227/2026 - A pre-doctoral contract on the following project: 'Variability and Optionality in Stable and Developing Grammars (VAROPGRAM).'

Universitat de les Illes Balears; España; On-site; EUR 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Universitat de les Illes Balears invites applications for a pre-doctoral PhD training contract within the VAROPGRAM project. The position is a fixed-term, pre-doctoral training opportunity with a start date of 1 March 2027 and a planned end under the national framework for 2031, subject to project funding and renewal.

Applicants should be enrolled or admitted to a PhD programme for the 2025-26 year and submit a CV in Catalan, Spanish, or English. There will be a personal interview.

Qualifications

• Candidates must be enrolled or admitted to a PhD programme in the 2025-26 academic year (or will be by the contract start date).
• Applicants must submit an abbreviated CV in Catalan, Spanish, or English (max four pages).
• Fluency in Catalan and/or Spanish is a plus; working level in those languages may be required for research activities and project inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Pre-doctoral PhD training contract under the VAROPGRAM project.
• Personal interview will be conducted as part of the selection process.

Job description

Organisation/Company Universitat de les Illes Balears Research Field Language sciences » Linguistics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 11 Nov 2026 - 23:55 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37,5 Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 2026-27_3_227 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

A pre-doctoral PhD training contract in the 2025 call, in accordance with Resolution of the Office of the President of the Spanish Research Agency that approves the 2025 Early Call for Applications for ‘Knowledge Generation Projects’ and pre-doctoral training activities, within the framework of the 2024-2027 National Science, Technology and Innovation Plan, under reference code PID2025-173005NBI00: 'Variability and Optionality in Stable and Developing Grammars (VAROPGRAM).'

PI: Maria del Mar Vanrell Bosch
Funding body: 9496
Institution: Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) / University of the Balearic Islands (UIB)

Specific Requirements

• 1) Candidates who are enrolled or admitted to a PhD programme in the 2025-26 academic year may submit an application. In turn, those who are not enrolled or admitted on a PhD programme, but will be by the contract start date, may also apply.
• 2) Individuals who fulfil any of the following circumstances may not submit an application or apply for a contract:
  • a) Having started pre-doctoral training with funding from other pre-doctoral training grants for writing PhD theses, awarded within the framework of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Plan or any previous national plan
  • b) Already having a PhD awarded by any Spanish or overseas university
  • c) Having already been awarded a pre-doctoral in the 12 months prior to the application submission deadline.

Applicants must submit, together with the application, a declaration of responsibility stating that, on the date the application is submitted, they meet the above requirements. They must also submit an abbreviated curriculum vitae (CVA), in Catalan, Spanish, or English, with a maximum length of four pages. The template for this document is available on the website of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). There will be a personal interview.

Language requirements

Catalan and/or Spanish language skills would be a plus. Candidates who do not currently speak either or both languages well will need to acquire a working level during the PhD programme since they are important for undertaking research activities, as well as for candidates' full inclusion into the project's academic and social settings.

National Social Security Insurance (Public Health Insurance)

