Open Calls

Currently open calls for applications.

Estonian Academy of Sciences announces a competition for the selection of three research professors.

The aim of the election of Academy Research Professor is to enable recognised researchers in their field working full-time in an Estonian research and development institution or university, leading research and supervising doctoral students, to commit themselves to scientific research during the term of Academy Professor.

Eligible applicants for the position of research professor must hold an Estonian doctoral degree or an equivalent academic degree from a foreign institution. They must have accumulated at least ten years of experience as a senior researcher, professor, or in equivalent roles, and have supervised doctoral dissertations. Candidates are expected to demonstrate continuous internationally recognized research and success in obtaining and fulfilling research grants. Upon selection, a trilateral agreement is signed between the chosen candidate, an Estonian university or research institution, and the Estonian Academy of Sciences to establish the position of research professor.

Research professors are selected for a period of three years (2025–2027). The support for a research professor is 70,000 euros for one year. The term of the researcher professor starts on January 1, 2025.

Interested candidates must complete the participation form by 1 November 2024 (at 23:59), at ta-konkursid.ee. Through this portal, applicants should submit:

  1. Applicant's details, including current and previous positions held that demonstrate at least ten years of experience in roles required by the competition.
  2. An action plan for the selection period, including the general theoretical background of the planned research, research hypothesis and its relevance to the development of the field, main research objectives, and the expected significance of results both for Estonia and globally.
  3. A list of the applicant's ten most important scientific publications and/or developments relevant to the planned research.
  4. A list of the applicant's most relevant research projects or applied works related to the planned topic.
  5. Curriculum vitae;
  6. Consent from the institution where the research professor position will be established.
  7. Any other documents or materials that the candidate considers relevant. (Optional)

Additional information: Siiri Jakobson, siiri.jakobson@akadeemia.ee

The Committee is awaiting proposals to be submitted electronically in the Academy of Sciences Competitions e-environment by 10 December 2024.

AWARD CATEGORIES

  1. Lifetime achievement award for long-term excellence in research and development (up to 1 awards, 65 000 euros).
  2. Annual awards to highlight the best research or research cycles completed and published within the last four years (2021–2024, up to 8 awards, á 20 000 euros) in the following fields:
    1) Natural Sciences
    2) Engineering and technology
    3) Medical and health sciences
    4) Agricultural and veterinary sciences
    5) Social Sciences
    6) Humanities and the arts
    See Frascati Manual fields of research
  3. Award for a Scientific Discovery impacting the paradigm and world view of the respective scientific field or pioneering a new field of science, or an invention or research and development based on a scientific discovery that has led to an innovative product with a significant socio-economic impact (up to 1 award, 50 000 euros).

Proposals for the award may be submitted to the committee by the research councils of universities and positively evaluated research and development institutions, academicians of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, council of Estonian Young Academy, the Estonian Employers’ Confederation, Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Estonian Service Industry Association.

When submitting a research collective, the scientific contribution of all members of the collective must be clearly described in the proposal.

Researchers and research teams who have previously been granted the annual award may be re-nominated for the annual award ten years after the award was given for research at a new level.
No part of the research cycle that has received the annual award may be used by co-authors as part of research cycles submitted for the annual award in subsequent years.

Additional information: akadeemia.ee/en/national-research-awards/

Contact: Terje Tuisk, terje.tuisk@akadeemia.ee

Key Documents (in Estonian):
Regulation of the Estonian National Research Awards: riigiteataja.ee/akt/111102024020
Mandate of the National Research Awards Committee: riigiteataja.ee/akt/313122022003