Career Development Fellowships

1. Career Development Fellowships (or hurt me plenty)

2. Some General Points • 1) Read the instructions, very very carefully. • Including policy documents and guide to applicants • Secret to getting a fellowship is telling the panel what they actually need to hear and score on, not what you think that they should consider.

3. Ticking boxes • Try to PLAN your fellowship strategy - at least a year in advance • Often getting up takes a couple of years • Identify your weaknesses ruthlessly and aim to target them specifically (for example, meeting invites etc)

4. Things to think of throughout - AIMS OF THE SCHEME • To help build Australia’s health research skills, with a particular emphasis on clinical, public health and health service research • Don’t write a fellowship on giant tree frogs no matter how attractive. • To increase knowledge and support the development of evidence based health policies. • Again - HEALTH • To encourage the growth of knowledge-based industries in Australia by helping to bridge the gap between research and industry and fostering an environment that values industry achievement. • If you can put a commercial spin on it it will help!

5. Things to think of throughout (AIMS) • The proposed research must: • Be internationally competitive. • Take every opportunity to highlight WHY the research is important, preferably citing applicants contribution to date. • Develop their capacity for original independent research • Clear direction - fine to be part of a bigger team, but identify the area you are leading. • develop their research leadership skills • Show evidence of independently mentoring students, postdocs RAs etc • ALWAYS highlight the achievements of others that you have mentored- for e.g. student prizes etc • Help them to establish themselves as independent self-directed health and medical researchers in a research program or as part of a research team. • Again, fine to be part of a bigger team, don’t try to be something that you are not - you’ll get sprung!

6. Things to think of throughout (AIMS) • Applicants will normally have between three and nine years of postdoctoral or equivalent independent research experience. • Applicants must demonstrate that they will have access to the facilities needed for the proposed research and will be in a research environment that will support their development in accordance with the aims of this award. • No use applying to do (for e.g.) X-ray crystallography if no equipment available • On the other hand if the dept has done something special for you highlight it

7. Ticklist! • The conduct of research either as a member of a team or independently • Must have a body of work associated with the fellow • The presentation of research data at conferences and seminars. • Must have at least one major national (Lorne ASBMB) but preferably one international meeting. • The production of, or contribution to high quality research publications in peer-reviewed literature and/or other appropriate forms of research dissemination (eg official government reports). • Must have outstanding track record - ALWAYS report citations and impact factor. • Supervision of research support staff involved in the research. • Evidence of active mentorship • Guiding the research work of junior members of research staff in his/her research area. • Evidence of active mentorship • Co-supervision, or where appropriate supervision of major honours or postgraduate research projects within the field of research. • Evidence of active mentorship

8. Ticklist (contimued) • Contribution to the preparation of, or where appropriate individual preparation of research proposal submissions to external funding bodies. • Get a commonwealth competitive grant up, preferably as CIA, CIB OK • Involvement in professional activities including attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise and contributions to government/professional body policy development. • Attending conferences (not as important as invited), become part of a university committee (preferably one that does not involve any work) • Administrative functions primarily connected with his/her area of research. • I am responsible for financial administation of grants (if true)… • Occasional contributions in the teaching program within the field of the individual's research. • …I give 1-3 guest lectures / year to 2nd / 3rd year biomedical students.. These activities help me attract excellent honours and PhD student to my team…. • Attendance at meetings associated with research or the work of the organisational unit to which the research is connected. • Be responsible for organising a journal club, or involved in the department seminar program!

9. Must haves • PhD • Outstanding track record • Outstanding international referees

10. Putting it together • Application is a structured CV • Do your referees a favor - make sure that the formatting is consistent, spelling is checked, it has been proof read by a couple of people, the use of fonts is appropriate and that the application LOOKS good.

