How to Apply for a Fellowship How to Sell Yourself 07/07/2010 1

How to Apply for a Fellowship
How to Sell Yourself
07/07/2010
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Objectives
To help you understand:
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if you are ready to apply for a fellowship
how to set about preparing an application
what makes a good application
the process for reviewing an application
Ask questions; share experiences; make comments,
criticisms, witticisms etc at any time
Fellowships are extremely competitive – you must sell
yourself to stand out from the crowd
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Agenda
• How was it for them? – (VS/CC)
• What is a fellowship and are you a suitable
applicant? (CV)
• What help is available? (CV)
• What schemes are available (KB)
• How to approach writing your proposal? (KB)
• How will my application be reviewed? (CV)
• Final questions (KB/CV)
Motivation
• In almost any career you will need to persuade
someone or a group of people that they need to
invest in your idea(s) and/or you.
• Most of us find it difficult to write about and sell
ourselves but this is exactly what is needed when
applying for a Fellowship
• This session is intended to help in preparing a
fellowship proposal and help in selling or
promoting yourself and your achievements
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Looking Ahead (1)
Do you like research?
Yes
No
Look elsewhere
No
Passionate about academic
research?
Yes
Demonstrable track record?
Yes
Yes
Got some good ideas?
No
Yes
Get one
Yes
Apply for PDRA
Yes
Apply for a fellowship
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Looking Ahead (2)
PhD
PDRA
Fellowship
Academic Post
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Fellow vs Assistant
• To progress in either career path you will
compete with others
• You may cross from one to the other at a time
appropriate for you
• For all fellowship schemes the competition is
particularly intense
• Need to take advice on what is best for you consider timing, track record, maturity of ideas
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What is a fellowship?
An opportunity to devote yourself full time to a research
project that you have originated (at least to an extent)
For the more senior/longer fellowships start thinking in
terms of exploring a research area where big problems
exist and where only you can sort them
• Usually apply in response to a specific call – many open now
• Need an academic host, who will normally work with you to
develop your proposal and provide a home if successful
• You work on your own ideas with a high degree of
independence
• You “collaborate” with your academic host
Approach to Fellowship Schemes
• There are lots (KB)
• All are different – objectives, guidelines
eligibility criteria
• Read all the guidance, think, ask questions,
talk to previous winners, look at previous
applications – then decide
• Allow plenty of time
What is needed for a fellowship (1)?
Assessment Criterion 1 – You
• Are you Deserve an Award - Track Record
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Talk to your mentor/supervisor – are you good enough now?
Articulate your scientific achievements
Evidence of independent thinking, initiative, leadership
Skills – scientific, communication, management
• Do you need an award
– Is your career at a stage where you would benefit from a
fellowship
Can you deliver an exciting research programme? Can you
use the fellowship as a stepping stone to fame and fortune
Deserve a Fellowship - Track Record
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Publications and conference presentations
Collaborations initiated (away from home) and resultant papers
New line of research enquiry originated, initiated and implemented
Project management opportunities / experience – eg running own
PhD/post doc project with high degree of independence
Teaching experience
Workshops / conferences organised or co-organised
Awards or prizes
Other research visits undertaken
Fellowships or other funding applied for and won
Examples of career mobility. Language skills developed?
Passion and enthusiasm to do something extra eg take an extra course,
pursue a research direction when all seemed hopeless and yet it worked
Supervising more junior staff or students
Attacked and solved a difficult problem(s)
Outreach activities – talking to/communicating with non-academic
audiences eg schools
Need a Fellowship – Career Stage
• Must show that your career will benefit from a
fellowship and show how
– Have done good work in Area X – now is the time to
learn new skills in Area Y
– Broaden scope of your research – make you a more
“rounded” researcher
– Take you into new scientific fields and/or directions,
– Take opportunity to develop further reputation,
– Go out and establish new collaborations
– Why are you best placed to undertake the work
• A little preliminary work will help enormously
Avoid simply continuing what you already are doing.
What is needed for a Fellowship (2)
• Assessment Criterion 2 – The Science
– Is the science exciting, novel, groundbreaking,
going beyond the state of the art ……?
– If successful what impact will it have?
– Is the project clearly described
Are your ideas mature enough to convince your peers to
fund them
Seek help from your host?
