1. Workshop on Research Funding
Jan-Wolfhard Kellmann, Research Coordination
Part 1:
- Research Stays in Germany
- Research Stays in Europe
- Research Stays Abroad
- Financial Support for Attending Conferences
- Becoming a Principal Investigator of a Research Project
Part 2: - How to Write a Winning Proposal
- Some Proposal Writing Strategies
- Life Strategy for a Prospective Scientist
(Coop Carsten Thoms, Jena School for Microbial Communication)

2. Part 1: Schedule
1. German Research Foundation (DFG) - Research Fellowships - Research Grants and „Own Position“ - Emmy Noether Program
2. Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- Feodor Lynen Fellowships and Other
3. DAAD
- Funding of Conference Visits
4. European Union Framework Program - Marie Curie Fellowships - European Research Council (ERC)
5. The Max Planck Research Group Program

3. The German Research Foundation (DFG - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
Germany‘s no. 1
Research Funding Organization
Majority of Grants allocated to
German Universities
Excellence Initiative since 2006
Coordinated Programs
(SFBs, SPP, FOR, GK)
Individual Programs
(Research Fellowships,
Research Grants)

4. Rumours to Dispose of, and News
> DFG is fully financed by german tax payers, however, not only German but citizens regardless of their nationality can be funded
> The „Emmy Noether Program“ is funding female AND male scientists (same holds, e.g., for the EU Marie Curie program!)
> Scientists of Max Planck Institutes are applicable for DFG grants but have to meet extra constraints
> Meanwhile, much information from DFG is available in English, and a growing number of DFG personnel can converse in english (
> DFG still waits for a full electronic proposal submission system, but some are already installed (The „elan“ portal, e.g. for Research Fellowships)
> DFG provides no program for students to directly apply for a PhD student
grant or to continue an already running PhD thesis

5. Passive funding of DFG from a Postdocs‘ view
... a quite often scenario of our PhD students after completing their doctorate!
> My professor/director/PI got a DFG Research Grant including a Postdoc position which is offered to me (or I have applied for after announcement)
> My professor/director/PI, together with his/her colleagues, takes part in a
Sonderforschungsbereich (Collaborative Research Center),
Schwerpunktprogramm (Priority Programme) or Forschergruppe
(Research Unit) and offers a Postdoc position to me
(or I have applied for after announcement)
>>> cooperate and watch the academic job market!

6. DFG Coordinated Programs
SFB Sonderforschungsbereich Collaborative Research Centers
SPP Schwerpunktprogramm Priority Program
FOR Forschergruppe Research Units
GK Graduiertenkolleg Research Training Groups
>>> no grant programs for individuals, but potential instruments
to start a career in science and academia

7. DFG: 1.) Research Fellowships
> Purpose: „To enable researchers at an early stage of their scientific career to carry out a clearly defined research project at a place of their choice abroad or to acquaint themselves with new scientific research methods”
> Applicants: German and foreign scientists staying in Germany who have completed their doctorate
> Foreign scientists have to be resident in Germany for at least 3 years if the grant is needed for a research stay outside Germany („centre of vital interests - main residence“). „The applicant is expected to remain active in research in Germany following the Research Fellowship grant“
> Requirements: High scientific quality and originality of a research project at an international level
> Financial support: stipend, travel allowance, family allowance, Länderzulagen, reintegration support
> Duration: years
> No age limits, no „PhD-receiving date“ limits

8. + unemployed spouse 205 Euro + one child 154 Euro
Payments
30 years Euro
34 years Euro
38 years Euro
39 years and beyond 1518 Euro
+ unemployed spouse 205 Euro
+ one child Euro
+ two children Euro
+ three and x children 256 Euro
Länderzulage! (USA: total of 3146,- (married, no ch.),
total of 3388,- (married, 2 ch.)
(October 2007)

