Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
IN2TIC predoctoral contracts (3-year temporary positions)
Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Villa Espana Colonia, Texas, United States
Organisation/Company Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Research Field Cultural studies Sociology Technology Communication sciences Educational sciences Psychological sciences Medical sciences Juridical sciences Political sciences Economics Anthropology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Spain Application Deadline 31 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38,5 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Reference Number 101217250 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description The
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
(UOC) invites interested candidates to participate in this call for applications for twelve (12)
predoctoral contracts
as part of the Interdisciplinary International Training on ICT for Developing Societal Impact (IN2TIC) project. Funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska‑Curie predoctoral grant agreement no. 101217250, this project aims to support the completion of doctoral theses by predoctoral trainee research staff, in accordance with the applicable regulations (see the legal terms for COFUND IN2TIC grants).
The purpose of this call is to promote the training of researchers in the research groups at the UOC, through the completion of
doctoral theses
in the following doctoral programmes:
Society, Technology and Culture
Network and Information Technologies
Education and ICT (E-learning)
Humanities and Communication
Health and Psychology
Law, Politics and Economics
About the UOC
The UOC is a pioneering and leading university in e‑learning. A digital native with a global reach and a public service mandate. We have been providing accredited, high‑quality online education for the last 30 years, and our mission is to develop people’s talents throughout their lives. We take a transformative approach to our research in order to generate social impact.
People who meet the admission requirements for the research stage of a UOC doctoral programme at the time of submitting their application are eligible for an IN2TIC predoctoral contract. These requirements are as follows:
Hold a bachelor's degree or other undergraduate degree in the former Spanish university system ( ingeniería , arquitectura or licenciatura ) worth at least 300 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits, or a university master's degree (or its equivalent).
Not have previously completed a doctoral degree (PhD).
Meet the requirements for admission to a doctoral programme.
At the time of starting the contract, candidates must be enrolled on the doctoral programme. This position is classified as a predoctoral trainee researcher.
Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA) mobility rules for applicants: Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host institution (in this case, Spain) for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the call deadline (the closing date for applications: 31 January 2026 at 23:59 [CET]).
Languages ENGLISH Level Good
Additional Information
Contract:
There will be a full‑time, 3‑year predoctoral contract. If the selected candidate has previously been employed under a predoctoral contract before the start of the grant, the new contract must comply with the maximum duration allowed under Law 14/2011 of 1 June 2011. (Shortlisted candidates must provide their employment history report or a sworn statement.)
Salary:
€29,934.12 gross per year.
Additional allowances
(subject to eligibility under MSCA rules):
Family allowance: €116 per month (if applicable).
Relocation allowance: €1,563 (one‑off payment, if applicable).
Disability support allowance: €893 per year (if applicable and duly documented).
Coverage:
The UOC will cover the costs of enrolment on the doctoral programme, as well as the fee for the degree certificate (only if the thesis is defended before the end of the predoctoral contract and provided the contract is still in force at that time).
Open working model:
You’ll be joining an organization with an open working model that combines remote and in‑office work, depending on organizational needs and the nature of your tasks.
Commitment to diversity:
You’ll be working in an environment where everyone has equal opportunities and equal access to resources and people, regardless of their location or the amount of remote work they do.
Equipment:
You’ll be provided with the computer equipment and ergonomic material you need to work both from home and on the UOC Campus.
Development:
Access to training opportunities to support your professional growth.
Flexibility and working time:
Friday afternoons off; reduced summer hours (35 hours per week, depending on organizational needs); and a generous holiday package (24 working days of annual leave, 9 personal days, and 4 UOC‑specific holidays).
Wellness benefits:
Wellness activities, medical service, physiotherapy service, and workplace assessment and adaptation where needed, among other benefits.
Eligibility criteria I. All applications that meet the requirements will be evaluated by the academic committee of each IN2TIC doctoral programme based on the following criteria and merits (maximum score: 100 points; minimum required score: 70 points):
Criterion I.1. Candidate's academic excellence:
Sub‑criterion 1.a): Bachelor's degree grade point average (up to 15 points).
Sub‑criterion 1.b): Master's degree grade point average (up to 15 points).
Criterion I.2. Previous scientific output (up to 10 points).
Criterion I.3. Motivation letter (up to 10 points).
