You qualify if you do not already hold a PhD, will have a master's degree (or an equivalent qualification that gives access to doctoral study) by the time you start, and meet the mobility rule. The mobility rule means you must not have lived, worked or studied in the country of your chosen host institution for more than 12 months in the three years before your recruitment date. Short stays such as holidays do not count. Applicants of any nationality are welcome.

No. MSCA Doctoral Networks are designed for researchers who have not yet obtained a doctoral degree. If you already hold a PhD and are interested in the research areas covered by ORFeus, you are welcome to contact us about other possible collaborations.

The mobility rule is an MSCA eligibility requirement. At the time of recruitment, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies) in the country of your host institution for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before your recruitment date. Short stays such as holidays, conferences or language courses do not count. The rule is assessed per project, so you may be eligible for a project in one country but not another.

Yes. ORFeus is open to applicants of any nationality, from any country. You will need to meet the general eligibility criteria including the mobility rule. If you are recruited, your host institution will support you with visa and work permit arrangements where needed.

You choose up to three of the 15 projects and rank them in order of preference. Every project you rank will consider your application, not only your first choice. You do not have to rank three; rank only the projects you would genuinely accept. Ranking more than one project widens your options without reducing your chances for your top choice.

The 15 projects span a wide range of disciplines, from computational biology and AI to proteomics, structural biology, evolutionary genomics and immunology. Each project description lists the specific expertise that is most relevant. You do not need to have experience in all of them. What matters is a strong foundation in your area and a genuine interest in learning across disciplines.

English is the working language of the entire network. All training events, supervision meetings, and network activities are conducted in English. Some host institutions may offer or encourage local language courses, but fluency in the local language is not a requirement for any position.

Yes. Every position is a full employment contract, fully funded by the European Union through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The salary includes a living allowance, a mobility allowance, and a family allowance where applicable. The exact gross amount depends on the host country.

Each position runs for 36 months (three years). In some cases an extension may be possible depending on the policies of the host institution.

Yes. The fellowship requires a full-time commitment. You are expected to dedicate yourself entirely to your research project and the network's training program for the duration of the contract.

Applications open 1 October 2026 and close on 22 October 2026. Shortlisting and interviews follow in late 2026, decisions are communicated late 2026 to early 2027, and positions start in March 2027. The exact start date depends on the project and host institution.

We confirm receipt of your application. After the deadline, each project reviews the candidates who ranked it. The strongest candidates are shortlisted and invited to a short introductory call, followed by an interview with the project's supervisors. Everyone is informed of the outcome, and candidates who are shortlisted or interviewed receive individual feedback.

No. After reaching the shortlist stage, you will be asked to provide information on up to two reference contacts through the hiring platform. At that point, these contacts will be asked to confirm if they can act as referee. If you then reach the full interview stage, we will ask them for their input.

If you are recruited, your host institution will guide you through the visa and work permit process. We recommend starting this as early as possible once you receive an offer, as administrative timelines vary by country. Make sure to check the specific requirements for your host country well in advance.

A Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network is an EU-funded program that brings together universities, research institutes and companies to train doctoral researchers through connected PhD projects on a shared research topic. Each researcher is employed at a host institution but trains across the whole network through schools, workshops, and secondments at partner organizations.

Yes. The network-wide schools, workshops, and other training activities are a core part of the program and are mandatory for all doctoral researchers. They are designed to complement your individual research project. All training costs, including travel and accommodation for network events, are covered.

A secondment is a period you spend working at another organization in the network, typically an industry partner at a different institution. ORFeus includes a mandatory industry secondment of around three months and a shorter academic secondment of around four weeks (primarily virtual). Secondments are fully funded and planned with your supervisors to fit your project and career goals.