MSCA Ud'A Research Talent Lab 2026

Transforming research ideas into competitive MSCA-PF proposals

The G. d'Annunzio University Chieti – Pescara (Ud'A) is launching the first edition of the MSCA Ud'A Research Talent Lab, an intensive training programme to support high-potential Italian and international researchers who choose Ud’A to submit a project proposal under the Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) call, within the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe 2021–2027 (HE). The call for applications opens on April 9th, with deadline on September 9th, 2026.

The programme will take place fully online over 5 days, between May 14th and 21st. It is structured as follows:

  • Training on the MSCA PF programme and how to prepare the Application (May 14 and 15, 2026)
  • Practical workshop (May 18, 19, and 21)
  • Interviews with Ud'A researchers who have received funding and with University faculty members with experience in programme evaluation (May 19) to receive helpful advice and suggestions on how to best draft the project proposal
  • One-on-one meetings between candidates and potential Ud'A Supervisors (May 21)

Applications to participate in the MSCA Ud'A Research Talent Lab 2026 can be submitted from Monday, March 16 to Thursday, April 16, 2026.

  • MSCA Ud’A Research Talent lab Programme - Available soon!
  • MSCA Ud’A Research Talent lab: Call for applications - Available soon!
  • MSCA Ud’A Research Talent lab Timeline 

Who can apply

Experienced researchers, holding a PhD by the call deadline, with up to 8 years of full-time research experience since obtaining their PhD, an excellent CV, and a solid track record demonstrating their scientific maturity and potential as a research leader (e.g. a publication without a PhD Supervisor, a publication as first or corresponding author, a monograph, active international mobility and collaborations), eager to take on such an ambitious challenge and collaborate with the University research teams.

When submitting the application to the Ud’A MSCA Research Talent Lab, it is necessary you verify and select the type of Fellowship in which you wish to participate (European or Global) and ensure that, by the deadline for the MSCA-PF 2026 call (September 9, 2026), you meet the following requirements:

  • Have obtained a Doctoral degree
  • Have acquired a maximum of 8 years of full-time research experience since obtaining the doctorate (for the possibilities for extending the eligibility period provided for by the program, please refer to the MSCA 2026 Work Program)
  • Comply with the MSCA Mobility Rule
  • For the Global Fellowship (GF) scheme, be a European citizen or long-term resident; For the European Fellowship (EF) scheme, researchers of all nationalities may apply.
  • Select the University of Chieti – Pescara as the Host Institution.

Evaluation

20 MSCA candidates will be admitted to the training programme.

Candidates will be evaluated based on their research profile, the proposed idea, and the completeness of their application.

Application Submission

Information on the procedures and required documents is available in the "Application Folder" section.

Applications may be submitted from Monday, March 16, to Thursday, April 16, 2026.

Before applying

  • Carefully check the list of required documents
  • Contact a potential Supervisor at G. d'Annunzio University Chieti – Pescara to confirm your application.

Application Submission

The application must be completed online using the Microsoft form accessible here.

To correctly complete the form, we recommend to carefully read the GUIDELINES available here.

Mandatory Attachments

● CV Template (download button)

● Short Proposal Template (download button)

● Researcher's Commitment Template (the Applicant’s signature is required) (download button)

● Supervisor's Acceptance Letter Template (the Supervisor’s and Head of Department signature are required) (download button)

The above mentioned documents must be downloaded, completed, signed (where required), and sent by email to [email protected] later than April 16, 2026.

The Supervisor's Acceptance Letter must be completed, signed by the Supervisor and the Department Director, and sent along with the above documentation.

Incomplete application, where any of the above files are missing, will not be accepted.

Candidates can contact the selected Supervisor directly. The list of Ud'A faculty members and researchers available to serve as Supervisors for MSCA-PF applications can be viewed at this link.

List of potential MSCA supervisors at the University.

Ud’A is introducing a dedicated institutional support scheme for excellent MSCA-PF candidates whose proposals have not been funded due to budget constraints on the call, but score 85/100 or higher and receive the Seal of Excellence. Such initiative confirms the University strategic investment in research excellence and talent

More details available soon!

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