Research funding opportunities for doctoral students and researchers holding a doctoral degree – a review Olga Niemiec 1

Ministry of Science and Higher Education / „Iuventus Plus” Projects (12-24 months) may be submitted that are led by young researchers, both Polish citizens and foreigners, who are not older than 35 at the date of application. The projects must emerge from the research published or submitted for publication in leading international journals (high impact factor). „Mobilność Plus” („Mobility Plus”) The programme aims at enabling young researchers (up to 35) and doctoral students, including foreigners, to participate in the research conducted in international research centres under guidance of outstanding internationally renown scientists. The programme provides funding for participant’s travel and stay together with his/her family. 2

Ministry of Science and Higher Education nauki/stypendia-dla-mlodych-naukowcow New rules for awarding scholarships for young researchers Based on submitted applications, each year the Minister awards research scholarships for outstanding young scientists, who are not older than 35 as of the date the application is submitted, and have an on-going appointment at a scientific unit. A research scholarship may be granted for a time period not longer than 36 months. Scholarship applications may be submitted by scientific councils of the scientific units employing the candidates for scholarships by 31 March each year. 3

National Science Centre nauki/konkursy/typy PRELUDIUM – a funding opportunity for research projects led by individuals about to embark on their scientific career, not holding a doctorate. SONATA - a funding opportunity for research projects aiming at setting up unique research tools, led by individuals about to start their career in research, holding a doctorate. Post-doctoral internships – a funding opportunity for researchers holding a doctorate, who intend to support their domestic internships. 4

Foundation for Polish Science 5

The Programme is directed to young researchers at the outset of their career, who can show a successful record in their field. Young scholars are eligible to apply for scholarships if they: are no older than 30 during the year when the application is filed, are employees or doctoral students at a higher education institution or other Polish institution whose statutory purposes include conducting scientific research, have scientific attainments, as documented by publications in recognised scientific journals. Application deadline: 31 October. „START” Programme 6

Developing professional skills of the employees from the research and development sector and doctoral students, including the skills in scientific communication, interdisciplinary cooperation and management The project is targeted at beneficiaries of the Foundation’s programmes with a place of residence in Poland: research workers employed at a scientific unit and doctoral students. „INTER” Programme GOAL: developing the skills of the Foundation’s beneficiaries in popularising science. Trainings and competition for presenting an interdisciplinary project. „SKILLS” Project 7

The aim of the Programme is to increase the attractiveness of the research work in Poland, to get young scholars interested in the research work, and to increase the number of projects yielding output that can be implemented in economic activity. The Programme is targeted at the youngest scientists:students of uniform Master’s studies,graduates (up to 3 years after completing Master’s studies) employed in research-teaching positions,doctoral students (participants of doctoral studies). The „Ventures” Programme does not prefer any particular subject area, and the highest importance is assigned to economic suitability of a given project. A project may last from 1 to 3 years. Financing includes: personal scholarship for the project director (1,500 PLN/month for students and graduates, 3,000 PLN/month for doctoral students); research grant up to 35,000 PLN/year. Application deadline: 31 October. „VENTURES” Programme 8

Grants for parents enabling them to return to research work Financing includes: a research grant (including the salary for the project director, research costs, apparatus, research materials, international exchange costs); scholarships for up to three researchers supervised by the project director (students or doctoral students) selected by competition. The scholarships are 1,000 PLN or 3,000 PLN, respectively. Total amount of financing for both parts: research and scholarships is 140,000 PLN per year. Application deadline: 31 October. „PARENT-BRIDGE” Programme 9

The main Programme’s objective is to encourage young Polish scholars abroad to return to Poland and to stimulate the development of their scientific careers by improving their working conditions and supporting their international collaborations. The Programme is directed to researchers returning from a longer research stay abroad, who: are in the early stage of their academic career and hold at least a doctorate, work as researchers abroad or have been staying abroad and intend to come to Poland within 6 months after the application deadline, or have returned to Poland no earlier than 12 months prior to the application deadline, hold Polish citizenship or permanent residence permit, are or will, as of the date of signing the subsidy contract with the Foundation, be employed at Polish organisations, the statutory objectives of which include conducting research. Application deadline: 15 October. „HOMING PLUS” Programme 10

