funding Opps and guidance

Postdoctoral TrainingAwareness of funding opportunities and guidance for gaining funding: 

Postdoctoral Training Awareness of funding opportunities and guidance for gaining funding Pilot course

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Aim The overall aim is to enhance the chances of post-doctoral researchers of successfully gaining research funding and to improve their knowledge and awareness of funding opportunities and the process of applying for research funding

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Structure of course 1st Session Informal presentations and discussions - Postdoctoral Fellowships and other funding opportunities (Dr Andy Dixon) - Support for Contract Researchers (Dr Westley Forsythe) - Introduction to processes for submitting proposals (Dr Margaret Eastcott) - Tips on writing research proposals (Dr Andy Dixon) Set exercise to be undertaken over next 2 weeks - Prepare outline proposal and conduct peer review 2nd Session (in 2 weeks time) - Mock panel exercise - Q+A with existing postdoctoral research fellow(s)

Postdoctoral Funding Opportunities : 

Postdoctoral Funding Opportunities Early career fellowships Success rates Profile of past successful applicants

Early Career Fellowships – to establish yourself as an independent scientist of international standing: 

Early Career Fellowships – to establish yourself as an independent scientist of international standing Royal Society University Research Fellowship The Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship NERC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship EPSRC fellowships Marie Curie Incoming International and Intra European

Royal Society University Research Fellowship: 

Royal Society University Research Fellowship To last 5 years Eligibility: For PhD holders with 2 to 7 years postdoc experience EEA (i.e. European) citizens Not to hold a permanent post in a university 2005 success rate: 6% (30 awarded) Make sure you have the best possible referee’s Deadline of applications: 1 November 2006 *International fellowships are available for 6-12 months, Applicants currently in the UK are not eligible to apply.

The Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship: 

The Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship Duration 2-3 years To be held in UK HE institutions Eligibility: To hold a doctorate To be below 35 years 2004 and 2005 Success Rate: between 7% and 8% (35-40 awarded) Should normally hold a degree from a UK higher education institution by the time of taking up the Fellowship. Applications from those without a UK degree will be considered if, at the time of application, they hold an academic position in the UK. It is likely that applications from those having an association with the UK academic community of less than two years' duration will be strengthened by a move of employing institution. * 50% funding, University pays the rest

NERC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: 

NERC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Up to 3 years To be held in a UK University (1 year abroad possible) Eligibility: All nationalities To hold a doctorate 1-5 years postdoc experience an advantage 2005 Success Rate: 17% (30 awarded) Deadline: October/ November tbc

EPSRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: 

EPSRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Various schemes Up to 3 years (or 5 years for advanced fellowship) To be held in a UK University Eligibility: All nationalities Max 3 years postdoc experience (unless Advanced Fellowship) 2005 Success Rate: 12-38*% (depending on scheme) *Life sciences interface (Sept 12th closing date)

Marie Curie Fellowships (Intra-EU or Incoming International): 

Marie Curie Fellowships (Intra-EU or Incoming International) 24 months Eligibility: All nationalities (depending on scheme) Min 4 years research experience (incl. PhD) Note that researchers who have resided or carried their main activity in a Member State or an Associated State for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call closure date are not eligible to carry out an IIF in this same country. 2006 Success Rate: 19.7% (IEF) 17.9% (IIF) Deadline: Jan/Feb?? tbc

There are other early career fellowships, so…: 

There are other early career fellowships, so… Research Council UK Academic Fellowship Postdoctoral Research Fellowship with other Research Councils : ESRC (Economic and Social), BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences), AHRC (Arts and Humanities), Wellcome Trust … Etc …check the website

Profile of successful applicants: 

Profile of successful applicants NERC postdoc Research Fellowship: Publications: min 5 papers in 2 years Postdoc experience: none to 3 years Royal Society University Research Fellowship Publications: min 5 papers in 2 years Postdoc experience: 3 to 6 years; some with 2 postdocs Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship Publications: min 3 in 1 year Postdoc experience: 3 years post phd

