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Achieving a Research Fellowship Breast Cancer Campaign Scientific Fellowship. Overview. My Scientific Fellowship Pros and Cons Responsibilities Application Process. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION. 1992-1996: UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER - BSc ( Hons ) Chemistry with French
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Achieving a Research FellowshipBreast Cancer Campaign Scientific Fellowship
Overview • My Scientific Fellowship • Pros and Cons • Responsibilities • Application Process
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION • 1992-1996: UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER • - BSc (Hons) Chemistry with French • 1994-1995: YEAR IN FRANCE • - Strasbourg and Marseilles
POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION 1997-2000: QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST - PhD in Molecular Oncology (Breast Cancer Research) 2000-2010: QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST - Certificate in Marketing, Advertising & PR (QUB 2003/4) - Certificate inManagement Studies (QUB 2006/7)
CAREER TO DATE AT QUB • 2001-2007: • Six years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow • 20 publications: 4 first authorships • Co-applicant on 2 grants • Co-supervised 3 PhD students (informally) • (2005/6: Six months maternity leave) • 2007 to 2012: • Breast Cancer Campaign Scientific Fellowship • (2008: Seven months maternity leave)
BCC Scientific Fellowship • Main Objectives: • Successfully obtained £420,000 funding (5 years) • - Development Program from Postdoc to PI • Establish my own breast cancer research group • - Official mentorship for five years
BCC Scientific Fellowship • Main Issue: • - To avoid being ‘thrown in at the deep end’ as a PI • To gain experience as a PI before becoming a PI • To become a PI with necessary skills already in place • To have last author publications & 1st author grants • in the pipeline when commencing lectureship
BCC Scientific Fellowship • Personal Objectives: • - Ensure Scientific Fellowships are recognised within QUB • Clarify the role of a Scientific fellow for future fellows • Ensure future fellows will be invited to PI meetings • Promote Scientific Fellowships to other postdocs
RESPONSIBILITIES/ NEW SKILLS • 1. Project/ People Management • - Managing 4 projects/ supervising 1st PhD student • - Planning to recruit 1stPostdoc/ interview training • - Managing grant budget/ administration • 2. Development of Paper/ Grant writing skills • - 4 papers/ Co-applicant on 4 grants • - Lead applicant grants & last author papers in the pipeline • 3. Manage Own Career Development (Leadership skills) • - Attended Leadership Course for women at QUB (2009- one week) • - Clinical trials degree level module at QUB (2010- online 4 months)
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SKILLS • 4. Now Attend Several PI meetings • - Gain further insight into the role of a PI • - 1st External Examinership (London 2010) • 5. Responsibilities as a BCC Scientific Fellow • - Conference organising committee • - Promote charity locally and nationally • - Fundraising (Wear It Pink Day/Marathon relays) • 6. Further Teaching Experience • - PG Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (QUB-2009/11)
BREAST CANCER CAMPAIGN SCIENTIFIC FELLOWSHIP • Development of Own Research Group • while remaining part of larger research group • 1. BCC PhD Student: £98,000 for 3 years (2008-2011) • - 2nd Year PhD Student • 2. Masters Studentship (MPhil): 17,000 for 1 year (2010-2011) • - Commencing Summer 2010 • 3. Clinical Academic Research Fellow (6 mths in 2010) • - Commencing PhD in August 2011
Advantages • Major step forward in terms of Career Progression • 2. Mentored PI development program ** • 2. Gaining further experience & developing more skills • 3. More independence and responsibility • 4. Proper insight into role of PI/ academia • 5. Better equipped for future lectureship OR • a career outside academia !!!!!!!
Disadvantages • BCC fellowship did not come with any staff • 2. Hindered progress to an extent • 3. Not a Postdoc/ not a PI (in limbo !!!!) • 4. How you are perceived by other postdocs/ PIs • 5. Few other scientific fellows in QUB • 6. Fellowship did not come with any written • confirmation of lectureship at the end- • still have to deal with this !!!!!!!!!
Application Process • Identify Potential Scientific Fellowships • 2. Write a five year research proposal • 3. Identify a supportive mentor • 4. Presentation and interview for fellowship
Tips & Hints Aim to have at least 4-5 years postdoc experience with at least 3 first author publications & several others. 2. Have some evidence of grant income (co-applicant) 3. Identify a research area you can develop as your own 4. Plan project & write well in advance of submission 5. Identify a supportive mentor/ grant reviewers
Tips & Hints 6. Apply for fellowships that provides a postdoc/ tech so you can ‘hit the ground running’ 7. Have a commitment from University of a lectureship afterwards as part of the grant application 8. Develop your CV as a postdoc A PROJECT MANAGEMENT COURSE COULD SET YOU APART FROM THE REST !!!!!!
Tips & Hints 9. REALLY prepare for the interview (mock interviews) 10. CHANCE FAVOURS THE PREPARED MIND !!!
Future of Scientific Fellowships Obtaining a Scientific Fellowship now appears to be the only way of getting a lectureship in QUB- (esp. if your postdocs have been in QUB). 2. BCC and certain funding bodies are forward thinking in terms of fellowships- not enough fellowships though!!! 3. Perhaps QUB postdoc societies need to RAISE AWARENESS to other funding bodies & charities of the MAJORneed for more of these types of fellowships.
Good Luck in Your Application for a Scientific Fellowship