1. EPSRC Fellowships First Grants
April 2015 – University of York
Dr Renée van de Locht
EPSRC Building Leadership Team

2. Funding routes at EPSRC
Standard Research
First Grant scheme
New academics
Fellowship scheme
Postdoctoral
Early Career
Established Career

3. First Grant Scheme – Key features
Funding capped at £125,000
calculated at 100% fEC; EPSRC contributes 80% fEC
Duration max. 2 years
No closing dates
Open for proposals in all of EPSRC’s remit
Only allowed to apply once!
First Grant proposals are only in competition with other First Grants

4. First Grant Scheme – Eligibility
Within 36 months of first academic lecturing appointment in a UK university or probation period of the new appointment
Submit within 10 years of PhD or equivalent prof. qualification
Hold a university post that exceeds the duration of the grant
You do NOT hold an EPSRC Fellowship
You are applying to EPSRC as a PI for the first time

5. First Grant Scheme How to apply? Assessment process:
Here you find links to:
EPSRC Funding Guide
Eligibility rules
Je-S portal ; Joint electronic submission
Documents needed for a First Grant Proposal
People to contact for advice on submission
Assessment process:
Expert peer review (academic community), if supportive:
Panel (approx. 4 times a year)

6. Fellowship framework: context
EPSRC fellowship framework launched in July 2011.
 merged existing schemes; faster, flexible and more streamlined process.
Supporting Building Leadership strategic goal
‘Nurturing the visionary leaders who set research agendas and inspirational team leaders who act as role models’
Part of EPSRC core strategic goals over Delivery Plan period (2011/12 – 2014/15) alongside:
Accelerating Impact
Balancing Capability

7. The EPSRC Fellowship framework: key features
Allows for variations of career paths across the EPS disciplines:
it’s all about the person specification – skill set
There are generally no deadlines –
Most themes have two fellowship rounds per year operated through an open call.
Exceptions: specific calls (EPSRC calls webpage (e.g. Manufacturing, Energy, Quantum, Healthcare)
Applications invited only in specific research areas that are linked to our strategic priorities.
More flexible on the amount of time a fellow dedicates to their fellowship (50-100% FTE), giving them the option of staying active within their department and/or part-time opportunity for care duties etc.
Suite of resource packages to facilitate linkage with the best, creativity, while allowing them to build a group  applicants can apply for a package that best suits them.

8. EPSRC Fellowships – career stages
EPSRC Fellowship is a single scheme that supports three career stages (postdoctoral, early and established).
EPSRC’s Capability and Challenge Themes have gone through an exercise of prioritising and then updating the areas and career stages in which fellowships will be offered. The Priority Area Refresh is an on-going process.

9. The key slide: www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/fellows/

10. Person Specification- a competency based approach
Attribute
Postdoctoral
Early Career
Established Career
Research excellence
Delivery of outstanding research and an indication of where the research contributes to delivering impact. Awareness of the international context of the research
Has a track record of outstanding research and in delivering impact. Shows a strong awareness of the international context of the research and starting to show evidence of recognition in the community on an international scale.
Has a track record of outstanding research and in delivering impact. Evidence of international standing and influence in the context of the research and shows evidence of recognition in the community on an international scale.
Setting the research agenda
Has a clear vision of the contribution the applicant can make to their research area. Evidence of independence of (research) ideas.
Evidence of showing leadership within the research community and evidence of pushing the boundaries of the research area.
Demonstration of leadership within the research community and evidence of pushing the boundaries of the research area.
Strategic vision
Shows an awareness of different research in other fields or across technology readiness levels, an aspiration to work across boundaries and/or to conduct high risk research and finding a network of independent contacts so that the applicant is getting positioned to do this.
Has some experience in identifying, exploring and developing research opportunities more broadly and across different interfaces. An awareness of how to position themselves to take up these opportunities and an ability to make decisions to deliver this vision.
An aptitude for identifying, exploring and developing research opportunities more broadly and across different interfaces. Can demonstrate where they have positioned themselves to take up these opportunities and has the ability to make decisions to deliver this vision.
Profile and influence
Not strongly applicable at this career stage.
Shows potential and aptitude to act as an ambassador and advocate for a research field/theme and for research in general. Advising and influencing into policy making.
Evidence of acting as an ambassador and advocate for a research field/theme and for research in general. Advising and influencing into policy making.
Inspirational Team leader
Can provide evidence of an aptitude to lead and inspire for example, through mentoring or self organisation of peers.
Has ability to lead and inspire their own research team. Ability to identify and maximise potential in others (i.e. get the best out of people).
Ability to lead and inspire. Ability to identify and maximise potential in others (i.e. get the best out of people).
Communication and engagement skills
Demonstrates excellent communications and interpersonal skills and aspires to develop these across a broad audience.
Demonstrates excellent communications and interpersonal skills and aspires to develop these further across a broad audience.
Possesses excellent communications and interpersonal skills.

