Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EPFLglobaLeaders (A new PhD training for the next generation of sustainable science leaders)
Período documentado: 2021-05-01 hasta 2023-04-30
The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, www.epfl.ch) is one of the two Federal Institutes of Technology in Switzerland. As a world-leading scientific institution, EPFL plays a critical role in the transition towards sustainable societies based on technology and innovation. In addition to new and enhanced knowledge and technology, this transition requires scientific leaders who have the ability to consider societal challenges in their entirety and to think across boundaries.
'EPFLglobaLeaders' is an innovative doctoral initiative, which targets outstanding PhD candidates from all over the world seeking to - and with the potential to - become leaders in the transition towards sustainable societies.
The programme aims to:
I. increase their knowledge and awareness of PhD candidates – from the very beginning of their PhD studies - on pressing societal questions;
II. increase their capacity to foster technological and innovative answers that address global challenges; and
III. prepare them for leadership roles in the future.
The programme provides EPFLglobaLeaders Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellows with the appropriate training, experience, and guidance to boost their careers as well as their readiness and aptitude to foster societal impact. They thus benefit from a multifaceted training programme, including a secondment in the non-academic sector and a Leadership training programme.
This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 945363.
'EPFLglobaLeaders' is an innovative doctoral initiative, which targets outstanding PhD candidates from all over the world seeking to - and with the potential to - become leaders in the transition towards sustainable societies.
The programme aims to:
I. increase their knowledge and awareness of PhD candidates – from the very beginning of their PhD studies - on pressing societal questions;
II. increase their capacity to foster technological and innovative answers that address global challenges; and
III. prepare them for leadership roles in the future.
The programme provides EPFLglobaLeaders Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellows with the appropriate training, experience, and guidance to boost their careers as well as their readiness and aptitude to foster societal impact. They thus benefit from a multifaceted training programme, including a secondment in the non-academic sector and a Leadership training programme.
This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 945363.
The EPFLglobaLeaders programme was launched in September 2020. Three calls per applications were organised with deadlines on 15 December 2020, 15 April 2021 and 15 May 2022 respectively. Originally, only two calls were expected in line with the Grant Agreement, but an extension was agreed and an amendment signed with the EU in order to hold a 3rd call.
In conjunction of the launch of each of the three calls, an international communication campaign was conducted to promote the programme and attract excellent, talented Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) from all over the world. The calls were promoted widely through EPFL internal channels (e.g. mailings/newsletters, 22 EPFL doctoral programmes) as well as external channels (e.g. Euraxess, press releases, social media, online job advertisements), as detailed in the dissemination deliverable for each call. A dedicated visual identity was developed specifically for EPFLglobaLeaders along with a website and a flyer, among other.
More than 1200 applications were received for Stage 1 through the three calls, with an average of 35% from female candidates. Following the competitive and comprehensive 2-stage reviewing process with the involvement of the Intersectoral Excellence Committee (IEC), fifty-two (52) candidates were selected of 24 nationalities. A few selected candidates could not start the fellowship for personal or professional reasons (e.g. other funding opportunities, no longer able to move to Switzerland). Forty-four (44) Marie-Sklodowska Curie fellows already started their PhD studies and 48-month fellowship during the 1st Reporting Period (1 May 2021 – 30 April 2023). Two further fellows are currently due to start in the next Reporting Period between May-June 2023. Out of these 46 ESRs who have started (or are due to start), we find 22 different nationalities and 18 female fellows (39% of the total). 65% of all fellows are nationals of a non-EU country representing a brain gain for Switzerland and Europe.
In conjunction of the launch of each of the three calls, an international communication campaign was conducted to promote the programme and attract excellent, talented Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) from all over the world. The calls were promoted widely through EPFL internal channels (e.g. mailings/newsletters, 22 EPFL doctoral programmes) as well as external channels (e.g. Euraxess, press releases, social media, online job advertisements), as detailed in the dissemination deliverable for each call. A dedicated visual identity was developed specifically for EPFLglobaLeaders along with a website and a flyer, among other.
More than 1200 applications were received for Stage 1 through the three calls, with an average of 35% from female candidates. Following the competitive and comprehensive 2-stage reviewing process with the involvement of the Intersectoral Excellence Committee (IEC), fifty-two (52) candidates were selected of 24 nationalities. A few selected candidates could not start the fellowship for personal or professional reasons (e.g. other funding opportunities, no longer able to move to Switzerland). Forty-four (44) Marie-Sklodowska Curie fellows already started their PhD studies and 48-month fellowship during the 1st Reporting Period (1 May 2021 – 30 April 2023). Two further fellows are currently due to start in the next Reporting Period between May-June 2023. Out of these 46 ESRs who have started (or are due to start), we find 22 different nationalities and 18 female fellows (39% of the total). 65% of all fellows are nationals of a non-EU country representing a brain gain for Switzerland and Europe.
