cross-sector networks and be supported by a team of mentors enables KiTE fellows to develop new competencies and thus create excellent career prospects inside and outside of academia. Embedded in their mentor's research group and becoming part of the existing networks, they will also enrich Kiel University's open, inter- and transdisciplinary research culture.
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Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-Cofund-P - HORIZON TMA MSCA Cofund Postdoctoral programme

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-COFUND-01

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Coordinator

CHRISTIAN-ALBRECHTS-UNIVERSITAET ZU KIEL
Net EU contribution
€ 2 707 200,00
Address
OLSHAUSENSTRASSE 40
24118 Kiel
Germany
Region
Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein Kiel, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Partners (20)