11. Section A • 7.Report from head of current laboratory/department • Hint - give your lab head time to actually to a good job. This HAS to be walk on water. No point in applying if it isn’t • 8. Report from head of laboratory/department where work is to be carried out • Give your HOD AT LEAST a couple of weeks notice. The HOD MUST be supportive, this is also an opportunity for the HOD to wax lyrical about you. Spend time with your HOD to talk about the application and what you would like highlighted, be blunt - shyness never got fellowships (unfortunately). • 10. National Research Priorities/National Health Priority Areas

12. Section B 5. Research Objectives • Why do you want to be a fellow and what wonderful things are you going to do. Why is the host lab great. Relate EVERYTHING to the AIMS of the scheme - i.e. answer the question! 6. Executive summary - address the selection criteria precisely and do not be shy.

13. Selection Criteria • a) Demonstrated research success relative to opportunity in terms of both seniority and field of research with reference to the levels of activity outlined in the classification statement for these positions (Appendix 1). 30 points • Make the most of your track record, conferences and prizes • b) Potential for further career development in health and medical research. 5 points • Comes down to your references and career plan in 5) • c) A clear career development strategy. 5 points • Comes down to your references and career plan in 5) • d) Research plans that are consistent with the aims of the award scheme. 5 points • Make sure its medical research and is outstanding science (section c) • e) A supportive research environment with the facilities and infrastructure needed to support the proposed research and career development plans. 5 points • HOD report

14. Section C • You have two pages, use them wisely. Do not fill up with bling. Bigger picture. Relates to the aim of the scheme, .e. medical research.

15. Section F • postgraudate training- again sell yourself and your research - you have the luxury of space (within reason) here. • sell your present work and appointment, again give the impression of your day to day management of a research team. • Talk about your collaborations and RELATE them to your pubs - i.e. these are REAL.

16. Section F 4) List all your conferences and highlight “special” things (fare paid, prize talk etc) • Highlight your teaching, particularly PhD honours - again if the student has done something special under your mentorship say so! 8) Admin - Say something, anything, “library committee” - it all counts 9) Who do you review for: NHMRC, ARC, international, journals etc 10) Membership of (for eg) ASBMB • Speak to schools… • Grants again…

17. Section F • 13) one page research summary - this is chance for you to hammer your magnum opus… relate to your publications (JCW#3 etc) wherever possible, highlight prizes, international talks, Gordon conferences (i.e. conferences which are difficult to get into)

18. Section G • How to present pubs

19. Publications • Give impact factors AND citations - it saves the referee the time if they are not familiar with your field. • Never try to pass off a letter to the editor of Nature as a Letter to Nature - this really pisses referees off • Separate reviews, chapters, patents other publications as stated in the instructions etc. • Make sure the journal really is peer reviewed (I.e. not the ASBMB mag). • If “second” named joint first or last author, swap the names and state “JOINT FIRST AUTHOR” etc with the paper. • Don’t put in contrived bullshit “I was Acknowledged in XXX’s paper in the Turkish Journal of Bedwetting.” • In my opinion, it is sufficient to put. “I have contributed or no-contributed to over 70 conference papers” - it is’nt going to make a lot of difference • Do NOT put in papers in submission, in preparation, or in conceptualization! If you have a bonza result and potential Nature paper talk about it in one / all of the research outlines / reports.

20. Referees • Should be at least one international, Prof at Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, FRS, Nobel prize. The most prestigious the better. Make sure they are reliable (i.e. will actually submit the thing) and that you know them. • Hi Jim, I’m going up for a major fellowship. These are intensely competitive and its really important that I have the strongest possible support from my referees, for example ranking me in the top 5% internationally. Would you be able to provide me with such support? • Hi Jim, will you be my referee for my fellowship?

21. Ideas • Get hold of a RECENT successful application. • Read it. • Take advice from others and welcome harsh criticism • Clarity - get others to read it. • Be pedantic in the extreme - make it really professional. If you are not good at that, get a professional to help you. • Make sure your referees can provide you with the support that you need. Do not be embarrassed to ask.