Achieving a Research Fellowship Breast Cancer Campaign Scientific Fellowship

Overview 1. My Scientific Fellowship 2.Pros and Cons 3.Responsibilities 4.Application Process

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION : UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER - BSc (Hons) Chemistry with French : YEAR IN FRANCE - Strasbourg and Marseilles

POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION : QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST - PhD in Molecular Oncology (Breast Cancer Research) : QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST - Certificate in Marketing, Advertising & PR (QUB 2003/4) - Certificate in Management Studies (QUB 2006/7)

CAREER TO DATE AT QUB : Six years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow 20 publications: 4 first authorships Co-applicant on 2 grants Co-supervised 3 PhD students (informally) (2005/6: Six months maternity leave) to 2012: Breast Cancer Campaign Scientific Fellowship (2008: Seven months maternity leave)

BCC Scientific Fellowship - Main Objectives: -Successfully obtained £420,000 funding (5 years) - Development Program from Postdoc to PI - Establish my own breast cancer research group - Official mentorship for five years

BCC Scientific Fellowship - Main Issue: - To avoid being ‘thrown in at the deep end’ as a PI - To gain experience as a PI before becoming a PI - To become a PI with necessary skills already in place - To have last author publications & 1 st author grants in the pipeline when commencing lectureship

BCC Scientific Fellowship - Personal Objectives: - Ensure Scientific Fellowships are recognised within QUB - Clarify the role of a Scientific fellow for future fellows - Ensure future fellows will be invited to PI meetings - Promote Scientific Fellowships to other postdocs

RESPONSIBILITIES/ NEW SKILLS 1. Project/ People Management - Managing 4 projects/ supervising 1 st PhD student - Planning to recruit 1 st Postdoc/ interview training - Managing grant budget/ administration 2. Development of Paper/ Grant writing skills - 4 papers/ Co-applicant on 4 grants - Lead applicant grants & last author papers in the pipeline 3. Manage Own Career Development (Leadership skills) - Attended Leadership Course for women at QUB (2009- one week) - Clinical trials degree level module at QUB (2010- online 4 months)

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SKILLS 4. Now Attend Several PI meetings - Gain further insight into the role of a PI - 1 st External Examinership (London 2010) 5. Responsibilities as a BCC Scientific Fellow - Conference organising committee - Promote charity locally and nationally - Fundraising (Wear It Pink Day/Marathon relays) 6. Further Teaching Experience - PG Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (QUB-2009/11)

BREAST CANCER CAMPAIGN SCIENTIFIC FELLOWSHIP Development of Own Research Group while remaining part of larger research group 1. BCC PhD Student: £98,000 for 3 years ( ) - 2 nd Year PhD Student 2. Masters Studentship (MPhil): 17,000 for 1 year ( ) - Commencing Summer Clinical Academic Research Fellow (6 mths in 2010) - Commencing PhD in August 2011

Advantages 1.Major step forward in terms of Career Progression 2. Mentored PI development program ** 2. Gaining further experience & developing more skills 3. More independence and responsibility 4. Proper insight into role of PI/ academia 5. Better equipped for future lectureship OR a career outside academia !!!!!!!

Disadvantages 1.BCC fellowship did not come with any staff 2. Hindered progress to an extent 3. Not a Postdoc/ not a PI (in limbo !!!!) 4. How you are perceived by other postdocs/ PIs 5. Few other scientific fellows in QUB 6. Fellowship did not come with any written confirmation of lectureship at the end- still have to deal with this !!!!!!!!!

Application Process 1.Identify Potential Scientific Fellowships 2. Write a five year research proposal 3. Identify a supportive mentor 4. Presentation and interview for fellowship

Tips & Hints 1.Aim to have at least 4-5 years postdoc experience with at least 3 first author publications & several others. 2. Have some evidence of grant income (co-applicant) 3. Identify a research area you can develop as your own 4. Plan project & write well in advance of submission 5. Identify a supportive mentor/ grant reviewers

Tips & Hints 6. Apply for fellowships that provides a postdoc/ tech so you can ‘hit the ground running’ 7. Have a commitment from University of a lectureship afterwards as part of the grant application 8. Develop your CV as a postdoc A PROJECT MANAGEMENT COURSE COULD SET YOU APART FROM THE REST !!!!!!

Tips & Hints 10. CHANCE FAVOURS THE PREPARED MIND !!! 9. REALLY prepare for the interview (mock interviews)

Future of Scientific Fellowships 1.Obtaining a Scientific Fellowship now appears to be the only way of getting a lectureship in QUB- (esp. if your postdocs have been in QUB). 2. BCC and certain funding bodies are forward thinking in terms of fellowships- not enough fellowships though!!! 3. Perhaps QUB postdoc societies need to RAISE AWARENESS to other funding bodies & charities of the MAJOR need for more of these types of fellowships.

Good Luck in Your Application for a Scientific Fellowship