9. > You need: A written agreement from the researcher where you wish to conduct the research project and a reference from a scientist about your expertise and about the intended research
> You need: Copies of certificates (diploma, doctorate), list of publications, and your doctoral thesis
> No deadline for submission; reviewing process: about 6 months, proposal submission is possible after your dissertation was submitted to the faculty
> Grant proposals for your research stay can be submitted also to other funding agencies at the same time (e.g. Humboldt Foundation). You have to announce this in the DFG questionnaire for applicants, however, your proposal willl be duly reviewed
> Research Fellowship Grants for research stays in Germany are also provided to applicants from abroad and regardless of their citizenship, if they plan (and approve) to continue their scientific career in Germany. A meaningful invitation from a german research institution is absolutely needed

10. > Strictly follow the DFG Guidelines for Research Fellowships (1_04e)

11. DFG 2.) Research Grants and „Own Position“
> Normalverfahren/Sachbeihilfe Antrag
> For all researchers who have completed their academic training (holding a doctorate)
> Providing researchers the opportunity to independently carry out a research project in Germany at universities or other research institutions
> No deadline for submission; reviewing process: about 6 months, proposal submission possible after dissertation was submitted to the faculty
> Proposal for a research project for max. 3 years: funding of staff (e.g. technicians, PhD-students, Postdocs), equipment, consumables, publications, and traveling
> Subsequent renewals of the project proposals are possible
> If you hold a permanent position at a Max Planck Institute (or FhG, HGF, WGL) you have to cooperate with a German University which has to receive at least % of the total grant or is the principal investigator („Federführung“) of the project.

12. > No matter of citizenship of the applicant or the staff proposed for, but foreign applicants are asked for their personal career plan
> Proposals can be submitted in English, with few pages also in German
(Title - Thema; Summary - Zusammenfassung; Budget - Beantragte Mittel)
> Still non-electronic submission by snail mail plus CD ROM
> Strictly follow the „Proposal Preparation Instructions“ of the
DFG guidelines (1_02e), e.g. max 20 pages; Summary max charact.,
...)

13. Own Position
> Within a DFG Research Grant, funding of the applicants’ own position (becoming
the principal investigator - PI - of the project) is possible
> Payment is based on the BATIIa or TVÖD/TVL E-13 salary scale, full time
> The “Befristungsregeln” refer to the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (WissZeitVG), which now permits any third-party granted temporary position for scientists
> Special conditions for researchers who apply for their own position and want
to run their research project e.g. at a Max Planck Institute (or FhG, HGF, WGL):
- duty to cooperate with a German university, i.e. at least 50% of the requested grant has to be allocated to the university (or „Federführung“)
- if submission of the proposal is within 6 years (excluding maternity leave)
after obtaining the doctorate, you do not have to cooperate with an
university, however, your MPI department (your director!)
has to provide 45% of the requested grant

14. > Strictly follow the DFG Guidelines for Research Grants (1_02e)

15. The Good News
> Success rate for Research Grant proposals and Research
Fellowships: around 30%

16. DFG 3.) Emmy Noether Program
> Excellent young researchers from all disciplines with postdoctoral experience of at least two and up to four years („i.d.R.“) and substantial international research experience (PhD studentship abroad can also be accepted). It is the brain gain program of DFG
> To enable highly qualified young researchers to become eligible for a university career
> To recruit outstanding young postdocs working abroad back to Germany (brain gain)
> Funding of an Independent „Junior“ Research Group including the position of the applicant (PI) according to BAT Ia/Ib or TVöD/TVL15, personnel (postdocs, PhD students, technicians) and consumables
> Funding for a five year period. An interim appraisal will be carried out after three years; funding for sixth year possible in exceptional cases

18. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
By courtesy of Carsten Thoms, JSMC, Jena
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
The Foundation sponsors top-flight foreign scientists and scholars who come to Germany on the strength of research fellowships and research awards to spend extended periods of time working together with German colleagues; it cultivates the relationships ensuing from these visits.
Melanie Schmitz: 4c

19. Humboldt Foundation Financing
The budget in 2008 was approx Mio. EUR. Financing was distributed as follows:
The Humboldt Foundation’s budget in 2008 was approx mill. EUR, more than 98% of which was publicly financed by the Federation. Of this total funding, 54% comes from the Federal Foreign Office, 37% from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 7% from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The remaining 2% derives from third-party funding as well as the proceeds from proprietary capital.
AA: Federal Foreign Office
BMZ: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
BMBF: Federal Ministry of Education and Research