Criterion I.4. Suitability of the research project (up to 35 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.a): Suitability of the candidate's profile for the research line (up to 15 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.b): Description of the proposed future research stays at other institutions (up to 5 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.c): Eligibility of the topic for interdisciplinary supervision (up to 5 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.d): Specific references to applications in the social, cultural, economic or industrial fields (up to 5 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.e): Potential collaborations or cross‑sector opportunities (up to 5 points).
Criterion I.5. Reference letters (up to 5 points).
Criterion I.6. Other merits (up to 10 points). Examples of other merits include awards received; patents (or equivalent open‑access initiatives); research grants obtained; research fellowships awarded by recognized leading centres; previous professional experience in research, development and innovation (RDI); active participation in relevant summer or winter schools related to the research topic; and the organization of research events. This category allows a holistic assessment of the candidate's broader engagement and contributions to the scientific community.
II. The 10 candidates shortlisted for each programme in the first phase of the selection process will be interviewed individually and ranked based on their research proposal and the outcome of the interview.
The research proposal will be assessed based on the following criteria.
Criterion II.1: Excellence (up to 50 points). The assessment will consider the proposal's alignment with the programme and research line; the novelty and originality of the expected thesis contributions; methodological soundness; and any interdisciplinary dimensions of the proposed research.
Criterion II.2: Impact (up to 25 points). This includes the planned collaborations with industry, government bodies and non‑governmental organisations, as well as the applicability of the thesis results. The credibility of the proposal and its potential social benefit will also be assessed.
Criterion II.3: Implementation (up to 25 points). The evaluation will consider the logical and coherent scheduling of tasks; the appropriate use of research methodology; a well‑defined contingency plan to address potential challenges, and an explicit consideration of ethical implications and data protection within the research proposal.
The assessment during the individual interview will be based on the following criteria:
Criterion II.4: Personal skills (up to 50 points).
Sub‑criterion II.4.b): Ability to defend the thesis project and demonstrate its social impact.
Sub‑criterion II.4.c): Familiarity with relevant academic venues and publications in the field.
Criterion II.5: Career perspectives (up to 50 points).
Sub‑criterion II.5.a): Maturity of the candidate’s long‑term commitment to research (academic or industry career plan).
The candidate's final score will be a combination of the research proposal score, as evaluated by the Selection Committee (60%), and the interview score (40%). The minimum score required to obtain a position is 75 out of 100.
These evaluation criteria for applications can be consulted on the
IN2TIC
website.
In the event of a tie in the final scores, the academic committees of each doctoral programme will apply the following prioritization criteria: (1) the score obtained in the interview stage; (2) overall gender balance; and (3) diversity criteria based on country of origin.
Selection process To take part in the selection process, candidates must visit the IN2TIC website.
Documents to be attached to the application
A motivation or cover letter including a brief presentation of your background, the specific motivations underpinning your application, and a description of your research interests.
Academic certificates and transcripts for studies prior to the doctoral degree (bachelor’s and master’s degrees), stating the courses taken and the grade obtained, the type of course, the number of credits, and the grade point average. Applicants holding qualifications awarded in other countries must obtain equivalence for the grade point average for their university studies according to the website
Certificate of a B2 level of English, the minimum requirement. The project offers the possibility of financial support for candidates from developing countries to obtain official B2 English certification (contact the programme manager at in2tic@uoc.edu to request this process).
Curriculum vitae listing your merits in accordance with the selection criteria. It must include details of relevant master’s or postgraduate programmes and courses related to the research interests expressed in the motivation letter, and, where applicable, previous scientific output.
If you wish to submit your application, go to the IN2TIC page, select the doctoral programme you are interested in and request the welcome and information service. Once you have received your username and password for the Virtual Campus, go to Procedures / Apply for the IN2TIC (COFUND) grant , and submit the form and the required documents.
The deadline for applications is 31 January 2026.
Additional comments At the UOC, we’re not all the same. And this works very much in our favour. Our differences, our experiences and our ideas make us stronger. In our mission to work with the best talent, we do all we can to ensure equal opportunities, ignoring aspects such as gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or any other physical, personal or social aspect other than merit and abilities. Likewise, we will assess any reasonable adjustments that candidates require in order to put themselves forward for the position. If you require any adaptation at any stage of the selection process, you can contact us at in2tic@uoc.edu.
The UOC’s recruitment and selection processes are based on the principles of open, transparent and merit‑based recruitment (OTM‑R).
Additional comments
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA COFUND) (grant agreement no. 101217250).
