Call for Applications: FI-STEP Predoctoral Fellowships at i2CAT

i2CAT is seeking European-nationality researchers with an excellent academic record to apply for an FI-STEP predoctoral fellowship funded by AGAUR (Agency for Management of University and Research Grants). AGAUR will finance 250 predoctoral contracts, each with a duration of three years.

We are looking for talented and motivated candidates who wish to develop a research career in a dynamic and innovative environment.

More information about i2CAT's research areas can be found at the following link: https://i2cat.net/research-topics/

Candidate requirements:

a) Must hold the nationality of an EU member state.
b) Must have completed a bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification and have a minimum average academic grade of 7 (on a scale of 0 to 10).
c) Candidates applying for a new fellowship must have completed their studies leading to a PhD (MsC or equivalent) between January 1st, 2022, and the contract start date.

Candidates who completed their PhD-related studies between January 1, 2019, and the contract start date may also apply if they have encountered one of the following exceptional circumstances:

• Engaged in work directly related to their studies for a continuous period of at least 12 months.


• Took parental leave (maternity or paternity).


• Had dependent children under six years old.


• Were responsible for individuals with a legally recognized physical, mental, or sensory disability.


• Suffered from a severe illness or accident requiring major surgery or hospital treatment leading to temporary incapacity for at least six continuous months.


• Experienced any of the situations outlined in Article 1 of Spain’s Organic Law 1/2004 of December 28 on comprehensive protection measures against gender-based violence.


• Have recognized refugee status under the 1951 Geneva Convention.

d) At the time of starting the contract, candidates must be accepted or enrolled in a PhD program at a university within the Catalan university system, according to each university’s enrollment schedule.
e) Each candidate may only submit one application.
f) Must not already hold a PhD degree.
g) Must not have held any other predoctoral research contract for more than six months.

Application proceedure:

Interested candidates should send an email with their CV to pmo@i2cat.net, including their academic transcripts (bachelor’s or equivalent and master’s)

Who we are:

The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center that promotes mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT, VR, and Immersive Technologies, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, AI, and Digital Social Innovation. The center partners with companies, public administration, academia, and end-users to leverage this knowledge in order to meet real social and business challenges.

The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.

Want to know more? Visit our webpage! www.i2cat.net

What will you enjoy?

• Work from our offices or from home, whichever works best for you. We only ask for one day in person at the office to coordinate with the rest of the team.


• This is a full-time vacancy.


• i2CAT will provide an additional salary supplement on top of the funding granted by the fellowship.


• Specific training itinerary for PhD students.


• Possibility to carry out research secondments.


• We have a flexible work schedule respecting your work-life balance.


• Reduced working hours on Fridays and in July and August.


• Fix + variable salary based on objectives.


• You decide wether you preferr to receive your salary in 12 or 14 payments.


• Optional benefits: Configure your salary according to your needs. We offer you the option of restaurant vouchers, public transport vouchers, nursery services, and medical insurance.


• Annual leave of 27 working days.


• We have fruit in the office to promote a healthy lifestyle


• Free coffee and tea.


• If you are interested, you can participate in events of your sector.


• You will work with a laptop. You can choose your operative system, Mac, Linux or Windows.


• Company social and team-building events (virtual & in-person).


• You can develop your own and personal training programme with our support.


• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development.

Where will you do it?

At i2CAT we already have an established ‘work-from-home’ policy for some time. You can work from home or from the office, whichever suits you best. We expect that you attend the office one day per week to stay connected with your team and to engage with other colleagues

If you decide to come to the office, we are located in Zona Universitària, next to the Campus Nord of the UPC, within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. It is a very well-connected area (metro, tram, bus) with bars and restaurants around.

Our offices are designed with an open-office concept where everything is light and transparency. We have a variety of workspaces so that you don't have to be at the same table all day.

Diversity is key to progress and innovation, and at the i2CAT Foundation, we actively work to create an inclusive and equitable environment where everyone can develop their full potential. That’s why we are committed to plurality and aim to increase the number of people with functional diversity within our team.

We seek talented individuals with diverse perspectives to enrich our team. In our selection processes, we are committed to promoting female talent and are particularly interested in the experience of women and other underrepresented groups in the scientific and technological fields. This will help us be better prepared to tackle complex challenges. If candidates have similar qualifications, priority will be given to those belonging to one of these groups.

We know that talent manifests in many different ways, and we are eager to discover new

Minimum requirements:

a) Must hold the nationality of an EU member state.
b) Must have completed a bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification and have a minimum average academic grade of 6.50 (on a scale of 0 to 10).
c) Candidates applying for a new fellowship must have completed their studies leading to a PhD between January 1, 2022, and the contract start date.

Candidates who completed their PhD-related studies between January 1, 2019, and the contract start date may also apply if they have encountered one of the following exceptional circumstances:

• Engaged in work directly related to their studies for a continuous period of at least 12 months.


• Took parental leave (maternity or paternity).


• Had dependent children under six years old.


• Were responsible for individuals with a legally recognized physical, mental, or sensory disability.


• Suffered from a severe illness or accident requiring major surgery or hospital treatment leading to temporary incapacity for at least six continuous months.


• Experienced any of the situations outlined in Article 1 of Spain’s Organic Law 1/2004 of December 28 on comprehensive protection measures against gender-based violence.


• Have recognized refugee status under the 1951 Geneva Convention.

d) At the time of starting the contract, candidates must be accepted or enrolled in a PhD program at a university within the Catalan university system, according to each university’s enrollment schedule.
e) Each candidate may only submit one application.
f) Must not already hold a PhD degree.
g) Must not have held any other predoctoral research contract for more than six months.

Nice to have:

• Previous research experience will be valued.

Candidates applying are required to submit the following documents:

• Motivation letter – Mandatory


• CV (blind CVs are accepted) – Mandatory


• Degree certificates – Optional