Participants will be selected according to the following criteria:
- For courses with specific requirements, applicants must be verified as meeting them.
- Preference will be given to applicants who have not taken similar courses in the last three years.
- Likewise, preference will be given to those who have not taken training courses in the last three years.
- In the event of a tie between applicants based on the above criteria, applications must be submitted in strict order (date and time of submission).

 Postdoctoral researchers interested in pursuing a long-term academic career in Spain, and more specifically in Valencia.

 Securing a Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral position is the main tenure-track fellowship within the Spanish academic system.

This course facilitates students with a summary of the essential information to apply for the Ramón y Cajal grant scheme, which is the most prestigious and known tenure-track programme offered by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación in Spain. The course walks step-by-step through each of the different documents required for applying to this scheme, and will offer hands-on activities to draft a competitive CV and a convincing case for your main contributions, helping you select those that better reflect your independence and leadership.  

Specific learning objectives:

• To understand the Ramón y Cajal scheme and its requirements.

• To acquire a better understanding of what’s expected for a competitive Ramón y Cajal candidate in terms of CV.

• To practice communicating effectively your main strengths/weaknesses, and to create a credible narrative that puts them into context for your long-term academic career.

• To learn the basics of grant project writing and apply them to your specific project.

Unit 1 – Ramón y Cajal fellowship: introduction, what it is and what it is for

Unit 2 – How to build a competitive CV that adapts to your strengths

Unit 3 – Selecting and organising your lead contributions to showcase your leadership and independence

By the end of the course, students are expected to:

• Understand the Ramón y Cajal funding scheme and the implications of a “tenure track” position.

• Identify strengths and weaknesses within your own CV and be able to showcase your potential as an independent researcher.

• Select and organize their best contributions to support their case with appropriate track record.

• Write in an honest and compelling way about their scientific careers, justifying any potential gaps and highlighting their main achievements.

To pass the course, students need to fulfill the face-to-face percentage of assistance of 85%