Periodic Reporting for period 3 - PASIFIC (Polish Academy of Sciences’ Individual Fellowships: Innovation & Creativity)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-09-01 bis 2025-02-28
The PASIFIC Programme (Polish Academy of Sciences’ Individual Fellowships: Innovation & Creativity) offered attractive 2-year postdoctoral fellowships at one of the Polish Academy of Sciences Institutes. It was open to excellent scholars worldwide representing all scientific disciplines, with a PhD or at least 4 years of documented equivalent research experience. Fellows were selected through a merit-based evaluation process conducted by international experts. Successful candidates came to Poland for 24 months to conduct their research at the Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The duration of the PASIFIC programme was 5 years (1 March 2020 – 28 February 2025).
The aim of the PASIFIC Programme was to enable scholars to establish their scientific independence and carry out ground-breaking research. The Programme was based on individual-driven mobility and the fellows were free to choose their research area, research supervisor and the host institute. The fellows were offered the following opportunities: individual scientific mentoring under the supervision of an experienced advisor and the possibility to elaborate a Career Development Plan, the enhancement of scientific and transferable skills through a rich training offer, the possibility to gain experience in the non-academic sector through secondments and short visits (optional), networking opportunities with other fellows and the scientific environment in Poland (networking events), as well as the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research.
The Programme aimed to benefit the Polish Academy of Sciences and its research institutes. More specifically, the objectives were: 1) to enhance the internationalization of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 2) to strengthen the research staff at the institutes of the PAS, 3) to further develop collaboration between the PAS and other research institutions, 4) to strengthen the cooperation between the PAS and the non-academic sector, 5) to provide support to the PAS administration (PASIFIC networks), 6) to acquire experience in planning and attracting international mobility programmes and to build on this experience to host international researchers at the institutes of the PAS in the future.
The aim of the PASIFIC Programme was to enable scholars to establish their scientific independence and carry out ground-breaking research. The Programme was based on individual-driven mobility and the fellows were free to choose their research area, research supervisor and the host institute. The fellows were offered the following opportunities: individual scientific mentoring under the supervision of an experienced advisor and the possibility to elaborate a Career Development Plan, the enhancement of scientific and transferable skills through a rich training offer, the possibility to gain experience in the non-academic sector through secondments and short visits (optional), networking opportunities with other fellows and the scientific environment in Poland (networking events), as well as the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research.
The Programme aimed to benefit the Polish Academy of Sciences and its research institutes. More specifically, the objectives were: 1) to enhance the internationalization of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 2) to strengthen the research staff at the institutes of the PAS, 3) to further develop collaboration between the PAS and other research institutions, 4) to strengthen the cooperation between the PAS and the non-academic sector, 5) to provide support to the PAS administration (PASIFIC networks), 6) to acquire experience in planning and attracting international mobility programmes and to build on this experience to host international researchers at the institutes of the PAS in the future.
The Programme was open to all research fields with no predetermined scientific theme. Applicants submitted proposals to one of 27 interdisciplinary evaluation panels: Physical Sciences and Engineering (11); Social Sciences and Humanities (7) and Life Sciences (9). The panel structure was used in the European Research Council calls. The successful fellows represented the areas of Physical Sciences and Engineering (21 fellows), Life Sciences (11 fellows), and Social Sciences and Humanities (15 fellows). The PASIFIC strongly encouraged interdisciplinary research by giving the fellows a possibility to choose 2 evaluation panels, supporting host institutes in addition to the main host institute, as well as supporting supervisors.
The Programme recruited 47 excellent researchers of 16 different nationalities from a pool of 550 candidates in two Calls announced in 2021. The PASIFIC fellows were hosted in 23 different PAS institutes. 5 fellows ended their fellowships prematurely (reasons included: other career opportunities, personal motivations and the termination of the contract by their institute). The PASIFIC fellows received a monthly allowance of €4125 gross. In addition, they were granted a research budget of up to €60,000 per project and 20% overheads. Those who came to Poland with their families were entitled to an additional family allowance. As of March 2025, 13 fellows secured a position in Poland after their PASIFIC fellowships which corresponds to a staying rate of 28 %.
The fellows had reported 99 open-access publications and a total of 303 participations in international conferences and other international events with oral presentations, poster presentations, invited talks, panel discussions and open lectures.
Communicating science to the wider public through open lectures and seminars at the host institutes, targeted events for the general public (Academy Smart Talks), series of documentaries about PASIFIC fellows (PASIFIC Short Docs) and science festivals raised awareness of contemporary scientific challenges.
The Programme recruited 47 excellent researchers of 16 different nationalities from a pool of 550 candidates in two Calls announced in 2021. The PASIFIC fellows were hosted in 23 different PAS institutes. 5 fellows ended their fellowships prematurely (reasons included: other career opportunities, personal motivations and the termination of the contract by their institute). The PASIFIC fellows received a monthly allowance of €4125 gross. In addition, they were granted a research budget of up to €60,000 per project and 20% overheads. Those who came to Poland with their families were entitled to an additional family allowance. As of March 2025, 13 fellows secured a position in Poland after their PASIFIC fellowships which corresponds to a staying rate of 28 %.
