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Research Fellowships

Research Fellowships. Dr John Burden Research Support Services. What is a Fellowship?. A research based training role Personal award aimed at developing an academic career Available at all stages of career PhD New post-docs Experienced post-docs

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Research Fellowships

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  1. Research Fellowships Dr John Burden Research Support Services

  2. What is a Fellowship? • A research basedtrainingrole • Personal award aimed at developing an academic career • Available at all stages of career • PhD • New post-docs • Experienced post-docs • Special circumstances – Career breaks etc • Limits on eligibility – 10 years postdoc cut off is normal • Not the only route to an academic career

  3. What is a Fellowship? It is not a research grant It is about the Person, Place & Project (in that order) • A bigger picture than just research; • Where will you be in 5 – 10 years time • How will this Fellowship take you there?

  4. Fellowship Review Process Submission: Initial sift of applications against scheme specifications Peer review Funder review panel:Read proposals & referees comments then shortlist for interview Interviews & Final selection of Fellows

  5. What gets Funded?

  6. What are funders looking for? Evidence of: • Independence • Academic leading research group in 5-10 years • Commitment to academic career • Outstanding research ideas • Leadership potential Person, Place, Project

  7. Person - What is in a Track Record? • Publications – quantity / quality / citations • Independence – your ideas, not working for someone else • Funding– collaborations, small amounts, fellowships, prizes • Managing staff – postdoc, student, research assistant • Teaching – developing & delivering content • Get yourself known • Talks, presentations, workshops, visits, networking, letter of support • Make a plan now! • address any gaps, training, colleagues

  8. Person - Impact • What is the outcome of your research? • Who will benefit from it? • How will they get to know about it? • Academic: papers, publications, conferences, books, workshops, methods, theory & application • Societal: policy, public engagement, enhancing quality of life, health and creative output, environmental sustainability, social cohesion • Economic: Economic competitiveness, wealth creation, commercialisation, R&D Investment

  9. Place Why have you chosen Warwick? Research Environment - Support necessary for project and developing research skills Training Environment – What development opportunities, courses etc are available to support ECR development? Dept. commitmentLab space, equipment, support staff, office space, finance, contract, future plans Supervisor Ability to support research and development, previous record, independence – not a free post-doc

  10. Project • Internationally leading • Pushing the boundaries of research in your area • New direction • Independent • It is yours – not supervisors • Based on experience and previous research record • Part of the “Big Picture” – where does it lead? • Provide research training • Successful outcome – realistic & deliverable

  11. Collaborators and mentors • Strengthen your application with support from external collaborators & mentors, either as a mentor, part of an advisory committee or through letter of support. • Experts in field • Relevant to proposed project • Outcomes & Impact • Outside Warwick/Other Departments • Letters of support • Plan ahead and build your network – conferences, invited speakers, direct contact.

  12. Writing a successful proposal General Guidelines • Funder Documentation – Read guidelines and rules and stick to them • Match to funder mission & strategic priorities • Well written, detailed & clear • Allow sufficient time – Rushed proposals show • Eligibility criteria vs readiness • Use input from others – Academics, Fellows, Peers, RSS, non-specialists • Excellent research, value for money, high impact, well presented

  13. What is in a proposal? • On-line or paper application form - many “pages” with specific word limits, etc • Case for Support • Background, Aims, Methodology • Costing – from Research Support Services or host institution • Justification of Resources • Track Record / CV • Management & Risk • Research Environment • Impact • Impact Plan • Supporting letters

  14. What’s in a proposal • In addition you will also need: • Referees/ Mentors – careful selection • Institutional Support/ Departmental sign off • Future developments • Gantt chart, equipment quotes, letters of support etc • Training Programme

  15. Training plans PhD Post Doc Academic Research Management Where do you want to be in 5/10 years time? What will you need to be able to do that job? Where are you now and what skills do you need to bridge the gap? Research skills, Management Skills, Teaching Experience Courses, Masters modules, University training & Development schemes Adding value

  16. It all takes time! Proposal Development The more time you can spend developing and refining your proposal, the better it will be. Allow time to complete formal submission processes such as internal peer review and university sign-off before submission Minimum of 3 months – don’t leave it until the last minute 6-9 months before final decision, 1 year until start Internal Peer Review University Sign-Off Procedures Submission

  17. What is right for you? • Research Area – Who is funding it? What schemes are available? • Eligibility – experience pre/post PhD, nationality • Geographical requirements • Stay put or move on? • Relationship with host department • Other ways of funding your work? • Are you ready?

  18. Sources of Funding Research Councils Largest funders of research in the UK. Each has own area of research but there are also cross-council themes AHRC Arts & Humanities BBSRC Non-clinical life sciences, exploitation of biological systems EPSRC Engineering, Physical Sciences, Maths – Strategic priority areas ESRC Social Sciences – Future Leaders MRC Improving human health, clinical/non-clinical science, translation into practice NERC Understanding natural world STFC Astronomy & Particle Physics

  19. Charities & Foundations Royal Society Personal Fellowships, Innovation schemes, Infrastructure & mobility. Very competitive (<10%). Leverhulme Trust Grants & Fellowships, Research & Travel, very prestigious/competitive British Academy Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences Wellcome Trust Major funder of biomedical research, all aspects of biomedical science, clinical & non-clinical, range of awards for all career stages + history of medicine Other Charities Many charities fund research – specific, problem solving, partial funding Industry Sponsored Fellowships – AXA, BUPA, Toshiba, Novo Nordisk etc

  20. National Institute for Health Research Doctoral Fellowships 3 years funding for PhD studies Postdoctoral Fellowship3 years funding for establish as independent post-doc. Less than 3 years post-doc experience Career Development Fellowship 3 years funding for transition to academic, up to 7 years post-doc experience Senior Research Fellowship 5 years funding for transition to permament academic post. “Potential to become academic and research leaders within the duration of an award” Applied projects focussed on NIHR remit

  21. Marie Curie Fellowships • Intra-European Fellowship (IEF) • Move between European countries for 2 years • Success rates around 20% • International Outgoing Fellowship (IOF) • Move outside EU countries (2 years) • Return to EU country (1 year) • Success rates around 16% Success rates higher than many other fellowship schemes Most successful have large input by host academic Deadline Annually in August – Decision by Christmas

  22. International Fellowships • NIH (USA) • NSF (USA) • HFSF (Worldwide) • Humboldt Foundation (Germany) • Fulbright Commission (USA) • Novo Nordisk (Denmark) • Santander (Latin America) • EMBO (EU) • Etc……….. • Marie Curie IEF (Europe) • Marie Curie IOF (worldwide) • Toshiba (Japan) • Hodge Fellowships (France) • JSPS (Japan) • RCUK (India) • STFP (China) • European Science Foundation • Wellcome (India, Europe, MIT) • British Academy (China, Japan etc) Many sources of funding for fellowships in UK & abroad Sign up for Research Professional & other funding alerts (RSS website) Talk to RSS

  23. In summary…… • Start early; • Build track record • Establish collaborations • Develop proposal with input from others • Offer what the Funder wants; • Fit research to funder criteria • Understand the form & fill in correctly • Excellent research, value for money, high impact, well presented • Remember the bigger picture • Career Development • Training award • Future Academic leader

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