How to get involved with Dimmons

The Dimmons research group is characterised by its openness, multidisciplinarity and action-research orientation. More than a research group in the traditional academic sense, we like to think about the group as a collaborative research community. We want to experiment new ways of organizing research, taking advantage of new possibilities open up by ICT and collaborative/co-creation methodologies in the field of digital Commons, peer production, socio-economic innovation, and collaborative economies.  In order to build a diversified group adapted to different backgrounds and with complementary methodologies, knowledge and perspectives, we have created this section about possible ways of engagement with Dimmons.

There are several ways to keep informed and connect with us:

• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow Dimmons blog (RSS)

📩 Also, if you have a clear idea on how do you want to collaborate with us, send us an e-mail: info[at]dimmons.net

If you would like to work as researcher doing a PhD or a postdoctoral project with us, we recommend to read below. Visit this space regularly, we will keep it updated adding new information on open positions or other ways to participate:

• Open research positions
• Do an internship with us
• Join us as a visiting researcher
  • R1 – Pre-doc Grants
  • R2 – Post-doc grants (junior)
  • R3 – Post-doc grants (senior)
  • R4 – Consolidation Grants

Open research positions

We open research positions sometimes connected to the projects we are working on Visit this page regularly or follow us on Twitter, so you can see when we have new openings. UOC’s open positions–including Dimmons’–are published here.

Do an internship with us

Internship conditions may change depending on the university of affiliation. In general, there are two types of internships:
– Curricular internships are not paid, they are generally associated with a Master’s or postgraduate degree.
– Non-curricular internships may or may not be paid, they take place independently of an academic curriculum.

If you are interested in doing an internship with us, contact us at info[at]dimmons.net, and we will help you with that!

Join us as a visiting researcher

IN3’s visiting research program offers: a work desk and other infrastructure, access to the library, invitations to meetings, seminars, events, etc., facilitation of contacts, advice, and feedback on conducted research. There is no cost associated with this research stay.

In exchange, we require that the visiting researcher comes at least once per week to the office and, at the end of their stay, publishes an article with Dimmons as their academic affiliation.

If you are interested in becoming a visiting researcher with us, contact us at info[at]dimmons.net and provide us with information on your affiliation, current research, preferred periods of stay, and any other relevant information. If the topic of your research is aligned with Dimmons’ research areas, we will provide you with any required documentation (invitation letter, etc.) and help you throughout the process.

R1 – Pre-doc Grants

Joan Oró grants for hiring research staff in training (FI)

• Usually, Joan Oró grant to hire research staff in training opens the around the 20th of September. The aim of this call is to promote research at Catalan Universities by recruiting predoctoral training staff.
• If you consider to be eligible, please contact preaward_ari@uoc.edu 
• These grants are aimed at universities, research centers and hospital foundations in Catalonia for hiring research personnel in training who carry out their doctoral studies within the Catalan university system.
• They are 3-year grants that cover the costs of hiring the pre-doctoral researcher, the costs of the doctoral tuition fees and a complementary grant for training activities and research stays.
• To be eligible, candidates must have passed the studies required to access the doctoral program and demonstrate an average grade of 6.5 or higher in their undergraduate, bachelor’s or engineering studies. Thesis supervisors must be linked to the entity to which the grant is assigned and must be principal investigators or members of a research project, contract, or agreement.
• Recent graduates: under the latest call, the studies giving access to the doctoral program should have been fulfilled at the date of the application submission of the call.
• Beneficiary entities are responsible for the evaluation and prioritization of the applications according to their institutional scientific policy.

UOC PhD Program

The call for applications for the Open University of Catalonia’s (UOC) Doctoral Programme in Society, Technology, and Culture Program usually opens around September.

Dimmons’ lines of research at the Doctoral programme in Society, Technology and Culture:

• Platform economy: From platform capitalism to platform cooperativism
• Research action oriented and participative Methodological innovations
• Feminist digital economy
• Equality plans in digital platforms
• Sharing food

To be admitted to the organized research period of the Doctoral Programme in Society, Technology and Culture students must meet both the general University and specific programme requirements.

