Report on the recruitment of EMTEL II Research Fellows

EMTEL Centres 

1.	COMTEC - Dublin
2.	SMIT-Brussels
3.	NTNU - Trondheim
4.	TNO -  Delft  &  ASCoR - Amsterdam
5.	LENTIC - Liège
6.	Media@lse – London
7.	IPTS - Seville

Document edited by Network Co-ordinator for 
First Meeting of EMTEL Steering Committee
Saturday February, 17 2001     10:00 am - 12:00 am

EMTEL Second Meeting
Amsterdam February, 14 2001

Circulated electronically in advance of the meeting

Please treat as confidential
1.	
COMTEC - Dublin

Appointed Dr. Katie Ward  -  November,1 2000

Our advertisement for a Post- doctoral Research Fellow last Summer attracted nine applicants, three of whom we interviewed.  We selected Dr. Katie Ward, who had just completed her Ph.D. in Staffordshire University.  Her doctoral work  focused on the way in which text-based information via the Internet transforms participants' perception of community, gendered relations and feminism.

Katie took up the position in October.  Work progresses according to plan and she will herself give a report in Amsterdam.

One topic needs some discussion at the Steering Group meeting.  We are aware that while the Dublin project got under way on time,  some others were delayed, for a variety of reasons.  In the overall plan for EMTEL II, the COMTEC project performs a bridging function between a number of others and the final deliverable will be written by us in collaboration with some other groups.  We have some concern about difficulties in synchronising the report--writing at the end of the project, in a situation where a number of Post-Docs. May be completing their contracts before others, because of delays in recruitment in 2000.

2.	
SMIT-Brussels

Appointed Ms. Maren Hartmann - March,1 2001

As a result of collective actions undertaken by the EMTEL-network and as a result of individual initiatives of SMIT to distribute the advertisements as widely as possible (via European contacts and networks such as ENCIP), SMIT had received 7 expressions of interest, in the course of May 2000. 

At the EMTEL meeting in London, 15th-16th June 2000, it was decided to extend the deadline to 14th August 2000 (see Minutes first EMTEL II Meeting). After the meeting, SMIT has e-mailed this decision to the 7 interested persons, reminding them to submit their application before 15th August. 

On 15th August 2000, SMIT had received 3 official submissions via e-mail. It appeared that two candidates did not meet the formal recruitment criteria: one UK candidate was older than the age of 35 (i.e. aged 39), another UK-candidate did not have a PhD, nor any qualifications in the field of ICT-research. 
The decision was taken to invite the remaining candidate (who did meet all the formal criteria) for an interview in Brussels (paid by SMIT-EMTEL funds) and, again, to contact our networks for other potential candidates. The latter seemed necessary because of the lack of competition for the remaining candidate and because there were some doubts in relation to her CV, in particular her lack of experience in the field of ICT's. Her profile was more cultural studies oriented in the field of popular music. As such, this was not problematic because the EMTEL-contract highlights ‘training of young researchers’, but then, the candidate should convince us during the interview of her ability to do so. 

The latter was unfortunately not the case (interviewed on Friday 27th October). Although the candidate was informed beforehand that she should study the EMTEL-proposal and the EMTEL-SMIT subproject on ‘youngsters and e-commerce’, it seemed, during the interview, that she was not able to manage this information. 

In the meantime, the EMTEL partners were looking into the possibility to change the requirement of post-doc to prédoc (but with substantial experience in ICT-research) in order to help EMTEL-centres with their appointment difficulties. We were glad to find out that The Commission granted us this flexibility. 

This decision opened important possibilities. We were very quickly able to find three good, interested candidates, experienced in ICT-research (two males, one from Italy and one from the Netherlands and one female, from Germany but working in the UK for several years). After examination of their CV’s, it appeared that the Italian candidate, although very interested and certainly qualified, could not be taken into consideration because he did not meet the formal criterion of ‘not having carried out his/her normal activities in the host’s state for more than 12 of the 24 months prior to the appointment’. In fact, he worked in Belgium for more than 2 years. 

The Dutch and German candidates entered the competition. They were both highly qualified and suited for the EMTEL-post in Brussels, but than the Dutch candidate withdrew because of financial constraints and because of the requirement to move to Belgium. 

Not only as a result of this decision, but also, and crucially, because of an excellent CV and because of her knowledge of the EMTEL-work as coördinator of the first EMTEL network, it was decided to appoint Maren Hartmann for the EMTEL-position at SMIT, starting 1st March 2001. 

Interviewing Committee:
•	Prof. Dr. Jean-Claude Burgelman
•	Prof. Dr. Caroline Pauwels
•	Prof. Dr. Yves Punie

3.	
NTNU - Trondheim

Appointed Dr. Thomas Berker  -  January, 1 2001

Our work with the project began in June 2000, with recruitment of a postdoctoral researcher as the main objective of the first period. Thus, an extensive effort was made during the month of June to advertise the position to relevant networks, institutions and groups of people. The selection process started in September, and interviews with potential applicant were conducted in October and early November. We finally decided to offer the position to Dr. Thomas Berker from Germany, and he has accepted. From January 1, he has been employed as a postdoctoral researcher here in Trondheim.

