FECYT promotes Spanish Science in London

Questions about the options after a degree, a master, a PhD or a first postdoc, are recurrent among researchers throughout their career. The Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) has sought to provide information to help answering these questions, by publishing a series of booklets about the opportunities to develop a researcher career in Spain. These have been published on the FECYT website and presented recently in an event at the Spanish Embassy in London and in the science jobs exhibition NatureJobs Career Expo London 2016, on the 15^th and 16^th September, respectively. 

Science in Spain 2016 – Science Jobs Opportunities

The event at the Spanish Embassy in London “Science in Spain 2016 – Science Jobs Opportunities” was useful for showcasing not only the different funding opportunities for scientists to do research in Spain, but also the institutional support provided by Euraxess network for science mobility. Lastly, a series of Spanish research centres and universities with job vacancies open for the coming months, were also presented. 

The Ambassador of Spain to the United Kingdom HE Mr Federico Trillo-Figueroa welcomed over 50 attendees, mostly scientists from Spain and other countries. In his speech, he noted both that Spain was the tenth country in number of academic publications, and the recent success of the Spanish participation in Horizon 2020. Additionally, he highlighted the usefulness of the booklets presented in the event as they contained over 425 job positions.  

Next, the FECYT science coordinator in the Spanish Embassy in London, Dr Lorenzo Melchor, introduced the four produced booklets and summed up the available programmes across the researcher career in Spain with European and Spanish (both at the State and Regional level) public and private funds. In particular, two of these calls were presented in further detail: the PhD programme “INPhINIT” by the Obra Social “la Caixa”, which was introduced by Patricia Nadal, programme coordinator; and the COFUND programme TECNIOspring+, to develop research projects in the industrial sector, presented by the director of the Office for Trade and Investment of Catalunya in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Óscar Martí. 

Then, Dr Izaskun Lacunza, Head of the International Projects Unit in FECYT, talked about EURAXESS-Spain network, with its job listings of continuous update and the institutional support for science mobility, providing assistance to researchers and their families in matters such as visas, recognition of diplomas, social security, and any other topics. 

The third part of this event was focused on the showcasing of different Spanish research centres and universities done by their representatives, who summed up their scientific activity, their most well-known scientists and their available job positions for the coming months: the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), presented by Head of International Office Dr Carolina Pola; the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, introduced by Vicechancellor of Science Policy and Research Dr Josep M Ricart; the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), with Head of Communication and Outreach Dr Zoila Babot; the Computer Vision Centre (CVC) of the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, with Deputy Director Dr Fernando Vilariño; the Institute IMDEA Materials, presented by Deputy Director Prof Ignacio Romero; the Andalusian Centre for Nanomedicine & Biotechnology BIONAND, with Deputy Scientific Director Dr Mª Luisa García Martín; and the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, introduced by Vicechancellor of Research Dr Ignacio Pérez-Roger. 

After all the talks, a debate was held with questions from the audience regarding particular funding programmes, short research stays, or research centres.

NatureJobs Career Expo London 2016

This science jobs exhibition receives more than 1,200 attendees, mostly postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. The expo gives attendees the opportunity to attend many debates about science careers, workshops for CV writing, mock job interviews and a space with plenty of stands from institutions, foundations, research centres and universities from across the globe, where attendees can get additional information. For the first time, FECYT participated in this expo with the stand “Science in Spain”. 

FECYT sent three representatives to provide information to scientists interested in develop any stage of their researcher career in Spain. With this purpose, they brought over 35 leaflets and booklets containing more than 425 job positions. Likewise, different representatives from Spanish research centres and universities spent time at the stand during the whole day to provide more information of their institutions. 

For more information about the material presented in London, visit http://www.fecyt.es/en/noticia/science-jobs-opportunities-spain 

To follow up both events on Twitter, you can check #ScienceSpainUK or #NJCE16.