Guide for Applicants to the MedDevDoc Marie Skłodowska-Curie Studentship Programme at

CÚRAM Call 1, 2024

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 1
Contents
1. CÚRAM MedDevDoc Programme ....................................................................................................... 5
1.1 About MedDevDoc ....................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 CÚRAM ......................................................................................................................................... 5
1.3 Marie Skłodowksa-Curie Studentships ......................................................................................... 6
2. Studentship Details............................................................................................................................. 6
3. Call Timetable ..................................................................................................................................... 6
4. Eligibility Criteria ................................................................................................................................ 6
4.1 Eligibility of Applicants ................................................................................................................. 6
4.2 Eligibility Requirements for the Application ................................................................................. 6
4.3 Eligibility of Project Proposals ...................................................................................................... 7
4.4 Eligibility Requirements for the Intersectoral Secondment .......................................................... 7
5. Selection Process ................................................................................................................................ 8
5.1 Different Stages of the Selection Process ..................................................................................... 8
5.2 Evaluation Criteria ........................................................................................................................ 8
5.3 Selection Process .......................................................................................................................... 9
5.4 Redress Procedure ...................................................................................................................... 10
6. Intellectual Property (IP) Rights ........................................................................................................ 11
7. Employment Conditions ................................................................................................................... 11
7.1 Contractual Arrangements ......................................................................................................... 11
7.2 Studentship Funding Breakdown................................................................................................ 12
8. Student Training ............................................................................................................................... 12
8.1 Student Training Program ........................................................................................................... 12
8.2 Supervision Arrangements ......................................................................................................... 13
9. Secondments .................................................................................................................................... 13
10. Work Environment ......................................................................................................................... 13
10.1 Human Resources ..................................................................................................................... 15
11. Support Services ............................................................................................................................. 15
11.1 MedDevDoc Helpdesk .............................................................................................................. 15
11.2 EURAXESS Ireland ..................................................................................................................... 15
12. Data Protection............................................................................................................................... 15
13. Equal opportunities ........................................................................................................................ 15
13.1 Equal Opportunities Policy ....................................................................................................... 15
13.2 Gender Equality. ....................................................................................................................... 16

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 2
 13.3 Students with Disabilities ......................................................................................................... 16
13.4 Career Restart ........................................................................................................................... 16
14. Useful Links..................................................................................................................................... 16
15. Contact Details ............................................................................................................................... 16
16. Application Templates for Call 1 (2024) .......................................................................................... 16
16.1 Online Forms ............................................................................................................................ 17
16.2 PDFs to Upload ......................................................................................................................... 17

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 3
1. CÚRAM MedDevDoc Programme
1.1 About MedDevDoc
A significant limitation of the market introduction of novel medical devices is the gap between research
and industry. Medical device innovations from academic institutions rarely align with commercial
requirements. The Medical Device Doctoral (MedDevDoc) program aims to address the gap between
academic MedTech research and clinical translation by training 25 doctoral students at CÚRAM, SFI
Research Centre for Medical Devices. The target group for MedDevDoc are MSc students who will be
recruited for a maximum of 4 years in the broad area of Medical Device Research and Development,
including:
• Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Devices
• MedTech AI, Machine Learning, Medical Imaging and Soft Robotics
• Immuno Engineering
• Biomaterial and drug delivery devices as applied to neurodegenerative applicants
• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
The MedDevDoc Programme aims to train biomedical doctoral candidates in multidisciplinary,
intersectoral, and transferable skills for next-generation medical device development. This training will
enable the students to drive innovation in Ireland and Europe's globally competitive MedTech
ecosystem. Students shall be based at one of ten CÚRAM academic organisations: University of Galway
(GALWAY), University College Dublin (UCD), The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Trinity
College Dublin (TCD), University of Limerick (UL), Dublin City University (DCU), Technological University
of the Shannon (TUS), University College Cork (UCC), National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and
Training (NIBRT) and Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin). Also, CÚRAM's industry partners
(Associated Partners) will supervise and train students during intersectoral secondments.

