Applying for Marie Curie fellowships
Applying for Marie Curie fellowships
3 June 2027, 9h00-17h00
General context
Securing a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship is a major career step, but with low success rates, submitting a competitive proposal requires more than an excellent idea.
This hands-on course guides participants through the MSCA application process, focusing on how to craft a strong abstract, build a compelling research plan, and understand reviewer expectations. Through real-life examples and practical exercises, you’ll learn what makes applications stand out and leave with tools to shape and refine your own proposal.
After this course, you will:
- Write a clear, compelling abstract that grabs reviewers’ attention.
- Develop a well-structured, convincing research plan aligned with MSCA criteria.
- Apply best practices to highlight your experience and strengths in your CV.
- Analyze real MSCA applications from a reviewer’s perspective to understand what works.
- Revise your abstract and CV based on expert and peer feedback.
This one-day interactive training combines theory with hands-on practice:
- Morning: Core principles of competitive grant writing, focusing on how to structure abstracts and proposals.
- Afternoon: Detailed walkthrough of the MSCA application template using real examples and reviewer feedback.
Participants will complete practical exercises, including a “reviewer mindset” activity. The session also connects you to VIB’s Grants Office for continued guidance after the course.
Last-year PhD students and postdocs planning to submit a MSCA postdoctoral fellowship in the near future.
I am happy that I took the course and I am sure the course will help me to prepare a better grant application. For me the course was on point and the best part was the instructors. They were nice, patient to answer the queries and provided detailed feedback during exercises.
Participant edition spring 2024
I felt that I was in a real situation preparing for a grant application, and the point is, that was an easy way to help me understand the tricks to write a better proposal. The course will immediately influence my career.
Omar Hdedeh - VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology (2025)
I found the exercises very useful, and in particular I liked the educators/participants openness for discussion.
Janko Petkovic - NERF (2025)
Trainers
Lieve Ongena
Senior Science Policy and Grants Manager
Lieve Ongena is an experienced science policy manager with deep knowledge in R&D strategy for the Biotech and Life Sciences sectors. She specializes in guiding researchers through European and international funding landscapes, with a strong track record in EU programs such as MSCA and ERC. Her approach combines strategic advisory with practical training, leveraging real-world examples to enhance research competitiveness and increased success.
Holding a PhD in Molecular Biology (Ghent University, 1989), Lieve advanced her research through European postdoctoral fellowships at Kyoto and Chiba Universities in Japan. She later served as policy advisor and business development manager at Innogenetics (now Fujirebio), one of Flanders’ pioneering biotech spin-offs, before joining VIB as a science policy advisor in 2000. Her career bridges scientific research, policy development, and cross-cultural partnerships, with a unique specialization in Japan–Europe research relations.
Elien Vandermarliere
International Grants Office Manager
Elien Vandermarliere is International Grants Office Manager at VIB, where she leads strategic support for international funding applications under Horizon Europe. She guides scientists at all career stages through highly competitive funding schemes such as ERC and MSCA, combining practical insights with strategic advice to help applicants strengthen the clarity, impact, and competitiveness of their proposals.
Elien holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from KU Leuven (2008), where she specialized in structural biology and protein crystallography. She broadened her expertise during postdoctoral research in bioinformatics and proteomics at Ghent University and VIB, contributing to research projects and mentoring students. Beyond her institutional role, Elien actively contributes to the European research community as a member of the EU-LIFE grants working group and as a reviewer for EU projects. Her unique combination of scientific expertise and funding strategy experience makes her a trusted trainer for researchers aiming to succeed in highly competitive funding landscapes.
Program
Core principles
Core principles of competitive grant writing, focusing on abstract and proposal structure.
Deep dive
Deep dive into the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship application template, using real VIB examples and reviewer summaries.
Practical info
03 June 2027
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
03 June 2027
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
03 June 2027
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
Shared bicycles:
Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic
There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.
03 June 2027
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.