how to write a successful fellowship – the “dos and don’ts” · maccallum, alex brand, gill...

How to write a successful fellowship – the “dos and don’ts”

Dr Megan Lenardon MRC New Investigator

Aberdeen Fungal Group m.lenardon@addn.ac.uk

AFG

Time line of events

PhD

Post-doc Neil Gow Aberdeen

Post-doc Al Brown Aberdeen

Named researcher Neil Gow Aberdeen

Principal Investigator MRC New Investigator Award

Aberdeen

2005 2008 2009 2012

AFG

Do: be pro-active

PhD

Post-doc Neil Gow Aberdeen

Post-doc Al Brown Aberdeen

Named researcher Neil Gow Aberdeen

Principal Investigator MRC New Investigator Award

Aberdeen

2005 2008 2009 2012 2011

AFG

Do: build you CV

2005 0 Papers 2 Posters 1 Talk

2008 3 Papers 5 Posters 3 Talks 1 Invited talk 3 Grant applications 6 Travel grants 1 Reviewer for Journal 7 Training courses

2010 6 Papers 8 Posters 6 Talks 4 Invited talks 3 Grant applications 10 Travel grants 3 Reviewer for journals 9 Training courses 1 School committee 1 Poster prize 1 Talk prize

2011 8 Papers 10 Posters 6 Talks 4 Invited talks 3 Grant applications 10 Travel grants 4 Reviewer for journals 11 Training courses 1 School committee 1 Poster prize 1 Talk prize 1 Promotion

PhD Post-doc Post-doc Named researcher

2005 2008 2009 2012 2011 2006 2007 2010

Do: get relevant experience

• Write papers and submit them • Peer reviewing for journals

• Travel grants • Grant writing workshops • Grant applications

• Supervision (PhD, BSc (Hons), MSc/MRes) • Committees • Teaching (tutorials, practical class)

• Conferences and networking • Collaborations (with PI) • Invited talks

PhD Post-doc Post-doc Named researcher

2005 2008 2009 2012 2011 2006 2007 2010

Do: develop your ideas

• Idea generation • Information gathering • Preliminary data (with permission from your PI) • Draft proposal (Nov 2010)

PhD Post-doc Post-doc Named researcher

2005 2008 2009 2012 2011 2006 2007 2010

Do: identify the best host institute

• Networking • Departmental seminars • Homework! • Interview

PhD Post-doc Post-doc Named researcher

2005 2008 2009 2012 2011 2006 2007 2010

Don’t: rush things

Do: get properly organised Fellowship/Stage (PhD awarded June 2005)

Nov 10

Dec 10

Jan 11

Feb 11

Mar 11

Apr 11

May 11

Jun 11

Jul 11

Aug 11

Sep 11

Oct 11

Nov 11

Dec 11

Jan 12

Feb 12

Mar 12

Apr 12

May 12

Jun 12

Jul 12

Aug 12

Sep 12

Oct 12

MRC Career Development Award Closing Date (27 Jan 2011) Short listing (Jun 2011) Interviews (21-22 Jul 2011) Start (Aug 2011-Jan 2011)

Royal Society of Edinburgh Scottish Government Personal Research Fellowship Application deadline (29 Mar- based on 2010) Interviews (1 June) Decision (July) Start (1 Oct)

Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship Preliminary application (4 Apr 2011) Full application Y/N (end Apr 2011) Full application (1 July 2011) Interviews (Dec 2011) Start (within one year of award)

The Royal Society University Research Fellowship Applications (15 Sep -based on 2010)

Interviews (April) Results (May) Start (1 Oct)

ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant Proposals (Based on 2010) Interview (Winter- Brussels) Decision (Spring) Start

MRC New Investigator Research Grant Applications Considered (May/Jun) *must have permanent position (will apply if get a RS or RSE fellowship)

October 2010

Do: be flexible

February 2011

Fellowship/Stage (PhD awarded June 2005)

