Possession of a doctoral degree OR at least four years of full-time equivalent research experience, what does it mean?

One of the eligibility criteria for the candidate regards the Possession of a doctoral degree OR at least four years of full-time equivalent research experience. Please find here below additional details on this criterion:

1) Possession of a doctoral degree, by January 18, 2023.

This means that the Ph.D. must be present by the deadline. Provisional certificates do not meet this GNeuS eligibility criterion.

2) At least four years of Full-Time Equivalent research experience.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) research experience is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree entitling her/him to embark on a doctorate, even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged. 

When calculating experience, only postgraduate research experience is relevant for this purpose.

If a candidate have been working on her/his Ph.D. for longer than 4 years without obtaining the Ph.D., the second condition (at least four years of FTE research experience) is fulfilled, and the candidate is eligible for a GNeuS grant.