Postdoctoral Positions: Ramón y Cajal 2025 at IAE-CSIC48 Views

Introduction: Overview of the Ramón y Cajal 2025 Postdoctoral Call

In this article, you will find a clear, practice-oriented guide to the Ramón y Cajal 2025 call with a special focus on opportunities at the Institute for Economic Analysis (IAE-CSIC). We will explain how the national programme works, who is eligible, what kind of research environment IAE-CSIC provides, and how to prepare a strong application in collaboration with a Spanish host institution.

The Ramón y Cajal 2025 postdoctoral research positions are among the most prestigious routes for early-career researchers who want to build a long-term academic career in Spain. The call offers competitive research contracts that allow outstanding scholars to join leading Spanish institutions and develop independent research lines under excellent conditions.

Why the Ramón y Cajal 2025 Programme Matters

The Ramón y Cajal programme sits at the core of Spain’s national strategy to attract and retain high-calibre research talent. It forms part of the State Programme for Human Resources under the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2024–2027.

Because the scheme supports multi-year research contracts, it gives successful candidates the time and stability needed to consolidate their publication record, build teams, and lead ambitious projects. Moreover, the programme explicitly encourages applications from researchers who have developed their careers abroad, which makes

it particularly attractive for international candidates and Spanish researchers in the diaspora.

For economists and social scientists, the possibility of holding a Ramón y Cajal contract at IAE-CSIC is especially valuable. The institute is recognised as a top-tier research centre in economics, located near Barcelona and integrated into the broader Barcelona School of Economics research ecosystem.

Understanding the Ramón y Cajal 2025 Call

National Framework of the Call

The Ramón y Cajal 2025 call (RYC 2025) is managed by Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. The official call text clearly describes the programme’s purpose: to facilitate the incorporation of researchers with an excellent track record into Spanish research organisations so that they can acquire the skills needed to obtain a stable position in the national science and innovation system.

Applications are submitted online through the AEI platform. The call follows a competitive evaluation procedure, where candidates and host institutions are assessed jointly. Therefore, you need both a strong individual profile and a convincing integration plan with your chosen host.

Key Dates and Timeline

According to the official call, the submission window for RYC 2025 runs from 19 November to 11

December 2025 (14:00, Spanish peninsular time).

Because host institutions often set internal deadlines earlier than the national closing date, you should contact your prospective host—such as IAE-CSIC—as early as possible. In practice, strong applicants usually start preparing several months in advance, refining their CV, publications, and research plan before the portal opens.

Eligibility: Who Should Apply to Ramón y Cajal 2025?

The Ramón y Cajal programme targets researchers with a solid postdoctoral trajectory who are ready to lead independent projects. To be eligible for the 2025 call, candidates must:

• • Hold a PhD degree within a specified time window. For the general and RyC-INIA-CCAA tracks, the PhD must have been obtained between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2023; for the disability track, between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2023.
  • Demonstrate a strong research record, including publications in reputable journals, conference activity, and clear potential for leadership.
  • Apply jointly with a host institution in Spain, such as a public research organisation, university, accredited health research institute, or non-profit R&D entity.

In addition, the call explicitly welcomes both Spanish and foreign researchers. Consequently, international applicants who already work abroad or recently completed a postdoc in another country can use the programme as an entry point into the Spanish system.

Why Consider IAE-CSIC as Host Institution?

Research Environment

in Economics

The Institute for Economic Analysis (IAE-CSIC) is a research centre within the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). It is located on the campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and forms part of the core research network behind the Barcelona School of Economics, which is consistently ranked among the world’s leading economics research institutions.

Researchers at IAE-CSIC work across a broad range of areas, including:

• • Microeconomic theory and game theory
  • Macroeconomics and monetary economics
  • Econometrics and structural microeconometrics
  • Labour, public, and development economics
  • Political economy and applied microeconomics

Therefore, the institute provides a vibrant environment for Ramón y Cajal fellows in economics and related fields. Regular research seminars, joint workshops, and collaboration with the IDEA doctoral programme and Barcelona School of Economics create a dense intellectual network that can significantly amplify the impact of your research.

Fit with the Ramón y Cajal Scheme

Because Ramón y Cajal contracts are designed to support independent research leaders, IAE-CSIC’s structure—based on high-quality, publication-oriented research— aligns well with the expectations of the programme. A successful candidate hosted at IAE-CSIC can:

• • Lead frontier research projects in their field.
  • Supervise PhD students in collaboration with local graduate programmes.
  • Participate in European and national research networks coordinated from Barcelona.

Moreover, a Ramón y Cajal contract at IAE-CSIC can serve

as a stepping stone towards long-term positions within CSIC or Spanish universities.