1.2 CÚRAM
CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices (CÚRAM – meaning "care" in the Irish language) is a
national, SFI-funded, 64.8 Million Euro research Centre that brings together researchers from the
University of Galway (GALWAY), University College Dublin (UCD), the Royal College of Surgeons in
Ireland (RCSI), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University of Limerick (UL), Dublin City University (DCU),
University College Cork (UCC), Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) National Institute for
Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin). CÚRAM's
vision is to be a global leader in creating and translating clinic-ready and patient-focused medical
devices, develop the next generation of industry-relevant, publicly engaged researchers, and anchor
for industry-applicable research. Cutting-edge science will develop devices using the latest research
from biomaterials, stem cells, and drug delivery and the support of clinical solid collaborations,
industry partners, and hospital groups to enable rapid translation to the clinic. CÚRAM industry
partners include Irish companies and multinationals in medical device, pharmaceutical, and
biotechnology.

1.3 Marie Skłodowksa-Curie Studentships

The MedDevDoc program is part of the Marie Skłodowksa-Curie Actions (MSCA), a European
Commission funding program under Horizon Europe. Named after the double Nobel prize-winning
Polish-French scientist Marie Skłodowksa-Curie, MSCA offers excellent and innovative research

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 4
training, attractive career development, and knowledge-exchange opportunities across borders and
sectors, e.g., academia and industry, Marie Skłodowksa-Curie Fellowships internationally recognised
as a mark of research excellence.

2. Studentship Details
During the 60-month MedDevDoc Programme, the University of Galway will publish two calls for
applications and recruit 25 Doctoral Students. A wide range of applicants from different genders,
nationalities, and types of background education can engage with the program. Calls will be
disseminated through a wide range of channels. The target group for MedDevDoc is MSc. students of
any nationality in the critical scientific areas of Regenerative Medicine, Medical Devices (Biomaterials
and Drug Delivery), and MedTech AI, who comply with the MSCA mobility rule. Consequently, the
dissemination will be internationally focused, use international media, and be in English.

3. Call Timetable
There will be two open calls for applications to the MedDevDoc Programme:

Call: opens on 15 January 2024 for approximately 12 weeks (deadline is 15 April 2024).

The call frequency and period are subject to change based on the progress made in selecting
candidates. We may have additional or intermittent calls if required.

4. Eligibility Criteria
Applications need to meet criteria in three categories: eligibility of applicants, applications, and
secondments.

4.1 Eligibility of Applicants

• MedDevDoc is open to candidates who have a 1st class or a 2:1 honours first degree and
have/are due to obtain a Master's in Biomaterials, Biomedical Engineering, Tissue Engineering,
Cell Biology, Biology, Biochemistry, or related disciplines. From different genders and
nationalities. They must not hold a doctoral degree. Medical Doctors are invited to apply if
they can demonstrate an understanding of the clinical or life sciences research process.
• All applicants for whom their first language is not English must present an English language
qualification taken within two years before the application (Suggested English language
qualifications include IELTS, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Cambridge C2 Advanced, TOEFL
iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition, Pearson PTE and Duolingo).
• Must comply with the MSCA mobility rule.

4.2 Eligibility Requirements for the Application

The applicants should upload these documents:

Part A: Administrative information on the applicant, preferred Primary Academic supervisor, project
proposal title, and potential secondment host (if available).

Part B: The project summary (max. 3 pages) and a motivation letter (max. 1 page) are uploaded as PDF
files. The project summary will include a scientific background, 2-3 research objectives, an outline of
the methodology, a description of the expected impact, and an identification of any ethical issues. The
motivation letter should describe the student's motivation to participate in MedDevDoc, as well as the
ambitions and goals of the applicant in the five years beyond their Ph.D.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 5
Curriculum Vitae: (max. 3 pages) including details of the applicant's academic and research
achievements.

English language qualification

4.3 Eligibility of Project Proposals

• Must be within the research areas defined by CÚRAM in the broad scope of Medical Device
Research and Development.
• It must be complete and in English.
• Must consider the gender dimension of the research project.
• Must be received by the University of Galway online (http: meddevdoc.com) on or before the
advertised call deadline.
• Must include a completed ethics section outlined in the application form.
• Must adhere to the ethical rules of the host organisation and the European Union Horizon
Europe research program.

4.4 Eligibility Requirements for the Intersectoral Secondment

• Non-academic secondments are a requirement. At the application stage, candidates can
nominate up to three potential secondment organisations and provide reasoning for the fit
with their project.
• The total secondment duration is six months.