The fellows had reported 99 open-access publications and a total of 303 participations in international conferences and other international events with oral presentations, poster presentations, invited talks, panel discussions and open lectures.
Communicating science to the wider public through open lectures and seminars at the host institutes, targeted events for the general public (Academy Smart Talks), series of documentaries about PASIFIC fellows (PASIFIC Short Docs) and science festivals raised awareness of contemporary scientific challenges.
The PASIFIC fellows had unique opportunities to establish their scientific independence and conduct cutting-edge research in the dynamic scientific environment of the PAS, with all the necessary infrastructure at their disposal to develop their competence in the use of the latest advances in technology supporting research.
During the workshops, the PASIFIC fellows and the invited researchers acquired new complementary and transferable skills needed for both their scientific work and the exploitation of research results, which contributed to the development of their careers, making them more competitive in the academic and non-academic working environment. The training in the specific field of research provided by the host institutes, as well as opportunities to work in an innovative environment, to exchange ideas and disseminate the project results (open lectures, seminars), contributed to the fellows’ research maturity.
The Programme created strong research ties between the fellows and host institutes that are expected to outlast the fellowships. Facilitating the maintenance of contacts, the PASIFIC team encouraged the former fellows to follow the PAS social media, to join the Marie Curie Alumni Association.
The PAS institutes increased their international recognizability, expanded research networks and intensified cooperation. The opportunities for scientific collaboration of fellows and host institutes beyond the fellowships will further internationalize the Polish and ERA research environment. By retaining their PASIFIC fellows, the ten PAS institutes ensured the sustainability of research results and knowledge transfer.
The structuring effect of the PASIFIC Programme was that all PAS hosting institutes implemented best practices for welcoming and training postdoctoral fellows. The Administrative Networks supported the unification of the institutes' internal rules. Public lectures and seminars given by the PASIFIC fellows increased the visibility of the PAS institutes.
Having attracted excellent scholars from different countries to carry out their cutting-edge research at the Polish Academy of Sciences, the PASIFIC Programme contributed to strengthening the ERA by spreading excellence throughout Europe. The PASIFIC employed specific measures to promote the ERA and attract talent to Europe by selecting the laureates through a merit-based evaluation process carried out by international experts and offering excellent conditions for carrying out research.
By participating in national and international conferences and carrying out field work outside Poland, the incoming researchers enriched the European research community with their knowledge, experience and skills, and benefited from the transfer of knowledge and expertise themselves. The fellows produced high-quality publications in high-impact scientific journals and disseminated their results through open-access publications and scientific conferences, thus ensuring wide access to their research results and the advancement of science.
During the workshops, the PASIFIC fellows and the invited researchers acquired new complementary and transferable skills needed for both their scientific work and the exploitation of research results, which contributed to the development of their careers, making them more competitive in the academic and non-academic working environment. The training in the specific field of research provided by the host institutes, as well as opportunities to work in an innovative environment, to exchange ideas and disseminate the project results (open lectures, seminars), contributed to the fellows’ research maturity.
The Programme created strong research ties between the fellows and host institutes that are expected to outlast the fellowships. Facilitating the maintenance of contacts, the PASIFIC team encouraged the former fellows to follow the PAS social media, to join the Marie Curie Alumni Association.
The PAS institutes increased their international recognizability, expanded research networks and intensified cooperation. The opportunities for scientific collaboration of fellows and host institutes beyond the fellowships will further internationalize the Polish and ERA research environment. By retaining their PASIFIC fellows, the ten PAS institutes ensured the sustainability of research results and knowledge transfer.
The structuring effect of the PASIFIC Programme was that all PAS hosting institutes implemented best practices for welcoming and training postdoctoral fellows. The Administrative Networks supported the unification of the institutes' internal rules. Public lectures and seminars given by the PASIFIC fellows increased the visibility of the PAS institutes.
Having attracted excellent scholars from different countries to carry out their cutting-edge research at the Polish Academy of Sciences, the PASIFIC Programme contributed to strengthening the ERA by spreading excellence throughout Europe. The PASIFIC employed specific measures to promote the ERA and attract talent to Europe by selecting the laureates through a merit-based evaluation process carried out by international experts and offering excellent conditions for carrying out research.
By participating in national and international conferences and carrying out field work outside Poland, the incoming researchers enriched the European research community with their knowledge, experience and skills, and benefited from the transfer of knowledge and expertise themselves. The fellows produced high-quality publications in high-impact scientific journals and disseminated their results through open-access publications and scientific conferences, thus ensuring wide access to their research results and the advancement of science.