The faculty supports returns to scientific careers with the university program OP JAK Returns

The University of South Bohemia has received support from the OP JAK Returns project, which aims to facilitate the return of employees and doctoral students to employment and scientific work after a career break.

This year, our faculty has made significant progress in the area of social security, and this program represents another big step forward in strengthening support for women in particular in the academic environment. The project aims to support female researchers and doctoral students who are returning to the academic environment after maternity or parental leave. However, it also offers assistance to anyone who has had to interrupt their academic career due to long-term care for a child or realtive, or due to long-term illness. The project thus contributes to mitigating the impact of prolonged absence on professional careers and facilitates a smooth return to research.

The Rector's Office has already announced the first call for individual return grants. Grant applications can be submitted from November 28 to December 31. Grants will generally be for a period of three years, with the next call planned for 2027.

Who can apply?

• JU employees or doctoral students can apply for a return grant.
• The condition is a current career break or return from a break in the last 12 months. A career break is understood to mean maternity or parental leave, long-term care for a close relative, or long-term illness.
• Doctoral students are required to ensure that the topic of the return project is not identical to the topic of their dissertation (it may be related).

What does the grant enable?

• a scientific project lasting 1–3 years
• a position as a researcher with a workload of 0.5–1.0
• the possibility of involving a mentor and a team of up to 4 people
• planning domestic and international mobility (1–6 months)
• additional professional and soft skills training
• the possibility of drawing on a contribution for the care of a child or close relative

For more information, visit: Call for Grant Projects (OP JAK Returns)

If you have any further questions, please contact Ján Štěrba: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.