| Type | Typical stage | Our catalog |
|---|---|---|
| PhD / doctoral vacancy | Master’s (or equivalent) → doctorate | Open PhD Positions |
| Postdoctoral fellowship | After PhD, time-limited research | Postdoctoral Fellowships |
| Research / scientific staff job | Technician to senior scientist | Jobs for Researchers |
At a glance
EURAXESS profiles (R1–R4) — a map, not a job title
In Europe, EURAXESS describes research careers with four profiles. They help compare ads across countries — they do not replace local titles on the vacancy.
| Profile | Rough meaning | Typical catalog on MarinePhD |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | First-stage researcher (up to the PhD) | Open PhD / institute PhD scholarships |
| R2 | Recognised researcher — PhD done, not fully independent | Postdocs (often) or early Jobs grades |
| R3–R4 | Independent / leading researchers | Jobs for Researchers |
Descriptors: EURAXESS research profiles.
PhD vacancy
A PhD vacancy is usually a funded doctoral project: you enrol (or are employed) as a doctoral candidate, work under a supervisor, and the goal is a thesis. Look for words like PhD student, doctoral fellow, or early-stage researcher — and a link to an official call. Funding may be a scholarship or an employment contract — stipend ≠ salary.
Postdoctoral fellowship
Postdoc roles assume you already hold a PhD (or will by the start date). Duration is set per vacancy (often project-driven), not a single “EU standard”. Funding may be a fellowship stipend or an employment salary.
Research job (scientific staff)
Research jobs cover scientific officers, lab managers, research technicians, data scientists, and permanent or temporary researcher grades. They may support PhD programmes without being studentships themselves. Some countries recruit permanent grades via public competitions (for example INRAE CRCN concours in France) — that is a Jobs track, not a postdoc fellowship.
How institutes mix the labels
- PhD path ends in a doctoral degree (enrolment / graduate school).
- Postdoc path assumes a PhD (or near completion) and a fixed research plan, not a new degree.
- Research job path is employed scientific staff — junior grades may require only a Master’s; senior grades often require a PhD.
- Lithuania example (LAMMC): doctoral admission is separate from the public competition for researcher ranks (jaunesnysis → … → vyriausiasis mokslo darbuotojas). See the junior researcher roles guide.
Common mistakes
- Treating a “junior researcher / scientific staff” grade as a PhD studentship when there is no doctoral enrolment.
- Applying to permanent concours researcher grades with a postdoc CV mindset (different channel and dossier).
- Assuming every EU postdoc lasts 2–3 years — read the contract length on the ad.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a PhD to apply for a postdoc?
Almost always yes — postdoctoral fellowships assume a completed (or soon-to-be completed) doctorate. If you are still a Master’s graduate, start with Open PhD Positions instead.
Is a “researcher” job the same as a PhD studentship?
Not necessarily. Staff researcher roles are employment contracts without doctoral enrolment. PhD vacancies combine research work with a thesis goal and doctoral registration. At hosts like LAMMC, PhD admission and public researcher-rank competitions are separate channels.
Which catalog should I open first?
Match your career stage: no doctorate yet → Open PhD; doctorate done, temporary research → Postdocs; staff or technician track → Jobs for Researchers. EURAXESS R1–R4 is only a mapping aid — local job titles on the ad still win.
Next step