PhD Society : the value of your PhD Towards an academic career K.U.Leuven) Veerle Bruggeman Research Coordination Office December 1th, 2010

Research Coordination Office (DOC) (vice-rector research : prof. P. Marynen) I. Service : inform / encourage / support information on research funding lectures and workshops on research funding opportunities trainings on research proposal writing research database publication data helpdesk on funding opportunities support on project proposal writing for external research funding Postdoc day presentations sept. 2010:

Research Coordination Office II. Funding Special Research Fund: BOF –CREDO –SPERO Industrial Research Fund: IOF Onderzoeksraad (Research Council) IOF council III. Research Policy

What after my PhD ; Postdoc Important period in scientific career ; transition phase Valorisation of PhD results (if applicable) Development of research profile defining research field acquiring expertise international network Development of professional career acquiring other skills and competencies This mouse is running in circles He has a postdoc phenotype

Postdoctoral scientist TypeCriteriaDurationDeadlineProject BOF postdoctoral fellow short/long term Short : PhD K.U.Leuven max. 2 post-doc, all nationalities 1 year Basic research, all domains Parallel application at FWO Long : no PhD of K.U.Leuven, min 1 and max 6y post-doc or at least min. 3y not at K.U.Leuven (except 6 months temporarily) 2 yearsBasic research, all domains FWO postdoc researcher Max age of 36 y or if > 36 y max 3y postdoc All nationalities 3 yrs (1x renewable) Basic research, all domains FWO Senior Clinical Investigator Physician-specialist, pharmacist-specialist clinical biology with PhD and at least 80% appointment at university hospital 5 yrs, half time (1x renew.) Fundamental clinical research IWT postdoctoral research fellow Post-doc sciences or civil ir, bio ir, physician or veterinary with min 4y relevant research experience ; masterdiploma with min. distinction Member of European union 2 yrs (+ max 1 yr) Valorisation oriented 3 types: Spin-off, Research transfer to company, Valorisation within institute Project funding Postdoc assist. PhD// Financing on different types of research projects Marie Curie ind. fellowships Min. 1year postdoc or 4 years relevant research experience 1-3 yAugust 2011 Basic research, all domains

Ready to move on...work further on your skills and competences High visibility of your research (publications, books, symposia,…) Acquired skills & competences: –Teaching and mentoring students –Critically reviewing papers –Presentation skills –Teamwork –Project and budget management –Self-management: flexibility, coping with stress, planning and organizing, confidence and assertiveness,… Grant writing and fund raising: –Ideas, concepts –Build your own expertise (branching out from mentor) –Collaborations, connections From testimony Christa Maes, Postdoc day sept. 2010

(International) mobility We want you to go… –Get (more) independent –Become (more) excellent …but do come back –Fresh blood –Fresh insights in sciences –Complementary expertises –International network

Why (international) mobility? –to build your own reputation, get independent from supervisor –to be complementary to the work done at K.U.Leuven –to get new connections all over the world Where? –science should lead you: search a professor/research group with a good reputation (not 2nd class); visit the group/lab first How long? –reflection: “minimum 1 year, preferably 2 years” –academic career: ~6 months (it’s not about time, but about independence) Funding? –partial funding from here (be aware: some requires you to return) –good research groups have (some) money for good post-docs! Visum and admin requirements –start timely and check it carefully! International mobility: reflections from postdocs

Research visits abroad geDOCumenteerd online: EURAXESS database: ec.europa.eu/euraxess TypeDurationBudgetDeadlineRemarks FWO travel grantcongress lecturetravel expenses 3 months before not for FWO-IWT if inside EU short stayid. + €66/daymax 4 wks long stayid. + €1650/mthmin. 4 wks – 12 months BOF PDM or IOF fellow allowed to stay abroad (portable) submission for approval necessary – approval when in line and useful for research as granted Bilateral agreements research stay at university abroad, conditions depending on specific agreement with partner university EUMarie Curie fellowships and reintegration grants Fellowships foreign institutes various fellowships, mostly between 1-12 months (Fulbright, von Humbold, Newton, Hong Kong fellowship, BAEF,…)

What after my postdoc ? professorship

Never a guarantee.. Source: postdoc survey 2008, List your options, prepare backup plans!

Career K.U.Leuven PhD Postdoc Academic professorship (ZAP) Research staff (BAP) Regular ZAP BOF ZAP

Career K.U.Leuven PhD Postdoc Academic professorship (ZAP) Research staff (BAP) Research manager Research expert

Promoterships ? BMWW&THW ZAPPromoter or co-prom Promoter or co-prom. postdocsco-promoterpromoter (min 3y. Postdoc ; not prom. ‘eindverantw.’) Or co-promoter promoter : only in Fac. Theology & Psych. Educ. Sci. (with ZAP as co-prom.) co-prom: in all faculties except Fac. Law, Business & Econ. K.U.Leuven

Promoterships ? BOF-CREA - Postdocs (max 10y), ‘docent’ TT, affiliated researcher Hogescholen - Creative research, high risk - Max €/y., 1 or 2 years FWO-KAN - Postdocs, max. ‘hoofddocent’ - Equipment and working costs €/y. ERC y post PhD (Starters & consolidators) - Creative research, high risk, high potential - max. 2 MIO €/5 y. Projects

Academic professor (ZAP) Academic professorship (ZAP) Regular ZAP BOF ZAP jr. Assistant professor (Docent) Associate professor (Hoofddocent) Professor (Hoogleraar) Full professor (Gewoon Hoogleraar) ‘Tenure Track’ Regular ZAP BOF-ZAP sr.

