What difference will you make in networking research? | Conditions & Benefits | Recruitment & Selection
What difference will you make in networking research?
IMDEA Networks is establishing itself internationally at the forefront in the development of future Internet technologies and has already incorporated highly-reputed scientists. Future Wireless Internet Protocols are being shaped by IMDEA Networks’ international team of researchers.
Our research team ranges from eminent, prize-winning thought leaders to talented post-graduate Ph.D. students.
We welcome brilliant people from all parts of the World, with diverse backgrounds, experience, skills, research interests and ambitions. They all share the desire and ability to make a positive difference in research targeted to develop Future Wireless Internet Protocols.
Whether you’re an experienced researcher who is looking for a leadership role or a researcher at the start of your career and wanting to develop your innovative ideas, IMDEA Networks has a place for you.
At IMDEA Networks here in Madrid, you’ll enjoy:
- A challenging vision with clear, well focused, research ideas
- Working with a team of world-class researchers
- A work environment that is demanding, participative, stimulating and fun
- Full administrative support, freeing you to focus on your research activities
- The unrivalled quality of life in the Madrid region
- Internationally-competitive salaries
- A share of IPR revenues arising from your work here
- Full support to transfer your results to industry, or to start-up your own company
Take a look at the unique opportunities we offer:
- Chief Researcher (US academic equivalent – Full Professor (with chair)): The most senior research position that is open in the Institute, attracting award-winners, leading innovators and those who know how to make innovation and technology transfer happen.
- Senior Researcher (US academic equivalent – Associate Professor): This is an excellent position for doctors who have several years experience and are looking for opportunities to supervise small teams of highly motivated researchers.
- Staff Researcher & Post-Doc Researcher (US academic equivalents – Assistant Professor – tenure track & Post-Doc Researcher): These positions are aimed at early-stage, post-doctorate researchers who are looking to establish their research career, working with top senior researchers and a team of young, pre-doctorate researchers.
- Research Assistant (US academic equivalent – Research Assistant): This position is aimed at young, aspiring researchers, who are keen to start a succesful professional career in research working with us, whilst undertaking their Ph.D. in English at University Carlos III of Madrid.
- Visiting Researcher (US academic equivalent – Visiting Professor/Researcher): We welcome applications from researchers who are interested in taking advantage of a sabbatical period to experience the rewards of working within an exciting, new research environment in a fun and vibrant location.
Conditions and benefits
Researchers’ Professional Status
Research plays an important role in advancing knowledge and understanding through a process of discovery. Researchers have an honorable vocation and position in society as professionals who are engaged in the conception and creation of new knowledge, products, processes, methods and systems, and in the management of the projects concerned. We aim to treat all our researchers with the respect and dignity that their professional status deserves in all our activities. We want to ensure that a research career at IMDEA Networks is an attractive one for exceptionally talented people from all corners of the World.
Salaries
We strive to pay attractive, internationally-competitive salaries for all research positions. Salaries are commensurate with researchers’ legal status, performance, level of qualifications and responsibilities.
IMDEA Networks pays social security contributions entitling all researchers to receive excellent Spanish social security provisions (including sickness and parental benefits, pension rights and unemployment benefits).
Performance-related Bonus Scheme
An important component of an IMDEA researcher’s rewards package is the performance-related bonus. All IMDEA Networks’ researchers participate in regular appraisals of their performance. In these reviews a researcher’s past performance is assessed against his/her previously-agreed objectives. A performance-related bonus may then be awarded if the performance threshold is achieved. It’s intended that bonuses paid as a result of satisfactory performance represent a substantial percentage of each researcher’s aggregate financial benefits.
Relocation Assistance
We recognize the challenge of moving yourself - and possibly a family - to live in a different country. (Many of our team have already done that, at least once, in their career.) We understand, as well, that many researchers will initially have no Spanish language skills and will require a high-degree of support, especially before and after their arrival here in Spain.
To help you make the transition to living in the Madrid region of Spain we provide support with specific challenges such as:
- Immigration, work permit, and visa procedures
- Housing
- Schools
- Job search for partners
- Registering for healthcare
- Bank account
This list is not intended to be exhaustive. You may have concerns regarding other issues not mentioned here. We would be glad to try to help you with these in case you are made an offer of a position with us.
Vacations
All IMDEA Networks researchers are entitled to receive 22 days holiday leave every year in addition to the national, regional and local public holidays ("fiestas") that apply in our location.
Intellectual Property Rights and Revenue-Sharing
Intellectual Property Rights on innovations invented by IMDEA Networks researchers whilst working for the Institute are the property of IMDEA Networks. However, we want researchers to enjoy financial rewards arising from their innovations and have devised an income-sharing scheme to allow this.