Can your proposal be understood by the reviewers?
Fellowship – The Science
• Attacking big difficult issues in your area of
science which need someone at your level
dedicated full time to successfully address them.
• Show why the proposed work is important now
• Show you have ideas to make things work
• Solving these problems will have a (big) influence
on the future course of the area (and other areas?)
• If employing someone else on the grant what will
be their role and contribution?
• Role/contribution of collaborators
Career Progression
Academic
Profile/Impact/Skill
Set/Track Record
After
Now
Time
Why apply for research funding?
• Allow you to establish independent career, build
your academic reputation
• Drive own research agenda- you can spend your
time doing what you want!
• Build own research group- obtain resources to carry
out your research, train up next generation
• Generate new collaborations, partnerships
• Allow you to travel to collaborators, present findings
at conferences
• Publications + research outputs= academic success
What kind of research funding is there?
• Workshop grants
• Travel/ conference grants
• Studentships
• Equipment grants
• Fellowships- funding for individual
• First grants/ New Investigator grants
• “Standard” grants
• Large-scale collaborative grants
A bit more about fellowships...
• Provide dedicated support to an individual- different
schemes for different stages of career
• Apply with a host organisation- choose carefully
• Request funding for a specific research project, set
objectives – but success is as much about the
individual as the research project
• Generally provide the fellow with salary, travel and
research costs for between 1 and 5 years, some will
also pay for students/ researchers
• Lots of schemes to choose from but VERY
competitive!
Most funders have...
• A range of different schemes, targeted at different
stages of researchers
• Funding deadlines at specific times of the year
• Priority areas for funding, calls in specific areas
• Restrictions on who can and can’t apply
• Very strict and precise application procedures
• Electronic submission systems
• Websites where calls and guidance notes are
published, plus contact details for desk officers
Consider carefully before applying….
“… enable talented new researchers to establish an
independent research career …”
“Scientists who have demonstrated high potential and who
wish to establish themselves as independent researchers”
“supports excellent scientists and engineers at an early
stage of their career, and is designed to help them to
progress to a permanent position”
“provide outstanding scientists, who have the potential to
become leaders in their chosen field, with the opportunity to
build an independent research career”
EPSRC Postdoctoral fellowships
• Approx 25 awarded every year, in specific areas
– Mathematical sciences
– Theoretical physics
– Cross disciplinary interface
• Any nationality/ age, must not have had permanent
position, < 3 years postdoctoral experience
• Awards for 3 years, cover salary costs plus travel,
consumables, small equipment, technical support
• Mobility from institution of PhD is encouraged
• Deadline 12th Aug, fellowships start April 2011
Details:http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/fellows/Pages/postdoctoral.aspx
Career Acceleration fellowship
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Proposal can be in any area of EPSRC remit
Must be within 10 years of PhD, ≥3 years postdoc exp
Must not have held a permanent academic position
2 step application process- outline and then full bid
Approx 25 awarded every year (60 invited to full bid)
Awards for up to 5 years and cover salary, research
staff, PhD students, technical staff, travel, equipment,
consumables, access to facilities
• Outline deadline: 11 August 2010, start from July 11
Details:http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/fellows/careeracc/Pages/default.aspx
Royal Academy of Engineering/
EPSRC research fellowships
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5 year awards in any discipline of Engineering
0-3 years postdoctoral experience at closing date
Approx 10 awarded every year
Funding for fellow’s time, travel, equip, consumables
Deadline due October 2010, awards start March 11
Limit of 2 applications per institution
Applicants can apply for one EPSRC fellowship/ yr
• Contact Rachel if interested [email protected]
Details at: http://www.raeng.org.uk/research/researcher/postdoc/
University Research Fellowship
• Approx 30 awarded every year (5% success rate)
• Proposals can be in all areas of the life and physical
sciences including engineering, but not clinical
medicine
• For researchers with 1-3 post doc positions.
