Developing Successful Fellowship Applications Dr Jane Wellens Steven Hardy

1. Developing SuccessfulFellowship Applications Dr Jane Wellens Steven Hardy

2. What are fellowships? • Highly competitive and prestigiousfunding schemes to: • Support outstanding researchers who have the potential to become leaders in their field • Foster independent research careers and research career development • Contribute towards the researcher’s salary/stipend and research costs

3. Characteristics of successfulfellowship applications • They: • Promise excellent research  • Are of value to potential users outside or within the research community  • Convince of the ability to deliver research  • Demonstrate value for money So what could you include in an application to demonstrate this?

4. 1. Promise Excellent Research • Convey your genuine interest, understanding and enthusiasm for the work • Have a clearly formulated problem. • Demonstrate how the work sits within contemporary debates and builds on existing research. • Show how you will make a contribution to research in the field (step change vs incremental) • Develop appropriate and attainable aims and objectives • Provide a clear and considered research design

5. 2. Demonstrate value to potential users • Align your work with the funder’s mission statement or strategic priorities/challenges • Ensure fit with the primary aim/purpose of the scheme • Identify and consult potential users of your research outside of the academic community • Provide a dissemination strategy and impact statement (or equivalent)

6. 3. Convince of your ability • Demonstrate: • Track record • Relevant experience • How the research fits with your career development plans

7. 3. Convince of your ability • The Nuffield foundation expects applications to demonstrate how the researcher will: • Pursue a new body of knowledge • Substantially extend their own knowledge or competency • Acquire new research skills/methods • Develop interdisciplinary skills • Attend specific courses • Develop academic networks • Gain other experiences and responsibilities

8. Develop Your Track Record • Travel & Conference Grants • Professional bodies • Universities • Conference bursaries • Industry • Exchange programmes • Networks and workshop organisation

9. Develop Your Track Record • Other Grants • Facility use • Equipment • Gifts in kind • Industry • Undergraduate/postgraduate bursaries • Public understanding of science awards

10. Other Considerations: eligibility • Qualifications • Nationality • Residence • Length of experience required for the scheme • Employment status • Location of supporting institution/researcher

11. Proposal Essentials (1) • Allow sufficient time to develop the proposal and School/University approval and submission processes • Study the funding source – is it appropriate?Success rates? • Read the rules & guidance • Read the rules & guidance again! • Read the rules & guidance again!!

12. Identify and fully justify the costings – why, not what Prepare an outline/summary proposal and discuss the application with experienced researchers Get hold of examples of successful proposals –speak to BDEs Stick to word/character limits, font sizes, marginsand other rules – especially for attachments Write for the reviewers (charities may include lay people) Avoid jargons and fully explain acronyms Proposal Essentials (2)