CHARLESTON is a programme supporting postdoctoral research projects, co-funded by Charles University and the prestigious European Commission initiative MSCA COFUND (Horizon Europe). Over the course of five years, the programme will support a total of 20 projects: 10 in 2025 and another 10 in 2026.
The Charleston programme emphasises sustainable development and societal impact, with selected projects contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with its commitment to fostering global collaboration, the programme also supports international mobility by supporting young researchers with experience from abroad.
Each supported project will last between 27 and 30 months, during which early-career researchers will spend 24 months at Charles University and 3 to 6 months in non-academic institutions on a secondment. Participants will also receive additional support for their career development through an innovative mentoring and training programme.
Pillars of the Programme
CHARLESTON is built on three main pillars. Firstly, the supported projects will contribute to sustainable development and have a societal impact in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Another key pillar is secondments in non-academic institutions, which will strengthen the desired intersectoral collaboration. As a third pillar, a Career Development Programme will be designed for early-career researchers, enabling them to further advance their careers thanks to mentoring and training.
The Charleston programme is a bottom-up, curiosity-driven funding scheme that allows applicants to choose their research topics freely. Charles University research teams encompass all scientific fields except engineering and veterinary science. However, a key requirement is that all research themes must contribute to achieving one or more of the United Nations‘ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have been selected as a cross-cutting theme of the programme. The initiative reflects CU’s strong commitment to the SDGs, aligning with the objectives of the Horizon Europe programme.
One of the main objectives of the Charleston programme is to provide fellows with direct and in-depth intersectoral experience. This will be achieved through a mandatory secondment lasting 3–6 months in the non-academic sector, integrated into their research project.
A variety of partnerships with non-academic institutions has been established to offer attractive hosting opportunities for these mandatory secondments. These partnerships include private companies, hospitals, public institutions, and non-governmental organizations, all committed to hosting fellows, collaborating on projects during the academic phase, and providing experienced non-academic mentors. You can find more about secondments here.
The Charleston programme aims to provide postdoctoral researchers with high-quality training options that will foster their transferable skills and broaden their career opportunities. In addition to the successful execution of the fellowships, one of the primary objectives of the Charleston programme is to introduce the new Career Development Programme (CDP). It will consist of three essential components designed to enhance the careers of postdoctoral researchers: the standardized Career Development Plan, the Training Programme, and the Mentoring Programme.
You can find more information about CDP in the Career Development Programme section.
The CHARLESTON programme will support a total of 20 research projects – 10 will be selected in 2025, and 10 in 2026. The projects will last 27-30 months, including a mandatory secondment, the duration of which is flexible, ranging from 3 to 6 months. Projects from Call 1 will start between October 2025 and January 2026, while projects from Call 2 will begin between October 2026 and January 2027.
Fellows will have the freedom to select their own research topics based on a bottom-up approach. The program does not prioritize any specific scientific disciplines. Applications for postdoctoral research projects at any of CU’s faculties or institutes are encouraged. Charles University has 17 faculties and 4 institutes across 3 different Czech cities: Prague, Hradec Králové, and Plzeň:
Faculties:
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University Institutes:
The research topic should primarily be proposed by the postdoc in collaboration with the CU department and a non-academic institution where the applicant will be hosted. Project proposals must clearly link to one or more UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide reasoning for this connection. Supporting the achievement of the SDGs aligns with Charles University's Sustainable Development Strategy, where the SDGs play a central role, as well as with EU missions, including Horizon Europe, which co-funds the Charleston programme.
One of the key parts of CHARLESTON is the Career Development Programme (CDP), designed to support and advance the careers of postdoctoral researchers. For more information about the CDP, please visit the Career Development Programme section.
The Charleston programme is designed with an international focus and fully aligns with the MSCA mobility requirement, which applies to all applicants without exception. Additionally, fellows are required to complete short stays abroad, including participation in two international conferences and two other international visits, such as study trips or summer schools.
Secondment at non-academic institution
A key goal of the Charleston programme is to provide fellows with direct, hands-on experience across sectors. This will be achieved through a mandatory secondment in the non-academic sector, lasting between 3 and 6 months, which will be integrated into their research project. The secondment can be split into up to two parts and scheduled at any point during the project. Each part of the secondment must last a minimum of six weeks.