Nov 10

Dec 10

Jan 11

Feb 11

Mar 11

Apr 11

May 11

Jun 11

Jul 11

Aug 11

Sep 11

Oct 11

Nov 11

Dec 11

Jan 12

Feb 12

Mar 12

Apr 12

May 12

Jun 12

Jul 12

Aug 12

Sep 12

Oct 12

Royal Society of Edinburgh/CRF Biomedical Personal Research Fellowship

Application deadline (2 May 2011)) Interviews (June) Decision (July) Start (1 Oct)

Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship

Preliminary application (4 Apr 2011) Full application Y/N (end Apr 2011) Full application (1 July 2011) Interviews (Dec 2011) Start (within one year of award)

The Royal Society University Research Fellowship

Applications (15 Sep -based on 2010)

Interviews (April) Results (May) Start (1 Oct)

ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant

Proposals (Based on 2010) Interview (Winter- Brussels) Decision (Spring) Start

MRC New Investigator Research Grant

Applications Considered (May/Jun) *must have permanent position (will apply if get a RS or RSE fellowship)

Do: get your proposal peer reviewed

v1.0

Do: select peer reviewers from different backgrounds

v2.0

Do: be prepared for differing opinions

v3.0

Do: develop a thick skin

v4.0

Do: polish, polish, polish!

v5.0

Do: stay organised

April 2011

Fellowship/Stage (PhD awarded June 2005)

Apr 11

May 11

Jun 11

Jul 11

Aug 11

Sep 11

Oct 11

Nov 11

Dec 11

Jan 12

Feb 12

Mar 12

Apr 12

May 12

Jun 12

Jul 12

Aug 12

Sep 12

Oct 12

Royal Society of Edinburgh/CRF Biomedical Personal Research Fellowship Application deadline (2 May 2011)) Interviews (14 June)(know by 1 June) Decision (July) Start (1 Oct)

The Royal Society University Research Fellowship Applications (15 Sep -based on 2010) Interviews (April) Results (May) Start (1 Oct)

ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant Proposals (Based on 2010) Interview (Winter- Brussels) Decision (Spring) Start

MRC New Investigator Research Grant Applications (7 Sep 2011) Considered (15/16 Feb 2012))

Fellowship/Stage Jul 11

Aug 11

Sep 11

Oct 11

Nov 11

Dec 11

Jan 12

Feb 12

Mar 12

Apr 12

May 12

Jun 12

Jul 12

Aug 12

Sep 12

Oct 12

MRC New Investigator Research Grant Applications (7 Sep 2011) Considered (IIB: 15/16 Feb 2012) Start (1 Aug 2012)

The Royal Society University Research Fellowship

Applications (15 Sep 2011) Interviews (26 March-20 April 2012) Results (May 2012) Start (1 Oct 2012)

ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant Info session Edinburgh (16 Sep 2011) Proposals (9 Nov 2011) Interview (Winter- Brussels) Decision (Spring) Start (must be within 6 months of award)

July 2011

Do: seek advice and feedback

Do: realise that it is not all about the science

• Objectives • Summary • Technical summary • Academic beneficiaries • Communications plan • Impact summary • Costings • Case for support (8 pages) • Pathways to impact • Justification of resources • List of publications • Letters of support • Curriculum vitae

• Data management plan • Ethics

• Part B1 - Proposal summary • Scientific leadership potential • Scientific contribution to research field • Recognition and diffusion of research • Research career stage • Curriculum vitae • Extended synopsis of the project proposal (5 pages)

• Part B2 - Project Proposal (15 pages) • Background • Current state of the art • Objectives • Importance and potential impact • Research environment • Methodology • Work plan • Management and dissemination plans • Resources and justification

Do: be mindful that you still have a job to do!

PhD Post-doc Post-doc Named researcher

2005 2008 2009 2012 2011 2006 2007 2010

Don’t: give up!

Special thanks to: Neil Gow, Al Brown, Gordon Brown, Frank Odds, Carol Munro, Donna MacCallum, Alex Brand, Gill Auld, Kath Gibson, Ian Booth, Jonathan Pettitt, Sam Miller, Pete Sudbery, Paul Hoskisson, Daan van Aalten, Geoff Gadd, Nic Stanley-Wall, Tracy Palmer, Phil Cohen...