Table1: Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• MedDevDoc is open to candidates who have/are due to

obtain a Master's in Biomaterials, Biomedical
Engineering, Tissue Engineering, Cell Biology, Biology,
Eligibility of Applicants Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
• All applicants whose first language is not English must
present an English language qualification.
• Must comply with the MSCA mobility rule
• Administrative information on the applicant
Eligibility of application • The project summary and a motivation letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Non-academic secondments are mandatory for all
Eligibility of Secondments students.
• The total secondment duration is six months.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 6
 5. Selection Process
5.1 Different Stages of the Selection Process
The selection process will be in 2 stages:

• Stage 1: Selection based on the submitted application.

• Stage 2: Selection based on an interview; the discussion will consist of a 15-minute slide
presentation, with applicants describing their previous scientific work, followed by 10 minutes
(either in person or via an agreed virtual method).

Table 2: Evaluation criteria

Evaluation Criteria Weightings

Stage1 50%
Stage2 50%

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

Each application will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in Table 3. For each evaluation
criterion, sub-criteria help reviewers determine the quality of the proposal. Reviewers will assess the
proposals closest to their area of expertise, ensuring that the quality of the research applications is
recognised. Applicants' names will be removed to prevent any possible unconscious bias.

Table 3: Award criteria and sub-criteria

Excellence (max score 5; Competences (max score Motivation (max score 5; 1

1 per criterion) 5; 1 per criterion) per criterion)
1. Quality/ pertinence of 1. Comprehension of new 1. Ambition and innovation of
the research project material and subject project objectives
Project summary 2. Scientific soundness of matter 2. Impact of described project
project objectives and 2. Planning and organising
methodology skills
3. Quality of 3. Excellent level of 3. Motivation, evaluated by
Stage Motivation letter communication skills English candidates’ fit with
1 MedDevDoc
4. Quality of scientific 4. Academic qualifications 4. Curiosity to learn
training 5. Project 5. Ability to work something new
CV management skills independently and as a 5. Self-motivated, evaluated
part of a team by extracurricular activities
Excellence (max score 5; Competences (max score Motivation (max score 5; 1
1 per criterion) 5; 1 per criterion) per criterion)

1. Quality of 1. Creativity 1. Motivation, enthusiasm,

communication skills 2. Critical thinking and knowledge of the project
Interview 2. Good interpersonal 3. Excellent level of
skills English
3. Analytical/ problem-
solving skills

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 7
Stage 4. Quality of the slide 4. Ability to answer 2. Motivation, evaluated by
2 Oral presentation content and structure 5. questions raised by candidates’ knowledge of the
Presentation skills expert reviewers research area
5. Excellent
communication skills

Scores from 0 to 5 indicate the following concerning the criterion under examination:

0) The proposal fails to address the criterion or cannot be assessed due to missing or
incomplete information.

1) Poor. The criterion needs to be addressed more, or serious inherent weaknesses exist.
2) Fair. The proposal broadly addresses the criterion, but there are significant areas for
improvement.
3) Good. The proposal addresses the criterion well, but some areas for improvement are
present.
4) Very Good. The proposal addresses the criterion very well, but a few drawbacks exist.
5) Excellent. The proposal successfully addresses all relevant aspects of the criterion. Any
imperfections are minor.

5.3 Selection Process

Figure 1: Overview of the selection process

Application Through the Online Portal: To apply, candidates must register individually in the "Apply
Now" section of the MedDevDoc website.

Applicants are encouraged to start preparing their applications as early as possible. The first step is
identifying the research area the applicant wants to match with a potential CÚRAM host supervisor.
The online application system requires inputting personal details, project titles, summaries, and
keywords, completing an ethics questionnaire, and applicant declarations (online forms). Applicants
are also required to upload the following PDF documents:

• Academic CV

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 8
 • Motivation Letter
• Research proposal
• English language qualification

Eligibility Check: All applications will be checked for eligibility once the online application system is
closed. All applicants will be informed of the results of eligibility checking. If an application is found
ineligible, applicants will be provided with an explanation of the grounds for ineligibility.

Evaluation Stage 1: Each eligible application will undergo external international peer review. Three
independent experts (Peer Review Panel) will evaluate each proposal per the criteria described in
Section 5.2 for Evaluation Criteria.