The EPFLglobaLeaders targets outstanding PhD candidates from all over the world with the potential to become leaders in the transition towards sustainable societies and to bring solutions to global challenges. The programme identifies and supports talented early-stage researchers (ESR) of any nationality with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) who fulfil the MSCA requirements and who have the ambition to carry out ground-breaking research delivering direct benefits to society. By training the next generation of responsible engineers and research leaders, able the address the most pressing challenges of our planet, the programme reinforces the development of human resources and capacity building at the international, national, and regional level.
As part of the application process, candidates had to submit a research project related to sustainability, particularly within the content of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Applications were evaluated – among other – on the project’s impact at societal level. The interdisciplinary projects selected cover a wide range of research areas (e.g. basic sciences, engineering, computer science, architecture, life sciences) as well as relate to 17 (out of the 22) doctoral programmes at the EPFL. As of April 2023, the majority of fellows are in their first or second year of their PhD studies. It is still thus early in the fellows’ studies to evaluate the achievement of their research project’s objectives and results. Nevertheless, the EPFLglobaLeaders PhD fellows have generally demonstrated to be excellent PhD candidates and have started to already publish some scientific papers.
Furthermore, EPFL’s excellence in research makes it an outstanding place for 'EPFLglobaLeaders' PhD candidates to interact with internationally renowned researchers and to work with state-of-the-art lab equipment. They can benefit from the top-level, interdisciplinary research environment of the EPFL campuses as well as from its cutting-edge infrastructure and numerous national and international research collaborations.
A number of fellows have also already started their mandatory secondment in the non-academic sector (min. 3 months, max. 12 months), which is an essential and integral component of the fellowship. Thanks to the secondment, they have benefited from the additional expertise and knowledge of the non-academic partner and learnt about new, intersectoral approaches towards research and innovation. The secondment also allows researchers, at an early stage of their career, to experience and explore different career options as well as to build a well-rounded professional profile.
A number of networking events and thematic workshops have also been organised (or are planned), although this aspect will be further strengthened now that all fellows have started. This includes, for instance, a workshop on sustainability led by the Sustainability Coach at EPFL in June 2023 and an Open Science session with the EPF Library planned in November 2023. From the fellows’ annual reports, it already transpires that one of the most attractive elements of the programme is the opportunity for networking with other fellows (including other MSCA COFUND EPFL programmes), notably fellows from other disciplines.
As part of the application process, candidates had to submit a research project related to sustainability, particularly within the content of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Applications were evaluated – among other – on the project’s impact at societal level. The interdisciplinary projects selected cover a wide range of research areas (e.g. basic sciences, engineering, computer science, architecture, life sciences) as well as relate to 17 (out of the 22) doctoral programmes at the EPFL. As of April 2023, the majority of fellows are in their first or second year of their PhD studies. It is still thus early in the fellows’ studies to evaluate the achievement of their research project’s objectives and results. Nevertheless, the EPFLglobaLeaders PhD fellows have generally demonstrated to be excellent PhD candidates and have started to already publish some scientific papers.
Furthermore, EPFL’s excellence in research makes it an outstanding place for 'EPFLglobaLeaders' PhD candidates to interact with internationally renowned researchers and to work with state-of-the-art lab equipment. They can benefit from the top-level, interdisciplinary research environment of the EPFL campuses as well as from its cutting-edge infrastructure and numerous national and international research collaborations.
A number of fellows have also already started their mandatory secondment in the non-academic sector (min. 3 months, max. 12 months), which is an essential and integral component of the fellowship. Thanks to the secondment, they have benefited from the additional expertise and knowledge of the non-academic partner and learnt about new, intersectoral approaches towards research and innovation. The secondment also allows researchers, at an early stage of their career, to experience and explore different career options as well as to build a well-rounded professional profile.
A number of networking events and thematic workshops have also been organised (or are planned), although this aspect will be further strengthened now that all fellows have started. This includes, for instance, a workshop on sustainability led by the Sustainability Coach at EPFL in June 2023 and an Open Science session with the EPF Library planned in November 2023. From the fellows’ annual reports, it already transpires that one of the most attractive elements of the programme is the opportunity for networking with other fellows (including other MSCA COFUND EPFL programmes), notably fellows from other disciplines.