The Lithuanian Energy Institute announces a call for applications for a Project Leader position
The Lithuanian Energy Institute (LEI) announces an open international call for applications for an early-career researcher (Project Principal Investigator) seeking to establish their first independent research team and to implement a high-level research and experimental development (R&D) project under the Progress Measure No. 12-003-03-06-01 “My First Research Team”.
This measure provides opportunities for an early-career researcher to begin an independent stage of their scientific career, strengthen scientific leadership, form a thematic research group, and contribute to the development of energy efficiency, sustainability, and innovation.
The Project Leader position under the “My First Research Team” programme is open to a researcher at the beginning of their scientific career who is prepared to lead an independent research team within the Lithuanian Smart Specialisation thematic area related to R&D and innovation (R&D&I)priority “New Production Processes, Materials and Technologies” including the following thematic areas:
a) Advanced materials and structures;
b) Energy efficiency and smart solutions.
Applications are accepted for the following topic:
“Investigation of the Synergy between Hydrophobic Nanostructured Coatings and the Leidenfrost Effect for Friction Reduction.”
As the need to reduce emissions and energy consumption in the maritime sector increases—particularly with the transition to innovative fuels such as hydrogen—new solutions for reducing friction-related losses are required. The Leidenfrost effect, in which a stable vapour layer forms on a surface, can significantly reduce friction between water and a ship’s hull. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the synergistic effect of hydrophobic nanostructured coatings and surface texturing, enabling the initiation, stabilisation, and maintenance of a vapour film under realistic ship operating conditions.
The main research objective is to develop and experimentally validate a technological concept for reducing hydrodynamic drag through surface modification, experimental investigation of the Leidenfrost effect, assessment of friction and energy losses, and analysis of heat and mass transfer.
The research should focus on the application of two-phase flows, the Leidenfrost effect, and surface engineering to reduce hydrodynamic resistance in maritime transport, including:
- the use of hydrophobic and nanostructured coatings;
- studies of vapour film formation and stability;
- combination of active and passive drag-reduction methods;
- investigation of heat and mass transfer processes under non-standard conditions;
- applications in the context of maritime energy efficiency and emission reduction.
The research results will contribute to a fundamental understanding of the impact of two-phase flows on the reduction of hydrodynamic drag and energy efficiency, thereby providing a foundation for future technological innovations in maritime transport
Applicant’s compliance with the call requirements
a) Qualification Requirements
Candidates who are eligible to apply are those who:
- have obtained a PhD degree within the last 7 years prior to the application deadline (periods of maternity, paternity, parental leave, or long-term illness are not included);
- not have previously served as a project leader of Lithuanian Research Council-funded projects specified in the ineligibility criteria of this call;
- demonstrate scientific output and competencies indicating the potential to independently lead a research team;
- be prepared to implement an original, relevant, and feasible research project aligned with LEI’s scientific fields and infrastructure.
The candidate must:
- possess competencies to carry out, organise, and coordinate R&D activities;
- be able to conduct scientific research independently and collaboratively within research teams;
- critically analyse and synthesise complex scientific ideas;
- have experience in preparing and/or participating in national and/or international R&D, innovation, and science dissemination projects;
- be capable of publishing research results in national and/or international scientific journals and presenting them at scientific events;
- understand the potential application of research results in cultural, social, and economic contexts;
- have proven scientific experience in heat and mass transfer processes and materials engineering.
b) Funding Eligibility Restrictions
To ensure support for the target group of the programme “My First Research Team”—early-career researchers—the candidate must not have served as a project leader, by the application deadline, in Lithuanian Research Council-funded projects implemented under the following measures and/or programmes:
- the 2014–2020 EU Structural Funds Investment Action Programme Measure No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718 “Targeted Research in Smart Specialisation Areas”.
- the 2014–2020 EU Structural Funds Investment Action Programme Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712 “Development of the Scientific Competence of Scientists, Other Researchers, and Students through Practical Scientific Activities”, excluding measures for promoting students’ scientific activities and for postdoctoral fellowships.
- researcher’s groups projects.
- the State Programme for Lithuanian Studies 2016–2024.
- short-term research in the fields of health, education, and training.
- national research programmes: Welfare Society, Healthy Ageing, Sustainability of Agro-, Forest and Water Ecosystems, Towards Future Technologies, Modernity in Lithuania.
- competitive priority research programmes: Welfare Society, Strengthening Societal Resilience and Crisis Management in the Context of Contemporary Geopolitical Events.
- the dedicated programme “Information Technologies for the Development of Science and the Knowledge Society”.
- projects carried out under bilateral and multilateral international agreements: Lithuania–Taiwan projects, the Baltic Research Programme, Lithuania–Poland projects.
