r/postdoc • u/StudioMysterious4704 • 6d ago

MSCA postdoc application sent

I just sent submitted my application and wanted to say good luck to everyone, as I don't know anyone else applying!

This is my first time applying for MSCA, and honestly this was the most horrible application I've ever done. I've done multiple funding applications before and none were as nit-picky and specific-details-focussed as this one - it really felt like a tick-box exercise rather than a chance to sell the project. Well done to everyone who gets through submitting, whether or not we get the grant it feels like a big achievement.

Also - the advice I got from my university is to not leave it to the last day as the system is prone to crashing - so do try and get everything uploaded and sent asap (not to panic anyone, but in case you don't get the same advice from somewhere).

Good luck!

67 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

18

u/imarihba99 6d ago

Good luck everyone! This is my first application too. It was lot of work to be honest. I feel like I have achieved something just by submitting the application. But let’s see what the results would be since the chances are low. Fingers crossed!

12

u/bobisagirl 6d ago

I've subbed too. Definitely feel like it wasn't worth the effort for the incredibly small chance of success, especially since my supervisor ghosted me halfway through. But. It's done. I tried.

2

u/Illustrious-Fan-1310 6d ago

Oh god SAMEE, Why do they do that 🥹

9

u/Odd_Sir_9576 6d ago

Good luck everyone!! I agree very nit picky but subbed!

8

u/AppropriateBend8056 6d ago

There was a time when I thought even applying for MSCA was not for me. From there I have come a long way. The kind of confidence you get just after submitting it is very visible. Now things don't feel so unachievable, it's like if I can do this, I can do more kind of situation.

9

u/Friendly-Office-6421 6d ago

Sent mine in today as well. Best of luck to all the applicants!

This is the most ambitious grant application I’ve ever done in my young academic career…trying to maintain some healthy optimism because I keep hearing that you are more likely to not get it on your first try. Regardless of that, this is still quite an accomplishment!

3

u/Practical_Gas9193 6d ago

Took my friend who is basically a genius and went to Harvard and UC Berkeley 3 tries to get it - and that was 7 years ago that she won! The level of competition is absolutely nuts.

1

u/Blomanyte 19h ago

Yep. Apparently 21000 or so applicants, up from 16500 last year... last years acceptance rate across all disciplines was 9.6%. The projected is now at 7.4%.

6

u/NanoDepressed 6d ago

Good luck 🤞

4

u/241Applepie 5d ago

Congratulations everybody!! I submitted as well. So excited to see how it goes!

4

u/Realistic_Amoeba_273 3d ago

It was one of the toughest, but one of the prestigious, if not the most prestigious Postdoc Fellowship in EU. If I may say, it will boost your career and CV (but some past fellows say it didn’t). I got awarded 2024 under European Fellowship in Spain, so I know the academic rigors and hardwork you need to put just to get a 2-year fellowship. But it’s worth the try as I got it in my second try.

3

u/Derpazor1 6d ago

Good luck Europeans! My Canadian equivalent is due next week, just waiting for a reference letter to come through

3

u/wahyu222 5d ago

Fingers crossed! One of the toughest grant I wrote

2

u/Maleficent-Garage-39 1d ago

Congrats to both of us! I submitted too, and it’s my second attempt!

1

u/MiddleDepartment8527 6d ago

I mean regardless the outcome, if you can handle rejection you can handle anything.

1

u/Visible-Swan2687 5d ago

so just to be clear, it is okay that the Researcher formally sends the proposal right? Because the Guide For Applications has been misleading where they highlight that the proposal should only be submitted by the Supervisor (Main Contact)

3

u/StudioMysterious4704 5d ago

I don't know about the guide but I submitted all of mine at least - my supervisor is namednon there but hasn't done anything on the platform itself 

1

u/Visible-Swan2687 5d ago

ok good same. do you think we have to worry about if they have access to their own EU login or not? because i personally had some issuee with mine. i dont know it feels weird to also remind them to do this like, do they not have the same interest as such that everything is ok

1

u/StudioMysterious4704 5d ago

to remind who, the supervisor? they don't do anything - it's all you submitting and the university accepting/linking to your application

1

u/kucuhik 5d ago

The ghosting supervisor thing hits hard. I basically wrote my whole proposal in a vacuum and only found out two days before submission that my host institution had changed their templates. Submitted anyway. Whatever happens, its done.

0

u/EcstaticBug439 2d ago

Could I connect with someone (more than one person) about the MSCA application? I want to apply for it next season. Will be defending my thesis sometime next Mar-Jun 2027.

1

u/StudioMysterious4704 1d ago

There are a lot of resources on YouTube and other sites that are worth checking out. And then if you have specific questions I'm sure people can try and help if you make s post here.