Career in science

Erasmus MC has a coherent policy on scouting, acquiring, developing and fostering talented students and scientists. We start our scouting and coaching by selecting twenty last-year high school students for entry in the Junior Med School. They are offered a program in medicine and science to motivate them to being the MD-PhDs of the future. By programs such as the Junior Med School, Erasmus MC selects up to 50% of the starting MD students on the basis of specific achievements. After the MD bachelor, the top 10% of medical students is selected for a scholarship in one of the Erasmus MC Graduate School Research Master’s Programs. Many of these Research Master graduates continue scientific training in a PhD research project. 

Our commitment does not stop when students obtain their degrees. Afterwards, Erasmus MC actively facilitates researchers in applying for grants, including the prestigious Veni, Vidi, Vici programs of the Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO). Erasmus MC also has different kinds of internal grants, such as the Erasmus MC Fellowship, for which postdocs may apply. An academic career at Erasmus MC includes steps from assistant professor via associate professor to full professor. For a career in science, qualifications for teaching, research and management are required. A career committee decides upon an application for becoming an associate professor and a specially installed professorship committee evaluates for the nomination of a candidate for becoming a full professor.

Becoming a university senior lecturer is a very important step in someone’s academic career. We screen everyone who has indicated that they wish to become a university senior lecturer by analyzing their performance and conducting an interview. During the interview with the committee, subjects covered include the candidate’s performance and ambitions in the areas of education/training, research, management, and - where applicable - patient care.

All new university senior lecturers participate in a development assessment and can join a Management Development program developed especially for them.
For further information you can contact the HR Services section of HRM or the Research Policy department (research@erasmusmc.nl). Our employees can also check the intranet (HRM, HR Services, or Research, scientific career).

The European Commission has awarded Erasmus MC the HR Excellence in Research Logo. By introducing this logo, the European Commission hopes to increase the career opportunities and the mobility of (young) researchers within Europe, the ultimate goal being to strengthen the European labour market for young researchers globally. To this end, a charter for researchers and a code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers has been compiled entitled " the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers" (HRS4R).

The HR Logo has been awarded after a thorough analysis of Erasmus MC HR policies. For this analysis and assessment of all its legislations and regulations, a project group was brought together to conduct an internal Gap Analysis, resulting in the Action Plan.

For more details and information, please see the Action Plan Erasmus MC.

The implementation of the Action Plan will make sure that the Charter and the Code are being further embedded in our organization. By implementing the HRS4R the researcher who wants to work at Erasmus MC will be assured that rights as a professional are recognized and enhanced, mobility experience is valued, work-life balance is respected, recruitment will follow a transparent process and they join a truly pan-European network consisting of research organizations and researchers. 

Erasmus MC wishes to achieve that the results of these actions become embedded or have connections with developments already put in motion, or with future projects and fit within the main areas of the Human Resources Policy. This way, cohesion is maintained and there is a connection with the Erasmus MC Strategical Policy 2014-2018. 

The European Charter for researchers and the Code of Conduct will keep inspiring us to create even more and better conditions and facilities under which researchers can perform successfully.
For more information about the HR Logo please visit The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers.

If you have any questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. John van der Voort, Human Resources, telephone + 31 (010) 703 58 90, e-mail j.vandervoort@erasmusmc.nl.

Erasmus MC has a Female Career Development program.

Female researchers are underrepresented in the higher scientific echelons of Erasmus MC, which means that we are currently not making optimal use of the available talent and that we must do more to harness the power of diversity.

The Board of Directors has decided to promote the advancement of women into scientific leadership positions. One of the measures that will be taken is offering a two-year program for talented female researchers, the Erasmus MC Female Career Development (FCD) program. Overwhelming interest means that all the places have already been allocated.

For further information you can contact the HR Services section of HRM or the Research Policy department (research@erasmusmc.nl). Our employees can also check the intranet (HRM, HR Services, or Research, scientific career).

Erasmus MC’s tenure policy aims to create a clear, accurate, and timely procedure for appointing professors.

The academic character of education/training and patient care at Erasmus MC can be attributed to the presence of scientific research. Each research department with activities in the field of education/training, research, and - where applicable - patient care, has one full professor. In addition, professors are appointed to positions that are in line with the career policy and enhance the development of a particular academic discipline. The appointment of professors based on career policy is aimed at attracting and retaining top talent.

The Research Policy department is responsible for matters pertaining to the policy for professors and the procedures for the appointment of professors.
For further information you can contact the HR Services section of HRM or the Research Policy department (research@erasmusmc.nl). Our employees can also check the intranet (HRM, HR Services, or Research, scientific career).

Erasmus MC offers a wide range of educational and training programs for today’s and tomorrow’s biomedical researchers.