This activity is funded by the Interdisciplinary International Training on ICT for Developing Societal Impact project (grant agreement no. 101217250), funded by the European Commission.
Funded by the European Union. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Offer Description The
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
(UOC) invites interested candidates to participate in this call for applications for twelve (12)
predoctoral contracts
as part of the Interdisciplinary International Training on ICT for Developing Societal Impact (IN2TIC) project. Funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska‑Curie predoctoral grant agreement no. 101217250, this project aims to support the completion of doctoral theses by predoctoral trainee research staff, in accordance with the applicable regulations (see the legal terms for COFUND IN2TIC grants).
The purpose of this call is to promote the training of researchers in the research groups at the UOC, through the completion of
doctoral theses
in the following doctoral programmes:
Society, Technology and Culture
Network and Information Technologies
Education and ICT (E-learning)
Humanities and Communication
Health and Psychology
Law, Politics and Economics
About the UOC
The UOC is a pioneering and leading university in e‑learning. A digital native with a global reach and a public service mandate. We have been providing accredited, high‑quality online education for the last 30 years, and our mission is to develop people’s talents throughout their lives. We take a transformative approach to our research in order to generate social impact.
People who meet the admission requirements for the research stage of a UOC doctoral programme at the time of submitting their application are eligible for an IN2TIC predoctoral contract. These requirements are as follows:
Hold a bachelor's degree or other undergraduate degree in the former Spanish university system ( ingeniería , arquitectura or licenciatura ) worth at least 300 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits, or a university master's degree (or its equivalent).
Not have previously completed a doctoral degree (PhD).
Meet the requirements for admission to a doctoral programme.
At the time of starting the contract, candidates must be enrolled on the doctoral programme. This position is classified as a predoctoral trainee researcher.
Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA) mobility rules for applicants: Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host institution (in this case, Spain) for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the call deadline (the closing date for applications: 31 January 2026 at 23:59 [CET]).
Languages ENGLISH Level Good
Additional Information
Contract:
There will be a full‑time, 3‑year predoctoral contract. If the selected candidate has previously been employed under a predoctoral contract before the start of the grant, the new contract must comply with the maximum duration allowed under Law 14/2011 of 1 June 2011. (Shortlisted candidates must provide their employment history report or a sworn statement.)
Salary:
€29,934.12 gross per year.
Additional allowances
(subject to eligibility under MSCA rules):
Family allowance: €116 per month (if applicable).
Relocation allowance: €1,563 (one‑off payment, if applicable).
Disability support allowance: €893 per year (if applicable and duly documented).
Coverage:
The UOC will cover the costs of enrolment on the doctoral programme, as well as the fee for the degree certificate (only if the thesis is defended before the end of the predoctoral contract and provided the contract is still in force at that time).
Open working model:
You’ll be joining an organization with an open working model that combines remote and in‑office work, depending on organizational needs and the nature of your tasks.
Commitment to diversity:
You’ll be working in an environment where everyone has equal opportunities and equal access to resources and people, regardless of their location or the amount of remote work they do.
Equipment:
You’ll be provided with the computer equipment and ergonomic material you need to work both from home and on the UOC Campus.
Development:
Access to training opportunities to support your professional growth.
Flexibility and working time:
Friday afternoons off; reduced summer hours (35 hours per week, depending on organizational needs); and a generous holiday package (24 working days of annual leave, 9 personal days, and 4 UOC‑specific holidays).
Wellness benefits:
Wellness activities, medical service, physiotherapy service, and workplace assessment and adaptation where needed, among other benefits.
Eligibility criteria I. All applications that meet the requirements will be evaluated by the academic committee of each IN2TIC doctoral programme based on the following criteria and merits (maximum score: 100 points; minimum required score: 70 points):
Criterion I.1. Candidate's academic excellence:
Sub‑criterion 1.a): Bachelor's degree grade point average (up to 15 points).
Sub‑criterion 1.b): Master's degree grade point average (up to 15 points).
Criterion I.2. Previous scientific output (up to 10 points).
Criterion I.3. Motivation letter (up to 10 points).
Criterion I.4. Suitability of the research project (up to 35 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.a): Suitability of the candidate's profile for the research line (up to 15 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.b): Description of the proposed future research stays at other institutions (up to 5 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.c): Eligibility of the topic for interdisciplinary supervision (up to 5 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.d): Specific references to applications in the social, cultural, economic or industrial fields (up to 5 points).
