Two early-career researchers begin work at the University of Tartu thanks to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship 

Last year, two applications submitted by University of Tartu researchers were successful in the call for postdoctoral fellowships funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). With the grants received, research will begin on the links between depression and the gut microbiome, as well as on the impact of European Commission legal advice on democracy in Eastern European countries. The next call for applications opens on 9 April.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowship is an EU research grant awarded to an early-career researcher who has already completed their doctorate and wishes to carry out high-level research at another university or in another country.

Vice Rector for Research Mari Moora encourages all researchers to apply, noting that the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions come with a quality label. “Supervising an internationally high-level postdoctoral researcher provides an opportunity to bring fresh ideas into your research group and to help shape future top-level researchers. This is a highly valued and competitive funding scheme in Europe that opens doors to larger future grants, offers new career opportunities for early-career researchers, and brings international recognition to the research group supervising the postdoctoral fellow,” Moora said.

The research group of Professor of Microbiomics Elin Org welcomes Kadi Vaher, whose project aims to determine whether and how the composition of gut bacteria can predict the development of depression, and how this is connected to hereditary factors and overall health. The knowledge gained will contribute to the early detection and prevention of depression.

Kadi Vaher holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology (major) and Gene Technology (minor) from the University of Tartu. After completing her bachelor’s studies, Vaher continued her education abroad and defended her doctoral degree in Translational Neurosciences at the University of Edinburgh. As she wished to continue studying the links between the microbiome and mental health, she contacted Elin Org well in advance to explore opportunities to continue her career in Estonia. “I recommend that future applicants set aside enough time and think their project idea through carefully,” she said.

“I recommend that future applicants set aside enough time and think their project idea through carefully.”

Elin Org

Supported by the grant awarded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the research group wishes to develop a new research direction and explore topics that have not previously been studied in Estonia. Based on Elin Org’s experience, it is expected that after receiving the grant, the postdoctoral researcher will not continue with exactly the same research topic as during their doctoral studies, but will instead try to approach their career in a new way.

It is important how well the postdoctoral researcher’s topic fits the research group and what their work adds to it. “Kadi Vaher’s strong advantage was having studied psychology, gene technology and neuroscience. Our group studies the microbiome, and Vaher’s project looks at the connection between depression and the microbiome. Since she has knowledge from both fields, these two topics aligned very well,” Org explained.

When planning the direction of one’s research, it is worth considering the longer-term perspective and the opportunities available to continue research in Estonia after the two-year fellowship. “A postdoctoral researcher needs the assurance that their research work will not end here after just two years. Research groups and institutes should therefore think about how to create opportunities for early-career researchers to continue their work and support them in developing their research direction and applying for new grants.”

“A postdoctoral researcher needs the assurance that their research work will not end here after just two years. Research groups and institutes should therefore think about how to create opportunities for early-career researchers to continue their work and support them in developing their research direction and applying for new grants.”

Elin Org

Elin Org added that Estonia offers excellent training opportunities for preparing grant proposals. She strongly recommends making use of these and taking full advantage of the support of experienced advisers.

The research group of Professor of International Law Lauri Mälksoo will be joined by Andrii Nekoliak, who will investigate how the European Commission’s legal advice has influenced the development of constitutional democracy in Eastern European countries and why the reception and impact of such advice vary across countries.

Lauri Mälksoo was a member of the academic council of the Institute for International Peace and Security Law at the University of Cologne. As Andrii Nekoliak worked at the same institute, he contacted Mälksoo directly. Nekoliak’s research also touches upon the work of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, where Estonia is represented by Lauri Mälksoo.

A further 25 talented early-career researchers may have the opportunity to join the University of Tartu

Last year, 33 applications from the University of Tartu were submitted to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship call. Of these, 25 exceeded the quality threshold but were not funded. These applications will be forwarded to the funding call of the Estonian Research Council.

The largest number of applications – 22 – came from the Faculty of Science and Technology, nine from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and two from the Faculty of Social Sciences. Since 2024, the university rewards the supervisor of a successful applicant with €20,000 ( €10,000 per year).

This year’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie call runs from 9 April to 9 September. Participants of this call will be the last ones eligible to also seek support from the Estonian Research Council’s Mobilitas 3.0 scheme in 2027.

Information required for participating in this year's call can be found on the university’s intranet.

• This year’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie call runs from 9 April to 9 September. Participants of this call will be the last ones eligible to also seek support from the Estonian Research Council’s Mobilitas 3.0 scheme in 2027.
  
• The Grant Office will support up to five postdoctoral candidates with travel funding (up to 1,000 euros per candidate) for a visit to the University of Tartu to meet with their prospective supervisor. If you are interested, please let us know by April 1st at the latest by writing to Laura Tomson, external funding coordinator ([email protected]).
  
• If you are interested in a postdoctoral program at the University of Tartu, check out the research dashboard.