Royal Society’s portfolio for Fellowship support Hans Hagen Senior International Grants Manager Imperial College 17 th July 2008

Role of the Royal Society:  The Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK and the Commonwealth dedicated to promoting excellence in science.  The Society plays an influential role in national and international science policy and supports developments in science, engineering and technology in a wide range of ways. Thursday, 27 August

3 Royal Society 2010 Aims  Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation  Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice  Invigorate science and mathematics education  Increase access to the best science internationally  Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery

Thursday, 27 August Volume of Royal Society funding  15 grant making schemes  10 UK Schemes  5 international Schemes  2300 awards in 07/08 of which nearly 600 were for long term individual support

Fellowship portfolio: UK Grants:  University Research Fellowships  Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships  Research Professorships  Wolfson Research Merit Awards  Leverhulme Senior Research Fellowships  Industry Fellowships International Grants:  Newton International Fellowships, replacing all previously existing International Fellowships Thursday, 27 August

University Research Fellowships  Deadline: around mid-October 2008  All science areas covered  PhD and up to 1-3 postdocs  EEA or Swiss citizen or connection to EEA (PhD or 2 year postdoc)  Funding for 5 years initially, renewal for 3 more years possible, in exceptional cases for a final 2 years – funds salary, FeC costs + moderate Research Expenses  Flexible, i.e. can be held part-time at times  Fellowships cannot be held at Research Council Institutes  2007:  499 applications  123 short-listed  32 fellowships awarded (6.4% success rate) Thursday, 27 August

7 University Research Fellowships  313 in post  applications  new awards  £500,000 over 5 years

Thursday, 27 August The Research Appointments Panels  Panel Ai – maths and physics Professor Robin Marshall FRS  Panel Aii – chemistry and engineering (Professor David Delpy FRS)  Panel Bi – molecular and cellular biology (Professor Jim Smith FRS)  Panel Bii – animal and plant systems (Biological Secretary)

Thursday, 27 August Panel split Applied Successful

Thursday, 27 August Hosts of award holders

Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships  Deadline January/February 2009 (not yet fixed)  All science areas covered  EEA or Swiss citizen or connection to EEA (PhD or 2 year postdoc)  Funding for 4 years, funds salary, FeC costs + moderate Research Expenses (£11k/year)  Flexible, i.e. can be held part-time at times and time can be claimed backed up to maximum of 6 years  Fellowships cannot be held at Research Council Institutes  Early careers (straight after PhD or one or two postdocs)  Extra funds for childcare at conferences Thursday, 27 August

Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships  Aimed at female scientists at an early career stage, to reduce excellent women researchers dropping out of scientific careers – scheme currently under review  Not a re-entry scheme  Until 2007: applicant needed to demonstrate a ‘current need for flexibility’ e.g.  Parental responsabilities  Responsibilities as carer  Serious health issues  2008: no requirement for ‘current need for flexibility’, but women were particularly invited to apply Thursday, 27 August

Aims to address one part of the ‘leaky pipeline’ Percentage of Female Academic Staff 2005/06 HESA Data Thursday, 27 August

Funding rates  2007  129 applications  47 short-listed  10 fellowships awarded (7.8%)  2008  239 applications  53 short-listed  12 fellowships awarded (5.0%) Thursday, 27 August

International Fellowship schemes:  Previous Fellowship schemes for North-America and Asia discontinued  Instead: Establishment of the Newton International Fellowship scheme  Royal Society as the implementing body, in partnership with RAeng and BA  Delivered on Society’s new e-GAP system  Scientific remit: All areas covered by the three academies  50 awards per year, 100 fellows in post Thursday, 27 August

Objectives:  To ensure the UK engages with the best post-doctoral researchers across all disciplines of natural and social sciences, engineering and the humanities from around the world.  To provide an opportunity for post-doctoral researchers at an early career stage from any country outside the UK to work at a UK research institutions.  To foster long-term relations between Newton Fellows and the UK through the establishment of an alumni programme for former research fellows of this Scheme.  Plus: Co-operation with RCUK Alumni Association  Alumni website  Newsletter Thursday, 27 August

Nature of the Newton International Fellowship:  Level of support:  £24,000 subsistence per year  £8,000 research costs per year  £2,000 relocation (one-off payment)  Alumni support: up to £6,000 per year for up to ten years  Aimed at early career post-doctoral researchers based outside the UK  Duration: Two year tenure plus ten year alumni support  Official launch event with DIUS: 4 th June 2008  First round: e-GAP2 available since 23 June 2008  Closing date: 4th August 2008 Thursday, 27 August

Newton International Fellowships - Website Thursday, 27 August

Selection procedures: Full application – eGAP2 Thursday, 27 August Eligibility check HumanitiesSoc. Sci.Engin. AEngin. BScience AScience B Final award committee: 6 chairs plus 3 FS

The new e-GAP2 online application system Thursday, 27 August

Many thanks! Hans Hagen Senior International Grants Manager The Royal Society Tel.: Thursday, 27 August