Evaluation Stage 2: Top-ranked candidates will be invited to the next phase, a competency interview
by an Interview Panel (see Section 5.2 for Evaluation Criteria). A consultation will be planned within
three weeks following the first selection.

Final Decision: The MedDevDoc Steering Committee will endorse the final funding decision based on
the recommendations of the Peer-Review Panel, Interview Panel, and relevance of candidates.

Studentship Offers: Human Resources will issue letters of offer to successful candidates based on the
final funding decision of the Steering Committee. The Programme Manager will provide feedback to
all applicants.

5.4 Redress Procedure

All candidates have a right to a redress procedure if they feel that there has been a shortcoming in
their proposal evaluation and that this shortcoming may affect the final decision on whether to fund
it or not or if they believe that the results of the eligibility checks are incorrect. To avail of that
procedure, the applicant must submit a request for redress within 15 calendar days of receiving
feedback on the evaluation of their proposal. Submissions must be emailed to
[email protected]. The redress form will be available on the MedDevDoc website. The
Redress Committee (composed of two independent CÚRAM representatives not previously involved
in the evaluation process and chaired by CÚRAM's Scientific Programme Manager) will examine
Redress requests.

Redress requests must be:

• Related to the evaluation process or eligibility checks, as described in the Guide for Applicants
for the call.
• The form is available on the MedDevDoc website and clearly describes the grounds for the
complaint.
• Received within the time limit specified on the notification, which the applicant has received.
Submitted personally by the interested applicant.

Once an applicant submits the request, the Redress Committee will review the case. They will evaluate
the proposal if there is clear evidence that a shortcoming has occurred that could affect the eventual
funding decision. This procedure concerns the evaluation and eligibility checking process. The
committee will refrain from questioning appropriately qualified experts' scientific or technical
judgment. All requests for redress will be treated confidentially. Applicants will be informed by the

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 9
Programme Manager via email of the outcome within 30 calendar days following receipt of the redress
request. If the redress procedure is successful, the applicant is invited for a second (teleconference)
interview. Decisions of the Redress Committee are final.

6. Intellectual Property (IP) Rights

IP protection and exploitation of commercially valuable results are vital to the MedDevDoc program.
Intellectual property rights (IPR) will follow MSCA guidelines and the IP agreements between CÚRAM
and its partners. IP is subject to the host organisation's internal policy and provisions of the
employment contract of the MedDevDoc fellows. The IP policy will apply during the student's stay in
the host and secondment organisations. For secondments, the host and secondment organisations
must sign an IP agreement, which must be in place before the secondments can start—the MedDevDoc
supervisors, with the assistance of the host organisations. Technology Transfer Office (TTO) will train
the fellows to identify, record (lab notebooks), protect IP, and exploit commercially valuable results,
with due consideration of inventorship by the contributory supervisors.

7. Employment Conditions
7.1 Contractual Arrangements
Following each evaluation cycle, successful candidates will receive a letter of offer from the University
of Galway, typically within four weeks of their interview. When the successful applicant accepts the
studentship, the University of Galway will sign a contract with the relevant CÚRAM host organisation.
The Human Resources office of that host Organization will sign an employment contract with the
successful candidate. The University of Galway will be the Paymaster for all employment contracts.
The agreement between the University of Galway and the host Organisation obliges the host
Organisation to offer a fixed-term employment contract to the Fellow for the entire duration of the
fellowship. In addition to the general terms and conditions, in line with the Terms of Employment
(Information) Acts 1994 and 2001, the employment contract will specify the following:

• Nature of the appointment and type of studentship.

• Start date and total duration of the studentship.
• Guarantee that the employment contract with the host organisation will remain during the
period of the studentship fellowship.
• Details of the secondment organisation
• Names of the supervisors in charge of supervising the project and place of work
• Salary level of the fellowship, including any additional payments, such as mobility allowance,
etc., and payment information for the student.
• Annual leave and other leave entitlements (e.g., maternity leave)
• IPR arrangements between organisations and the student

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 10
For the secondment, the host organisation will sign a partnership agreement with the secondment
organisation, which covers aspects such as the obligations of the secondment organisation, the
student's responsibilities, IP, and confidentiality. By signing employment contracts, the students' rights
are determined in Irish law under the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Workers) Act 2003,
meaning that the students have equal rights to other employees, such as entitlement to annual leave
and maternity leave. Students will be protected by the Employment Equality Act 1998–2015, which
prohibits discrimination in various employment and employment-related areas, such as gender, civil
status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and race. In addition, under the Disability Act 2005,
implementing partners must consider and respond to the needs of students with disabilities.

