Each year ECTS organises a selection procedure for new members to be elected within the ECTS Academy for a duration of 2+2 years.
The 2025 call for applications for basic scientists is now open till 7 January 2025
Final results will be available in April 2025 and members to be announced during Academy Retreat in 2025. Candidates will be notified during the entire process.
Key Benefits
- Personal research grant of €2,500.00 (e.g. data access fees, investigation and publication costs) – paid after one year of active participation.
- Free ECTS membership
- Free registration at the ECTS Annual Congress
- Participation at the annual ECTS Academy Retreat with financial support
- Extensive networking opportunities
- Mentorship scheme
- Wide-ranging opportunities for participation in ECTS Committees and Academy activities
Membership Duration
The ECTS Academy membership is for a duration of maximum 2 years, once renewable after an internal evaluation process.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are accepted from candidates who meet the following criteria:
- The applicant is an ECTS Member at least one year before submitting application and works in the musculoskeletal field in Europe.
- For basic scientists: At the time of application <10 years after PhD (or equivalent) degree. This period may be extended up to a maximum of 2 years in case of exceptional circumstances (illness and pregnancy/childcare).
- Present position must either not be a permanent faculty position or the applicant must be <3 years into a permanent faculty contract.
- The applicant should have a scientific profile in the musculoskeletal field with at least 3 original publications in the musculoskeletal field as first or last authors in international peer reviewed journals
- The applicant should be able to demonstrate engagement in scientific organizations for advancing musculoskeletal research (e.g. committee participation, conference organization, abstract reviewer, etc.).
ECTS Academy Evaluation Criteria
Please find here the criteria, by which your application will be scored:
- List of publications
- Awards and prizes
- Engagement in musculoskeletal societies
- Secured grants/fellowships
- Invited talks
- Teaching
- Leadership experience (e.g. supervision of students, thesis supervision, etc.)
- Social engagement (e.g. participation in scientific events for the public, volunteering, etc.)
- Affinity to the musculoskeletal field (e.g. which conferences have you attended? How many times?)
- Motivation to be an ECTS Academy member based on your motivation letter
- Reference letters
Application Process
Deadline: 7 January 2025.
Applications are to be made by self-nomination, by filling an online form.
Applicants will be contacted in February 2025 to confirm status of application after initial evaluation.
Applicants may be asked for short interview with Research Commitee members before the next stage of the evaluation.
The review of the submissions by an independent review panel and final selection will be approved by the ECTS Board of Directors.
Final results will be announced in April 2025.
The applicant must be supported by two letters of referral. In the application form, you will be asked to provide two referee names. After the application, ECTS will contact the referees and send them an online reference letter form.
The “immediate supervisor” of a candidate (e.g. the former thesis advisor or the current supervisor) cannot be selected as referees.