4-year research group within the Scientific Platform Pasteur-University of Sao Paulo

This is an international call for applications for young researchers in the life sciences to lead a four-year research group (“G4”) within the Pasteur-USP Scientific Platform, hosted by the University of São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil.

Closing date for applications: July 1^st, 2022

This call is launched by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP, Institut Pasteur and the University of São Paulo – USP, as a result of their Cooperation Agreement signed in December 2021.

Research themes
Research proposals submitted to this Call should be in the life sciences, and specifically address the program priorities of the Institut Pasteur-USP Scientific platform agreement.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to submit a proposal to this call, a researcher must:

Comply with the eligibility requirements of FAPESP’s Young Investigator Grant, specifications are available YIG Guidelines.
Have between 5 to 8 years post-doctoral experience in internationally ranked laboratories.
Be fluent in English.
Not have a permanent position at Institut Pasteur, FIOCRUZ or USP.

Characteristics of Proposals under this Call

Candidates must follow the rules and guidelines for submitting proposals for the Young Investigator Grant;
The research project must be written in English;
Adequacy of the Project with the research objectives of the Platform, as defined by Institut Pasteur and USP, according to the YIG Guidelines.

Duration of the Grant

The duration of the proposed project must be 48 months. The duration may be extended up to 12 months, when requested at the end of the third year, and depending upon a successful merit review.
During the development of the research project, it is expected that the Young Investigator will apply to opportunities for permanent hiring in positions open at the host institution in the state of São Paulo (tenure track option).
After the conclusion of the project, if the Young Investigator obtained a permanent position in a university or research institution in the state of São Paulo, he/she can continue his/her research activities by applying for funding through FAPESP regular lines.

Support offered by FAPESP:

Items allowed by FAPESP as described in item 7 of the YIG Guidelines;
A Young Investigator Fellowship, to be paid for the duration of the grant or until the Young Investigator obtains a permanent position at the host institution in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The fellowship may last up to 24 months, with the possibility of a 24-month extension and a last 12-month extension, always depending upon a successful merit review. The monthly value of the scholarship is announced at FAPESP.
Exceptionally for this Call it is allowed to request one Post-Doctoral (PD) scholarship, for a post-doc to be selected by the Young Investigator. FAPESP’s rules for the Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program, as described here.

Support offered by Institut Pasteur:

Institut Pasteur will allocate a maximum amount of fifty thousand Euros (50.000€) per year to the G4 for the duration of the G4. The funds allocated shall be used to cover the following expenses:

staffing costs, corresponding to 30% to 50% of the total amount per year travels and missions of the G4 scientific members (participation to workshops and meetings),
operating costs, and
equipment.
Management costs are NOT eligible.

Submission

The deadline for submission of proposals is July 1^st, 2022. Late submissions will not be reviewed.
The proposal must be submitted through FAPESP’s proposal submission platform, SAGe. All the documents required by the SAGe platform must be uploaded during the online submission. Proposals lacking required documents will be returned without review. The specific path for this Call is: Nova Proposta Inicial > + Outras Linhas de Fomento > + Acordos de Cooperação > + Plataforma Científica Pasteur-USP > + Projeto de Pesquisa – Jovens Pesquisadores > + Chamada de Propostas (2022).
In addition to the normal documents required for Young Investigator Grant proposals, the following items must also be submitted:
1. A table with the breakdown budget concerning the 200k Euros requested from Institut Pasteur (please use the following template).
2. A brief summary of previous scientific achievements and how they contribute to the current proposal.
3. A complete list of publications.
4. 2-3 letters of recommendation, by researchers not affiliated to the SPPU.

Timeline

Call announcement: May 05^th, 2022
Deadline for submission: July 1^st, 2022
Selection results announcement: January 31^st, 2023
Start of Project: March, 2023

Assessment criteria, evaluation and selection:

Procedures

The review process will have two phases, Eligibility and Merit Analysis, and will be based on the procedures used for the FAPESP Young Investigator Grant, available at Section 11 of the YIG Guidelines.

Assessment criteria

In addition to the procedures used for the FAPESP Young Investigator Grant, the merit analysis regarding the candidates for G4 Leader will consider:

The quality of the candidate’s scientific career, based on publication record;
Peer-recognition of the candidate;
Ability to obtain funding to his/her previous projects;
Ability to manage and train junior scientists;
Willingness to participate in the strengthening of the Pasteur Network.

In addition to the procedures used for the FAPESP Young Investigator Grant, the merit analysis regarding the G4 research project will consider:

Quality, originality and feasibility of the project;
How innovative and ambitious on emerging, or re-emerging, tropical or neglected diseases within the priority research topics of the Scientific Platform Pasteur – USP;
Added value to SPPU;
Contribution to health priorities of the Brazilian region;
Capacity to initiate new strategic cooperation with research institutions at local, regional and international level.

Final Decision

The best three to five (3 to 5) ranked proposals will be submitted to the Steering Committee for final selection of a single candidate.
Both the University of São Paulo and Institut Pasteur members of the Steering Committee will have the opportunity to ask international ad hoc experts for an evaluation of the selected applications and to share their impressions during the decision meeting.
The Steering Committee will consist of the following members:
1. The Director of the Institut Pasteur Department of International Affairs;
2. A member of the Institut Pasteur Department of International Affairs;
3. The President of the USP International Cooperation Office (AUCANI);
4. The USP Dean of Research;
5. A representative of the Scientific Director of FAPESP.
The nomination of the selected candidate is final and therefore no appeal for reconsideration is possible.

Additional information

Terms of Agreement

Once a G4 Leader has been selected, USP and Institut Pasteur will enter into a G4 creation agreement with the selected G4 Leader. This agreement will specify the functioning and the operating conditions of the G4 program led by the G4 Leader. Such agreement shall set forth provisions regarding the scope of the research program of the G4, G4 Leader rights and obligations, financial matters, liability and insurance, ownership and exploitation of intellectual property rights on G4 activities/results, monitoring of the collaborative project within the G4, communication and publications, confidentiality, as well as the dissemination of results.

FAPESP’s Research Networking Tool

The Virtual Library includes FAPESP’s database of awarded research grants and scholarships. In it, you may search for information on grants and fellowships funded by FAPESP, including abstracts as well the name of participating researchers and their institutions. The Virtual Library includes an interface that allows contacting FAPESP-funded researchers by sending them a message.

Contact information

Questions related to this Call must be directed to:

FAPESP: Virginia Sanches Subiñas
Pasteur-USP Scientific Platform: Luis Carlos S. ferreira & Paola Minoprio