11. Fellowship Priority Areas - http://www. epsrc. ac
updated 1 April 2015
See website for other themes

13. Funding Guide: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/howtoapply/fundingguide/

14. Eligibility
Applicants are expected to hold a PhD or have equivalent research experience.
There are no eligibility rules based on years of post-doctoral experience or whether they hold a permanent academic position, as this doesn’t allow for variations of career paths across the EPS disciplines.
A person specification will be used to describe the desired attributes for each career stage.
Applicants should evaluate their track record (with their host organisation) and assess which career stage they should apply against (if open to applications) and ensure they are able to demonstrate how they fulfil each of the expected attributes.

15. Application process
This stage can take a minimum of 4 months!

16. When to apply?

17. When to apply?
Challenge Themes: Proposals go to capability theme panels
Healthcare Technologies
Living with Environmental change
Digital Economy
Manufacturing the Future
Quantum Technology
Energy

18. EPSRC Fellowships - What can you apply for?
EPSRC particularly wants to encourage applicants to request resources which will allow them to:
Build international research collaborations;
Move across disciplines and stimulate innovative approaches to collaborative research between and across disciplines;
Link with the best, either in an academic or industrial settling, e.g. spending time (up to 12 months) in alternative research environments recognised as centres of excellence or by inviting visiting researchers.
Maximise their creative potential
Engage with the public/media

19. Resources
The type of resources available is determined by the career stage under which you are applying.
Resource Package
Postdoctoral
Early Career
Established Career
Duration
Up to 3 years
Up to 5 years
Salary
Up to 100% fte
Travel & Subsistence
Yes
Staff No
Visiting Researchers
Equipment
Small equipment items
Yes – in line with current EPSRC guidelines for equipment
Consumables
Public Communication Training

20. Assessment criteria
Full proposals will be sent out to expert peer review and will be assessed against:
Research quality
The candidate (including qualities and experience)
Importance
Research Environment
Impact
Resources and management
Fit to strategic priorities
At prioritisation panel main focus is on assessing the science.
At interview main focus is on assessing the individual.

21. Documentation
Proposal Cover Letter (up to 2 sides of A4) – for EPSRC to see only
Case for Support (up to a maximum 9 sides of A4)
Pathways to Impact (maximum 2 sides of A4
Applicant’s CV (maximum 2 sides of A4)
Host Organisation Statement (maximum 2 sides of A4)
Diagrammatic Work-plan (maximum 1 side of A4)
Justification of Resources (maximum 2 sides of A4)
List of Publications (no page limit)
Where applicable:
Letters of Support from any project partners (no page limit)

22. Expectations of the host organisation
Integral support to fellowship – from application stage; during award and beyond!
Universities take ownership for pre-selecting most able candidates, ensuring they are aligned to priority area and assisting with fit to person specification.
Accord fellows equivalent status to academic staff.
Expected support – infrastructure; adequate office and lab space; a mentor where appropriate.
Suitable career development procedures to support transitioning to next career stage.

23. Questions?