Research Fellowships

Dr John Burden

Research and Impact Services

What is a Fellowship?

• A research based training role • Personal award aimed at developing an academic career• Available at all stages of career

• PhD• New post-docs• Experienced post-docs• Special circumstances – Career breaks etc

• Limits on eligibility – 10 years postdoc cut off is normal• Extremely competitive – 10% success rate common• It is not a research grant

A fellowship is about more than the research you will do

It is about how this research allows you to make the transition from researcher to academic

A bigger picture than just research;

• Where will you be in 5 – 10 years time

• How will this Fellowship take you there?

It is about the Person, Place & Project (in that order)

What are funders looking for?

• Independence

• Academic leading research group in 5-10 years

• Commitment to academic career

• Outstanding research ideas

• Leadership potential

You need to show evidence of

Person - What is in a Track Record?

• Publications – quantity / quality / citations

• Independence – your ideas, not working for someone else• Funding – collaborations, small amounts, fellowships, prizes• Managing staff – postdoc, student, research assistant• Teaching – developing & delivering content

• Get yourself known• Talks, presentations, workshops, visits, networking, letter of

support

• Make a plan now!• address any gaps, training, colleagues

• Academic: papers, publications, conferences, books, workshops, methods, theory & application

• Societal: policy, public engagement, enhancing quality of life, health and creative output, environmental sustainability, social cohesion

• Economic: Economic competitiveness, wealth creation, commercialisation, R&D Investment

• What is the outcome of your research?

• Who will benefit from it?

• How will they get to know about it?

Person - Impact

Place

Why have you chosen Warwick?

Research Environment - Support necessary for project and developingresearch skills

Training Environment – What development opportunities, courses etc are available to support ECR development?

Dept. commitment Lab space, equipment, support staff, office space, finance, contract, future plans

Mentors Ability to support research and development, previous record, independence – not a free post-doc

• Internationally leading• Pushing the boundaries of research in your area• New direction

• Independent• It is yours – not supervisors• Based on experience and previous research record• Part of the “Big Picture” – where does it lead?• Provide research training• Successful outcome – realistic & deliverable

Project

What gets Funded?

Writing a successful proposal

• Funder Documentation – Read guidelines and rules and stick to them

• Match to funder mission & strategic priorities

• Well written, detailed & clear

• Allow sufficient time – Rushed proposals show

• Eligibility criteria vs readiness

• Use input from others – Academics, Fellows, Peers, RSS, non-specialists

• Excellent research, value for money, high impact, well presented

General Guidelines

• On-line or paper application form - many “pages” with specific word

limits, etc

• Case for Support • Background, Aims, Methodology• Costing – from Research Support Services or host institution• Justification of Resources• Track Record / CV• Management & Risk• Research Environment• Impact• Impact Plan• Supporting letters

What is in a proposal?

What’s in a proposal

• In addition you will also need:

• Referees/ Mentors – careful selection

• Institutional Support/ Departmental sign off

• Future developments

• Gantt chart, equipment quotes, letters of support etc• Training Programme

Training plans

Where do you want to be in 5/10 years time?

What will you need to be able to do that job?

Where are you now and what skills do you need to bridge the gap?

Research skills, Management Skills, Teaching Experience

Courses, Masters modules, University training & Development schemes

Adding value

PhD Post Doc Academic

Research Management

Collaborators and mentorsStrengthen your application with support from external collaborators & mentors, either as a mentor, part of an advisory committee or through letter of support.

• Experts in field• Relevant to proposed project• Outcomes & Impact• Outside Warwick/Other Departments• Letters of support

Plan ahead and build your network – conferences, invited speakers, direct contact.

It all takes time!

Proposal Development

Internal Peer Review

University Sign-Off Procedures

Submission

The more time you can spend developing and refining your proposal, the better it will be.

Allow time to complete formal submission processes such as internal peer review and university sign-off before submission

Minimum of 3 months – don’t leave it until the last minute

6-9 months before final decision, 1 year until start

Sources of Funding

Research Councils BBSRC, MRC, NERC, (ESRC), AHRC

Royal Society Personal Fellowships, very competitive (<10%).URF (3-8 Years Post Doc), Dorothy Hodgkin (flexible work)

Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship, very prestigious/competitive. Up to 5 years Post Doc.

European Union Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowships, ERC

Wellcome Trust Major funder of biomedical research, all aspects of biomedical science, clinical & non-clinical, range of awards for all career stages

British Academy Arts & humanities

Other Charities Many charities fund research – specific, problem solving, partial funding

In summary……• Start early;

• Build track record• Establish collaborations• Develop proposal with input from others

• Offer what the Funder wants;• Fit research to funder criteria• Understand the form & fill in correctly• Excellent research, value for money, high impact, well presented

• Remember the bigger picture• Career Development• Training award• Future Academic leader