To this end, students must first submit proof of meeting one of the following sets of requirements:

• Hold a an official university master’s degree issued by a higher education institution in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and have passed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits out of all official university courses.
• Hold an official Spanish university degree, or one from an EHEA member country, that allows them admission to a master’s course, and have passed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits out of all official university courses, of which at least 60 must be at the master’s level.
• Hold an official Spanish graduate degree of at least 300 ECTS credits in line with EU legal regulations.
• Candidates with degrees from education systems outside the EHEA, whose degrees do not require homologation (official recognition by the Spanish Ministry of Education), must hold a level of education equivalent to Spanish university master’s degrees that authorizes admission to doctoral studies in the country issuing the degree.
•  Be a university graduate and have passed with a positive assessment at least two years of education on a programme to be awarded the official degree of any of the health sciences specialities.
• Hold a Spanish doctoral qualification in accordance with the previous university system.
• Be a graduate, architect or engineer and be in possession of the Advanced Studies Diploma (DEA), awarded in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 778/1998, of 30 April 1998, or have obtained research proficiency, regulated in Royal Decree 185/1985, of 23 January 1985.

You can find more general information about the UOC’s PhD Program here.

PhD IN3-UOC Grants Contracts

The call for applications usually opens in September-December and ends in January.

It is addressed to:

• Graduates in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) with a minimum of 300 ECTS (including a Master’s Degree)
• Equivalent international EHEA degree

Approximate calendar (timeline may vary):

• December: Opening of the call
• February: Closure of the call
• April-May: Communication of the decision
• October: Beginning of the contract

Duration

The pre-doctoral grants cover up to 4 years. Of these, 3 years are dedicated to the PhD thesis, and 1 additional year can be added conditional on performance and budget availability.

Annual gross salary

The annual gross salary is about €17,000.

Further information

• Full-time assignment. There is an on-line education mode.
• Applications are processed by the UOC Doctoral School (phd_school@uoc.edu).
• More information here.

Generalitat de Catalunya – FI (Training of Researchers)

• These grants are aimed at the departments and research units of Catalan universities for the recruitment of research personnel in training who carry out their doctoral studies within the university system of Catalonia. Eligible university departments under each call are listed in Annex II of the corresponding regulatory guidelines. The distribution of the grants is established according to the research activity indicators in each department.
• These are 3-year grants that cover the costs of hiring the predoctoral researcher, the costs of the doctoral tuition fees, and a complementary grant for training activities and research stays.
• To be eligible, candidates must have passed the studies required to access the doctoral program or have been enrolled in a study that allows them to enrol in the doctoral program, and demonstrate an average grade of 6.5 or higher in their undergraduate, bachelor’s or engineering studies.
• Recent graduates: under the last call, the studies giving access to the doctoral program should have been fulfilled between 2021 and the deadline of the call.
• Thesis supervisors must be linked to the department or research unit beneficiary of the grant, must be principal investigators or members of a research project, contract or agreement, and must be part of a research group in the SGR-21 call.
• University departments and research units are responsible for the evaluation and prioritization of applications according to their scientific policy.
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Ministry of Science and Innovation  – FPI

The State Training Subprogram of the State Program to Develop, Attract, and Retain Talent offers grants for pre-doctoral contracts aimed at training doctors. These grants are part of the broader framework of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical, and Innovation Research for 2021-2023. The selection process follows a competitive model and adheres to the principles of publicity and objectivity.

Beneficiaries

• R&D centers:
  • They should have obtained a grant for a research project financed by grants for “Knowledge Generation Projects” within the State Program to Promote Scientific-Technical Research and its Transfer. This program is part of the State Plan for Scientific Research, Technical, and Innovation for 2021-2023. The grant was awarded through the 2021 call by the Presidency of the State Research Agency, and these projects have been selected with potential funding for doctoral training.
  • R&D centers that received aid from the “Severo Ochoa Centers of Excellence” and “María de Maeztu Units of Excellence” calls in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, or have submitted a proposal to the 2021 call for accreditations and public aid for these programs, can also be eligible for the grant. To qualify, they must have obtained a final grade equal to or greater than 90 points, even if they did not receive the accreditation.
  • The application of the “Knowledge Generation Project” should have included the possibility of obtaining an FPI grant. This request will be evaluated and approved/rejected by the Ministry upon revision of the application.
• Applicants:
  • Should have a BA, engineering, architect, university graduate degree (minimum 300 credits ECTS) or an university Master.
  • Should have been accepted into a doctoral program.

