Irish Research Council Enterprise Partnership Scheme Postdoctoral Fellowships 2015-16 Dr Andrea Valova Graduate Studies Office andrea.valova@nuim.ie

Agenda IRC Enterprise Partnership Scheme postdoctoral fellowships Tips for proposal preparation Application process and the SmartSimple Online System For Maynooth University mentors Q&A

IMPORTANT NOTICE Applicants need to monitor IRC’s website www.research.ie for updates, especially in the FAQ document It is the responsibility of each applicant to refer to and to comply with IRC’s Terms and Conditions and other published documents Applications submitted by ineligible applicants, outside of online application system, or after the application deadline will not be considered A question not answered in FAQ document? Email andrea.valova@nuim.ie

IRC EPS Postdoctoral Fellowships

Irish Research Council www.research.ie Created in 2012 following merger of IRCSET and IRCHSS All PG and PD schemes open to all disciplines 2 attempts only per scheme PD fellowship eligibility: < 5 yrs past PhD by 31st July 2015 meet all requirements for award of doctoral degree by 31st July 2015 Publication or a sample of a written research work Mobility requirement

IRC – Overview of PD schemes

Enterprise Partnership Scheme Aim: “to encourage links with Enterprise Partner to award co-funded two year Postdoctoral Fellowships to highly promising researchers ... By working closely with an Enterprise Partner, researchers benefit from an enhanced research experience as well as having the opportunity to learn key transferrable skills relevant to career/professional development.” awards co-funded by Enterprise Partners (contribution approx. €15,000 per year) Enterprise Partner: a business, a company, a registered charity, a social, cultural, not-for-profit, governmental or non-government organisation Enterprise Partner can be located abroad

IRC EPS PD Fellowships Key Dates Internal Deadline for Applicants: 4pm on 10th June 2015 IRC FAQ Deadline: 4pm on 10th June 2015 IRC Deadline for Applicants: 4pm on 17th June 2015 Deadline for Mentors (MU & EP) and Referees: 4 pm on 24th June 2015 It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the mentors and referees submit by the deadline Deadline for Institutional endorsement: 11th Dec 2014 Results expected in September 2015 Fellowships start date: 1st February 2016 (no flexibility)

“Housekeeping” and institutional endorsement Institutional endorsement subject to: Ethical statement in line with MU policy Statement re: ethical approval from Head of Department in place Sex/gender statement in line with IRC’s Guide Financial justification in line with rules Internal review in advance of submission – ALL applicants should participate Process for applicants: have complete draft in online system, email by 10th June andrea.valova@nuim.ie that application ready for review, include Head’s confirmation re: ethical approval

Tips for Proposal Preparation Good grantsmanship is a learned skill  Make the process easier:  Be positive about your project  Be prepared

Dos Read call documents Read call documents again… EVALUATION CRITERIA!! Start writing now Familiarize yourself with online application system Follow IRC’s FAQ updates and email updates from MU Check - all evaluation criteria addressed Check - all formal requirements (IRC & MU) complied with Get feedback Proofread

Writing for evaluators Put yourself in the mind of the reviewer: many applications to review in limited timeframe; “outer Board” not experts! Make it as easy as possible for evaluators: First sentence in each paragraph is the most important Avoid professional jargon, abbreviations etc. Provide diagrams, tables, pictures Include Gantt chart to illustrate your project plan Explain your achievements etc. - you can only get points for what you include in your application Be informed about the evaluation process

Gantt Chart Illustrates the start, key elements and finish dates of a project; can also show dependencies. Named after Henry Gantt (1861–1919) Keep it simple!

Who will evaluate your application? Two strands: AHSS and STEM 11 “Primary Areas” available to applicants to categorize proposed research; several sub-categories under each primary area: 2-stage process: at least two international remote reviewers, final evaluation by “outer” Board (non-experts)

What makes a strong proposal Ambitious – but realistic proposal Feasibility: project scope vs. time, skills, resources Fitting purpose/aims of funding scheme Funding body’s mission, scheme’s aims Evaluation criteria: applicant, project, host Clear presentation – why should the IRC fund YOU? Abstract = summary of FUNDING proposal Expert AND non-expert evaluators Specific, relevant information (keep on mind in sections such as Work experience)

Applying for IRC Fellowship Entire application process including references online 2 referees Mentors cannot act as referee for the same applicant Justification of research expenses required No capital equipment with the exception of computer in 1st year (or first 3 months if 1 year fellowship), maximum spent €1,000 and MUST be purchased through MU Computer Centre MU Procurement rules apply Budget will be checked as a part of internal review process before applicants submit to IRC

GOI PD Evaluation Criteria Track record/Research Potential of the Applicant 30% Training and Career Development Aspects and Impact of the Fellowship 25% Quality of the Research Project 25% Quality of the Host Organisation /Implementation of the Fellowship 20% Details in “Guide for Applicants” p. 46 Evaluation criteria vs. structure of the application form and references/statements

