pThe program is intended to foster young interdisciplinary researchers in the field of \"Life in the Universe” who have demonstrated scientific excellence in the early stages of their careers, and enable them to conduct interdisciplinary, fundamental, and high-risk research with the necessary independence and autonomy. We welcome applications from scientists interested in the origins of life, its evolution on Earth, as well as the search for life elsewhere. /ppApplications must be made by the candidate, with the agreement of two co-hosts from two different disciplines, willing to act as the mentors of the fellow. At least one of them must be PI at the University of Geneva (see list below). Applicants can select a suggested research topic (with an already identified pair of co-hosts) from the list below or develop their own project in synergy with the mentors. The fellowships are intended as early support towards academic independence. /ppOnce appointed, Mayor Fellows become an integral part of their host teams and institutions, and have direct access to the outstanding international and interdisciplinary network of their host environment (ex: the network of the NCCR Genesis , EAI ...). The maximum duration of a Mayor Fellowship is three years. The fellowship is competitive, with only a limited number of fellowships (usually one to two) available each year. /ph3Eligibility criteria /h3pAt the time of the submission deadline, applicants must hold a doctorate (PhD) that must have been obtained for a maximum of two years prior to the expected starting date, although some flexibility could be considered. /ppFollowing the initial evaluation round, top-ranked candidates must be available for a remote interview. /ppThe fellow will have two host researchers (mentors), at least one of them who must have a guaranteed position at UniGE for the entire duration of the proposed fellowship. A host can only host one Mayor Fellow at a given time. /ppThe project must demonstrate thematic or geographic mobility of the candidate. /ph3Applications /h3pApplications are to be made by the candidate with the support of their prospective host(s). The application must include the following: /ppIn a single pdf document named \"MMF_Application_ApplicantLastName_FirstName.pdf\": /pullia description of the original research project (3 pages), specifying the role and input of the candidate, as well as its interdisciplinary nature and relations to other research directions in the host groups and the Center. /lilia budget for the planned project (1 table) for extra expenses (i.e. travels, lab needs, computing hours, ...) /lilia cover letter describing the candidate’s motivation and career goals /li /ulpAnd separately: /pullian invitation letter by one of the UniGE hosts, stating how the candidate is deemed to be excellent and a statement of support and resources available to the candidate, to be e‑mailed by the author of the letter directly to until the application deadline (MMF_InvitationLetter_ApplicantLastName_FirstName.pdf) /lilitwo external reference letters for the candidate, to be e‑mailed by the author of the letter directly to until the application deadline (MMF_RefLetter_ApplicantLastName_FirstName_RefLastName.pdf) /li /ulpThere is one Mayor Fellowship call per year, opening on August 1 st with a bsubmission deadline on October 30 th , 17:00 Swiss local time. /b Applications and reference letters should be sent directly to . /ph3Evaluation procedure /h3pThe evaluation consists of two steps. First, the written applications (including reference letters) will be evaluated by the Mayor Fellowship Selection Panel. The results of this initial evaluation will be communicated to the applicants before December 1 st . Second, candidates whose applications pass the first step will be invited to a remote interview by the Selection Panel at mid-December. The applicants will be informed by the CVU about the decision/offer no later than January 15 th . /ppThe interviews last about 30 minutes and are mandatory. They are conducted remotely. /ppDuring the interview, applicants will be asked questions about their proposed research projects, the choice of the research labs, the particular strengths and skills they would bring to the host labs and the Center, and how they would like the collaboration to develop, as well as about their future career prospects. /ph3Funding /h3pThe duration of a Mayor Fellowship is 3 years, pending positive evaluation after 1.5 years, and cannot be prolonged beyond 3 years. /ppMayor Fellows are expected to start their fellowship at the latest in July of the following year (about 9 months after the submission deadline). If they cannot adhere to this date, approval for a later start must be requested from the Mayor Fellowship Selection Panel via . /ppTo monitor and improve the program, each Mayor Fellow is requested to submit a final report within four weeks after completion of their fellowship to the Mayor Fellowship Selection Panel. The relevant request and form will be sent to the applicant in due course. /ph3Other /h3pThe Mayor Fellow is expected to actively participate in the Life in the Universe Center by attending events therein and by giving a presentation at the midpoint and end of the fellowship. /ppWe encourage women, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply. /ppWe encourage the Mayor Fellow to participate in the outreach activities of their host departments and of the CVU. /ph3List of potential hosts /h3pThis list is not exhaustive and applications are as well welcome with other CVU members , which the applicants are encouraged to contact directly. /ph3Department of Astronomy: /h3ulliProf Jérôme Kasparian (Energy balance model , Detection of life in extreme conditions (stratosphere) ) /li /ulh3Institute of Environmental Sciences Department of Applied physics: /h3ulliProf Jérôme Kasparian (Energy balance model , Detection of life in extreme conditions (stratosphere) ) /li /ulh3Department of Earth Sciences: /h3ulliProf Luca Caricchi (Hadean and Archean Earth, magma and atmosphere chemistry) /li /ulh3Natural History Museum and Department of Earth Sciences: /h3ulliProf Nicolas Greber (Early Earth, Continents, Geosphere-Biosphere Interaction) /li /ulh3Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology: /h3ulliProf Orsolya Barabas (Nucleic acid biochemistry, genome evolution, microbial interactions/communities, environmental adaptation, structural chemistry and biology) /li /ulh3Department of Organic Chemistry: /h3ulliProf Nicolas Winssinger (Prebiotic chemistry, evolution of molecular complexity) /li /ulh3Department of Biochemistry /h3ulliProf Omaya Dudin (Evolution of Multicellularity, Experimental evolution, environmental adaptation, Expansion Microscopy) /li /ulh3List of potential co-hosts from other institutions /h3h3University of Lausanne: /h3ulliProf Johanna Marin Carbonne (Precambrian environmental conditions, microbialites, isotope geochemistry, Ocean and Atmosphere evolution , geomicrobiology) /li /ulh3List of potential research topics /h3ullibChemical complexification on Early Earth /b(Nicolas Winssinger Luca Caricchi) /li /ulpConstraining the surface environment of the Earth after the solidification of the magma ocean at about 4.5 Ga is essential to determine whether those conditions, which were harsh for life as we know it, could actually have been ideal for prebiotic chemistry. Results collected within the frame of an ongoing SNSF project show that the atmosphere of Hadean Earth could have been actually very rich in CO 2 , opening the possibility that no or limited liquid water existed after the solidification of the magma ocean. While there is well established chemistry leading to the basic building blocks of life in an aqueous environment, chemistry in supercritical CO 2 has not been examined through the lens of the Origin of Life question. Based on this scenario, we will perform experiments at high pressures (100-300 bars) of CO 2 , in presence of N 2 and basalt with or without H 2 O. We will perform the experiment in a custom designed autoclave to establish if amino acid synthesis and citric acid cycle in these putative early earth conditions. /p #J-18808-Ljbffr
Michel Mayor Fellowship Call 2026 in Genève