20. Humboldt Foundation Mission
exchange of academics as a part of foreign cultural policy
strengthening cutting-edge research through internationalisation
no quotas for countries or disciplines
sponsorship for foreign and German excellent academics to collaborate with colleagues world-wide
 Funding of individual scientists
 Building a worldwide network of excellent scientists with strong bonds to Germany
The Humboldt Foundation is active in various fields:
it arranges the exchange of academics as part of foreign cultural policy
it strengthens cutting-edge research through internationalisation
it makes it possible for individuals who provide an impetus for the research location, Germany, to spend time researching here
it promotes development by sponsoring cooperation with researchers from threshold and developing countries
it provides mobility counselling for researchers from abroad in the context of its European activities, even if they are not Humboldtians

21. OUTGOING Program
The Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships for Postdoctoral and Experienced Researchers
- Research stays abroad for German citizens
- worldwide, all subjects, no quotas
- needs a Humboldtanian as a host!
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation offers within the framework of the Feodor Lynen Programme highly qualified German scholars from all disciplines an opportunity to carry out long-term research projects at institutes outside Germany. The host must be a foreign scholar formerly sponsored by the Foundation (research fellow or research award winner).
The Humboldt Foundation expects the host to contribute to financing the research fellowship. Over the duration of the fellowship the host’s contribution should account for approximately a third of the total fellowship amount. However, host institutes in developing and threshold countries and in other selected countries are not required to make a financial contribution. If a host institute in another country experiences obvious difficulties in raising its contribution, the Humboldt Foundation may accommodate this particular case.

22. Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers
- doctorate completed < 4 years ago
months
- funding dependent on age, marital status, and country
Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships for Experienced Researchers
- doctorate completed < 12 years ago
months, may be divided up into three blocks
Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships for postdoctoral researchers are the instrument with which the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from Germany, who are just embarking on their academic careers and who completed their doctorates less than four years ago, to spend extended periods of research (6-24 months) in Germany. Scientists and scholars from all disciplines may apply for any target country abroad.
Furthermore, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from Germany, who completed their doctorates less than twelve years ago, to spend extended periods of research (6-18 months; may be divided up into a maximum of three blocks) abroad. Candidates are expected to have their own, clearly defined academic profile. This means they should usually be working at least at the level of Habilitand, Junior Professor or Junior Research Group Leader or be able to document independent research work over a number of years. Scientists and scholars from all disciplines may apply for any target country abroad.

23. Application Procedure
applications at any time directly to the Humboldt Foundation
assessment by independent expert reviewers
Decision made by Humboldt Foundation Selection Committees
duration of procedure: approx. 3 to 6 months
 The selection committee member closest to your field will be your advocate in the selection meeting
 Selection committee meetings in Feb, May/June, Oct
Application forms can be downloaded from the Internet. Applications may be submitted to the Humboldt Foundation at any time. The selection committee meets three times a year. The procedure takes a total of 3-6 months from submission to notification of the committee’s decision immediately after the committee meeting. The selection committee evaluates the applications submitted against the background of contemporary international competition on the basis of the documentation submitted and the independent reviews; there are no quotas for countries or disciplines.

24. INCOMING Programs for Postdoctoral Researchers
(scientists who completed their doctorate less than 4 years ago)
- Research Fellowships: 6 to 24 months; 2,250 EUR per month
for Experienced Researchers (scientists who completed their doctorate less than 12 years ago) with an own, clearly defined academic profile
- Research Fellowships: 6 to 18 months; 2,450 EUR per month
- Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award; 45,000 EUR, nomination

25. - researchers from developing countries
The Georg Forster Research Fellowships for Postdoctoral and Experienced Researchers
- researchers from developing countries
- research stays with relevance to development policies
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad, who hold doctorates, to carry out research projects of their own choice in Germany. Researchers of all nationalities and disciplines may apply for a Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers or a Humboldt Research Fellowship for experienced researchers. There are no quotas for individual countries and disciplines.
Furthermore, highly-qualified researchers from developing countries (excluding Turkey, India and the PR of China; see list of eligible countries) may apply for a Georg Forster Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers and a Georg Forster Fellowship für experienced researchers. The subject of the research proposal must be of relevance to development policy and particularly suited to the transfer of knowledge and methods to developing countries.