• Applicants must be EU citizens or have a relevant
connection to EU
• Funding provided for 5 years, possibility of extension
for further 3 years, plus funds for research expenses
• Deadline 15 Sept 2010, projects start Oct 11
Details at: http://royalsociety.org/University-Research-Fellowships/
Dorothy Hodgkin fellowship
• 10 awards per year, 2.5% success rate in 2009
• Support for early career scientists and engineers
• Aimed specifically at those who require a flexible
working pattern due to personal circumstances
• Must be from EU or have relevant connection to EU
• Funding for fellow's salary costs and research costs
• Next deadline expected January 2011
• NOT exclusively for female candidates but note of
the 10 awards in 2009, only one was not female
N.B most other fellowships can be held part-time
Details: http://royalsociety.org/Dorothy-Hodgkin-Fellowships/
BBSRC David Phillips fellowship
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For world class early career scientists
Approx 10 awarded per year
Awards for 5 years
Provide funding for fellow salary, research
expenses, researchers, travel, equipment
• For researchers with 3-10 years postdoc experience
• No age/ nationality restrictions
• Next deadline expected September 2010
Details at: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/fellowships/davidphillips.aspx
NERC fellowships
• Open to any age/ nationality
• Support to help environmental scientists become
independent investigators (Postdoctoral) or team
leaders of international standing (Advanced)
• Postdoctoral fellowships (3 years)- typically 1-5 years
post doc experience
• Advanced fellowships (5 years)- 2-10 yrs postdoc exp
• 30 awards across both schemes, pay salary, travel
and research expenses through recurrent grant
Deadline: 2 November 2010, projects start October 11
Details:http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/fellowships/typesofaward.
asp
ERC Starting grant
• 3-10% success rate- slightly higher for PI’s at UK host
• Applicants must have 2- 12 yrs experience since PhD
• Applicants should demonstrate:
– potential for research independence
– promising track record of early achievements
appropriate to their field and career stage
– significant publications (as main author) in peerreviewed major international journals in their field
• Up to €1.5M available (up to €2M if some cases)
• Next deadlines expected Oct/Nov 2010
Details:http://erc.europa.eu/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&topicID=65
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
• 70 awards per year (12% success rate in 2010)
• Support fellows at a relatively early stage of their
academic careers who have a proven record of
research
• Under 35 years old, must already hold PhD
• Awards for 2-3 years, include salary & research costs
• 50% salary contribution by host university
• Deadline expected Sept/ Oct 2010
Details:http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/grants_awards/grants/early_career_f
ellowships/
Postdoctoral research fellowship
• No deadlines, < 3 years postdoctoral experience
• To carry out research linked to the PhD and publish
PhD results but NOT to carry out new unrelated
research
• 1 year duration, provides salary and research costs
• Approx 85 awards per year, 10% success rate
• Should include a designated mentor
N.B Also fairly common route of named postdoc on a
small/ standard ESRC grant
Details:
http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/esrcinfocentre/opportunities/early
career/postdocfellowships/index.aspx
Marie Curie fellowships
• European funding for mobility of researchers within and
into/out of EU, approx 25% success rates
• Intra-European- for you to move to another EU country
• Incoming International – for non-EU researcher to
move to EU country, could apply if you have been in
EU host country for less than 12 months
• International Outgoing- for you to move from EU
country to 3rd country e.g. US, Australia, China
• Applications are made through EU host country
• Deadline:17 August 2010
Details: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/mariecurieactions/home_en.html
IAS Junior Research Fellowship
• Warwick scheme to support 3 fellowships for
researchers with <3 years postdoc experience
• Awards for 12 months in any discipline
• Interdisciplinary projects encouraged
• Should demonstrate strategic contribution to the
university
• Must have nominator from the relevant department
• Deadline 23rd July 2010
Details:
htp://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/humanresources/jobsintro/apply
/procedure
Other possibilities...
Other sources of funding can help you make contacts,
provide opportunities to present results or spend time
at another lab
Travel grants e.g. Royal Society International travel
grants- funding to facilitate collaborations with
overseas scientists and to present at overseas
conferences, workshops and seminars
Schemes for new academics or experienced postdocs
e.g. EPSRC First grant, BBSRC, MRC and NERC New
Investigator awards, European Research Council
Starting grant
What does the application involve?
