APEX Details to Consider/Lessons Learned

Oonagh CahalaneProgramme Manager

APEX Prrrrrrrr

• Postdoctoral programme based at APC Microbiome Ireland, in University College Cork.

• 20 two-year post-doctoral fellowships, to experienced researchers, seeking a career development fellowship in research of the gut microbiota and their role in human health and disease.

• Hosted in an APC academic host organisation (University College Cork, Teagasc Moorepark or Trinity College Dublin).

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• Promotion of the Programme and Calls process

• Evaluation and Selection process

• Training

• Communication, Dissemination and Public engagement

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• 2 Calls (2018, 2019)

• Recruit 10 Fellows from each Call

• Design a PR Strategy

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• Programme Launch, Publish Call as widely as possible at international level

• Examples of promotion channels: EURAXESS jobs website, Social Media (Twitter, LinkedIn most effective), Websites e.g. Dedicated Programme website; University HR website; Professional websites (cost) e.g. FindAPostDoc website; Net4mobility platform, Irish Universities association (IUA); European Platform of Women Scientists (EPWS); Professional networks

• Continuous promotion even after first Call

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Inform potential applicants on all aspects of the programme

Dedicated website • Application process details • Guideline documentation• Eligibility criteria• Application Templates• Potential Supervisors and research area• Helpdesk details

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Effectiveness of PR strategyMost applications arrived 24 hours before deadline time

• Number of applications?• Gender balance?• Has the Call been promoted enough to reach

interested candidates?• Did some potential candidates initial contact go

under the radar?

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• Early in the application stage, interested applicants had to submit an Expression of Interest to PM

• At an early stage in the Call• Better idea of how well the PR strategy was working • Monitor number based on incoming completed EOIs• Higher number of interest: 39% increase Call 2

• Ask from what source interested applicant heard about the Call.• Powerful information to be used in PR strategy for next Call

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• Application process,• Peer review process, • Interview stage, • Final funding decision, • Feedback to applicants.

Organise the process well

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• Big Challenge - recruiting evaluators• Balance between reviewers from academia and industry (20%) and a gender

balanced database (40% reviewers female)

Target Call 1 Call 2

Industry 20% 30% 26%

Female 40% 40% 37%

Remote reviews 100% 100% 100%

Outside Ireland 100% 100% 100%

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• Time consuming process• Create International Expert Reviewer Database early• Invite more than needed number of Evaluators

Continuous Improvement by reviewing the Evaluation and Selection process for Call 1

• Look for evaluator feedback and improve process where needed

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• High quality of applications for both Calls • Applicants from across the globe (14 different countries Call 1 and 18 for Call 2)

• Have enough candidates on a reserve list to avoid additional Calls forapplicants

Call 1 Male Female Call 2 Male Female

Number of EOI 80 130

Number of completed and eligible

applications

20 29

Number of fellows interviewed 15 6 9 20 8 12

Number of successful candidates 10 4 6 10 6 4

Number of candidates on the reserve list 2 5

• 10 fellowships offered Call 1• 10 fellowships offered Call 2• 16 projects hosted in UCC• 3 hosted in Teagasc, Moorepark, 1

TCD

APEX Frrrrrr

Fellows ‘Well Being’ is very importantBe there for them, support them especially in the early days. Host a ‘Welcome day’ for the fellows so they can get to know each other, learn from each other and be a support group for each other

APC TeamPeople…our most important asset

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Key objectives

Professional Development Plan

Budget

Expected Deliverables

Training

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Professional development needs differ depending on the Fellows’ previous experience, the requirements of the current research and their future career aspirations: Allow for flexibilityConsider all the above factors when identifying their training needsPDPs developed to suit specific individual training needs

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• Review PDPs regularly and give feedback as needed• Help Fellows find a good balance between skills needed for their current

research and also for their career aspirations

Communication, Dissemination and PublicEngagement – Brrr Prrrrrrr• Acknowledged publications

• Significant outreach activities• Fellows contribute towards four Outreach and Public Engagement

events/year• Provide fellows with the necessary skill set

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• Highlight in advance of the Fellows’ arrival, the cost of living especially if rents are high in location

• Provide information to incoming fellows on accommodation especially if in area where it is difficult to find accommodation

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• Continued long-term benefits • Great partnerships, lasting collaborations • Positive impact on society and quality of science research

Acknowledgements

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant

agreement No 754535