Key Features and Support Under Ramón y Cajal 2025

Although specific salary scales and overheads depend on institutional implementation, the RYC scheme offers a number of common benefits:

• • Multi-year employment contract at the host institution, typically covering a five-year trajectory designed to support consolidation into a stable position.
  • Competitive remuneration in line with Spanish public research salary scales.
  • Additional research funding allocated through the programme or complementary national and European grants.
  • Access to the host institution’s research infrastructure, including data resources, libraries, and administrative support.

At IAE-CSIC, Ramón y Cajal fellows also join an active community of researchers, which helps them build collaborations, co-author papers, and participate in major international conferences.

How to Apply for Ramón y Cajal 2025 with IAE-CSIC as Host

Step 1: Assess Your Eligibility and Fit

First, review the official Ramón y Cajal 2025 call to confirm that your PhD date, field, and experience match the requirements. Then, compare your research profile with IAE-CSIC’s strengths. If you work in economics or closely related quantitative social sciences, the fit is likely very good.

Step 2: Contact IAE-CSIC

The IAE-CSIC call for post-doctoral research positions: Ramón y Cajal 2025 provides host-specific information and contact details for prospective applicants. The institute typically invites expressions of interest from strong candidates who wish to apply with IAE-CSIC as their host centre.

When you contact the institute, you should prepare:

• • An updated CV and publication list.
  • A concise research statement outlining your agenda for the next five years.
  • A short note explaining why IAE-CSIC is an appropriate host for your work.

Step 3: Coordinate the Joint Application

Once IAE-CSIC confirms interest in hosting your application, you and the institute will coordinate the submission through the AEI online platform. You will need to:

• • Upload your research proposal, CV, and supporting documents.
  • Complete the sections describing your integration plan and expected contributions.
  • Ensure that the host institution validates the application before the national deadline.

Because technical and administrative issues may arise close to the deadline, it is wise to submit your materials well in advance.

Tips, Common Mistakes, and Expert Advice

Applying to Ramón y Cajal 2025 postdoctoral research positions is highly competitive, so careful preparation is essential. The following practical tips can help:

1. 1. Align your proposal with the host environment
      Show how your research complements existing strengths at IAE-CSIC. For example, emphasise synergies with specific research groups or seminar series.
   2. Highlight independence and leadership
      The evaluation committees look for emerging group leaders, not just strong co-authors. Therefore, underline your own contributions to key papers and projects.
   3. Document international mobility
      Experience abroad, joint work with foreign institutions, or participation in international networks demonstrates your capacity to operate in global research environments.
   4. Avoid generic statements
      Vague claims about “excellence” or “impact” rarely convince reviewers. Instead, provide concrete examples of key results, policy relevance, and planned publications.
   5. Plan your timeline carefully
      Because the call runs only for a few weeks, you should prepare draft documents early and request feedback from mentors or colleagues before submission.

Conclusion: Is Ramón y Cajal 2025 at IAE-CSIC Right for You?

The Ramón y Cajal 2025 post-doctoral research positions offer a powerful pathway for early-career researchers who want to build a long-term academic career in Spain. By combining a competitive multi-year contract with the intellectual environment of institutions such as IAE-CSIC, the programme allows you to develop an ambitious research agenda while integrating into one of Europe’s strongest economics research clusters. 

If you have a strong publication record, a clear research vision, and an interest in working in Spain, this call deserves serious consideration. You should start by reading the official programme documentation, then approach potential hosts like IAE-CSIC with a well-prepared research plan. Early preparation, careful alignment with the host institution, and a focused proposal can significantly increase your chances of success.

Summary Table

Feature	Details
Program Name	Ramón y Cajal 2025 Research Contracts (post-doctoral research positions)
Host Country	Spain
Funded By	Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; contracts executed at host institutions such as IAE-CSIC
Duration	Up to 5 years (multi-year research contract aimed at consolidation)
Study Mode	Full-time, on-site research position at the host institution
Eligibility	Researchers with a PhD obtained between 2015–2023 (or 2012–2023 for the disability track), strong research record, and a confirmed Spanish host institution
Financial Support	Competitive multi-year employment contract at the host, with salary according to Spanish public research scales and additional research support as specified in the call
Fields of Study	All scientific areas covered by Spanish research organisations; at IAE-CSIC, mainly economics and quantitative social sciences
Deadline	11/12/2025 (14:00, Spanish peninsular time)
Official Website	Click here

References

Reference 1: Call for post-doctoral research positions: Ramón y Cajal 2025 – Institute for Economic Analysis (IAE-CSIC) announcement for prospective RYC candidates.

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