REGIONAL PLANNING AND DESIGN, FROM THEORY TO PRACTICES

Thanks to a financial contribution from the Associazione di Fondazioni e Casse di Risparmio Spa (ACRI) full funding is available, for up to 23 researcher positions, to:

• participate in the 2019 AESOP “Planning for Transition” international conference to be held in Venice from 12 to 15 July 2019.
• spend one month as a visiting scientist at one of the leading Italian departments participating in the network.

The objective of the “Young Investigator Training Program - YITP” is to promote scientific research and collaboration among internationally-recognized research institutions and to encourage the mobility of young scientists. In particular, the scholarships are designed to support the participation of young researchers, working in research centres abroad, in internationally-recognized research seminars and conferences organized by Italian research institutions. The ultimate purpose is to enable young researchers to establish and consolidate relationships with Italian research centres, with the aim of developing common research projects.

The AESOP 2019 YITP is targeted at AESOP Young Academics who will be hosted at 8 Italian Universities for a research period of 1 month before the Aesop 2019 Conference in Venice.

Who can apply?

The AESOP 2019 YITP is reserved to early stage researchers who will attend the AESOP 2019 conference (and present an oral or poster contribution). Applicants must also:

• have held a PhD for no more than 10 years or be PhD students;
• hold a position in a foreign (non-Italian, worldwide) research institution. There are no requirements regarding the nature of the applicants’ position: the AESOP 2019 YITP is open to full-time and part-time researchers from both private and public institutions.

Young researchers whose study focus is on regional planning and design and who are affiliated with foreign institutions are invited to submit an application for research projects to be carried out at Italian research centres. The successful candidates will be hosted for a period of at least one month by one of the Italian Institutions in the AESOP 2019 YITP network list (Annex 1).

What are the benefits of this experience for young researchers?

1. It offers young, worthy researchers living abroad the opportunity to develop original and independent research projects in Italy.
2. It identifies and supports the integration of young researchers in international research projects.
3. It provides an opportunity for young researchers to participate in a major international conference focusing on regional planning and design. 
4. It encourages research and debate on regional planning and design.
5. It expands the scientific network of young researchers.
6. It encourages cultural exchange.

Why apply?

Thanks to a financial contribution from ACRI, AESOP 2019 YITP is offering up to 23 research grants (€ 3,000.00 for each European researcher and € 4,000.00 for each non-European researcher) to young investigators wishing to carry out research in the field of regional planning and design.

The overall amount of the research award will depend on the country of origin and is subject to Italian withholding tax.

The total number of positions that can be funded ranges from 17 to 23, depending on the country of origin of the awardees.

This funding will cover all the costs for a one-month period in Italy and registration for the AESOP 2019 conference. Selected candidates are requested to:

- attend the kick-off meeting of the program, which will be held in Florence on 10 June 2019

- develop a joint research project with their hosting institution

- present their research activities at a seminar to be held at the hosting institution

- present the joint research results at the dedicated roundtable “YOUNG INVESTIGATOR TRAINING PROGRAM 2019 - REGIONAL PLANNING AND DESIGN, FROM THEORY TO PRACTICES” that will be held within the framework of the Aesop 2019 Conference.

How to apply?

Eligible candidates are required to apply by submitting the following documents:

1. The AESOP 2019 YITP Application Form completed in all parts, dated and signed.

2. A one-page abstract (included in the Application Form) describing the specific research project and related topics that the candidate would like to work on during his/her stay. Connection with the proposed topic is encouraged but is not mandatory.

3. A list of the research centres that the candidate would like to visit, in order of preference (annex 1).

4. An updated CV (max 2 pages using a font no smaller than 10 pt + a list of publications highlighting up to 3 that best match the proposed research activities).

5. An abstract of the contribution to be presented to the roundtable dedicated to the AESOP YITP 2019 PROGRAM is required. If the applicant is an author of a paper accepted for presentation at the AESOP 2019 Conference, the corresponding details (abstract reference number and track/special session/roundtable title) must be provided.