The Institute has a process and structures for the systematic evaluation of candidate inventions for legal IPR protection. Once an invention is approved for protection, the extent of the protection to be afforded is determined.
The Institute then manages the IPR application process and covers all the costs associated with registration.(Of course, in some cases, those rights may be shared with other parties such as consortium partners in a European Union-funded project). As owners of the IPR, the Institute is empowered to make all decisions regarding the subsequent exploitation of the IPR through licensing agreements, sale of the IPR etc.
Each researcher who has participated in the invention that is protected is rewarded for his/her labours with a share of all resulting revenues received by the Institute.
Co-authorship
We view co-authorship positively when assessing the performance of all researchers as it is evidence of a constructive approach to the conduct of research. We aim to ensure that co-authors of publications, patents etc are recognized and listed as such. It is our policy that a researcher’s own research results should be published independently from their supervisor’s.
Supervision
Early stage researchers are provided with a clearly-identified supervisor, to whom they refer for the performance of their professional duties. We undertake to ensure that nominated supervisors have the time, knowledge, expertise, experience and commitment to offer the appropriate level of support and that they provide for progress and review procedures as well as the necessary feedback mechanisms.
Health Care
The payment of social security contributions by IMDEA Networks entitles all contracted researchers, wherever they come from in the World, to enjoy the excellent healthcare system in Spain.
Working Conditions
Researchers at IMDEA Networks are given the necessary flexibility in their working conditions to allow successful research performance. Working conditions are framed in a collective agreement ("convenio colectivo") at local area level. Of course, we also ensure compliance with all applicable employment legislation.
In practice this means allowing for both men and women researchers to combine family and work, children and career. We particularly aim to provide suitable working arrangements such as flexible working hours, part-time working, teleworking and sabbatical leave.
In summary, each employee is treated as an individual whose specific needs should be addressed and, where possible, accommodated within our framework of conditions for researchers.
Stability and Permanence of Contract
We aim, as far as possible, to improve the stability of employment conditions for researchers, implementing and abiding by the principles and terms laid down in the EU Directive on Fixed-term Work (Council Directive 99/70/EC).
Research Environment
We offer a research environment that provides for a stimulating place in which to work. Our researchers benefit from state-of-the-art equipment and facilities appropriate for the activities in which they are engaged and consistent with our goal to build and maintain truly world-class physical resources for research. In our physical environment we ensure that appropriate health and safety regulations are observed.
Researcher Mobility
Researchers are enriched by and require the scientific and intellectual stimulation provided by regular exchanges of ideas with colleagues from other institutions in different locations.
We recognize the value of researcher mobility, that is to say geographical, inter-sectorial, inter- and trans-disciplinary, between private and public sectors and also virtual mobility. Positioned as we are, somewhere between the private and public sectors, we aim to provide an environment where researchers from both can collaborate together.
We give mobility options to researchers at all stages of their career within the context of a structured career development plan. Wherever possible we provide the administrative instruments to facilitate such mobility such as portability of grants and social security provisions.
Participation at International Conferences
All IMDEA Networks researchers are encouraged and supported to attend and participate in relevant international conferences, project meetings and seminars as a part of their professional development program.
Performance Appraisal
All IMDEA Networks’ researchers participate in regular appraisals of their performance. These performance appraisals give researchers and supervisors the opportunity to assess the researchers’ performance objectively against previously-agreed objectives, to identify training needs and to set objectives for the next period. At the same time an evaluation of potential for upgrading, promotion and other career development opportunities is made.
Training Opportunities
We believe that learning should be a continuous process and that every member of our team can benefit from training. All IMDEA Networks’ researchers receive continuous support in enhancing their knowledge and skills. Within the framework of the performance appraisal process each individual’s specific training needs are identified and from this a systematic and structured training plan is agreed and implemented.
Equal Opportunities
IMDEA Networks strives to be an equal opportunities employer. We aspire to ensure equal opportunity to all staff, associates, interns and volunteers without discrimination or harassment on grounds such as, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, belief, political opinion, sexual orientation, social or economic condition, social origin, class, gender, marital status, political affiliation or belief, disability, physical appearance, or age.
Recruitment and selection
European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers
IMDEA Networks is a signatory to the European Charter for Researchers and to the Code of Conduct. Our letter of commitment can be viewed in the list of the European Charter and Code undersigning organizations. As signatories, we are committed to following the principles described in the Charter and Code in order to create a framework for researchers. We wish to improve the conditions for the incorporation of researchers and to contribute to enhance the attractiveness of the research career in the European Research Area.