Pillars of the Programme
CHARLESTON is built on three main pillars. Firstly, the supported projects will contribute development and have a societal impact in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable D Goals. Another key pillar is secondments in non-academic institutions, which will strength intersectoral collaboration. As a third pillar, a Career Development Programme will be des career researchers, enabling them to further advance their careers thanks to mentoring and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals The Charleston programme is a bottom-up, curiosity-driven funding scheme that allows appli their research topics freely. Charles University research teams encompass all scientific f engineering and veterinary science. However, a key requirement is that all research themes to achieving one or more of the United Nations‘ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [ URL sdgs.un.org/goals"] , which have been selected as a cross-cutting theme of the programme. reflects CU’s strong commitment to the SDGs, aligning with the objectives of the Horizon E Intersectoral collaboration One of the main objectives of the Charleston programme is to provide fellows with direct a intersectoral experience. This will be achieved through a mandatory secondment lasting 3–6 non-academic sector, integrated into their research project. A variety of partnerships with non-academic institutions has been established to offer att opportunities for these mandatory secondments. These partnerships include private companie public institutions, and non-governmental organizations, all committed to hosting fellows, projects during the academic phase, and providing experienced non-academic mentors. You ca secondments here. Career Development Programme The Charleston programme aims to provide postdoctoral researchers with high-quality traini will foster their transferable skills and broaden their career opportunities. In addition execution of the fellowships, one of the primary objectives of the Charleston programme is new Career Development Programme (CDP). It will consist of three essential components desi the careers of postdoctoral researchers: the standardized Career Development Plan, the Tra and the Mentoring Programme. You can find more information about CDP in the Career Development Programme section [ URL "] .Eligibility Conditions
Are you wondering whether you are eligible to apply for the grant? The following eligibili researchers apply: Employment at CU: Applicants must not be Charles University employees as of the call closi 2026). Mobility rule: Applicants must have not resided in the Czech Republic for more than 12 mon months prior to the call deadline. Please see question 4 below for more information. Doctorate degree: Applicants must have successfully defended their doctoral thesis by the (June 1, 2026), but do not necessarily need to have been awarded the PhD degree at that ti Research experience: Applicants must be no more than 8 years post-award of their (first) d This limit may be extended for the following reasons: maternity leave, paternity leave, co service, time spent outside of research, long-term sick leave, seeking asylum, natural dis clinical training. You can find further details in the Guide for applicants, soon available in the Applicatio "https://cuni.cz/UKEN-2187.html"] . ****************************************************************************************** * Research project & secondment ****************************************************************************************** The CHARLESTON programme will support a total of 20 research projects – 10 will be selecte 10 in 2026. The projects will last 27-30 months, including a mandatory secondment, the dur is flexible, ranging from 3 to 6 months. Projects from Call 1 will start between December 2026, while projects from Call 2 will begin between December 2026 and April 1, 2027. Fellows will have the freedom to select their own research topics based on a bottom-up app program does not prioritize any specific scientific disciplines. Applications for postdoct projects at any of CU’s faculties or institutes are encouraged. Charles University has 17 institutes across 3 different Czech cities: Prague, Hradec Králové, and Plzeň: Faculties: • Catholic Theological Faculty [ URL "h•tFaculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové [ URL www.ktf.cuni.cz/KTFENG-1.html"] "https://www.lfhk.cuni.cz/LFHKEN-1.html"] • Protestant Theological Faculty [ URL •hFaculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové [ URL web.etf.cuni.cz/ETFENG-1.html"] "https://www.faf.cuni.cz/?lang=en-gb"] • Hussite Theological Faculty [ URL "ht•pFaculty of Arts [ URL "http://www.ff.cuni.cz/ www.htf.cuni.cz/HTFN-1.html"] home/"] • Faculty of Law [ URL "https://www.prf•cFaculty of Science [ URL "https:// • Faculty of Humanities [ URL "http://fhswww.natur.cuni.cz/eng"] FHSENG-1.html"] • Faculty of Mathematics and Physics [ URL "https:/ • First Faculty of Medicine [ URL "https:www.mff.cuni.cz/to.en/"] www.lf1.cuni.cz/en"] • Faculty of Education [ URL "http://pedf.cuni.cz/ • Second Faculty of Medicine [ URL "http:PEDFEN-1.html"] www.lf2.cuni.cz/en"] • Faculty of Social Sciences [ URL "http:// • Third Faculty of Medicine [ URL "http:/fsv.cuni.cz/en"] www.lf3.cuni.cz/3LFEN-1.html"] • Faculty of Physical Education and Sport [ URL • Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň [ URL "htt"http://www.ftvs.cuni.cz/FTVSEN-1.html"] lfp.cuni.cz/en/"] University Institutes: • Institute of the History of Charles University and Archive of Charles University [ URL " UKEN-108.html?poid=1462978309160849"] • Center for Theoretical Study [ URL "http://www.cts.cuni.cz/?lang=en"] • Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education [ URL "http://www.cerge-ei.cz/"] • Environment Centre [ URL "https://czp.cuni.cz/en/"] The research topic should primarily be proposed by the postdoc in collaboration with the C a non-academic institution where the applicant will be hosted. Project proposals must clea or more UN’s Sustainable Development Goals [ URL "https://sdgs.un.org/goals"] (SDGs) and p for this connection. Supporting the achievement of the SDGs aligns with Charles University Development Strategy [ URL "https://cuni.cz/UK-12285-version1-strategie_udrzitelneho_rozvo where the SDGs play a central role, as well as with EU missions, including Horizon Europe, the Charleston programme. One of the key parts of CHARLESTON is the Career Development Programme (CDP), designed to advance the careers of postdoctoral researchers. For more information about the CDP, pleas Career Development Programme section [ URL "UKEN-2188.html "] . The Charleston programme is designed with an international focus and fully aligns with the requirement, which applies to all applicants without exception. Additionally, fellows are complete short stays abroad, including participation in two international conferences and international visits, such as study trips or summer schools.Secondment at non-academic institutio A key goal of the Charleston programme is to provide fellows with direct, hands-on experie sectors. This will be achieved through a mandatory secondment in the non-academic sector, and 6 months, which will be integrated into their research project. The secondment can be two parts and scheduled at any point during the project. Each part of the secondment must six weeks.The secondment must take place at a single non-academic host institution. A diverse range of partnerships with 13 non-academic institutions has been established to hosting opportunities for these secondments. These partnerships include private companies, public institutions, and non-governmental organizations, all committed to hosting fellows, research projects, and providing experienced mentors from the non-academic sector: • Motol University Hospital [ URL "http•:Mama AI [ URL "https://themama.ai/"] www.fnmotol.cz/en/"] • Rossum [ URL "https://rossum.ai/"] • Forum 2000 [ URL "https://www.forum20•0IKEA Czech Republic [ URL "https://www.ikea.com/ homepage"] cz/en/this-is-ikea/"] • European Valuation Institute [ URL "h•tAntikomplex [ URL "https://antikomplex.cz/"] en.evalin.org/"] • Ministry of Industry and Trade [ URL "https:// • Post Bellum [ URL "https://www.postbellmpo.gov.cz/en/"] international/"] • Parliamentary Institute [ URL "https:// • OG Research [ URL "https://www.ogresearpspen.psp.cz/office-of-the-chamber/parliamentary- • Czech National Bank [ URL "https://www.institute/"] en/"] • Ella CS [ URL "https://ellacs.eu/"] If a suitable host institution is not found within the existing network, the postdoc can p alternative non-academic institution. ****************************************************************************************** * Supervisors ****************************************************************************************** Applicants (postdocs) must identify 1) an internal supervisor at a faculty or unit at Char where they will conduct their research and 2) an external