Content:

  1. Why join the track

  2. Opportunities

  3. Requirements

  4. Fields of study

  5. How to apply

Why join the track

Since 2014, the ITMO Fellowship program has been inviting specialists from all over the world to come to ITMO University for periods from two weeks up to three years to teach students, run joint research, launch their laboratories, or head a research team. 

The key mission of ITMO Fellowship is to attract the brightest professionals from across the world to ITMO. The program offers six tracks: Visiting Lecturer is for lecturers seeking short-term collaborations, Micro Fellowship is best suited for visiting researchers, whereas Postdoc, Fellowship, and Research Professorship are designed for researchers who aim for a longer collaboration (from one to up to three years). During this period, program participants will strengthen the existing teams or build their own, publish papers, apply for grants, deliver lectures, and supervise Master’s theses. The program also includes the track PI + team, which allows established teams to acquire a grant to start their own laboratory at ITMO University. 

“Throughout the program's ten-year run, we welcomed more than 100 international specialists from 40 countries. However, few people are aware that the program is available to Russian scientists, as well. Over the previous year, we had researchers from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Novosibirsk State University, and the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics. We now want to bring even more young Russian scientists to ITMO through the program, therefore we're launching a unique program for PhD holders, which includes not only a job offer but also relocation benefits,” explains Julia Khutornaia, a coordinator of the ITMO ​Fellowship program.

To that end, the selection procedure was revised to accelerate application reviews and allow successful applicants to begin working as soon as possible. Previously, applications were examined by the committee; however, now candidates can enter the program by merely submitting their application and passing an interview with department representatives.

Opportunities

An all-round welcome package. Unlike other programs, the new track provides participants with a comprehensive welcome kit that includes preferential living conditions in an apartment-style dormitory for university employees, 100,000 rubles for purchasing equipment and consumables in the first year of research, and a voluntary health insurance policy (VHI) with access to the city's best clinics. 

Developed infrastructure. ITMO is among the top three employers in St. Petersburg according to HeadHunter. The university closely collaborates with the country’s major companies such as Tatneft, Gazprom Neft, Russian Railways, Sberbank, Yandex, VK, and many others. Jointly with its partners, ITMO establishes new laboratories and research centers for fundamental and applied studies, launches corporate educational programs, and opens new convenient and modern spaces. 

Holistic development. The university runs the Well-Being strategic project, which aims to provide opportunities for the holistic development of all members of ITMO.Family through consultations with practicing psychologists and coaches, advanced training programs and language courses, creative sessions at an art coworking space, retreats at the Yagodnoe recreation center, and participation in major events like ITMO Open Science Rocks.

Requirements

The program welcomes young scientists from Russia who received their PhDs no more than five years ago and have publications in Q1 or Q2 journals. Candidates shouldn't have worked with ITMO University in the past. 

Fields of study

Russian postdocs will carry out applied research in photonics, optics, quantum communications, smart technologies, robotics, information security, smart materials, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, life sciences, and other fields. The track also allows for interdisciplinary studies. 

Once the applicant settles on their field of study and signs a contract with the university, they will join a specific project at the laboratory of their choice. Within a year, as stated in the contract, they will be required to publish at least one paper as the first author in Q1 and Q2 journals, submit at least one grant application, and deliver at least one course. At the reporting session, the commission will assess the researcher's accomplishments; if all parties agree, the contract can be extended. 

How to apply

  1. Select a department or a research team that suits your areas of research; 

  2. Fill out and submit an application by May 15. Your application must include a CV with links to your pages on Scopus and Google Scholar, a scanned copy of your PhD diploma, two references (e.g., by your supervisor and teammate), and a letter of motivation, describing how you aim to contribute to the development of the project, the department, and the university as a whole;

  3. Wait for a confirmation email that your application has been accepted. You will receive it to the email address you stated in your application. Then, the program manager and representatives of your future department will review your documents and letter of motivation. Candidates who pass this phase will be invited for an interview; 

  4. All candidates who receive an invitation will be interviewed before June 1. At the meeting, the leader of the selected laboratory will evaluate an applicant’s professional and personal qualities and scientific vision for the project. If successful, the candidate will receive an official invitation to join the laboratory via email. 

The results will be announced in June. Successful candidates are expected to start their work at the university no later than October 2024. 

You can find out more about the program here and contact the program’s managers at postdoc@itmo.ru if you have any questions.