“This initiative is an important UL contribution to strengthening the international research environment and supporting early-career researchers. It provides grant applicants with an opportunity to significantly improve their project proposals in order to compete successfully in the international MSCA call. At the same time, through joint discussions, it also strengthens the skills and experience of UL experts and mentors and promotes mutual understanding of the importance of supporting early-career researchers. With this summer school, UL demonstrates that the development of the next generation of academics, the enhancement of postdoctoral researchers’ skills, and the successful development of scientific careers are essential components of the University’s research excellence,”
highlights Antra Boča, Director of UL’s Research Department..
During the event, postdoctoral researchers from Finland, Italy, Denmark, Australia, the United States, Ireland, Estonia, Poland, India and other countries worked alongside experienced MSCA experts to develop and improve their project proposals, with particular emphasis on preparing competitive applications. Participants had the opportunity to receive consultations, take part in discussions and exchange experiences, as well as further develop their project ideas in a practical setting.
The programme covered key aspects of MSCA project preparation, including the development of risk management plans, time planning, career development planning and describing the expected impact of research. Participants also had the opportunity to meet with UL’s postdoctoral supervisors.
The masterclass was led by and offered consultations from Vladislav Ivanistsev, Chair of the Baltic MSCA Alumni Association and a tenured professor at UL, Liene Kairiša, MSCA expert at the Horizon Europe National Contact Point of the Latvian Council of Science;; Leonetta Pavanello from Committopaper OÜ; as well as MSCA grant recipients from Finland — Jacky Loo, Anastasiia Kotliarova and Nicollas Cayann.
This year, the “MSCA Summer School 2026” was organised in two parts. An online seminar took place from 16 to 18 June, enabling participants to acquire the theoretical knowledge needed to continue working in August on the practical improvement of the quality of their project proposals.
 hosted the practical masterclass of the international workshop “MSCA Summer School 2026” — an initiative launched last year by UL’s Research Department to support postdoctoral researchers in preparing applications for the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) individual postdoctoral grants, known as MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships.){kind=link}