6. A scanned copy of the applicant’s passport (or ID document for EU researchers), showing the personal details, i.e. photo and date of birth.

If possible, please combine the signed application form and the other documents in a single PDF file.

Submissions must be sent to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by the deadline 12:00 pm GMT on 25 March 2019, Subject: Application for the AESOP 2019 YITP research award.   

Who will be awarded?

Awardees will be selected from the pool of eligible applicants on the basis of their academic career and the relevance of the research projects by the selection board.

The research grants shall be awarded after an evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications and documentation, on the basis of a score previously defined by the Selection Board, which shall take into account the following aspects: 

• Curriculum vitae et studiorum 
• Publications 
• Content of the research program: validity and scientific originality of the proposal; feasibility of the project; relevance of expected results.

PhD students who have been admitted to the 2019 AESOP PhD workshop organized in Ferrara will not be considered for the award.

Selection Board

Senior academics

Valeria Lingua, Università di Firenze

Giuseppe De Luca, Università di Firenze

Patrizia Gabellini, Politecnico di Milano

Angioletta Voghera, Politecnico di Torino

Junior academics

Giulia Fini, Politecnico di Milano

Carlo Pisano, Università di Firenze

The selection board ensures that the ACRI Fund supports initiatives on the basis of the highest international standards of research excellence, and that funding decisions take into account areas of strength and relevance to the AESOP network and, in particular, to the AESOP Young Academic Group and the AESOP Thematic group on Regional design.

Announcement of awards

The selection board will formulate and publicly announce the general ranking of merit by 5 April 2019. All participants will be informed of the outcome of the evaluation process. Applicants shall be notified of the grant award via the email address provided in the application.

Acceptance of research award

Within 15 days of notification, the successful applicants must send DIDA (Department of Architecture, University of Florence) a letter of acceptance indicating the period in which they intend to carry out the planned activity, and confirm their participation in the AESOP 2019 conference, which is a condition to be eligible for the award. Non-compliance with these two points will result in non-disbursement of the cheque.

Should a successful applicant not accept the research grant, the grant may be made available to applicants classified as eligible according to the ranking order.

Cheques shall be distributed by the ACRI Foundation once the scientific manager of the hosting institution has provided a statement declaring the arrival of the young investigator for the visiting period. 

Research awards include the cost of an appropriate insurance policy (compulsory) against personal accidents that occur during their time at the host research facilities, as well as for personal injury and incidents caused by the researcher during the research grant period.

Contribution source and legal nature of the contribution

The total funds for the financed project amount to 73,000 euros (seventy-three thousand/00 euros) and shall be disbursed to DIDA by the ACRI Foundation of Rome.

The economic resources reserved for individual European/non-European researchers amount to a total of 3,000.00/4,000.00 euros (three thousand/00-four thousand/00 euros). The amount is subject to withholding tax (max 25% withholding tax) as required by Italian law and shall be disbursed by means of a procedure agreed between Fondazione ACRI and DIDA.

The ACRI Foundation shall pay DIDA the sum allocated to the project, subject to verification, as follows: 36,500 euros (50% of the contribution) in advance of project implementation; 36,500 euros (50% of the grant) at the end of the project.

Under this procedure, individual research projects and contributions shall be paid out after the applicants have arrived in Italy and before the conclusion of the grant award. The use of research grants does not constitute an employment relationship.

Rights and obligations

Researchers shall have access to research facilities at the hosting institution. They are also required to comply with the regulations of the institution to which they are assigned.

At the end of the visiting period, the beneficiaries are required to submit a scientific report to the Scientific Committee on the activities carried out.

If the research results are published, the author must cite AESOP 2019 YITP and ACRI in the text of the publication. 

For more information: Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ANNEX 1

AESOP 2019 YITP network