7.2 Studentship Funding Breakdown

Med Dev Doc will recruit 25 doctoral fellows for a maximum of 4 years. Amounts provided for the
benefit of the students are as follows:

Table4: Estimated MedDevDoc budget

Cost categories Amount (€/ month)

Living allowance 2,058
Mobility allowance* 517
Family allowance** 569

*: mobility allowance is provided to cover expenses linked to the personal household and relocation
of the student.

**: paid when the student has family obligations. The purpose of family is persons connected to the
student: (i) by marriage; (ii) relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the
legislation of the country where this relationship is formal; (iii) dependent children whom the
student is maintaining.

8. Student Training
8.1 Student Training Program
MedDevDoc is a complete research training and career development program with a broad range
of activities and opportunities offered to the students. MedDevDoc will include an excellent
training program divided into four skill areas:

• Basic Skills
• Scientific
• Industry
• Soft Skills

All students recruited to the MedDevDoc program will receive induction training and expect to
participate in the mandatory training program for PhD students.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 11
8.2 Supervision Arrangements
Each MedDevDoc student will have a Supervisory Team: A Primary Academic Supervisor (from the
MedDevDoc academic host), an interdisciplinary mentor (researcher with a minimum of two years
postdoctoral experience from a CÚRAM academic partner), and an intersectoral supervisor (from
secondment host). MedDevDoc supervisory teams will align with MSCA Guidelines for supervision.
They will also ensure students can access all required facilities, infrastructure, and training within the
host and secondment organisation.

9. Secondments
A researcher at the respective company will supervise students accessing the infrastructure and train
them in the relevant scientific methods during the six-month secondment period at industrial partners.
Also, during their secondments, students will be invited to every possible company meeting to gain as
much knowledge as possible about, e.g., the company strategy, required development steps towards
the market, and commercial aspects such as business model development, market studies, and
competitor analyses.

10. Work Environment

The administrative infrastructure at all academic institutions within CÚRAM is excellent and extensive.
Therefore, these partners will be responsible for hiring and supporting the students throughout the
program. The combined efforts of the different departments at the implementing partners (e.g., HR,
legal, financial, and international affairs) ensure sufficient capacity to support the MedDevDoc
students in all administrative activities. In addition, all implementing partners have excellent
infrastructures for education and training, IP protection, exploitation, data management, and ethics.

The partnership agreement with the secondment organisation will include a section where any
necessary equipment and resources are available to the student to progress the work. The host and
secondment organisations will provide technical conditions, including access to the office and
laboratory space needed for the research project. Students will have the same access rights to the area
as regular staff. Office space will contain the usual facilities, such as a personal computer, internet
connection, email facilities and telephone, and access to general office equipment. The secondment
organisations will offer similar technical conditions, as documented in the partnership agreement
signed by both parties.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 12
Table 5: Infrastructure and technical support available for Fellows in the host organisations

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 13
10.1 Human Resources
In 2013, the University of Galway was awarded the HR Excellence in Research Logo by the European
Commission in recognition of their commitment to implementing the principles of the European
"Charter and Code" for Researchers. The MedDevDoc program will align with the HR and working
condition principles guidelines of the European Charter for Researchers and Code for the Recruitment
of Students to ensure research freedom, ethics, professional responsibility and attitude, contractual
and legal obligations, accountability, dissemination, outreach, public engagement, supervisory duties,
and excellent working environments for all recruited students.

11. Support Services

11.1 MedDevDoc Helpdesk
The MedDevDoc Programme Manager will run a support helpdesk for applicants throughout the
program via email ([email protected]). Helpdesk support will include the provision of
information on:

• the application
• eligibility criteria
• the submission procedure
• suitability of a research topic (whether it fits within the remit of CÚRAM)

The MedDevDoc Programme Manager will also facilitate technical support for any problems associated
with the online application system.