A few preparatory efforts was made before Thomas Berker was employed. First, we did a search for literature relevant to our study of the new flexibility of working life, with an emphasis on tele-working. Second, we have been deliberating different ways of focusing our study. Third, we have made a preliminary inventory of potential sources of information.

Since the beginning of January 2001, the efforts in Trondheim have been concentrated on the analysis of the material that resulted from the literature survey. The aim is to produce a kind for review of the literature, which we will use as a basis to focus our project. Discussions to this end has started, but we are still at an early stage.

4.	
TNO -  Delft  &  ASCoR - Amsterdam

Appointed Dr. Richard Stevens  -  January, 1 2001

The formal selection process for the Dutch candidate has started after the kick off meeting of the EMTEL-network in June 2000 in London. Before that we have received several electronic messages and letters of potential candidates expressing their interest in the Dutch vacancy and/or the EMTEL-network. 
These people were aware of the vacancies because of the ad that was published by the UK-partner LSE in the Guardian. We have replied to them all, asking them to send us a more formal letter and a curriculum vitae (which only resulted in a few (KEES, weet jij nog hoeveel) formal applications). We also explained to them that the procedure might take considerable time, because we had to agree on a collective EMTEL-procedure during the meeting in June.
After that we have put a description of the vacancy on several websites of relevant networks and we have send the text to key persons active in other networks. The closing date for applying was after the summer holidays, 15 August (KEES CHECK!).
Of the (KEES: NUMBER) candidates that have applied for the job we selected three candidates for an interview, one from Spain and two from the UK.  The other candidates were mostly not suitable for formal reasons (no Phd or older than 35). The Spanish candidate retreated, because he had another job, so we finally had interviews with two British candidates, of whom we selected dr Richard Stevens from Manchester, UK 

5.	
LENTIC - Liège 

No appointment so far

Five post-Doc fellows, from Germany and UK, sent their CV to LENTIC at mid-August 2000, which was agreed among the different centres as the deadline for introducing applications. 
Their academic backgrounds were: economics, sociology, psychology, architecture and urban design.
Two of these applicants were over 40 years old, one presented a personal profile which did not really correspond to the skills required, and the two latter decided to resign before the interview... because they were likely to obtain an academic position in their own university.
This probably reveals the difficulty to attract highly qualified people on fixed term contracts when the hosting institution is not able to offer compensations in terms of scientific prestige and/or geographical incentives…
At the beginning of October, LENTIC received a new application, from a Belgian communication scientist strongly interested in the EMTEL research project. We then envisaged the possibility of a "joint-venture" between LENTIC and ASCoR, in which the Belgian fellow would have been hired by ASCoR while, with the agreement of the Commission, working part-time in LENTIC. However, we discovered, after several weeks of discussion, that this fellow could not apply because he was also beyond the age limit (37 years…)
A new suggestion was then made to LENTIC by the EMTEL  co-ordinator: to hire a pre-Doc fellow. Unfortunately, this possibility raised very late (December), making very difficult to find a young researcher not yet involved in a long-term research project.
In early January, LENTIC was in contact with a young communication scientist, Marie Luxen, currently working at the Walloon Office of Employment and Vocational Training. She is engaged in a PhD process in Liège but she is of course much less experienced than a post-Doc fellow!
We are now waiting for a formal agreement from the Commission concerning a "joint-venture" between LENTIC and ASCoR before hiring Marie Luxen. This would of course imply a redefinition of the initial budgets of both centres and, probably, an extension of the contract dates in order to complete the initial research work.

6.	
Media@lse – London

Appointed Dr. Myria Georgiou  -  January, 1 2001
Appointed Mr. Wainer Lusoli  -  May, 1 2000

Media@lse has made two EMTEL appointments since contracts were agreed.

Delays in finalising and agreeing the EMTEL contract with the European Commission meant that the formal start of the project was delayed.   This, together with collective difficulties in relation to recruitment of post-doctoral fellows across the network as a whole, especially given the need to ensure their synchronised recruitment as far as possible, meant a delay in their appointment relative to that indicated in the Work Plan.

1.	Mr Wainer Lusoli was appointed (from a list of 3/3) candidates) from the 1st May 2000 as EMTEL Administrative Assistant and Pre-Doctoral Researcher.  Mr. Lusoli is an Italian national and is registered for a PhD in the Media@lse programme at the London School of Economics.  His PhD is concerned with democracy and the Internet.  Mr Lusoli’s appointment is for 3 years.
2.	Dr. Myria Georgiou was appointed (from a list of 7/3 candidates) from the 1st January 2001 as the Media@lse EMTEL Post-Doctoral Research Fellow.  Dr. Georgiou is a Greek national.  Her PhD was a study of the role of the media in the lives of the Greek-Cypriot Community in North London.  Dr Georgiou’s appointment is for 2 years.