supervisor at non-academic insti will undertake their secondment before submitting their application. There is no official list of pre-selected available supervisors. The supervisor at Charles (internal supervisor) must have a minimum of 8 years of research experience after completi Ph.D. degree. The call deadline (May 31st, 2025) is the decisive date for calculating the supervisor’s research experience. The supervisor can support more than one applicant. The external supervisor at the non-academic institution is not required to meet specific e criteria, other than being an employee at the institution where the fellow will undertake Prior consultation with both supervisors is required, as their approval (internal supervis University) and the signed Letter of Commitment (external supervisor at the non-academic i necessary to submit the application. Finding an internal supervisor from Charles University 1. Choose a Relevant Faculty or Unit See the list of faculties and university units and select the one that best aligns with yo topic. Faculties: • Catholic Theological Faculty [ URL "http://www.ktf.cuni.cz/KTFENG-1.html"] • Protestant Theological Faculty [ URL "http://web.etf.cuni.cz/ETFENG-1.html"] • Hussite Theological Faculty [ URL "http://www.htf.cuni.cz/HTFN-1.html"] • Faculty of Law [ URL "https://www.prf.cuni.cz/en"] • Faculty of Humanities [ URL "http://fhs.cuni.cz/FHSENG-1.html"] • First Faculty of Medicine [ URL "https://www.lf1.cuni.cz/en"] • Second Faculty of Medicine [ URL "http://www.lf2.cuni.cz/en"] • Third Faculty of Medicine [ URL "http://www.lf3.cuni.cz/3LFEN-1.html"] • Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň [ URL "https://lfp.cuni.cz/en/"] • Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové [ URL "https://www.lfhk.cuni.cz/LFHKEN-1.html"] • Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové [ URL "https://www.faf.cuni.cz/?lang=en-gb"] • Faculty of Arts [ URL "http://www.ff.cuni.cz/home/"] • Faculty of Science [ URL "https://www.natur.cuni.cz/eng"] • Faculty of Mathematics and Physics [ URL "https://www.mff.cuni.cz/to.en/"] • Faculty of Education [ URL "http://pedf.cuni.cz/PEDFEN-1.html"] • Faculty of Social Sciences [ URL "http://fsv.cuni.cz/en"] • Faculty of Physical Education and Sport [ URL "http://www.ftvs.cuni.cz/FTVSEN-1.html"] University Institutes: • Institute of the History of Charles University and Archive of Charles University [ URL " UKEN-108.html?poid=1462978309160849"] • Center for Theoretical Study [ URL "http://www.cts.cuni.cz/?lang=en"] • Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education [ URL "http://www.cerge-ei.cz/"] • Environment Centre [ URL "https://czp.cuni.cz/en/"] 2. Identify a Suitable Supervisor Visit the website of your chosen faculty/unit and find a potential supervisor whose expert research area. The supervisor must have at least eight years of research experience after completing thei decisive date for calculating this experience is the call deadline (June 1, 2026). No spec title (e.g., professor) is required – the key condition is the research experience. 3. Contact Your Potential Supervisor Send an email with your CV, introducing yourself and your proposed research project. Expre in working under their supervision and inquire about their availability and willingness to role. 4. Confirm and Add the Supervisor in IS Věda Portal If the supervisor agrees, you can list them as your supervisor in the IS Věda portal as pa project proposal. They will receive a notification requesting their approval. Finding an external supervisor from a non-academic institution Applicants can choose from 13 pre-arranged partner institutions for their secondment. A li institutions, along with contact details for identifying an external supervisor and arrang secondment, can be found in the Partners section [ URL "https://cuni.cz/UKEN-2233.html"] o If a suitable host institution is not found within the existing network, the postdoc can p alternative non-academic institution. There are no specific experience requirements for the external supervisor at the non-acade other than that they must be an employee at the institution where the fellow will carry ou secondment. Please note that without prior contact with the external supervisor at the cho institution and a signed Letter of Commitment, it will not be possible to submit your proj ****************************************************************************************** * Employment conditions ****************************************************************************************** CHARLESTON postdocs will be employed under an employment contract with Charles University, the entire duration of the fellowship, including any non-academic secondment periods. Soci health insurance contributions will be automatically deducted from the fellows' salaries, that postdoctoral researchers receive the same social security coverage as other employees Republic. This coverage includes sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, parental leave, an
