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Overview of Upcoming SFI Grant Schemes. Professor Brian Fitzgerald Vice-President Research University of Limerick. Overview of Presentation. PIYRA (President of Ireland Young Researcher Awards) Research Professorships Stokes Professors/Lecturers SIRG (Starter Investigator Research Grant)
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Overview of Upcoming SFI Grant Schemes Professor Brian Fitzgerald Vice-President Research University of Limerick
Overview of Presentation • PIYRA (President of Ireland Young Researcher Awards) • Research Professorships • Stokes Professors/Lecturers • SIRG (Starter Investigator Research Grant) • STTFs (Short-Term Travel Fellowships)
President of Ireland Young Researcher Award (PIYRA) (SFI Person: Dr. Ruth Freeman)
Key Changes • Moving to rolling call • 2-8 years post-PhD • No institutional cap on applications • Two stage review process
Structure • Stage 1: Expression of Interest to seek permission to submit. • CV & 1 page programme • 12 weeks to submit full proposal • Stage 2: postal review as per PI • Funding (up to €1M) for up to 5 years • Mentor
After 5 years • Within final 18 months of award, can apply to PI programme • Standard PI salary policy: • Institution must cover full salary
Timeline • Call open September 2008
Research Professorship Programme (SFI Person: Dr. Steve Flinter)
Key Changes • Up to 5 years of funding • Up to €1m per annum • Salary allowed • Up to 5 awards per annum
Structure • Stage 0: permission to submit • Stage 1: rapid turn-around postal review • CV & high-level research programme • Funding for up to 2 years • Stage 2: submit PI proposal • PI evaluation criteria – meet the bar • Not in competition with “regular” PIs • Additional for a max of 5 years
Salary Policy • Stage 1 (2 years): • SFI will contribute salary up to 200% of the standard Prof scale • Stage 2 (3 years): • SFI will contribute salary up to 100% of standard Prof scale • Institution will cover the balance
After 5 years • RPs will apply to PI Programme • Standard PI salary policy: • Institution must cover full salary
Timeline • Rolling call • To be reopened in September
Stokes Professorship and Lectureship Programme (SFI Person: Dr. Steve Flinter)
Key Changes • Approx 20 posts: 10 Prof + 10 Lecturer • All candidates must be named • Only named candidates may be appointed • To be appointed within 8 weeks of LOO • To be on-site within 6 months of LOO • Expanded Energy remit
Structure • Single EoI per Institution • One proposal per nominated candidate • Max of 15 proposals per Institution • Two panels (as per PI) • No interview stage
Funding • Unchanged: • €90k p.a. for SFI Stokes Lecturer • €180k p.a. for SFI Stokes Prof. • May seek industrial/commercial sponsorship
Submission Material • One EoI per Institution • Separate proposal per candidate • Letter of commitment from candidate • Brief statement of candidate’s research programme
Appointments • Appointments to be made within 8 weeks of LOO • Signed contract • Confirmed start date • Candidate to commence within 6 months of LOO • PI proposal submitted within 18 months of start date
Failure to Appoint • Offer rescinded • New offer made to candidate on SFI reserve list • May or may not be from same Institution
Exclusivity • Only one major application under review at any given time
Timeline • Sept: call opens • 16 Jan: EoI deadline • 27 Feb: Proposal deadline
Starting Independent Researcher Grant (SIRG) (SFI Person: Dr. Graeme Horley)
Objectives • Assist in establishing independence • Provide necessary support and infrastructure • Gain experience towards a full-time academic position • Fund one PhD student
Eligibility • 3-8 years of post-doctoral experience • Proven record of accomplishments • No previously significant research awards (> €100,000) • Not faculty member • Must have a mentor
Funding • Up to €500k over 4 years • Budget will allow: • Applicant’s salary; stipend & fees for PhD student; consumables; materials; small equipment; travel • Salary to be set at specified annual levels • PhD costs as per SFI budget policy • ~20 posts in first call
Application • Two separate PDFs submitted simultaneously • Part 1: • Signed Cover Sheet; Applicant CV; Abstract and Keywords; Publication List • Part 2: • Research Programme (with References); Mentor CV; Mentor Letter of Support; Proposed Budget and Justification; Research Body Letter of Support
Review Process • Conducted in two stages • Stage 1: • A panel will assess Part 1 • Strongest proposals to be advanced • Stage 2: • Both parts evaluated by international experts • Highest-ranked applications recommended for funding
Key Evaluation Criteria • Quality, significance, and relevance of the applicant’s research record • Quality, significance, novelty, and relevance of the proposed research
Other Relevant Criteria • Understanding scientific challenges • Clear and concise communication • Quality of the proposed programme for the postgraduate student • Level of support from mentor and research body
Provisional Timeline Feb 09 Submission deadline Jul 09 Stage 2 results announcement Oct 08 Call announcement Dec 08 Expression of Interest Sept 09 Awards start Apr 09 Stage 1 results announcement
Submission • Call document and FAQs will be available in October 2008 • One electronic submission of the proposal • Two PDF files • Submitted by email to sirg@sfi.ie
Short-term Travel Fellowships (STTF) (SFI Person: Dr. Brian Collier)
Objectives • Carry out collaborative research in international laboratories • Forge collaborations • Facilitate training that is unavailable in Ireland. • Enhance career development of our researchers. • Develop a component of the currently funded SFI research programme.
Eligibility • Team member in an SFI funded group or an SFI award holder. • One application per SFI award will be accepted. • All applications to the STTF supplement must be endorsed by both the SFI award holder and the Irish Research Body • Applicant must have a contract in place which will enable him/her to complete the fellowship within the term of the SFI award
Funding/Eligible Costs • Up to €15,000 direct costs for up to 3 months. • Eligible costs: travel, accommodation and subsistence • Subsistence rates will be based on Marie Curie travel fellowships • Consumables and materials for use only in the international laboratory during the research programme.
Terms and Conditions • Travel within 12 months from date on the LOO • Must return to the home laboratory following completion • Non transferable • Outward bound only • Report submitted within 45 days of applicant’s return
Review Criteria • Benefit to the Irish home laboratory • Justification of the need for this collaboration • Quality of the applicant • Quality of the SFI funded home laboratory • Quality of the international laboratory • Quality of the international collaborator • Quality of the proposed research project
Submission and Deadline • Call launched: week of 21 July • Call closes: 15 Sept 2008 • One electronic copy of the proposal, in pdf format to be submitted by email to sttf@sfi.ie