Sub‑criterion I.4.e): Potential collaborations or cross‑sector opportunities (up to 5 points).
Criterion I.5. Reference letters (up to 5 points).
Criterion I.6. Other merits (up to 10 points). Examples of other merits include awards received; patents (or equivalent open‑access initiatives); research grants obtained; research fellowships awarded by recognized leading centres; previous professional experience in research, development and innovation (RDI); active participation in relevant summer or winter schools related to the research topic; and the organization of research events. This category allows a holistic assessment of the candidate's broader engagement and contributions to the scientific community.
II. The 10 candidates shortlisted for each programme in the first phase of the selection process will be interviewed individually and ranked based on their research proposal and the outcome of the interview.
The research proposal will be assessed based on the following criteria.
Criterion II.1: Excellence (up to 50 points). The assessment will consider the proposal's alignment with the programme and research line; the novelty and originality of the expected thesis contributions; methodological soundness; and any interdisciplinary dimensions of the proposed research.
Criterion II.2: Impact (up to 25 points). This includes the planned collaborations with industry, government bodies and non‑governmental organisations, as well as the applicability of the thesis results. The credibility of the proposal and its potential social benefit will also be assessed.
Criterion II.3: Implementation (up to 25 points). The evaluation will consider the logical and coherent scheduling of tasks; the appropriate use of research methodology; a well‑defined contingency plan to address potential challenges, and an explicit consideration of ethical implications and data protection within the research proposal.
The assessment during the individual interview will be based on the following criteria:
Criterion II.4: Personal skills (up to 50 points).
Sub‑criterion II.4.b): Ability to defend the thesis project and demonstrate its social impact.
Sub‑criterion II.4.c): Familiarity with relevant academic venues and publications in the field.
Criterion II.5: Career perspectives (up to 50 points).
Sub‑criterion II.5.a): Maturity of the candidate’s long‑term commitment to research (academic or industry career plan).
The candidate's final score will be a combination of the research proposal score, as evaluated by the Selection Committee (60%), and the interview score (40%). The minimum score required to obtain a position is 75 out of 100.
These evaluation criteria for applications can be consulted on the
IN2TIC
website.
In the event of a tie in the final scores, the academic committees of each doctoral programme will apply the following prioritization criteria: (1) the score obtained in the interview stage; (2) overall gender balance; and (3) diversity criteria based on country of origin.
Selection process To take part in the selection process, candidates must visit the IN2TIC website.
Documents to be attached to the application
A motivation or cover letter including a brief presentation of your background, the specific motivations underpinning your application, and a description of your research interests.
Academic certificates and transcripts for studies prior to the doctoral degree (bachelor’s and master’s degrees), stating the courses taken and the grade obtained, the type of course, the number of credits, and the grade point average. Applicants holding qualifications awarded in other countries must obtain equivalence for the grade point average for their university studies according to the website
Certificate of a B2 level of English, the minimum requirement. The project offers the possibility of financial support for candidates from developing countries to obtain official B2 English certification (contact the programme manager at in2tic@uoc.edu to request this process).
Curriculum vitae listing your merits in accordance with the selection criteria. It must include details of relevant master’s or postgraduate programmes and courses related to the research interests expressed in the motivation letter, and, where applicable, previous scientific output.
If you wish to submit your application, go to the IN2TIC page, select the doctoral programme you are interested in and request the welcome and information service. Once you have received your username and password for the Virtual Campus, go to Procedures / Apply for the IN2TIC (COFUND) grant , and submit the form and the required documents.
The deadline for applications is 31 January 2026.
Additional comments At the UOC, we’re not all the same. And this works very much in our favour. Our differences, our experiences and our ideas make us stronger. In our mission to work with the best talent, we do all we can to ensure equal opportunities, ignoring aspects such as gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or any other physical, personal or social aspect other than merit and abilities. Likewise, we will assess any reasonable adjustments that candidates require in order to put themselves forward for the position. If you require any adaptation at any stage of the selection process, you can contact us at in2tic@uoc.edu.
The UOC’s recruitment and selection processes are based on the principles of open, transparent and merit‑based recruitment (OTM‑R).
Additional comments
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA COFUND) (grant agreement no. 101217250).
This activity is funded by the Interdisciplinary International Training on ICT for Developing Societal Impact project (grant agreement no. 101217250), funded by the European Commission.
Funded by the European Union. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
#J-18808-Ljbffr