• Online application form- submitted via J-es, e-GAP
– Various text sections e.g. objectives, lay summary,
budget
• Proposal- Word/ PDF attachment, usually 8 pages
– Background/ Aims/ Objectives/ Hypothesis
– Programme and methodology
– Research environment
– Track record and/ or CV
– Impact plan/relevance to beneficiaries
– Budget and justification of resources
Presenting the proposal
• Read the guidance notes and instructions
• Attention grabbing opening section- summarise
background, aims, impact in about 3 sentences
• Make sure proposal is easy to read, split into
manageable sections- one column or two
• Never use font size/ margins below minimum stated
• Mix font size and style to emphasis headings or key
points, use bold, italics or underlining
• Avoid large blocks of text, use pictures/ diagrams
Writing the proposal
• Boxes with “take home” messages
• Clear objectives, hypotheses, work programme
• Use preliminary results
• Risk analysis/ management, don’t be too ambitious
• Formulate clear argument for why you need the
fellowship/ grant and why you need it now
• Develop clear and novel research project- what is so
exciting about it? how will you tackle it?
• Get feedback from specialists and non-specialists
• Check proposal against the assessment criteria
Observations
• Relevance to funder/ call priorities
– Ensure this is clearly spelt out
• Industry/ user involvement
– Increasing emphasis from funders
– Genuine personalised letters of support required
• References
– Part of proposal, ensure readable, can’t
guarantee reviewers will use web links
• Resources
– Consider carefully, can you justify each item?
You’ll (Should) Never Work Alone...
When preparing your proposal talk to:
• The Funding Agency
• Your mentor
• Other academics
• Your peers
• Your partner or friend
• Research Support Services
Research Support
• Elizabeth Cromwell / Sarah Holcroft – Life
Sciences
• Rachel Corke – Engineering
• Barry Turner - WMG
• Chris Veal: Physical/Mathematical Sciences
– CV: Computer Science/Systems Biology/Stats
– James Smith: Physics/Psychology/Maths
– Katherine Branch: Chemistry
Research Support
To help with all facets of preparing research grant
proposals
•Advice on Eligibility
•Advice/assistance on preparing proposals – lay out, content, wording,
writing, timing. Can’t help with the science
•Undertake project costings - FEC
•Help with electronic proposal submission systems
•Help with navigation through the University approvals process
•Advice on which funding agency to approach and how
Refereeing
• Referee selection
– someone who will give a fair and well-informed
assessment of you and the proposed project
– Not necessarily your mates
– Conflict of interest.
• Referee form and assessment criteria – read them
• Refereeing process
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Expert referees selected by Funding Agency
Receipt of referees’ comments
Response to comments (seek help)
Panels (EPSRC) or Committees (BBSRC)
Reviewers might be tired/overworked/bored. Make their life easy
Referees Criteria for CAF
• Quality of the science
– Novelty, timeliness
– Ambition, adventure, transformative aspects
– Appropriateness of methodology
• Impact
– Relevance /appropriateness of beneficiaries or collaborators
– Routes/resources identified for dissemination and exchange of knowledge
• Ability to deliver
– Track record of applicant
– Balance of skills of team including collaborators
• Research Independence
– Ability to lead original and independent research
• Resources and management
– Appropriate and justified
• Proposal Assessment – any other comments
Only the very best people and projects will be selected
The Interview (1)
• Usually ≤ 30 minutes – not long to make a
(good) memorable impression.
• Know your panel,
• Appear enthusiastic – you can even smile
• Engage with the panel – capture their interest
early
• You will be one of several candidates – try to
stand out from the crowd while at the same
time being yourself
The Interview (2)
• Usually a presentation ≤ 15 minutes
– Stick to time
– Focus on broad issues, as described in guidelines, eg
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Innovative aspects
Scientific challenges
Expected results and indicators of success
Impact if successful
Brief overview of you
– Avoid detailed science, jargon, acronyms – capture your
audience early
– Include pictures in overheads when possible
The Interview (3)
• Try to anticipate questions – scientific and
general. Prepare answers
• Have some slides in reserve
• Can be a friendly chat or a grilling.
Strongly recommend doing a mock interview before the real
one
And Finally……
• Inescapable that if you apply for a fellowship you
will need to sell/promote yourself. Many find this
difficult
• Never too early to start planning to boost your
CV/Track Record even though your eventual
destination is unclear.
• Find your host and work with her/him to complete
the proposal – well before the deadline
Allen’s axiom – when all else fails, read the instructions