7th Framework Programme

Initial Training Network (ITN) Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) Intra-European Fellowship (IEF) European Re-integration Grant (ERG) International Outgoing Fellowship (IOF) International Re-integration Grant (IRG) „PEOPLE” Specific Programme 12

Initial Training Networks (ITN - Marie Curie Initial Training Networks) The activities are targeted at scientists with less than 5 years of research experience as of the time of recruitment (since obtaining the Master’ degree). Early-stage researchers may conduct research, including that related to completion of their doctoral dissertation, for the period from 3 to 36 months, and researchers holding the doctorate from 3 to 24 months. The research may not be carried out in the country of origin nor in the country the researcher has resided in for longer than 12 months within last 3 years. Individual researchers may use the data base of the EC-financed projects, containing the offers placed by various organisations: opportunities or Having found a suitable offer, interested researchers contact the designated person, and subsequently send documents and information as required by a given partner. 13

Intra-European Fellowship (IEF - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship for Career Development) This is an individual research and training fellowship enabling experienced researchers to acquire new skills and competencies. The project is targeted at all researchers holding the doctorate or at least 4 years’ experience in doing research, residing in the EU member states or states associated with the 7th FP, who intend to take up job in another EU- Member State or associated with the 7th FP (including also the researcher’s country of origin). The project may not be carried out in the country the researcher has resided in for longer than 12 months within last 3 years. 17

Joint Research Centre (JCR) The European Commission is looking for researchers specialising in the following research areas: -Chemistry, Biology and Health Sciences - Physics -Structural Mechanics -Quantitative Policy Analysis -Energy Sciences - Communication/Information Technology. The JRC Institutes at sites in Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Germany offer researchers from the EU’s Member States very attractive working opportunities on permanent and temporary post basis. 19

Internships (traineeships) 1.In-service training for students preparing their Master’s degree thesis or doctoral dissertation. The training objective must be directly related to the topic of the thesis being prepared. 2.In-service training for individuals interested in gaining professional experience after obtaining a diploma from a higher education institution or a doctoral degree. 3.In-service training for individuals whose curriculum programme requires industrial placement. „Cat. 20” Fellowship The fellowships are offered to researchers interested in participation in the research conducted by the JRC institutes. Minimum duration of the fellowship - 6 months, maximum - 36 months. European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) 20

Polish–U.S. Fulbright Commission 21

Schoralships for research in the U.S. for Polish pre-doctoral research- teaching academics or doctoral students from higher education institutions in Poland. Scholarships are from 6 to 9 months. Application deadline : 28 June this year. A scholarship holder receives a J-1 visa sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, a health insurance policy compatible with the requirements of the J visa, and a monthly scholarship for living expenses. The amount of the scholarship depends on the place of residence in the U.S. and amounts from $1,600 to $ 2,000 monthly. The Programme’s objective is to enable the awardee to collect materials for prepared doctoral dissertation. The stay at an U.S. higher education institution provides opportunity to use publications that may be hardly available or not available in Poland, to consult directly experts in a given field, and also allows for a direct participation in the laboratory research. Fulbright Junior Advanced Research Program junior 22

Postdoctoral scholarships for research in the U.S. for Polish research- teaching academics, holding minimum a doctorate, with an on-going appointment at a higher education institution or a research institution in Poland. Scholarships are from 6 to 12 months. Application deadline : 28 June this year. A scholarship holder receives a J-1 visa sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, a health insurance policy compatible with the requirements of the J visa, and a monthly scholarship for living expenses. The amount of the scholarship depends on the place of residence in the U.S. and amounts from $3,000 to $3,500 monthly. Fulbright Senior Advanced Research Program 23

POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES BUREAU FOR ACADEMIC RECOGNITION AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE POLISH FEDERATION OF ENGINEERING ASSOCIATIONS – FSNT- NOT EUROPEAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION THE BRITISH COUNCIL JAPAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE THE ROYAL SOCIETY DAAD (THE GERMAN ACADEMIC EXCHANGE SERVICE) NATO (NATO SCIENCE PROGRAMME) HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAMME (USA) Other Organisations 24

Thank you for your attention. Contact : Tel.: (22) Secretariat IPC PAS, room 8 25