Research Career Stages: A Guide to the R1–R4 Framework

Research Career Stages: A Guide to the R1–R4 Framework

For researchers at the beginning of their careers, navigating the academic landscape can be challenging. Terms such as predoctoral researcher, postdoctoral fellow, principal investigator or research leader are widely used, but their meaning can vary between institutions and countries.

To provide a common reference across Europe, the European Commission introduced the R1–R4 Research Career Framework. Rather than defining researchers by their job title or contractual position, it describes career stages according to their competencies, experience, responsibilities and level of professional independence.

The R1–R4 framework forms part of the European Commission's broader European Framework for Research Careers, which aims to make research careers across Europe more transparent and comparable.

Understanding the framework can help researchers identify relevant opportunities, understand career expectations and plan their professional development.

What is the R1–R4 Framework?

The R1–R4 framework provides a common way of describing researcher profiles across the European Research Area (ERA). The four stages reflect different levels of experience, responsibility and research independence.

The framework is used across the European research ecosystem, including by:

• European universities and research institutions

• Horizon Europe and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

• National and regional funding agencies

• EURAXESS and research career services

• Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) institutions

You can explore the official definitions of the four researcher profiles on the EURAXESS Research Profiles page.

The R1–R4 Career Stages at a Glance

The stages are not fixed job titles or a strict sequence based on years of experience. Instead, they reflect the competencies, responsibilities and level of research independence achieved throughout a researcher's career.

Research careers can also be non-linear. Researchers may move between sectors, change roles or develop different areas of expertise throughout their professional journey.

Why Does the R1–R4 Framework Matter?

Researchers often encounter R1–R4 classifications when exploring funding calls, fellowship programmes, research positions and career-development opportunities.

Understanding the framework makes it easier to assess whether an opportunity matches your current profile and to identify the competencies and experience needed for future career stages.

It can help you:

• Identify opportunities relevant to your career stage.

• Understand eligibility requirements in European funding programmes.

• Recognise the competencies and responsibilities associated with different career stages.

• Plan professional development and future career transitions.

• Navigate research opportunities across European institutions and countries.

The framework therefore provides a shared reference for understanding where you are in your research career and how you might progress towards your next professional milestone.

How the R1–R4 Framework Supports Research Careers

The R1–R4 framework is part of a broader European approach to strengthening research careers. It is closely connected to the European Framework for Research Careers, the European Charter for Researchers, and the principles of Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R).

Institutions implementing the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) strategy use these principles to improve recruitment, career development, training and working conditions for researchers.

For researchers, this broader framework contributes to greater clarity around career expectations and professional development, while supporting more transparent and consistent research environments across Europe.

Curious about how research careers compare across countries and career stages? The MORE4 Online Indicator Tool lets you explore European Commission data on research careers, mobility, employment conditions and many other indicators, with results that can be filtered by career stage (R1–R4).

How Talent Hub Supports Researchers at Every Career Stage

Whether you are starting your PhD as an R1 researcher, developing your postdoctoral experience as R2, establishing your independent research career as R3, or leading research as R4, Talent Hub is designed to support you throughout your research career at UPC.

As UPC's institutional portal for research talent, Talent Hub serves as a central gateway to research jobs, fellowships and funding opportunities, helping researchers identify opportunities relevant to their career stage. The portal also provides practical guidance on research careers, onboarding, working at UPC and other resources to support researchers throughout their professional journey.

For UPC-specific guidance, explore the Talent Hub Research Career section, where you'll find dedicated information for each R1–R4 stage, research opportunities and practical resources.

To stay informed about new opportunities and resources, researchers can also subscribe to the Talent Hub newsletter, receiving regular updates on research positions, funding calls, career-related news and other content relevant to every stage of the research career.