Success Rates: 

Success Rates

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Summary Establish yourself as an independent scientists of international standing Competitive typically 5-25% success rate Good publications record is critical Innovative and high quality science

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Applying for research funding as a postdoctoral contract researcher University policy on whether post doctoral contract research staff should apply for research grants? Depends…

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Summary of eligibility of early career research staff to apply for grant funding from major sponsors. For comparative purposes, the summary table refers to eligibility to apply for responsive mode research grants, or an equivalent award

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Other funds to consider Money for travel and subsistence Money to host a workshop International exchanges Discipline hopping Marie Curie programmes Knowledge transfer funding On the whole research councils and EU are keen on training early career scientists of all disciplines

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How to write a good research proposal Based on: Top tips ( research office document) and other literature Experience

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Start small and build up – where you can, try and link with experienced and successful PIs and research groups. Don’t work in isolation – look for local or central support. Don’t be afraid to approach new collaborators internally and externally, including industrial partners Know your funders’ assessment processes and application requirements – speak to the funding council – they want to fund your research! Plan ahead; thorough preparation and allow sufficient time Seek examples of past applications Get a colleague to read your proposal before submitting it Get yourself known in your research community – meet your future referee’s! Plan for the long term A success rate of 1 in 4 is not bad! Success in the Research Application Process

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Your reviewers will be asked to comment on: Research Quality - Comment on the quality of the proposed research. Novelty - Comment on the novelty and timeliness of the proposed research.      Methodology - Comment on the feasibility of the proposed methodology.      Multidisciplinarity - To what extent does the research proposed have interactions with other disciplines?      Adventure in Research - Comment on the research risk in this proposal and its balance with the potential to make major advances in knowledge. Where the proposal is more incremental in nature, comment on the degree to which this is essential to the advancement of knowledge in the field.  Impact – Comment on what impact the research will have in the field and beyond     The overall research quality on this proposal is: Unsatisfactory Adequate Good Outstanding My confidence level in assessing this is: Low Medium High      Assessment of the Proposal

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Common reasons cited by reviewers for an application's failure to gain an award Problem not important enough. Studies based on a shaky hypothesis or alternative hypotheses not considered. Methods unsuited to the objective. Problem more complex than investigator appears to realize. Too little detail in the research plan to convince reviewers the investigator knows what he or she is doing. Over-ambitious research plan - unrealistically large amount of work. Investigator too inexperienced with the proposed techniques. Proposed project a fishing expedition lacking solid scientific basis. Proposal driven by technology, i.e., a method in search of a problem. Proposal lacking enough or appropriate preliminary data. What do you get for your money ? Balance deliverables and resources.

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An interpretation of EPSRC’s evaluation guidance (Peter Scott)

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“I have heard people say that it's all a bit of a lottery, and I suppose that there is some luck involved, e.g. in getting the right Referees. But in all panels I have attended the proposals with the best Referee's reports and in my view the best science got funded. What makes me sad is the long list of excellent stuff that missed the cut….” Peter Scott

Take home messages: 

Take home messages Take charge of your research and your career Make a 5 year plan and set your self achievable targets Let your supervisors/line managers/colleagues know that you are keen to progress Take advantage of all resources available to you Publish your work in good journals Be an active networker QUESTIONS?

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Prepare proposal Submit to Andy (a.m.dixon@shef.ac.uk) by 4pm Monday 31st July You will receive in the e.mail everyone’s proposal and will be asked to review one of the proposals using the evaluation form provided and familiarise yourselves with the other proposals You will be asked to present to the mock panel your review of the proposal you were asked to evaluate Outline proposal exercise

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Outline of your research proposal Title (+acronym) and target funding body Research need and fit to aims of funding body Objectives Deliverables Methodology Resources Rough workplan Beneficiaries 1 page only. Minimum font 10. To be understood by a 14 yr old non-expert reader. MARK AS CONFIDENTIAL. NEXT COURSE 2-4pm on TUESDAY AUGUST 8th Room B52 Outline proposal exercise