Further information

• Full-time assignment.
• More information

Industrial PhD by Generalitat de Catalunya

• The objective of the DI grants is the development of strategic research projects in companies and institutions by a pre-doctoral researcher, who will carry out their research training in collaboration with a research organization.
• Academic environment: research organizations, specifically public and private universities of the Catalan university system, as well as research centers, hospital foundations and technology centers based in Catalonia.
• Business environment: the following entities can benefit from this call:
  • In DI-COFINANCED projects, companies with a work center in Catalonia. Centers attached to universities, departments, delegations and territorial services of the Generalitat de Catalunya are excluded.
  • In DI-SPECIFIC projects, companies with a work center in Catalonia or outside Catalonia. Territorial services of the Generalitat de Catalunya are included.
• The entities of the business and academic environment must have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly carry out the development of a DI project.
• These grants are for 3 years. They can cover funding for the business environment, funding for the research group, mobility costs for the doctoral student and registration fees for the doctoral program.
• Thesis supervisors must be part of SGR-21’call or be an ICREA researcher or have obtained ERC funding.
• Those interested in pursuing a DI can check the list of available projects that are looking for candidates.
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Grants for university teacher training (FPU)

• These are grants to award pre-doctoral contracts for research training in doctoral programs to get a PhD degree, as well as teaching skills.
• The objective of the program is to incorporate new doctoral personnel into the Spanish higher education and scientific research system.
• These are 4-year grants that cover the hiring costs of the pre-doctoral researcher, doctoral tuition fees, and a complementary grant for training activities.
• The grants include participation in teaching tasks, with a minimum of 90 and a maximum of 180 hours throughout the four years of the grant (a maximum of 60 hours/year).
• The program also aims to finance the employment contract during a 1-year employment orientation period (POP) in the case of obtaining the doctoral degree before the end of the last year of the grant.
• Every year, around 850 grants are awarded.
• +Info 

INPhINIT Retaining

• The program awards 30 scholarships for doctoral studies at any university or research center in Spain or Portugal and is addressed to all areas of knowledge.
• These 3-year grants cover the costs of hiring the pre-doctoral researcher, tuition fees, and research-related costs.
• The program also provides candidates with training in transversal skills for their professional career (academic, industry, and entrepreneurship).
• Candidates must be able to enrol in a doctoral program and must have resided in Spain/Portugal for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the closing date of the call. In addition, they must have an advanced level of English (B2).
• +Info 

R2 – Post-doc grants (junior)

Beatriu de Pinós grants – Generalitat de Catalunya (Postdoc Junior)

• The Beatriu de Pinós program (posdocBP) aims to attract postdoctoral research talent. This program is funded by the Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Generalitat de Catalunya and is managed by AGAUR.
• The program aims to recruit and incorporate doctoral research personnel into the Catalan science and technology system, for its development at the level of leadership, independence, and consolidation. It also promotes international mobility, multidisciplinary intersectorial collaboration, and complementary training in transversal competencies.
• These are 3-year grants aimed at hiring research staff. An additional endowment for research actions implemented during the period of enjoyment of the contract is also provided.
• Date of PhD completion: For the 2023 call, the individual candidate must have obtained a doctorate qualification between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020 (extensions may apply due to maternity/paternity, care responsibilities, illness, etc.).
• Candidates can be of any nationality and must have between 2 and 8 years postdoctoral experience. At the time of joining the receiving institution, they should have a minimum of two years of postdoctoral experience outside of Spain.
• Candidates should not have resided or worked in Spain for more than 12 months in the last three years prior to the end date of the deadline for submitting applications.
• The next call is expected for February-March 2024.
• +Info

Juan de la Cierva grants – Science and Innovation Spanish Ministry

• The program provides funding for the hiring of young doctoral candidates in order to complete their postdoctoral research training in R&D centers other than those in which they completed their pre-doctoral training.
• This is a 2-year grant to cofund the contract of the researcher as well as the expenses for the execution of research activities at the R&D center.
• Applications for participation are submitted by the institutions, after completion by the candidate.
• Date of PhD completion: For the 2023 call, candidates must have obtained a doctorate qualification between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023 (extensions may apply for candidates with disabilities or any other recognized reason for interruption).
• +Info

Fellowship Programmes Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions grants – European Commission

• MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral mobility. 
• Postdoctoral Fellowships either can take place in Europe (i.e. in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country) or in a Third Country not associated to Horizon Europe:
  • European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe. The standard duration of these fellowships must be between 12 and 24 months.
  • Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in R&I projects with organizations outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. These fellowships require an outgoing phase of minimum 12 and maximum 24 months in a non-associated Third Country, and a mandatory 12-month return phase to a host organization based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country. 

