NSF Early Career Researchers to Spend Time at European Research Council Labs. (July 14, 2012)

A deal struck yesterday by National Science Foundation Director Subra Suresh and European Commissioner for research and innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn will allow early-career scientists funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to get a new opportunity to spend up to a year at labs funded by the European Research Council (ERC), Europe's basic science agency.

ScienceNow reports that about 100 recipients of NSF's CAREER* awards per year will be offered the opportunity whereby NSF will continue to fund them and will reimburse their travel expenses while the ERC will help find a suitable group to host them. (The minimum stay is 3 months, says Dr Suresh -- anything shorter "might be more like tourism.")

Ms Geoghegan-Quinn told ScienceNow that she hopes the program will lead to long-lasting ties between European and U.S. researchers, and  ERC President Helga Nowotny says her agency is interested in striking similar deals with other countries; she hopes the recently founded Global Research Council will help her find potential partners.

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*CAREER: The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from junior faculty members at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.