SE: An employee with part of the working time financed from institutional sources and another part financed from national project funding will work exclusively on a MSCA Staff Exchanges project during their secondment, with no additional work commitments. Can the employee retain the salary within the total working time during the secondment?

The FTE (or the working time) is an element resulting from the national legislation.

On the one hand, the obligation included in the GA is twofold:

a)      exclusive dedication (i.e., only activities indicated in the technical annex) and

b)     full-time dedication regardless of the working time (i.e., no part-time).

If both conditions are fulfilled the secondment is in principle eligible.

On the other hand, the obligation is referring to the “research activities” of the project: this means that, as long as the staff member is dedicated full-time to these activities (those latu sensu included in the description of the project), then it is allowed.

It is the responsibility of the beneficiary to ensure that the research activities performed are consistent with the description of the Staff Exchanges project, even if (partially) funded elsewhere, provided that this will not result in double funding.

SE: Is a PhD student required to terminate a parallel employment contract during their secondment if this contract is synergic with the Staff Exchanges project they participate in?

If the activities under the employment contract are synergic with the MSCA Staff Exchanges project, the fellow could retain their current working arrangements, contract, and PhD stipend. However, if the activities under the employment contract are not synergic with the MSCA Staff Exchanges project, or if they result in double funding, then these working arrangements should be modified to ensure full commitment to the MSCA Staff Exchanges project during the secondment.

SE: Which researchers should be included in the table “Researchers involved in the proposal” on page 8 of 17 of the Staff Exchanges application form?

Applicants should include in this table the researchers who will actually work on the proposal writing, and if possible, the names of those who will participate in the project. No administrative staff should be included here.

COFUND: In COFUND Doctoral Programmes, is it a requirement for a doctoral candidate to have obtained a master’s degree by the deadline of the co-funded programme call?

As indicated in the MSCA Work Program, for COFUND Doctoral Programmes, researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the cofunded programme's call. Researchers must be enrolled in a doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctoral degree in at least one EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.” Moreover, to be eligible, at the deadline of the co-funded programme call candidates must be in possession of a diploma allowing access to doctoral studies in the country of their application.

PF: How can the rules for the MSCA family allowance be interpreted in case of a divorced parent who has their child in joint custody?

In case of joint custody, the fellow is still eligible for family allowance.

SE: If in a Staff Exchanges project a beneficiary does not implement any of the planned outgoing mobilities, but only hosts incoming mobilities from third countries’ associated partners, would it still be considered as a beneficiary?

In the case of a running grant and until the signature of an amendment, the beneficiary will remain beneficiary. The cost claim would be set to 0 except if they host secondments from third countries eligible for funding.

At Grant Agreement preparation stage they would be moved to the role of Associated partners in the consortium.

COFUND: Is it possible recruit researchers in the area of nuclear research in Choose Europe for Science?

The 2023-2025 MSCA Work programme mentions on p. 8 that “The MSCA are open to all domains of research and innovation, chosen freely by the applicants in a fully bottom-up manner, addressed under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In addition, Postdoctoral Fellowships can also address domains covered by the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom Research and
Training Programme 2021-2025). ”

Choose Europe cannot fund the recruitment of researchers in the area of nuclear research that is covered by the Euratom programme. This exception only applies to Postdoctoral Fellowships.

PF: With how much detail should a non-academic placement be described in a Postdoctoral Fellowship application?

The timing of a non-academic placement should be indicated in the Gantt chart while applicants should mention details of the non-academic placement in their scientific Work Packages, including milestones and deliverables lists. The placement should also be mentioned under hosting arrangements and in their Communication and Dissemination activities.

DN: Are beneficiaries in Doctoral Network projects obliged to cover the gap between the amount of the doctoral candidate’s usual salary and the amount they would receive from their health insurance during a long-term leave?

The long-term leave allowance is intended to cover statutory absences of more than 30 days, where the beneficiary is required to cover personnel costs related to the statutory absence.

The amount paid to the researcher during such a period should be defined by national employment law and not based on the beneficiary’s usual practice.

Therefore, the beneficiary should follow the law. If there is a legal obligation to maintain the usual salary, then the additional costs incurred by the beneficiary will be reimbursed. If a top-up was provided, while it was not mandatory under national law, it would not be eligible for reimbursement under the long-term leave allowance.

PF: Does the supervisor in a Postdoctoral Fellowship have to work full-time at the Host Institution?

It is possible for the supervisor not to work full-time at the Host Institution. However, the supervision does need to be effective. It is therefore important that a robust supervision plan with enough detail is presented in the application.