Research Ethics Statement Approval from an ethical review committee will need to be received by the Council within three months of the start date where ethical approval required. Read MU Research Ethics Policy –https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/research-development-office/research-ethics Consult with your mentor Obtain confirmation from the Head of Department whether ethical approval required (no form – email sufficient) Application for ethical approval to relevant MU Research Ethics Sub-Committee only if funded Institutional endorsement subject to correct ethical statement

Sex/Gender Dimension Consult with your mentor Follow Guide for Applicants Appendix II Consult with your mentor If your proposed research project has sex/gender dimension, you have to provide a relevant statement If you conclude that there is no sex/gender dimension, demonstrate in the relevant section that you followed the Guide (refer to individual phases on the “checklist”) IRC Gender Strategy & Action Plan 2013-2020 at http://research.ie/sites/default/files/irish_research_council_gender_action_plan_2013_-2020.pdf

Financial Justification • The total amount up to €5,000 per annum. • The exact amount of eligible direct research expenses to be allocated is subject to sufficient justification being made • Budget for as much as you can reasonably expect to need, within the specified limit. • Re-allocations are likely to be allowed up to 10% of average annual research allowance without IRC’s approval and over 10% only with IRC’s prior written approval. • Unspent fund will be returned to the IRC.

Abstract - Last section to be written - Summary of your FUNDING APPLICATION – not only of your research project Strong opening sentence What? How? Why this matters, why now? IMPACT Why should the IRC fund this proposal? IMPACT and why YOU, Maynooth and your Enterprise Partner

Evaluators’ consideration of your proposal: Feasibility Project scope Methodology Specialist knowledge / access to data Ethical implications Project feasibility Why mentor/ institution / enterprise partner? Financial justification

Evaluators’ consideration of your proposal: Meeting scheme’s purpose Project findings Methodology mastered? Involvement in teaching activities? Impact / Training and career development aspects New specialist knowledge/skills acquired? Presentations at conferences? Publications? Networks built thanks to mentor / institution / enterprise partner?

Dr. Gemma Irvine, IRC, December 2013

Dr. Gemma Irvine, IRC, December 2013

Academic excellence, Research achievements All information about your achievements must be provided in the application form. Academic transcripts are NOT uploaded into the online application system. Explain importance of achievements, awards etc. – do not assume that international evaluators will be familiar with institutional/Irish awards etc. Use relevant section for relevant information; avoid repetition of information. Only in exceptional cases repetition is unavoidable or can be beneficial – save it for these cases only!

Mobility requirement PD fellows should not held fellowship at their PhD awarding institution/where currently engaging in research “Some circumstances can be foreseen that would allow a researcher to remain in the same host institution or with the same research team but these will require complete justification.” “Applicants may make the case that interaction with the proposed enterprise partner can form an aspect of mobility” Research mobility section in online application system

Proposed research Instructions within the online application system provide guidance regarding content of individual fields Ambitious but feasible; innovative; refer to IRC’s mission and the scheme’s aim Role of enterprise partner Restrictions regarding uploading additional documents

Career Training and Development Plan plans for the acquisition of new specialist knowledge and skills, and generic knowledge and skills for example, gaining research skills, communication skills immediate and long-term goals for your career  reasons for choosing this Fellowship and how you feel this Fellowship programme will contribute to these goals. how the Fellowship will enable you to gain skills relevant to employment outside the traditional academic sector? how the Fellowship will enable you to acquire competencies that improve the prospects of reaching and/or reinforcing a position of professional maturity, diversity and independence

Practicalities Mentor to submit an MU internal online form to register your intent to submit application Make arrangements with your referees Personalized reference => needs to know you well! Willing to submit reference using online system Register in the online application as soon as it opens Obtain confirmation from Head of Department/Institute regarding ethical approval Have application ready on time for internal review: 10th June No changes can be made in an application after it is submitted Submit to IRC on time – do not leave it until last minute! Make sure your mentors and referees submit on time

OLS - SmartSimple Online Application System

Before you create application in SmartSimple Make arrangements with your mentors and referees if not confirmed yet Once mentor completes MU internal form to register your application, s/he will be registered in SmartSimple if needed Familiarize yourself with the Guide for Applicants and Guide to the online system before starting your application

Applying in SmartSimple SAVE your draft regularly Must save information entered into fields on one tab before moving to another tab – if not changes lost Can cut & paste but formatting will be lost Can upload a pdf with a chart etc. Important: double-check that your referees’ and enterprise email addresses are correct! NO CHANGES possible after you submit Mentors and referees will be automatically notified by the system Submit early – don’t leave it to the last minute

For MU Mentors

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Reminder - Key Dates Internal Deadline for Applicants: 4pm on 10th June 2015 IRC FAQ Deadline: 4pm on 10th June 2015 IRC Deadline for Applicants: 4pm on 17th June 2015 Deadline for Mentors (MU & EP) and Referees: 4 pm on 24th June 2015 It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the mentors and referees submit by the deadline Deadline for Institutional endorsement: 11th Dec 2014 Results expected in September 2015 Fellowships start date: 1st February 2016 (no flexibility)