- projects carried out under measure No. 12-001-01-02-01 “Strengthening Innovation Ecosystems in Research Centers” Annex 13 to the description of the project being implemented (applies to the scientific direction of applied competence centers, thematic leaders, research team leaders, and their proposed teams that will carry out R&D projects in accordance with the internal procedures of the relevant partner institution).
c) Main Responsibilities of the Project Principal Investigator
The Project Principal Investigator will:
- organise and coordinate project team activities and project implementation;
- conduct the planned research and experimental development activities;
- analyse, summarise, and document research results;
- prepare and publish scientific publications and present results at conferences;
- ensure dissemination of project results and international cooperation;
- prepare interim and final project reports.
d) Requirements for team composition and target indicators
- The MPK project team must include at least one student (Bachelor’s–Doctoral level), at least one postdoctoral researcher, and at least three researchers from abroad. One or more scientists employed as research staff may also be hired. The MPK research team may not include scientists who are employed by the Partner or another institution in senior or principal researcher positions and/or who hold administrative positions (this restriction does not apply to the MPK Project Leader).
- When planning the MPK research project, the Project Leader must aim to achieve the following monitoring indicators:
- Implemented research and experimental development projects – 1;
- Number of publications produced under the funded project – 2;
- Number of researchers from abroad attracted to LEI – 3 researchers;
- MPK project researchers undertaking professional development abroad – 4 researchers
Funding and Working Conditions
- Funding: up to EUR 350 000 for direct project costs and 7% for indirect costs;
- Project duration: up to 36 months;
- Project start date: no later than 1 September 2026;
- Employment contract: full-time (40 hours per week) for the Project Principal Investigator;
- Hourly rate: up to EUR 36.36/hour (gross);
- Workplace: Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos g. 3, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Benefits and Opportunities
By choosing the Lithuanian Energy Institute, you will receive:
- meaningful scientific work at one of the strongest energy research institutes in the Baltic region, conducting nationally and internationally significant research in energy, sustainability, and innovation;
- an opportunity to start an independent scientific career, establish and lead your first independent research group, and strengthen your scientific leadership as a project leader;
- access to modern laboratory and experimental infrastructure for advanced research in two-phase flows, surface engineering, heat and mass transfer, and energy technologies;
- international collaboration opportunities, including long-term partnerships with EU universities and research centres, and participation in international projects and networks (Horizon Europe, COST, EERA, etc.);
- active support for early-career researcher development, including leadership training, international visibility, and opportunities to prepare future international proposals;
- a supportive institutional environment fostering scientific initiative, innovation, open collaboration, and dissemination of research results.
The mandatory application document package must include:
- Description of the MPK research project and additional annexes related to the project description (e.g. Gantt chart, schematics, etc.).
- a functional (narrative) CV following the Research and Innovation CV (R4RI) format, in line with The Declaration on Research Assessment, substantiating:
- contribution to knowledge creation (key research, methods, publication impact);
- contribution to the scientific community (mentoring, peer review, open data);
- societal/economic impact (applied results, cooperation with industry);
- future plans (research development, especially in the context of the programme);
- list of scientific publications (journal articles—especially indexed in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science, international monographs or chapters);
- description of other scientific activities (conference presentations, memberships in national and/or international organisations, participation in scientific committees, expert activities);
- results of project activities (applications to national and/or international R&D and innovation projects; funding received; patents granted or patent applications filed);
- participation in doctoral training (supervision of PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, interns, involvement in doctoral studies);
- copy of the PhD diploma or certificate;
- description of the R&D project’s alignment with the Smart Specialisation priority and thematic focus (up to 3 000 characters);
- documents substantiating the extension of the eligibility period, if applicable (copies of documents confirming maternity / paternity / parental leave or long-term incapacity for work, if the PhD degree was awarded more than 7 years before the application deadline; copies of documents confirming long-term illness, if applicable).
Applications must be submitted via the online form no later than 15:00:00 (CET) on 13 February 2026. Applications submitted after the specified deadline will not be considered.
You can find the description of the selection procedure for the project leader of the “My First Research Team” programme here.
NOTE: The Lithuanian Energy Institute will process personal data submitted for the purpose of this project leader selection in accordance with data protection regulations.
Applicants may withdraw their consent to participate in the selection process at any time and request deletion of their personal data by contacting Rimantas.Levinskas@lei.lt.
Contact Information
For information about the call, consultations, or application submission, please contact:
Rimantas Levinskas
Lithuanian Energy Institute
Tel. +370 374 01 804
Email: Rimantas.Levinskas@lei.lt
