how to write a successful fellowship – the “dos and don’ts” · maccallum, alex brand, gill...
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How to write a successful fellowship – the “dos and don’ts”
Dr Megan Lenardon MRC New Investigator
Aberdeen Fungal Group [email protected]
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...