• Researchers of any nationality of up to 7 years of experience since completion of the PhD
• The call is aimed at researchers holding a doctoral degree from the UOC or another institution. For researchers with a doctoral degree from the UOC, candidates must have performed a minimum 2-year-stay in other Universities or Research Centers 
• This call is not open for candidates hired with an employment or commercial contract by the UOC in the last 2 years
• Awards up to € 30.000/year for a period of 3 years
• Mobility rule: Recruited researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.
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UOC Post-doctoral

• The call is aimed at researchers holding a doctoral degree from the UOC or another institution. UOC doctoral degree holders must have spent a minimum of 2 years at other Universities or Research Centers.
• It is addressed to researchers of any nationality with up to 7 years of experience since completion of the PhD.
• This call is not open for candidates with an employment or commercial contract with the UOC in the last 2 years.
• Two modalities: Standard and Interdisciplinary.
• Grants of up to € 30.000/year for a period of 3 years.
• +Info

ERC Starting Grant 2024

• For talented early-career scientists who have already produced excellent supervised work, are ready to work independently and show potential to be research leaders
• Researchers of any nationality with 2-7 years of experience since completion of their PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise, and an excellent research proposal can apply
• Awards up to €1.5 million for a period of 5 years
• Non-incremental research
• +Info 

Fulbright Program Grants

• Aimed at contributing significantly to advanced studies of mutual interest to the United States and Spain by conducting research and collaborating with colleagues at Spanish academic and research institutions.
• Activities may include presenting lectures, seminars, and/or workshops, as arranged by host institutions or the US-Spain Fulbright Commission.
• The candidate should have US citizenship.
• Duration: Four to nine months. Awards will preferably be for 9 months. Postdoctoral Awards provide recently graduated scholars an opportunity to conduct research and receive professional training abroad. Awards may involve limited teaching. Postdoctoral Research awards are open to scholars with a doctorate who have received a doctoral degree (Ph.D., J.D., M.D., Ed.D., etc.) within seven years of the fellowship start date. Institutional affiliation in the United States is not required.
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R3 – Post-doc grants (senior)

Ramón y Cajal grants – Science and Innovation Spanish Ministry (Postdoc Senior)

• The program provides a grant for the incorporation of research personnel with an outstanding track record, with the aim of acquiring the competencies and capabilities that will enable them to obtain a stable position in a research organization of the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System.
• Date of PhD completion: For the 2023 call, candidates must have obtained a doctorate qualification between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2021 (extensions may apply for candidates with disabilities or any other recognized reason for interruption). This program is divided into 2 stages. The first stage (minimum of 3 years) aims to consolidate the skills acquired during postdoctoral training. To access the second stage (max. 2 years), the researcher has to undergo a scientific-technical evaluation of their activities which, if positive, means the conferment of the R3 certificate.
• The grant cofunds the salary of the person hired and also provides an additional endowment to cover expenses directly related to the execution of the candidate’s research activity.
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ERC Consolidator Grant, 2024

• For scientists who want to consolidate their independence by establishing a research team and continuing to develop a successful career in Europe.
• Researchers of any nationality with 7–12 years of experience since completion of their PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise, and an excellent research proposal can apply.
• Awards of up to €2 million for a period of 5 years.
• Non-incremental research.
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ERC Advanced Grant 2024

• For an established, leading principal investigator who wants long-term funding to pursue a ground-breaking, high-risk project?
• Applicants are expected to be active researchers who have a track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years.
• The Principal Investigators should be exceptional leaders in terms of originality and significance of their research contributions. No specific eligibility criteria with respect to the academic requirements are foreseen.
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R4 – Consolidation Grants

ICREA Senior

• The ICREA Senior call offers permanent positions in the Catalan research system to work in universities or research centers in Catalonia. The selected researchers become ICREA Research Professors and must pass a process of scientific evaluation.
• Candidates have demonstrated a research career of excellence and leadership, making substantial contributions in their research areas, with impact on the Catalan research system, becoming active members of the Catalan scientific community.
• The call alternates each year the offer of positions for specific areas: Mathematics and Experimental Sciences and Engineering Sciences one year, and Life Sciences and Medicine, Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences the next.
• The next call is expected to open in late January 2024 (deadline in early March 2024) for the following areas: Life Sciences and Medicine, Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
• +Info 

ICREA Academia

• The ICREA Academia call offers Catalan university professors a grant that allows them to devote more time to research, reducing their teaching obligations and providing financial support.
• It is a research intensification program aimed exclusively at university faculty who are teaching and who are in an active and expanding phase of their research activity.
• The beneficiary personnel will receive recognition as an ICREA Academia researcher.
• The recognition and the corresponding award has a duration of 5 years.
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Research consolidation

• The objective of the program is to consolidate the professional career of national and foreign research staff, so they can develop their professional career within the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System.
• It promotes the creation of permanent positions in the entities of affiliation and facilitates the initiation or consolidation of a line of research through the financing of their own R&D project, as well as the adaptation and renovation of the spaces or laboratories and the improvement of the equipment necessary for its execution.
• Candidates must hold the I3 certification or have successfully completed the former R3 evaluation.
• The program has a duration of 2 years.
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