BBSRC Fellowships 18 October 2007 Dr Ian Lyne Head of Postgraduate Training and Research Career Development BBSRC University of Sheffield Fellowships for Researchers Day

* David Phillips Fellowship * Institute Career Path Fellowship BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship

Purpose: –To support outstanding bioscientists in the early stage of their research careers who wish to establish themselves as independent researchers Institute Career Path Fellowship –Same duration, terms and conditions, etc, but held at BBSRC sponsored institute in areas of strategic importance for institute skills base –Institute guarantees permanent position subject to satisfactory progress

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship Number and Duration –8-10 David Phillips Fellowships awarded each year –2 Institute Career Path Fellowships –5 Year duration, with 2 year further extension for exceptional fellows

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship Eligibility –Up to 6 years of active postdoctoral experience (but 2 year minimum too) –“Active” means that periods of maternity/paternity leave, or career breaks don’t count –No restrictions on nationality

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship Salary –No fixed maximum starting salary; it is determined in agreement with Research Organisation’s salary scales

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship Research Support Grant –No maximum limit, but typically will be around £600K over five years –Awarded under “full economic cost” principles –Family friendly

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship 2006/07 Fellowships Competition –David Phillips scheme: 82 Applications (46 male; 36 female); 7 DP fellowships awarded (4 male; 3 female) –ICPF: 7 applications (4 male; 3 female); 2 fellowships awarded (1 male; 1 female)

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship Competition Process –Applications considered by BBSRC’s Studentships and Fellowships Panel (SFP) –Call for applications in September; November deadline –Initial sift in December –References sought up on those that make it through the sift –Shortlisting in March –Interviews in April –Award taken up anytime before following January

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship Assessment Criteria 1) Candidate: –Research achievements to date; –Number and quality of publications; –Personal achievements eg. prizes, awards, honours, presentations, student supervision, collaborations etc.

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship Assessment Criteria 2) Proposed research programme –Relevance to BBSRC’s mission; –Scientific quality of the proposed research; –Choice of host institution; –Scientific independence.

BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship Post-Award Support and Monitoring –BBSRC Induction Seminar –Fellows’ workshops to be introduced this year –Mentor assigned from SFP –Mentor visits the fellow at their workplace within the first two years –Annual Reports discussed at SFP, with feedback given to fellow –Mid-term presentation given to SFP –Biennial BBSRC Fellows Conference

Challenges and Advantages of the Fellowship Route –It’s your research, you’re the boss –You need to recruit and manage the staff –Can be difficult to establish your independence alongside colleagues you have worked as a postdoc –From an employment perspective, you will normally be on a fixed-term contract

Things to watch for Not all Fellowships are the same! –What comes with the fellowship? Is it just salary, or a research support grant as well? –Will you be on a fixed-term contract? (eg. see RCUK Academic Fellowships – permanent post) –Is the fellowship portable to other institutions? –What is your ultimate career aim, and will you be able to build the other skills you will need (eg teaching skills for academia; industrial links for industry careers) –What sort of support does the funder offer to assist you in finding a permanent post?

Good luck in your future careers! Sheffield Fellowships Day