FP-RESOMUS · Fellowship Program of the NCCR MUST (National Competence Center for Research in Molecular Ultrafast Science and Technology) and the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV

Fellowship Program of the NCCR MUST (National Competence Center for Research in MolecularUltrafast Science and Technology) and the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV

FP-RESOMUS was a Fellowship Program of the Swiss research network NCCR MUST (National Center of Competence in Research: Molecular Ultrafast Science and Technology) and the German Cluster of Excellence RESOLV (Ruhr Explores Solvation). FP-RESOMUS has funded 46 fellowships for postdoctoral students employed in NCCR MUST or the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV. The fellowship program was integrated in the two national research networks, which brought together over 70 research groups covering the fields of chemistry, physics, material sciences, engineering, and biology to solve interdisciplinary scientific questions on ultrafast processes and solvation using the latest available technology and theoretical insights. The research groups in RESOLV and the NCCR MUST (have) operate(d) at the frontiers of what is technically possible, in large parts complementary in focusing on fundamental and applied research. We aimed for a rapid transfer of research findings into innovative technologies: energy and data conversion and storage, development of smart sensors, understanding and improving catalysis and photovoltaics, novel laser technology, spectroscopy and simulation methods, which find applications in industry and research. The European Union supported the fellowship program with 3.54 million euros under the Horizon 2020 program as a Marie-Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Action (MSCA), Grant Agreement No 801459. It ran from April 2019 to March 2024. Building on the existing cooperation between the two networks, the FP-RESOMUS has attracted postdoctoral fellows from European countries (18), Asia (21), the Americas (5), Africa (1), and Australasia (1), with 35 successful male and 11 female (24%) applicants, which is in line with the gender ratio in both networks, which is higher than typical for the research fields, and - in our view - has helped to drive forward the gender equality within the scientific society. It has been our vision that novel technologies, advanced modeling techniques, and the spirit of our thriving networks create an ideal environment for high-level postdoctoral research projects. The integrated professional training was composed of several key elements. The prime focus is on individual research training with supervision. Secondment of fellows within the FP-RESOMUS network was encouraged, but due to the specific nature of the research projects not implemented. Fellows were offered training in transferable skills, complemented by opportunities to apply these newly acquired skills. This approach was designed to benefit the career development of each fellow, as well as the research groups and the scientific field as a whole. Our program has provided Europe with a new generation of researchers in ultrafast and solvation sciences and has strengthened the research of the ERA.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union