Funding
Category
15px;">Monthly amount Living allowance €4,180 (€3,100*) Mobility allowance €400 (€296*) Family allowance €200 (€148*) Research costs contribution €600 Training costs €200 + Secondment costs (if relevant) Postdocs will be offered a living allowance of €4180 per month. *This amount includes all employer’s social and health contributions as mandated by Czech result the gross salary is €3068 per month (amount stated in the work agreement). The mobility allowance is €400 per month. It will be paid as a part of the salary. *This amount includes all employer’s social and health contributions as mandated by nation In result the mobility allowance will top-up the gross salary for €293 per month (amount s agreement). The family allowance is €200 per month for postdoctoral researchers who have child or chil 18years of age. It will be paid as a part of the salary. *This amount includes all employer’s social and health contributions as mandated by nation In result the family allowance will top-up the gross salary for €146 per month (amount sta agreement). Eligibility for the family allowance will be verified during the recruitment stage. Resear for this allowance if their family situation changes during the fellowship. Research costs of €600 per month will cover consumables, travel expenses to conferences, e usage of specialized machines, and expenditures related to publication in open-access jour other things. Additionally, fellows will have acces to a monthly allowance of €200 to meet training needs that are not covered by the Training within the CDP. There will also be fun for travel costs related to secondments in non-academic institutions. The net salary depends on individual circumstances, such as the number of dependent childr applicable tax deductions. You can estimate your net monthly income in CZK using a net sal e.g. here [ URL "https://www.platy.cz/en/calculator"] .Relocating to Czechia
Are you curious about what it’s like to work at Charles University and live in the Czech R you like to know what needs to be arranged before your arrival, upon arrival, or during yo the website of the CU Staff Welcome Centre [ URL "https://swc.cuni.cz/UKSWCEN-1.html"] , d ensuring that all incoming academics and researchers have the smoothest possible start in Republic. Charles University has 17 faculties and 4 institutes, located in 3 Czech cities. Discover Czech Republic [ URL "https://www.visitczechia.com/en-us"] and the cities where you can ca research projects – Prague [ URL "https://prague.eu/en/"] , Pilsen [ URL "https://www.visi and Hradec Králové [ URL "https://www.visithradeckralove.cz/"] . ****************************************************************************************** * Steering Committee ****************************************************************************************** prof. PhDr. Ladislav Krištoufek, Ph.D. Member and Scientific Director of the programme prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Doležal, Dr. Member representing natural sciences prof. MUDr. Romana Šlamberová, Ph.D. Member representing medical sciences PhDr. Zuzana Kasáková, Ph.D. Member representing social sciences prof. Mgr. Václav Cvrček, Ph.D. Member representing humanities Mgr. BcA. Ivo Svejkovský, MBA, Ph.D. Member representing the area of ??intellectual property rights PhDr. Ondřej Daniel, Ph.D. Member representing the area of ??research ethics Petra Trnková, Ph.D., MSc. Member representing non-academic partners of the programme Mgr. Eva Janů Programme Administrator (without the right to vote) The Statutes of the Steering Commitee are available here [ URL "UKEN-2186-version1- stanovy_sc_en_version.pdf"] . Didn’t find what you were looking for? You might want to look at our FAQs [ URL "https://c UKEN-2226.html"] or the Guide for Applicants.
N.B. Funded by the European Union. Views and o are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the Europe European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority responsible for them.