11.2 EURAXESS Ireland

Applicants and students can avail of the EURAXESS Ireland office's services. EURAXESS.ie provides
information on various issues and areas affecting researchers, including immigration, visas,
employment law, healthcare, childcare, social services, and life in Ireland. Numerous administrative
resources within NUIG will support the implementation of MedDevDoc, including the Research Office,
International Affairs Office, Research HR, and Researcher Development Centre. The University of
Galway will provide comprehensive support to all incoming fellows through these departments,
including help with visas and migration, relocation, health insurance, banking, daycare, schooling, and
family-related issues.

12. Data Protection

The personal data of applicants submitted as part of the application for the MedDevDoc studentship
Programme will be processed only for the present call and the possible signing of the employment
contract with the host organisation. The processing of personal data will adhere to the University of
Galway’s Data Protection Policy.

For information on the security and privacy of your data within the online application system, please
refer to Ex-Ordo’s Participant Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

13. Equal opportunities

13.1 Equal Opportunities Policy
An Irish University will employ all students so that Irish law will apply. Irish Universities are committed
to the continued development of policies, procedures, and practices that comply with the Universities

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 14
Act 1997, Equality Employment Acts 1998 and 2004, and the Equal Status Act 2000. Equality
Employment Act 2004 prohibited discrimination in various employment-related areas. The prohibited
grounds of discrimination are gender, marital status, family status, age, race, religious belief, disability,
sexual orientation, and membership in the Traveller community. The University of Galway's Equal
Opportunities policy is the basis of recruitment and selection, which provides that candidates will be
selected based on meritocracy (quality and competency) and monitored by the Equality Commissioner.

13.2 Gender Equality.

The MedDevDoc program aims to raise gender awareness and promote gender equality in research
and innovation, in line with the gender equality strategy outlined in Horizon Europe. CÚRAM's view is
that females and males are equally able to perform excellent research. Moreover, CÚRAM aims to
consider and confront structural gender differences to fulfil its mission to support outstanding
international researchers, irrespective of gender, nationality, age, marital and family status, religious
belief, sexual orientation, or disability.

13.3 Students with Disabilities

MedDevDoc will welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. In compliance with the
Equality Employment Acts 1998-2015 and the Disability Act 2005, MedDevDoc will provide services
and facilities for students with disabilities. Where necessary, MedDevDoc will seek to access the MSCA
Special Needs Allowance to support recruited students whose long-term physical, mental, intellectual,
or sensory impairments would preclude their participation in MSCA without extra financial support.
This allowance will allow us to support applicants with a disability during the recruitment process (e.g.,
sign language interpretation at interviews) and throughout the implementation stages.

13.4 Career Restart

MedDevDoc aims to encourage students who have taken career breaks to apply to the program and
resume/start their scientific careers. MedDevDoc career breaks will be considered in the eligibility
criteria for MedDevDoc applicants, and evaluation criteria will acknowledge all relevant non-academic
experience.

14. Useful Links

The European Charter and Code for Researchers:

Toolkit “Gender in EU-funded research.”

15. Contact Details

MedDevDoc Programme CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices Biomedical Sciences,
University of Galway, Ireland.
Programme Manager: Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.meddevdoc.eu

16. Application Templates for Call 1 (2024)

All applications for the MedDevDoc studentship Programme must be submitted via
https://curamdevices.ie/curam/research/meddevdoc/), which can be accessed from the MedDevDoc
website (www.meddevdoc.eu). Below, applicants will find the templates for the documents that they
must submit. A MedDevDoc Online Application System Help Manual is also available on the website.

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programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 15
16.1 Online Forms

Step 1: Application Registration:

All applicants must register with the online system before applying. The candidate must enter the
following details:

Email
First Name
Last Name

The candidate should create a password, which will be needed to log in on subsequent occasions.
Step 2: Title and Abstract: The candidate must input the following information on the proposal.
Title The title should be no longer than 200 characters (with spaces)
Proposal A summary of the proposal of up to 120 words
Summary
Abstracts The title should be no longer than 200 words (with spaces)
Keywords Maximum 5 words

Step3: Personal Details: Applicants must enter their applicants as follows:

Title
University/Company/Organization
Country
Address line 1
Address line 2
Address line 3
Phone number
Gender
Nationality

Step 4: Choosing PI: The candidate selects a Principal Investigator (PI) linked to the research themes
list.