Planned end date of the tasks subject to the contract: Friday, February 28, 2031

Eligibility criteria

The assessment process shall adhere to the following criteria and sub-criteria: CRITERION 1. CANDIDATES’ ACADEMIC AND/OR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL BACKGROUND (up to 50 points). SUB-CRITERION 1.A): SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS (up to 45 points). Candidates’ academic records and other curricular merits shall be assessed, as well as their alignment with the relevant tasks based on training and professional experience. ACADEMIC RECORD. Maximum 30 points. Average weighted mark in the undergraduate degree academic record (four-/five-year degree programme, or engineering or architecture): numerical mark out of 10 to two decimal places (maximum 25 points). Master’s degree academic record: numerical mark out of 10 to two decimal places (maximum 5 points). In order to comply with the principle of objectivity in competitive grant calls for each of the ISCED codes for the university qualifications submitted by candidates, the average mark in the acadèmic record shall be weighted to obtain the average mark for selection. The average mark for selection shall be calculated and given to two decimal places, rounded up or down to the nearest hundredth; where the values are equidistant, the decimal shall be rounded up. The general weighting by qualification and university will aim to standardise average marks for qualifications within the common framework established by UNESCO (International Standard Classification of Education, ISCED). Qualifications shall be classified by the ISCED code, which will be assigned to each qualification when filling in the application. The average marks, as well as the ISCED classification, are taken from the SIIU and will be available at the relevant time on the University of the Balearic Islands website. In the case of qualifications awarded overseas, the average mark scales and equivalence tables for overseas university programmes and qualifications shall be used, in accordance with Appendix 1 to the Resolution of the General Secretariat for Universities of 18th September 2017, which updates the list of marking scales for overseas university programmes or qualifications and equivalences within the Spanish university grading system, published in the resolutions of 21st March 2016 and 20th June 2016. The average weighted mark shall be obtained by considering the average mark submitted by candidates, the average mark for the qualifications as per ISCED for each university where the qualification was awarded and the average mark for qualifications as per ISCED for all universities, using the following formula: Application weighted AM = [(General ISCED AM – University ISCED AM)/2] + applicant AM. Applicant AM = Average mark submitted in the application. General ISCED AM = Average mark for graduates from qualifications as per ISCED for all Spanish universities. University ISCED AM = Average mark for graduates from qualifications as per ISCED by university. OTHER CURRICULAR MERITS. Maximum 15 points. Lecturing on official university undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (maximum 2 points): 2 points for every 60 hours of teaching (prorated to the corresponding number of hours taught). Research activity (maximum 6 points): Publications: màximum 3 points per article, based on quality and relevance criteria Granted or licensed patents: up to 3 points, depending on the granting or licensing of the patent. Participation at conferences: maximum 1 point per paper / maximum 0.5 points per poster, based on quality and relevance criteria Participation in competitive research projects via contract or grant linked to the project, not including honorary collaborations or non-contractual relationships: maximum 6 points, based on the findings, contribution made, length of relationship and competitive nature of the call (European and international projects, national and regional projects, as applicable). Specialised training courses (maximum 2 points): 0.4 for every 10 hours (or pro-rated to the corresponding number of hours done). Awards in competitive calls: maximum 2 points. Languages (maximum 1 point): 1 point for each certificate equivalent to B2 or higher. Professional practice linked to the qualification (maximum 1 point): professional experience, including non-university teaching, 0.4 points per year (or pro-rated to the corresponding number of months worked). Other merits (màximum 4 points): Participation in scientific outreach activities: maximum 1 point per activity Published articles on teaching quality innovation and improvement: 0.2 points per article Other qualifications: Average weighted mark in the undergraduate degree academic record (four-/five-year degree programme, or engineering or architecture): numerical mark out of 10 to two decimal places (maximum 4 points per qualification) Master’s degree academic record: numerical mark out of 10 to two decimal places (maximum 1 point per qualification) Grants from competitive calls: 2 points per programme and full year (maximum 4 points). SUB-CRITERION 1.B): MOBILITY AND INTERNATIONALISATION (up to 5 points). The relevance and impact of candidates’ research stays at national and international centres and/or in industry on their research track record shall be assessed in accordance with the reputation of the host institution for the stay and the activity undertaken. Stays at other research centres: màximum 5 points per three-month stay or longer / maximum 1.5 points per month for stays under three months, based on whether they are undertaken within the framework of a specific programme in a competitive call and the reputation of the host centre. CRITERION 2. CANDIDATES’ SUITABILITY FOR THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN (up to 50 points). Candidates’ suitability for the research programme, project or activities to be undertaken shall be assessed, based on their prior training and experience. In this regard, what the project will mean for their research career in terms of value added, as well as the added value for the host centre and team, shall be considered. The following scoring scale is provided as a guide for assessment: Outstanding, 50; Very good, 45; Good, 35; Average, 25; Poor, 15; Very poor, 0. TIE-BREAKS. Where applications are awarded the same score, and for the purposes of decidint tie-breaks, the application with the highest score in the aforementioned assessment of criteria 1 and 2—as per the order in which they are listed—shall win. Therefore, the order of application to resolve tie-breaks shall be as follows: first, the highest score for criterion 1; in the event of a tie, the highest score for criterion 1.a, and so on. The same method shall be used for the following criteria: 1.b and criterion 2. Where the situation remains the same, the tiebreaker shall be resolved by a draw performed by the selection committee.

Candidates who hold the qualification corresponding to the required category in the job offer with a non-EU degree, if selected, must present a certificate of equivalence of their non-EU qualification to a European qualification, or proof of having applied for this equivalence, in order to proceed with their hiring. The equivalence can be requested from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain (see https://www.universidades.gob.es/equivalencia-de-titulo-extranjero-de-e… ).

Selection process

In accordance with article 8 of the REGULATORY AGREEMENT 145140 of 15th June 2022 that approves the regulation governing the recruitment of research staff under chapter 6 allocation of the university budget, as well as technical or operational research staff.

Selection comitee

• i. The relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellor for research (or delegated representative) as chair.
• ii. The supervisor (or delegated representative).
• iii. The members of the Research Area Assessment Committee (CARAI).
• iv. One or more expert members in the topic pertaining to the recruitment and chosen by the chair of the committee, where applicable.
• v. The head of FORHU (or delegated representative), as secretary, who may speak but not vote.