MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 – Migration and Mental Health

Call for Expression of Interest to develop a joint application to the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action European Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme

OsloMet invites interested researchers of any nationality, fulfilling the eligibility requirements for the fellowship, to express their interest in developing an application for a two-year project at OsloMet, funded by the Marie Skłodowska Curie European Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 (Call: HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF-01-01).

Eligibility requirements:

• The applicant should have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications, 10. September 2025
• The applicant must have a maximum of eight years’ experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks will not count towards the above maximum, nor will years of experience in research in third countries for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe.
• The applicant should comply with mobility rules: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Norway for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline, 10. September 2025.
• Candidates must be able to relocate to Norway. Teleworking will not be allowed. Applicants who are successful in getting their proposals funded by the EU, must relocate to work in Department of Nursing and Health Promotion.

Migration and Minority Health Research Group

This research group at OsloMet is a multidisciplinary academic environment dedicated to migration and ethnic minority health in multicultural contexts, recognizing migration and ethnicity as key determinants of overall health. The group addresses critical topics such as mental health, nutritional challenges, equity, social inequality, and access to healthcare services at both national and global levels. Migration and ethnicity are significant drivers of health inequalities, and improving the health and well-being of these populations requires evidence-based policies and targeted interventions. By identifying and evaluating effective strategies, the group aims to enhance the health and well-being of migrant and minority populations while tackling health disparities on a broader scale. The research group is based at the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Department of Nursing and Health Promotion.

Area of research for the project proposals

Successful candidates will be supervised by Professor Dawit Shawel Abebe. He has 10 years’ experience studying the intersection of migration, ethnicity, and health within public health contexts.  For more information on Abebe, see his profile at OsloMet.

Professor Dawit Abebe’s research focuses on the mental health of children and adolescents, with particular attention to disparities influenced by migration and ethnic minority status. His work also explores health outcomes and access to healthcare services among migrant populations, addressing the unique challenges they face in achieving equitable health and well-being.

Candidates are invited to investigate the mechanisms and processes underlying how and why disparities in well-being develop among immigrant children from early childhood to adolescence and beyond. This includes examining structural factors such as socioeconomic status and systemic discrimination, as well as individual-level mechanisms like family dynamics, cultural adaptation, and resilience. The research also explores how social, cultural, and institutional systems shape well-being trajectories and the effects of acculturation stress, social support networks, and identity formation on mental health and overall outcomes.

Candidates may also focus on identifying and developing effective integration and health-promoting strategies for immigrant populations. This includes exploring interventions to reduce inequalities, improve access to social and health services, and address barriers that hinder equitable participation and well-being.

With this call for Expression of Interest, we invite researchers to submit:

1. Application letter stating your motivation. The letter should state concisely why the proposed research project is solid, timely and innovative, why you are the best qualified person to carry it out, and also why our department is the perfect place for you to carry it out.
2. CV (including publication list)
3. A one-page project description (excluding references), that will be the basis for candidates with whom we will collaborate for developing competitive MSCA-PF proposals.

Starting Date of the fellowship

Evaluation results for the MSCA-PF-2025 applications are expected to be communicated by the EU Commission in February 2026. Successful applicants may start the fellowship at the earliest in April 2026, given that they can move to Norway at that time, and are expected to start no later than the end of 2026.

Expected qualification of applicants

Candidates must have a PhD in medical and health sciences, public health, sociology, psychology, or a related discipline as the minimum requirement.  We are primarily looking for experienced researchers who wish to use this period as an opportunity to further develop their research, and to develop longer term research collaborations with OsloMet and other organisations conducting research in the field.

We are looking for applicants who have

• Knowledge of migration and minority health, health disparities, or social determinants of health and availability of quantitative or qualitative data in the field
• A good track record in research and publications
• Commitment to develop a competitive MSCA-PF grant application
• An open and cooperation-oriented nature, with strong abilities for independent academic work
• Excellent command / highly proficient spoken and written English

Assessment and selection of candidates

Evaluation will be based on the qualification and project idea.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for a virtual interview to select candidates who will be invited to develop the full MSCA-PF application with deadline 10.09.2025, under the supervision of Professor Dawit Abebe and with the support of the professional research administration staff at OsloMet.

Candidates will be informed of the results of the internal pre-selection and invitation to apply no later than 01.04.2025.

Original documents about your qualification must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet performs document inspections in order to give you as a candidate a proper evaluation and to ensure a fair competition. All documents that you hand in to OsloMet, including your proposal idea, will be handled in full confidentiality and in strict compliance with GDPR regulations.

Selected candidates must participate in a virtual masterclass on MSCA-PF, a two-day workshop organised by OsloMet on 28.-29. April 2025 to provide applicants with detailed information and explanation of the application template to complete their proposal in compliance with the EU Commission requirements.

Employment at OsloMet

Successful applicants who obtain a MSCA-PF grant will be offered a position at OsloMet to be hired as researchers to implement their proposed research projects, in conditions as explained below.

We offer:

OsloMet assists in developing competitive MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposals. To successful applicants who are awarded the MSCA-PF grant, we offer:

• Flexible working conditions
• An inclusive and friendly work environment
• Unique academic network with the possibility for the right candidate(s) to pursue his/her academic goals under the auspices of Professor Dawit Shawel Abebe.
• Norwegian language classes
• Onboarding assistance for relocation and other services

Remuneration:

• Type of employment: Temporary position
• Contract type: Full time
• Annual Salary: Approx. EUR 75,000- 80 000. NOTE: obligatory income tax and employer's national insurance contributions will be deducted from this amount.
• Starting day of employment: (expected): Flexible between April and December 2026.
• Working hours: 37.5 hours/week

OsloMet has implemented the Charter for researchers and been granted the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) by the EU Commission and is part of the EU network for mobility of Researchers EURAXESS. OsloMet International Staff Services will assist you during your relocation to Norway and practical information about can be found at our website Work at OsloMet and EURAXESS Norway. 

Contact

• Dawit Shawel Abebe, Professor, daab@oslomet.no
• Nina Ånensen, R&I-staff, ninaanen@oslomet.no

Address: Pilestredet 32, Oslo 0166, Norway

Last day of application

Call closes on 31st January 2025

Published: 20th December 2024

Reference number: 24/28096