16.2 PDFs to Upload

• The project summary and a motivation letter: They should be uploaded as PDF files (max. 3
pages project summary and 1-page motivation letter). The Guide for Applicants will provide
templates that applicants must follow. The project summary will include a scientific
background, 2-3 research objectives, an outline of the methodology, a description of the
expected impact, and an identification of any ethical issues.

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programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 16
 • Curriculum Vitae: (max. 3 pages) including the applicant's academic and research
achievements (with 2 references).

• English language qualification: Suggested English language qualifications include IELTS,

Cambridge C1 Advanced, Cambridge C2 Advanced, TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition,
Pearson PTE, and Duolingo.
The project summary (Administrative Proposal max. 3 pages)

• GENERAL INFORMATION (Proposal Title, Scientific Area, Keywords (5 words), Abstract)

• Participating Organisations (Legal Name, Country, Role, Address, Webpage, Specific Legal
Status)
• Supervisors (Name, Title, Role, Organisation, Department, Gender, Email)
• Researcher (Name, Title, Role, Current Organisation Name, Current Organisation Department,
Current Organisation Address, Gender, Email)
ELIGIBLE FOR FAMILY ALLOWANCE? (Yes/No):
Does the Host Organization have a Gender Equality Plan covering the elements listed below?
(Yes/No):
Publication: formal document published on the institution's website and signed by the top
management
Dedicated resources: commitment of human resources and gender expertise to implement it.
Data collection and monitoring: sex/gender-disaggregated data on personnel (and students for
establishments concerned) and annual reporting based on indicators.
Training: Awareness raising/activities on gender equality and unconscious gender biases for staff and
decision-makers.
Content-wise, recommended areas to be covered and addressed via concrete measures and targets
are:
• work-life balance and organisational culture
• gender balance in leadership and decision-making
• gender equality in recruitment and career progression
• integration of the gender dimension into research and teaching content
• measures against gender-based violence, including sexual harassment
Part B: The project summary (Max. of 5 pages)
Arial font, size 11 for main text and 10 for tables; literature references listed in footnotes, font size 8
or 9.
All literature references will count toward the page limit. Please develop and present the proposal
according to the following guidelines, considering the criteria for evaluating the proposal (‘Excellence,’
‘Impact,’ and the ‘Quality and efficiency of implementation,’ as described in Section 5.1). A rough
indication of the length for each section is shown, but this does not have to be strictly adhered to.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 17
Coversheet (approx. ¼th page)
Applicant Name
Project Title
Project Summary Summary approx. 120-250 words
Project Rationale, Aims, and Approach (approx. 2 ¾th pages)
Project Objectives How does the project ensure high quality and relevance
in its objectives?
• Are the objectives measurable, verifiable, and
realistically attainable?
• In what ways does the project surpass the current
state of the art, showcasing ambition and introducing
innovative elements?
Describe Methodology
• Ensure the proposed methodology is robust and well-
founded.
• How does the project consider interdisciplinary
approaches and incorporate diversity, if applicable?
• Does the project adhere to high-quality open science
practices?
Describe Overall Methodology
Outline the methodology, including the underlying
concepts, models, and assumptions.
• How is the chosen methodology aligned with the
project's objectives?
• In what ways does the methodology effectively
address the identified challenges?
Originality and Innovative Aspects Describe how the project will advance the state-of-the-
art, including novel concepts, approaches, or methods.
Gender Dimension and Diversity Aspects • Describe how the project integrates gender
dimensions and other diversity aspects into its research
and innovation content.
• If the gender dimension is deemed irrelevant to the
project, what justifies this decision?
Interdisciplinary Aspects • Describe how expertise and methods from diverse
disciplines are integrated to facilitate achieving project
objectives.
• Is there a justification for adopting an interdisciplinary
approach? If so, what are the specific requirements of
the project that support this decision?
Implementation (approx. two ¾th pages)
Present your Work Plan, including Work Packages, deliverables, and milestones. Outline the
allocation of tasks over time (using a Gantt Chart) and the distribution of resources. Describe the
potential risks associated with project implementation and propose contingency plans.
Career Development (approx. 1 ½ pages)
Personal Career Development Plan Outline immediate and long-term career goals. Candidates
should describe plans for acquiring new knowledge and skills during this studentship in the context
of one’s long-term goals. Explain how this studentship program will contribute to reaching these
goals. Detail how the studentship will enable the candidate to gain skills relevant to employment
outside the traditional academic sector. Detail how the studentship will allow the candidate to