Both appointments were made in accordance with the established procedures of the London School of Economics.  Both candidates fulfil the EU requirements as Research Fellows within the Human Potential Programme. 

Media@lse hosted the first EMTEL network meeting in London in June.  By that time a web-site had been established for the network as a whole.  Discussions have taken place over the last few months with other members of the network to facilitate recruitment of the post-doctoral fellows.  This has proved to be difficult in some cases, but it appears close to resolution at the present time.

Work has begun on defining the approach to the research project: Media and Minorities in Europe (WP6).  This involves an advanced literature review, preliminary mapping of the empirical and theoretical work relevant to the research, and establishing an informal network of researchers already active in the field.
7.	
IPTS - Seville

Appointed Dr. Yves Punie  -  May,1 2001

Interviews report to Steering Committee

IPTS representatives: Mrs Fabiana Scapolo, Mr Ken Ducatel, Mr Marc Bogdanowicz
Candidates: Mr René Van Bavel, Mr Michael Hofer, Mr Yves Punie
Date of interview: Wednesday 6th and Friday 8th of December 2000
Date of report: Tuesday, 12th December 2000

Procedures

The above mentioned three candidates were the three candidates that came out of a call for candidates for a FP5 EU subsidised Training Network called EMTEL. The call was launched simultaneously in several EU countries since May 2000 and co-ordinated by the EMTEL network co-ordinator, Professor Roger Silverstone of London School of Economics. The positions that were offered covered seven research themes and locations in seven research centres around Europe. 
IPTS received over twenty applications following the call but only three candidates were corresponding to the three compulsory objective criteria of the EU project contract: nationality, age and PhD. Furthermore, the three remaining candidates were presenting rich CVs, adequate experiences and training curriculum, multi-linguality and some transcultural experience.
The individual interviews, held Brussels, on 6 and 8 December 2000 in the presence of all three IPTS representatives, focused successively on
-	candidates’ own CV presentations and a presentation of candidates work-plan concerning the research topic;
-	IPTS’ role in the EMTEL network - this task had been announced in advance to all three candidates who were able to access similar information on the EMTEL Website;
-	and a third “open questions” part where candidates could freely answer questions about their team experiences, the outcomes of their PhDs or their motivation to join IPTS.
After the interviews, all three interviewers scored the three candidates individually on the basis of a multilevel evaluation grid (confidential). The results of this evaluation served as basis for developing a final consensual agreement among IPTS representatives about the best suitable candidate for the EMTEL position at IPTS.
Interviews
Mr Yves Punie shows a very relevant training and professional experience in the research area of concern, including a 10-year long research path and a PhD focused on relevant if not identical issues such as i.e. technological acceptance in the household settings.  His personal participation in earlier works of the EMTEL network gives him a thorough knowledge of the state-of-the-art of the networks concerns and ways of functioning.  He showed thorough competence in English and a solid motivation for staying at IPTS for two years.
Mr René Van Bavel, even though the youngest candidate presents a broad experience at international level and very high language skills. His mastery of representation theories, as developed inter alia in his PhD, give him a real competitive advantage for running user acceptance studies and finding his way quickly in the area of EMTEL concerns on social construction issues.  His CV shows high level working attitudes and a rich personality. Nevertheless, his knowledge of ICT technologies, his understanding of Ubiquitous Computing issues or his effective interest about EMTEL concerns appeared a little weak during the interview.
Mr Michael Hofer has an interesting double-edged profile showing interest both in technologies i.e. ICT impact assessment, and in Media studies. His CV shows also a diversity of professional experiences which make him most suitable for understanding and participating in flexible projects and teams, while his solid academic background confirms his capacity to run a longer term research project on his own. His understanding of EMTEL concerns and projects, as well of general issues in the area of Ubiquitous Computing, appeared nevertheless as the weakest among the three candidates. Potential links between his PhD thesis and EMTEL issues were weakly defended and his knowledge of technologies was not sufficiently convincing. The interview raised also some concern about the effective motivation of this candidate for a period of international experience at IPTS.
Results
After having thoroughly discussed the results of the evaluation grid and their consistency with elements of CVs and the interviews, the IPTS representatives came to a consensual conclusion that Mr Yves Punie is the most suitable candidate for this specific position. They nevertheless insist that Mr René Van Bavel should be kept as a potential candidate for other position at IPTS when taking in account his excellent performance in the interview and his impressive CV. 
Summarised by M. Bogdanowicz on behalf of the IPTS team
Sevilla, 15.01.01