A diverse range of partnerships with 13 non-academic institutions has been established to offer attractive hosting opportunities for these secondments. These partnerships include private companies, hospitals, public institutions, and non-governmental organizations, all committed to hosting fellows, collaborating on research projects, and providing experienced mentors from the non-academic sector:
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If a suitable host institution is not found within the existing network, the postdoc can propose an alternative non-academic institution.
Applicants (postdocs) must identify 1) an internal supervisor at a faculty or unit at Charles University where they will conduct their research and 2) an external supervisor at non-academic institution where they will undertake their secondment before submitting their application.
Prior consultation with both supervisors is necessary as their approval is required at the beginning of the application process (Part A2). The application cannot be submitted without their approval.
1. Choose a Relevant Faculty or Unit
See the list of faculties and university units and select the one that best aligns with your research topic.
Faculties:
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University Institutes:
2. Identify a Suitable Supervisor
Visit the website of your chosen faculty/unit and find a potential supervisor whose expertise matches your research area.
The supervisor must have at least eight years of research experience after completing their Ph.D. The decisive date for calculating this experience is the call deadline (May 31, 2025).
3. Contact Your Potential Supervisor
Send an email introducing yourself and your proposed research topic. Express your interest in working under their supervision and inquire about their availability and willingness to take on this 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 part of your project proposal. They will receive a notification requesting their approval. (See User Manual for Submitting Online Application Form for more details).
Applicants can choose from 13 pre-arranged partner institutions for their secondment. A list of these institutions, along with contact details for identifying an external supervisor and arranging the secondment, can be found in the Partners section on our website.
If a suitable host institution is not found within the existing network, the postdoc can propose an alternative non-academic institution.
There are no specific experience requirements for the external supervisor at the non-academic institution.
CHARLESTON postdocs will be employed under an employment contract with Charles University, covering the entire duration of the fellowship, including any non-academic secondment periods. Social and health insurance contributions will be automatically deducted from the fellows' salaries, ensuring that postdoctoral researchers receive the same social security coverage as other employees in the Czech Republic. This coverage includes sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, parental leave, and other benefits.
Funding
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Category |
Monthly amount |
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Living allowance |
€4,180 (€3,068*) |
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Mobility allowance |
€400 (€293*) |
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Family allowance |
€200 (€146*) |
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Research costs contribution |
€600 |
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Training costs |
€200 |
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+ Secondment costs (if relevant) |
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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 legislation. In 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 national legislation. In result the mobility allowance will top-up the gross salary for €293 per month (amount stated in the work agreement).
Furthermore, a family allowance of €147 will be provided to all fellows with a family. The family allowance is €200 per month for postdoctoral researchers who have child or children under 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 national legislation. In result the family allowance will top-up the gross salary for €146 per month (amount stated in the work agreement).
Eligibility for the family allowance will be verified during the recruitment stage. Researchers may reapply for this allowance if their family situation changes during the fellowship.
Research costs of €600 per month will cover consumables, travel expenses to conferences, equipment costs, usage of specialized machines, and expenditures related to publication in open-access journals, among other things. Additionally, fellows will have acces to a monthly allowance of €200 to meet their additional training needs that are not covered by the Training within the CDP. There will also be funding available for travel costs related to secondments in non-academic institutions.
Relocating to Czechia
Are you curious about what it’s like to work at Charles University and live in the Czech Republic? Would you like to know what needs to be arranged before your arrival, upon arrival, or during your stay? Visit the website of the CU Staff Welcome Centre, dedicated to ensuring that all incoming academics and researchers have the smoothest possible start in the Czech Republic.
Charles University has 17 faculties and 4 institutes, located in 3 Czech cities. Discover more about the Czech Republic and the cities where you can carry out your research projects – Prague, Pilsen, and Hradec Králové.
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prof. PhDr. Ladislav Krištoufek, Ph.D. |
member and scientific director of the programme |
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prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Doležal, Dr. |
member representing natural sciences |
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prof. MUDr. Romana Šlamberová, Ph.D. |
member representing medical sciences |
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PhDr. Zuzana Kasáková, Ph.D. |
member representing social sciences |
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prof. Mgr. Václav Cvrček, Ph.D. |
member representing humanities |
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Ing. Vojtěch Malina |
member representing the area of intellectual property rights |
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MUDr. Josef Fontana, Ph.D. |
member representing the area of research ethics |
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Petra Trnková, Ph.D., MSc. |
member representing non-academic partners of the programme |
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Mgr. Eva Janů |
programme administrator (without the right to vote) |
N.B. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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