Summary
The University of Latvia (UL) is launching AMBER HORIZONS – Empowering Research Leaders for Europe, a European Union-funded research and career development programme under Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND – Choose Europe for Science.
The programme aims to recruit 11 highly qualified postdoctoral researchers across four broad research areas: natural sciences and engineering, life and health sciences, environmental sciences and climate change, and social sciences and humanities.
Successful researchers will receive 5 years of full-time employment, a monthly remuneration of €6,700, and €25,000 per year in additional research funding, along with mentoring, training, international networking, health insurance and career-development support.
The call is expected to open in mid-January 2027.
Summary Table
| Position Type | Postdoctoral Researcher |
|---|---|
| University | University of Latvia (UL) |
| Programme | AMBER HORIZONS – Empowering Research Leaders for Europe |
| Funding | Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND – Choose Europe for Science |
| Number of Positions | 11 postdoctoral vacancies |
| Employment Duration | 5 years |
| Employment Type | Full-time |
| Monthly Remuneration | €6,700, including applicable taxes and social security contributions |
| Additional Research Funding | €25,000 per year |
| Research Areas | Natural Sciences & Engineering; Life & Health Sciences; Environmental Sciences & Climate Change; Social Sciences & Humanities |
| Location | University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia |
| Expected Call | Mid-January 2027 |
| Application Deadline | Expected March 2027 |
| Employment Start | Second half of 2027, no later than 1 January 2028 |
| Programme Period | 2027–2032 |
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher / Early-Career Researcher
The programme offers 11 postdoctoral research positions covering the following research topics:
- Multiphase Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) Experimental Diagnostics
- Multiphase MHD Data-Driven Modelling
- Advanced Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)
- Quantum Technologies / Quantum Transport in Nanoelectronics
- Microbial Biotechnology & Synthetic Biology
- Brain Disorders & Neuro–Microbiome Interface
- AI for Medical Imaging & Precision Diagnostics
- Ecosystem-Based Lake Management
- Next-Generation Urban Digital Twins
- Security & Disinformation Analytics
- Societal Resilience & Social Cohesion
Research Areas
The positions are distributed across four major research areas:
1. Natural Sciences and Engineering
Advancing frontier technologies, including:
- Multiphase magnetohydrodynamics
- Data-driven modelling
- Cyber-physical systems
- Quantum technologies
- Quantum transport in nanoelectronics
2. Life and Health Sciences
Advancing biomedical and technological innovations, including:
- Microbial biotechnology
- Synthetic biology
- Brain disorders
- Neuro–microbiome interactions
- AI for medical imaging and precision diagnostics
3. Environmental Sciences and Climate Change
Sustainable ecosystems and climate resilience, including:
- Ecosystem-based lake management
- Environmental sustainability
- Climate resilience
4. Social Sciences and Humanities
Addressing societal resilience, including:
- Urban digital twins
- Security and disinformation analytics
- Societal resilience
- Social cohesion
Location
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Researchers will work within the University of Latvia’s modern Academic Centre in Torņakalns, which includes the House of Nature, House of Science and House of Letters.
The centre provides research and teaching laboratories, libraries, reading rooms, workspaces and collaboration facilities designed to support interdisciplinary research and knowledge transfer.
Eligibility/Qualification
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline by the application deadline stated in the official vacancy notice.
- Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet received the formal diploma may also be eligible.
- A medical doctorate may be accepted where it corresponds to a doctoral degree or where the applicant can demonstrate appointment to a position requiring an equivalent doctoral qualification.
- Meet the MSCA mobility rule: applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Latvia for more than 12 months during the 36 months preceding the application deadline.
- Demonstrate a strong research track record appropriate to their career stage.
- Provide evidence of independent scientific work, international collaboration and academic or professional achievements.
- Demonstrate excellent English language skills equivalent to C1 level.
- Teamwork, communication skills, openness to interdisciplinary collaboration and motivation for professional development will be considered additional advantages.
Job Description
Selected postdoctoral researchers will conduct independent and interdisciplinary research within one of the 11 research themes offered by the AMBER HORIZONS programme.
The programme is designed not only to support high-quality research but also to develop the next generation of European research leaders.
Key opportunities and responsibilities include:
- Conducting innovative research within the selected research area.
- Developing an independent research profile.
- Collaborating with researchers across disciplines and institutions.
- Participating in international research collaborations and networking.
- Publishing and disseminating research findings.
- Participating in conferences, training and professional-development activities.
- Developing transferable skills and research-leadership capabilities.
- Working with experienced mentors at the University of Latvia.
- Contributing to the internationalisation and research excellence of the University of Latvia.
Salary and Benefits
Selected researchers will receive:
- €6,700 monthly remuneration, including applicable taxes and employer/employee social security contributions.
- €25,000 per year in additional funding for research, networking, training, conferences and other research-related activities.
- Family allowance, where applicable.
- Private health insurance.
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Mentoring and transferable-skills training.
- International networking opportunities.
- Support for developing an independent research profile and research leadership.
The programme provides five years of full-time employment at the University of Latvia, with potential long-term academic career opportunities, including the possibility of progressing to tenure-track positions, subject to performance evaluation.
How to Apply
The official call is expected to be published in mid-January 2027.
Applicants should monitor the University of Latvia AMBER HORIZONS webpage and EURAXESS for the official call, final research topics, detailed eligibility criteria and application documents.
The 11 research-position pages are:
- Multiphase MHD Experimental Diagnostics
- Multiphase MHD Data-Driven Modelling
- Advanced Cyber-Physical Systems
- Quantum Technologies / Quantum Transport in Nanoelectronics
- Microbial Biotechnology & Synthetic Biology
- Brain Disorders & Neuro–Microbiome Interface
- AI for Medical Imaging & Precision Diagnostics
- Ecosystem-Based Lake Management
- Next-Generation Urban Digital Twins
- Security & Disinformation Analytics
- Societal Resilience & Social Cohesion
Official programme information: University of Latvia’s AMBER HORIZONS section.
Last Date for Apply
Expected application deadline: March 2027
The exact deadline will be confirmed when the official AMBER HORIZONS call is published in mid-January 2027.
Recruitment Timeline
| Period | Activity |
|---|---|
| Mid-January 2027 | Call published |
| March 2027 | Application deadline |
| April–June 2027 | Eligibility check, external evaluation, interviews and selection |
| June 2027 | Final selection results |
| Second half of 2027 | Employment begins |
| By 1 January 2028 | Latest expected employment start |
Funding: The AMBER HORIZONS project will run from 2027 to 2032 with financial support from the European Commission under Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND – Choose Europe for Science.
