Pursuant to Scientific Research and Innovation Activities Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 186/21, with amendments), Regulation on the Financing of Scientific Research Activities from the Budget of the Republic of Slovenia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 35/22), General act on the stable financing of scientific research (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 87/22, with amendments) and Rules of the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics on the selection and financing of young researchers of December 14, 2022, Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, Jadranska ulica 19, Ljubljana, hereby announces the

                                                                                                         Public Call
                                                                                to Tender for Young Researchers in 2024

The terms used in this document and appendices, written in the grammatical form of the masculine gender, are used as neutral for all genders.

The scope of the public call to tender is to select young researchers who will begin training in 2024, in order to obtain the scientific title doktor znanosti (equivalent to a PhD) in the following Research areas and with selected mentors – one available position in each:

Conditions for young researcher candidates:

• They have not completed their PhD or obtained the scientific title, equivalent to doktor znanosti (PhD) yet;
• They have not been employed as a young researcher yet;
• No more than four years have elapsed from the year of completion of the study programme with which they have enrolled/will enrol in doctoral studies to the year of the beginning of employment. In the event of absence due to parental care after the completion of the study programme, with which they have enrolled/will enrol in doctoral studies, this period shall be extended for one year. The same applies in the case of absence due to a long-lasting illness (at least six months).

The Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics does not employ candidates for young researchers who, upon signing the contract, are enrolling in an additional year of the third-cycle study program or have already utilized such status, candidates who have already been funded in the program of young researchers through the Public Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia and candidates who already hold a Ph.D. degree.

Criteria for assessment and evaluation of candidates:

• Candidate interview assessment (up to 5 points);
• Articles published (up to 3 points);
• Participating in research work (up to 3 points);
• Received awards (a maximum of 1 point);
• Average grade of the Master's degree programme or study programme with which the candidate have/will enrol in the doctoral study programme (1 point for an average grade from 9 to 10 inclusive and 0.5 points for an average grade from 8 to 8.99 inclusive);
• Letters of recommendation (up to 2 points)
• Master thesis (up to 3 points)

The evaluation of the criteria listed can be checked in the attached form entitled "Confirmation and assessment sheet". The mentors will examine whether the candidates fulfil all the required conditions and will assess them in writing based on the criteria stated above.

Applications to the public call must include:

• Filled in completely and signed Application form – Form no. MR-2024;
• Written statement signed by the candidate confirming to graduate by September 15, 2024 and submit the diploma certificate by the same date (only for candidates who will not complete the study programme with which they will enrol in doctoral studies by the day of application) – STATEMENT No. 1;
• Written statement of data privacy signed by the candidate – STATEMENT No. 2;
• Written statement signed by the candidate, declaring that he has not been financed in a young researcher programme till now – STATEMENT No. 3;
• Proof of education:
• a photocopy of a university diploma or a photocopy of the diploma of the first and second level of the master's study program (Bologna study program);
• proof of completed scientific master's degree;
• an appendix to the diploma or an appendix to the diplomas, if the candidate is enrolled in the first year of the third-level study program, or a certificate of completed exams and exercises and the average grade for the first and second levels of the master's study program, if the candidate has not yet been awarded a degree;
• Certificate of enrollment in postgraduate study and proof of completed obligations, if the candidate is already enrolled;
• Proof of the grade point average in undergraduate studies (i.e. supplement to the degree or officially certified list of all examinations and exercises taken, from which the grade point average can be seen clearly - correct to two decimal places);
• Citizenship certificate (a photocopy of the identity card or passport, signed by the holder in his own hand - the photocopy will be returned to the holder after the procedure from this tender has been completed);
• At least one Letter of recommendation;
• An electronic copy of the master's thesis in Slovenian or English (if the candidate has already completed a master's degree), otherwise a draft of the master's thesis. If the master's thesis is not written in Slovenian or English, an extended summary in Slovenian or English must be attached.

The application may include the following attachments:

• Proof of awards or recognitions received, list of published scientific articles and proof of any participation in research work;
• Proof of eventual maternity or parental leave and/or of extended absence due to illness.

All personal data provided by candidates in the application will be used exclusively on the basis of laws and for the purpose of employment at the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics.

Foreigners or candidates who graduated abroad:
Foreigners, who will apply to this public call, have to obtain all the necessary documents for employment in the Republic of Slovenia, no later than September 15, 2024 (STATEMENT No. 1).

In the case that the candidate for a young researcher has not completed a first-level study program or a second-level study program or a master's degree in the Republic of Slovenia, he must also submit:

• a decision/conclusion of a higher education institution in the process of recognizing foreign education for the purpose of continuing education in the Republic of Slovenia.

Period of employment relationship:
The Institute of Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics will enter into an employment relationship for a specific period of training to obtain a doctoral degree with the selected candidate, as stipulated by Article 12 of the Rules on the selection and financing of young researchers at the Institute of Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics, but for no more than four years.

Application methods:

• Candidates should send applications with a short CV and proof of eligibility no later than Monday April 15, 2024:
• To e-mail address katarina.music@imfm.si with reference to the subject "Call for young researchers 2024". The e-mail must include the sender's name, surname and full address of residence (candidates must indicate the address at which they can be reached at the time of selection notification).

• By regular mail to the address Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, Jadranska ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, marked "Call for young researchers 2024". The name, surname and full address of the sender must be indicated on the envelope (candidates must indicate the address at which they can be reached at the time of notification of the selection).

Only fully completed applications will be considered in the selection procedure, providing they have been delivered to the Institute before the deadline stated above.

Ensuring equal opportunities
The call to tender ensures gender equality and prevents any discrimination of any young researcher candidate.

Institute will perform the selection of the young researchers in mutual agreement with the selected mentors. The candidates will be informed of the selection results no later than May 20, 2024.

Further information and warnings:
The candidates chosen for young researchers have to apply separately for the call for enrolment in postgraduate study programmes in the study year 2024/25 at the chosen faculty of postgraduate studies.

Ljubljana, 15.03.2024

                                                                                                                       Director
                                                                                                              prof. dr. Peter Šemrl

Documentation for Call for Applications:

• Entire text of public call
• Application form No. MR-2024
• Statement No. 1
• Statement No. 2
• Statement No. 3
• Confirmation and assessment sheet (not to be enclosed in application).

Entire text of Public Call with application forms is available here.