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 18
acquire competencies that improve the prospects of reaching and reinforcing a position of
professional maturity, diversity, and independence.
Secondment (approx. ½ a page)
Secondment and Transfer of Knowledge Include a table describing the capacity of the secondment
organisation. Describe how the candidate will gain new knowledge/skills from the academic host
and secondment Organization during the studentship. Explain how both hosting organisations may
benefit from the proposed secondment and describe how you intend to share your knowledge with
the host organisations.
The Research Proposal also needs to capture the following aspects if relevant. (approx. ¾th a page)
A) Excellence
1. If using technology such as AI, ML, Robotics, etc.:
• How do the techniques demonstrate technical robustness, accuracy, and reproducibility?
• How do they appropriately address potential failures, inaccuracies, and errors based on
the assessed risk?
• In what ways do the systems/techniques consider the social context and operating
environment?
• What measures are implemented to ensure reliability and minimise unintended harm,
safeguarding individuals' physical and mental well-being?
• How are decision-making processes significantly impacting people's lives accompanied
by suitable explanations?

2. Open Science Practices:

• How does the proposed methodology integrate appropriate open science practices
tailored to the nature of the work, aiming to enhance the project's chances of achieving its
objectives?
• What activities are implemented to enable early and transparent sharing of research,
research output management, reproducibility, open access to research outputs,
participation in available peer review, and involving relevant stakeholders in co-creating R&I
agendas?
• How does research data management adhere to the FAIR principles (Findable et al.) for
data and other research outputs?

3. Supervision, Training, and Knowledge Transfer:

• What are the qualifications, expertise, and experience of the supervisor(s) about the
proposed research topic?
• Provide information about the supervisors' track record, including international
collaborations and experience in supervising/training at an advanced level.
• What are the planned training activities for the researcher, covering scientific aspects,
management/Organization skills, and transferrable skills?
• How does the knowledge transfer occur in the context of Fellowships (three-way transfer
between researcher, host organisation, and secondment during the outgoing phase)?

4. Quality and relevance of the researcher's professional experience, competencies, and skills
about the proposed research project.
• How much of the educational background, work experience, research proposal is
pertinent to CÚRAM research priorities, network, and infrastructure?

B) Impact (approx. ¾th a page)

1. Impact of the Studentship and Research:

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 19
 • Considering the Career Training and Development plan, how will the studentship impact
the applicant’s career path?
• Please summarise how the potential research outcomes will advance science and
technology and address current and future social/economic needs (e.g., industry and
clinical conditions).
• Outline the plan for communicating and disseminating the research results.
2. The credibility of Measures to Enhance Career Perspectives and Employability:
• What measures are in place to enhance career perspectives and employability, both within
and outside academia?
• Evaluate the suitability and quality of the measures proposed to maximise expected
outcomes and impacts, as outlined in the dissemination and exploitation plan, including
communication activities.
• Discuss the strategy for intellectual property management and any foreseen protection
measures, such as patents, design rights, copyrights, trade secrets, etc., and how these will
support exploitation
3. Magnitude and Importance of Project's Contribution to Expected Impacts:
• Explain how the project's results are expected to have a significant impact beyond the
immediate scope and duration of the project. Specify the target groups that would benefit.
• Identify the scientific, economic/technological, and societal impacts the project aims to
achieve. Ensure the effects described are specific to the project and not generic to the field.
• Indicate the magnitude and importance of the project's contribution to the expected
outcomes and impacts, quantifying them where possible and meaningful. Consider the size
of the target group and the value of the benefits
C) Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation (approx. ¾th a page)
• Assess the quality and effectiveness of the work plan, including allocating effort to work packages
and assessing risks.
• Present an overview of the work plan's structure, including deliverables and milestones.
• Describe the timing of different work packages and their components.
• Explain the mechanisms to assess and mitigate research-related and administrative risks.
• Whether the research can create licensing or spin-out opportunities?
Host Institutions and Participating Organizations:
• Discuss the hosting arrangements, including integrating the researcher into the team/institution
and the support services available.
• Evaluate the quality and capacity of the participating organisations, considering factors such as
infrastructure, logistics, and facilities.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Excellent Science
programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101126640 20