Tenure Track, what ? Appointment as docent (assistant professor) (at least 50%) = tenure track Educational or research oriented Evaluation after 5 years according to –General criteria : applicable for everyone ; concerning research, education, service, internationalisation, … –Specific criteria : specified for each profile by deans, departments ; approved by ‘Groepsbestuur’. Indications of excellence –All TT (regular ZAP, BOFZAP) are evaluated after 5 years according to these criteria –If positive evaluation : automatically tenured as associate professor

BOFZAP (research professor) research professorship (but prepared to accept limited teaching assignments) 2 categories: junior BOFZAP and senior BOFZAP At least 80% appointment Open call Specific conditions junior BOFZAP- starting researchers with >3 and <7 years postdoc experience, extendable with max 1 year - research potential senior BOFZAP- advanced researchers with min 7 years postdoc experience - past performance & leadership Appointment: in one of the ranks for professor (ZAP), depending on the candidate's qualifications Junior BOFZAP : assistant professor TT Senior BOFZAP : starting from associate professor Next deadline: pre-application: 30th September 2010 Specific conditions extensive research proposal embedded in K.U.Leuven research group local K.U.Leuven if superior BOFZAP evaluation you receive a BOF start-up grant Contact: Christelle Maeyaert Available positions: 13 in 2011, no quota between junior/senior categories

Regular ZAP (‘Profiel vacatures’)

Regular ZAP : procedure Criteria : –as defined in the vacancy by the faculty or department ; research or more education oriented –tenure track possible with evaluation after 5 y. Required documents : –sollicitation letter –CV –Full publication list –Five most important publications

Regular ZAP : procedure Evaluation –Assessment by advisory committees at faculty level –Interviews and/or seminars for candidates on short-list –Assessments of advisory committees’ reports and applications’ files by dean and vice-rector Contactperson : Jos Vaesen, HR-ZAP

BOFZAP : procedure Criteria : –quality of research performance and research program –Academic quality (education, research, service) Required documents for pre-application: –CV –Publication list –Name of local KULeuven Required documents for final application : –CV, publication list, five most important publications, research proposal (5 p.) –16 international referees + for each 3 publications –Recommendation letter by local promoter

BOFZAP : procedure Preselection : –By executive body of the BOFZAP-adv. Comm. –Based on performance in the postdoc period comparable with international similar profiles in the field –‘binding advice’ Final evaluation –BOFZAP-committee based on external peer review ; quality of research performance of candidate ( jr. : research potential ; sr. Past performance, experience, leadership, intern. position) & quality of research proposal Oral presentation of the research program –Advice from faculty advisory committee & policy of departments/faculties ; Didactical & management qualities Expected integration of the candidate in dept./faculty Contact person : Christelle Maeyaert, DOC

Academic professor Evaluation & AdviceDecisionFinancing 0-5y6-10y>10y Regular ZAP “Bijzonder Groepsbestuur”, “Bijz. AR” BOF-ZAP BOFZAP advisory committee & Faculty advisory committee BOF Alloc. Dept./Fac. Faculty advisory committee (fac. Beoordelingscommissie) Faculty advisory committee 1. 2*. Allocation Dept./Fac. BOF Alloc. Dept./Fac. 2*. Extra Tenure Track mandates of Flemish Government

Some websites …

Career paths PhD Postdoc Academic professorship (ZAP) Research staff (BAP) Research manager (incl. IOF) Research expert

University Research Staff (BAP) Background: –Increase of external funding for research and creation of a new research environment –Increase of researchers with consecutive contracts with limited duration –No career management for these type of researchers in the past Creation of research management careers in “BAP” Own finality, but final responsibility remains with ZAP

Funding and Implementation Prerequisite for opening a position = funding by the research group –100 % funded by third or fourth flow of funds –Mutual provisions for liabilities, according to Belgian labor law Implemented in 2008 –Job families including responsibilities –Career paths : different levels within 2 job families –Remuneration package –HR policy : recruitment, selection, appointment & promotion procedures

Industrial research fellow (IOF) Research Manager (IOF funding !) with … specific tasks to support and valorise research and bring this to tech transfer level, to be a ‘bridger’ and networker towards industry to set up new collaborations and project applications (towards or with) companies Specific conditions good scientific background and valorisation expertise entrepreneurial and innovation minded project management experience (application and execution) Duration: permanent position Budget: 125k / year (pers. cost & bench fee) Next deadline: march 2011 Preparation /effort thorough preparation of scientific and valorisation plans proof of competences is a plus Contact: Bruno Hoste, DOCSuccess rate: 15-30% !! From march 2011 : Submission of project & profile by research consortium ; open vacancy

 Keep enjoying research  Add value to your academic degree by working on your other skills & competences ! Plan your career