SyMeCo Fellowships
The SyMeCo fellowship programme offers exceptional research, training and career development opportunities for postdoctoral researchers of any nationality. All fellowships are based at Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, one of the world’s best-known and most highly regarded software research centres. The SyMeCo fellows will be hosted by the host institution of their supervisor, where they will conduct their research and participate in invaluable training and career development opportunities.
Research Project
- Freedom to choose the proposal topic aligned with SyMeCo’s research themes
- Research project under the supervision of a leading Lero researcher
- Fellowships based in Ireland at Lero and partner Host Institutions
Secondment
- Flexibility to choose the secondment host to suit the research project and career development goals
- 3-8 month secondment period in Ireland or abroad
- Secondment to the non-academic or academic sector
Training & Career Development
- Research training and career development programme designed to meet fellows’ needs and changing needs of the software sector
- Career development plan
- Supervised research project and secondment period
- Discipline-specific and transferable skills training
- SyMeCo Summer Schools
- Communication training, public engagement, and outreach activities
- Researcher development programmes at the host institution
- Fellows International Research Visits Programme
- Scholar’s Programme
Employment as a SyMeCo Fellow
Contracts
Following the funding decision, successful applicants will be offered an employment contract for the duration of the fellowship. The fellows will be employed by their host institution under the same employment conditions as other externally funded researchers employed at that institution. The employment contracts will be in line with Irish Law and the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 and 2001.
Financial aspects
- The total gross salary awarded to fellows will be €50,124 per annum (without family allowance) and €56,604 per annum (with family allowance). SyMeCo will apply family definition as indicated in the MSCA WP 2021-2022: persons linked to the fellow by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalised, or (iii) dependent children who are actually being maintained by the fellow. Supporting documentation to confirm eligibility for the family allowance may be requested.
- The salaries received will be liable for taxes and/or other deductions which may vary from host institution to institution. Information on Irish taxation can be found on the Office of Revenue Commissioners website. Compliance with Irish law and national regulations on taxation will be a matter for resolution between the fellow, the host institution and the Irish Revenue Commissioners.
- SyMeCo will provide contributions towards the cost of conducting the fellowship, such as consumables, travel and training and career development activities.
Visa and immigration information for non-EU/EEA researchers
Non-EU/EEA nationals require permission to work and/or study in Ireland.
As a researcher and SyMeCo fellow, you can avail of a range of services offered by EURAXESS Ireland, which provides free advice to researchers and their families. In addition, information on various areas affecting researchers, including immigration, visas, employment law, healthcare, childcare, social services, and life in Ireland, is available.
EURAXESS Ireland also operates the Hosting Agreement Scheme, a visa scheme designed for non-EU/EEA researchers wishing to work in Ireland. This scheme offers a fast-track service for non-EU/EEA researchers. Under the scheme, visas are issued rapidly, and traditional work permits are not required. Furthermore, this scheme allows the researcher’s immediate family to reside and work in Ireland immediately.
In addition to obtaining permission to work in Ireland, some non-EU/EEA nationals also require an entry visa to enter Ireland.