10 December 2015 – Plenary Session COFUND & CERN: furthering career development opportunities in Big Science Seamus Hegarty, CERN Synergies to fuel Researchers’ Careers Luxembourg, 10 – 11 December 2015 organised by

CERN: European Interest Organization CERN Fellowship Programme over 50 years old Standard fellowship duration 2 years COFUND applied to the existing programme Award a 3rd year to the highest-ranked applicants 4 FP7 + 1 H2020 COFUND successes 185 researchers under FP7 60 researchers will benefit under the H2020 grant First 20 selected and arriving as of January A potted history

An additional layer of applicant evaluation at ranking time The 60:40 funding ratio  award 3 rd year of Fellowship Introduction of secondment possibility for up to 12 months Under CERN employment contract Under existing Special Paid Leave procedure External review when applying in 1 st Call H2020 Strengthening collaboration with other beneficiaries Encouraged us to develop further in follow-up 3 The COFUND impact – structural

Secondments 22 secondments under FP7 Positive impact on career Modest uptake understood due to LHC coming on stream and researchers wanting to stay at CERN Introduction of the Post-Career-Break Fellowship position Four female researchers COFUNDed Creative advertising 2015 Video on impact Posters for COFUND at CERN under FP7 and H The COFUND impact – new features

Find Your Way with COFUND Posters

€/CHF exchange rate + the country coefficient for Switzerland Flat rate in H2020 Gender balance: about 20% female Application of the Mobility Rule under H2020 Many specialist researchers come to CERN as Users from around the world but may be ineligible Remaining competitive as a European lab is vital for CERN The Mobility Rule is a potential barrier to maintaining excellence in our field (note to self: argue for waiver!) Selecting replacements when Fellows are recruited as staff members by CERN departments early in their Fellowship! 6 Challenges

Great support from Internal CERN services (HR, budget, legal) Science and Technology Facilities Council (UK) Swiss National Contact Point Directorate General for Education and Culture Research Executive Agency Our Project Officers 7 Support

CERN is very proud to be involved in COFUND (and in the MC / MSC Actions in general) – and hopes to continue! COFUND has allowed us to open up more to researchers from outside Europe as well as attracting researchers back to Europe Feedback from researchers via questionnaire at end of contract Very positive Where are they now? questionnaire covering 3 grants planned for 2016 Video: researchers who finished in 2012, 2015, started Conclusions