The prime task of ESQ was the selection of promising fellows and to integrate them into the Austrian research landscape. Three calls were published between 2018 and 2020, on websites of international physics societies and job websites including Euraxess. The calls were distributed to hundreds of colleagues in quantum research all around the world.
All application documents were screened for eligibility by the ESQ office. Recommendation letters and application documents were forwarded to the ESQ Scientific Advisory Committee for review.
In 2018, ESQ received 80 applications from 24 countries, with 56 male and 15 female candidates formally eligible. In 2019, ESQ received 37 applicants from 17 countries (29 male and 8 female candidates), with 31 formally eligible. In 2020, ESQ received 81 applications from 26 countries (67 male and 14 female candidates).
The large number of applications ensured a high level of competition for only 5 ESQ positions awarded in every call.
A jury composed of seven prominent experimental and theoretical physicists from the US, France, Japan, Germany, Poland selected the candidates in two steps:
The preselection was based on the candidates’ list of grades, certificates, publications and awards, as well as at least two letters of recommendation. The hearing consisted of a personal presentation in front of the jury with presentations of past achievements, plans for the future and general questions.
Every successful ESQ fellow was free to choose any ESQ faculty member as their mentor and host. The fellows were employed at these institutions with a salary and benefits following the EU Marie Curie rules.
All starting ESQ fellows completed a Statement of Ethics and their Individual Career Plan. They received regular updates also on soft skill training opportunities. ESQ co-organized Austrian network meetings in quantum science.
ESQ was successful in filling all open positions with qualified scientists who are now pursuing successful careers. The list of ESQ fellows, their projects, distinctions and publications are presented on the ESQ webpage: www.oeaw.ac.at/esq/home.
The prime outcome of the project is training in research: This is well documented, as all ESQ fellows together contributed to nearly 100 publications, often in prestigious journals, among them in Nature, Science Advances, Physical Review Letters, Phys. Rev. X, Quantum Science and Technology.
