Tim Conlon & Gemma IrvineNUIG 20th Feb 2013

Investing in People and Ideas

Two Councils become one

The mission of the Irish Research Council is to enable and sustain a vibrant and creative research community in Ireland

Council MembersProf Orla Feely (Chair) UCDProf John Brewer, University of AberdeenProfessor Thomas M Cooney, DITDr Ivan Coulter, Sigmoid Pharma LtdProf Caroline Fennell, UCCProf James Gleeson, ULProf Sheila Greene, TCDProf Anita R Maguire, UCCProf Rowena Pecchenino, NUI MaynoothProf Sean Ryder, NUI, GalwayProf Alan F Smeaton, DCUDr Eucharia Meehan (Director, IRC)

Executive Staff

Dr Eucharia Meehan, DirectorDr Gemma Irvine, Assistant Director Fiona Davis, Programme ManagerSorcha Carthy, European Projects Officer Dr Ruth-Blandina Quinn, European Projects Officer

Liz McFeely, Research Support

Margaret Egan, Research Support

Postdoctoral Fellowships

Postdoc

Government of Ireland1 year

20th March 2013

2 yearsEnterprise Partnership SchemeElevate Fellowship

GOI & EPS Postdoc Fellowships

All Disciplines & types of research

Value of Award (Salary €31,275k; PRSI & 20% pension if applicable)

Eligible direct research expenses <€5,000pa

Full-time Fellowships held at a recognised Irish HEI (does not include Northern Ireland)

Eligibility for GOI & EPS Fellowships

have doctoral degree completed within five year period before call deadlinehave authored or co-authored at least one published peer-reviewed research publication or equivalent IP output or samples of written work

Must nothold/have held a GOI or EPS Postdoctoral Fellowship beforehave been a Postdoc for <5yrsbe a permanent member of staff at a Higher Education Institution at home or abroad

Be an Experienced Researcher (ER) of any nationality (e.g. hold a PhD or have 4 years full-time equivalent research experience)Be a resident of an EU or Associated Country - who is currently living in Ireland but does not have to be an Irish citizen.Have been an ER for no more than 5 yearsHave spent no more than 40% of his/her time during their ER career period carrying out research outside Ireland

Elevate Eligibility

If international host is HEI: If international host is non-

HEI: 40% EU Commission funding 40% EU Commission funding

60% IRC funding 30% IRC funding

30% Host Partner funding3 year Postdoctoral Fellowship Total award, circa €87,000 per annum (x 3 = c€260k)

Includes all costs of researcher (e.g. salary €65k (incl PRSI, pension), mobility/travel €11k, research costs €10k, health insurance)

Cost to non-HEI, circa €26,000 per annum (x3 = c€78k) Quarterly or annual invoices paid to the Irish Research Council in

advance Postdoctoral Researcher is an employee of the Irish HEI for the

duration of the award

Elevate FINANCE

Preparing an Application Read the T&C and Guide for Applicants

Talk to Mentor/Enterprise Partner/Referees ASAP!!

Talk to Research Office

Ethical approval?

Gender Dimension Statement?

Data management, Protection & Security

Things to think about….Make a proper plan of action.Think about your proposed study!Description of project; methodology; research plan) is key – it’s worth 50 marks.Answer all questions (or write n/a where not applicable). Word counts are maximums not targets!Remember first impressions do count!!Grammar, sqell cheak, proof read.

Things to think about….Be focused!!Keep prose simple, declarative and precise in all sections – do not write in ‘essay mode’.Use jargon free language.The IRC Budget is extremely limited & we get thousands of applications: How can you make your application stand out? Think about potential outputs/dissemination

International reputational risk particularly for HEI and mentor if application is poorShould not apply just for the sake of it!

FAQs

The FAQs are available on the website.

Queries that are not addressed on the FAQs list may be sent to info@research.ie The question and answer will then be posted on the website.

The IRC will not enter into individual correspondence to ensure transparency and equity of access to information.

Application ProcessThe IRC provides full guidance on using the online system

APPLICANT:Individual applicant registers onlineSent login detailsFill in application form (English or Irish languages only)Provide contact details for other partiesReview your application & submit by 20th March 5pm (GMT)

Application ProcessThe IRC provides full guidance on using the online system

MENTOR/ENTERPRISE PARTNER/REFEREES:Mentor & Enterprise Partner need to pre-register on system (Referees don’t)All parties sent login email invitationFill in specific formReview & submit by 3rd April 5pm (GMT)

Application ProcessThe IRC provides full guidance on using the online system

HOST HEI ENDORSEMENT:Sent notice that application is ready to reviewCheck all relevant partsEndorse & submit by 17thth April 5pm (GMT)

No alterations can be made once application is submitted

Applicant sent confirmation email of endorsement

Evaluation ProcessThree-phase approach:

1. Eligibility Check and Adherence to Terms & Conditions;

2. Remote evaluation by International Assessment Board, scoring & ranking;

3. Assessment Board meeting, scoring & ranking;

[Project 50%; Applicant 30%; Environment 20%]

Focus on funding excellence, originality and potentialSeparate funding streams for GOI AHSS & GOI STEM & EPS & ELEVATENo subject quotas, no favoured topics nor disciplinesBoth new and repeat applications are funded

Evaluation Process

Lack of awareness of ethical considerations;Process – significant and feasible;Need for clear methodological approachesImportance of certain skills – pre and post PhD e.g. languages;Choice of mentor & HEI – very important and generally not treated as such;Referees should be more to the point (frank)

General Assessor Comments….(why applicants don’t get funded)

Apparent lack of input from Graduate Studies Office/Mentor/Department/ Research AdviceRead Terms and Conditions carefullyRead and re-read Evaluation Criteria whilst completing the application formRead your completed application before submitting – proof read at least and ask a second person to read it for youListen to any advice given!

General Assessor Comments….(why applicants don’t get funded)

Biological Sciences ABiological Sciences BChemistryComputer ScienceEarth/Environmental ScienceEngineeringMathematicsPhysicsStudy of the Human PastCultures and Cultural productionIndividuals, Institutions, markets, values, behaviour the mind and environment

Primary Areas - Panels

Marie Curie 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards

Years 1 & 2: based in international host (HEI or enterprise, social or cultural organisation, NGO)

Year 3: based in Irish HEI maintaining link to international host

2 Calls – 1st Call closing early 2013: 20 awards covering all disciplines (10 non-academic awards).

– 2nd Call closing early 2014: 25 awards covering all disciplines

(15 non-academic awards).

Elevate Fellowship

Eligible host organisations are research teams in HEIs or research locations that can demonstrate a sufficiently high international research reputation:• national research institutions• well-founded enterprise research facilities• social, cultural and non-government organisations (e.g. library,

archive, museum, institute with scientific, cultural, social or economic interest in the proposed project)

Capacity to provide professional guidance and mentoring to the individual researcher

Access to experimental facilities or data If non-HEI, a commitment to co-fund at 30% for the duration of

the award

Host Commitment

Value for Companies Benefits for Researchers

Access to exceptionally talented pre-assessed researchers & potential future employees

Mentoring from Enterprise Experts

Build research networks and collaborations with Irish Universities and Institutes of Technology

Enhanced Employability

Low level of bureaucracy – Streamlined process from application to award

Transferable skills

Maximise potential for innovation – People and Ideas

Exposure to non-academic research

environment

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