The purpose of this announcement is to grant one scholarship for the training of research personnel in RobInLab (UJI), one of the most prominent research bodies in the Valencian Community (Spain). The goal of this scholarship is to train qualified personnel for R&D tasks, and is aimed at university degree holders from non-Spanish universities, with a degree fulfilling requirements for admittance to a master degree.

Scholarship period

The period of validity covered by the scholarship will be determined in the award decision and shall end on 31 December 2012, at latest. It may be extended in the following budget years up to a maximum period of 24 months. The beneficiary applicant may take a master’s degree during this period. Once concluded the 24 month-period of the scholarship, if the beneficiary applicant proves that he/she has obtained the university master’s degree, he/she may apply for an extension of an additional scholarship up to 12 months, with a view to increasing his/her pre-doctoral background and carrying out PhD studies.

Scholarship stipend

1. Scholarships’ stipend will be €1,200 monthly (gross). The corresponding IRPF (income tax) will be deducted from this amount.

2. The scholarship also includes an additional stipend of:

a) €1,600 to cover costs of travel and settling in Valencian Community, during the first year of the scholarship.

b) €1,200 per year, where applicable, for registration fees for university master’s during the first two years of the scholarship.

The additional stipend will be paid by the research body to which the scholarship holder is assigned.

3. The entity shall take out an accident insurance and public liability insurance, plus health insurance with coverage for the whole period of the scholarship, if applicants are citizens of countries which have no arrangements with the Spanish Social Security or if insurance coverage of such arrangements were not sufficient.

Requirements of beneficiary

These scholarships are open to people fulfilling the following requirements within the period of submission of applications:

a)  A degree from a non-Spanish university, fulfilling requirements for admittance to a master degree.

b)  Having obtained degree after 1 January 2010.

c)  Knowledge of Spanish or English (with good speaking skills) for the proposed training.

d)  Not being in possession of a PhD.

Applications

The scholarship candidate shall send the following documents to the head researcher of the project:

a)    Application form.

b)    Photocopy of national identity card of your country. Citizens of EU member states should also include a photocopy of NIE (residence permit) in the event of possessing one.

c)    Photocopy of valid passport, if not a citizen of the EU. Also a photocopy of NIE (residency permit) in the event  of possessing one.

d)    Photocopy of official academic certificate including your academic title and grades obtained, together with dates, together with a translation into Spanish.

e)    Photocopy of academic degree or deposit made for the issuance of degree.

f)      Applicant’s updated résumé.

g)    Report on your participation in the research project.

h)    2 letters of recommendation.

i)      Supporting documents of knowledge of Spanish or English.

Evaluation

The application will be evaluated by the research body, and the head researcher of the project shall provide a shortlist of candidates sorted by score, according to the following scale:

a)    Academic record (30%)

b)    Experience related with the applied project (20%)

c)    Adaptation of the report to the specific requirements of applied project (30%)

d)    Letters of recommendation (20%)

Admission

Beneficiaries must join the corresponding research body within the scheduled period as provided in the award decision. In the event that he/she does not join within the scheduled period, the scholarship will be canceled, unless the beneficiary has been granted an adjournment period (to be authorized only by the General Director of Scientific Policy) for a maximum period of three months from the date specified in the award decision. Beneficiary may not recover said adjournment period.

Temporary suspension of scholarship

The voluntary suspension, previously authorized by the General Director of Scientific Policy, shall not exceed 6 months from the whole period of scholarship and during such suspension period no stipend shall be paid.

Application forms

Application English/Spanish

Report English/Spanish

After the presentations of all three finalists at the European Robotics Forum, Mario Prats was selected as the winner. Congratulations!

The Georges Giralt PhD Award is an annual award given by EURON for the best PhD thesis in Europe. The aim is to encourage high-quality work amongst young researchers in their first research period. The prize consists of a diploma and, in addition, the authors of all short-listed theses are offered an opportunity to publish their thesis as a monograph with Springer.

The PhD award is named the Georges Giralt PhD Award in recognition of the significant efforts made by Georges Giralt (LAAS) to set up and stimulate a European community in robotics during multiple decennia and starting from the 1970s.

Yes we know, we are always coming back to the same song… be patient, robots learn slowly but steadily!

I encara no els hem posat nom; s’admeten idees!