26. Sofja Kovalevskaja Award
for Junior Research Group Leaders (scientists who completed their doctorate less than 6 years ago)
Sofja Kovalevskaja Award
Mio EUR
- also for Germans who stayed abroad for at least 5 years (potentially including the time to receive PhD. The brain gain program of Humboldt Foundation)
Research Fellowships for experienced researchers are the instrument with which the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables highly-qualified scientists and scholars from abroad, who completed their doctorates less than twelve years ago, to spend extended periods of research (6-18 months; may be divided up into a maximum of three blocks) in Germany. Candidates are expected to have their own, clearly defined academic profile. This means they should usually be working at least at the level of Assistant Professor or Junior Research Group Leader or be able to document independent research work over a number of years.
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation awards Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Awards to internationally renowned scientists and scholars from abroad, who have received their doctoral degree within the past 12 years, in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments in research to date and their exceptional promise for the future. The award-winners are also invited to work on research projects of their own choice in cooperation with colleagues in Germany. The award amounts to 45,000 EUR. Nominations for Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Awards must be made by recognized scholars or scientists working at universities or research institutions in Germany. Direct applications are not accepted.

27. Humboldt: An association for a lifetime
maintaining continuous, life-long contact to all Humboldtians worldwide
actively sponsoring academic contacts amongst Humboldtians worldwide through events at home and abroad
“Once an Humboldtian, always an Humboldtian” – this was the hallmark of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation from the word go. It believes in sustainable sponsorship: through the alumni sponsorship programmes it becomes a partner in an association lasting an entire lifetime. And this is the way in which an active network of knowledge, embracing approx. 23,000 Humboldtians, has spread across the entire academic world – to more than 130 states. The alumni sponsorship measures are flexible and support Humboldtians’ individual paths in life and development. Furthermore, the Foundation encourages its alumni to devise their own initiatives and cooperation on a cross-discipline, cross-border basis.
Amongst other things, networking sponsorship caters for further research visits to Germany. This gives fellows a chance to revitalise relationships to specialist colleagues and their institutes or make contacts with new partners, continue joint projects already underway, or build up new collaboration.
Humboldtians may continue working together with their academic hosts and specialist colleagues in Germany even after they have returned to their academic homes. To this end, German academics pay short visits to the Humboldtians’ own institutes.
Institutional Academic Cooperation allows Humboldtians to apply for sponsorship in order to cooperate over a period of three years with a researcher working at a German institute and additional cooperation partners in other countries.

28. www.avh.de Contact Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Jean-Paul-Straße 12
53173 Bonn
Germany
Tel:

30. Financial Support for Attending Conferences
Formerly run by DFG, now administered solely at DAAD
Active attendance (poster presentation, talk, chairing session ...) at an international conference or symposium, must be closely related to your research
For a maximum of 8 days at the congress, you get a DAAD flatrate for travel costs, staying/living allowance, and registration fee allowance
Eligibility: Scientists as well as PhD students living in Germany and integrated into Germany‘s academia
Current scientific expertise (publications, ...)
For PhD students: Statement of your supervisor needed, certificates (diploma, ...)
Proposals to be submitted 4 months in advance of start of the congress; only one proposal possible per year
- under construction!!!!

32. European Union: The Framework Programs
... Research as an Added Value for Europe

33. 7th Framework Program: Marie Curie Actions
„The EU’s Marie Curie Actions help to fund all kinds of training and mobility
opportunities for researchers throughout their careers.“
„The proposed mobility is assessed during the evaluation as part of the
overall benefit for the European Research Area“
> Initial Training Networks („early stage researchers“, i.e. PhD students)
> Mobility („experienced researchers“, i.e. Postdocs!): IEF, IIF, IOF
>>> Fulfilling your Personal Career Development Plan

34. Marie Curie – who is eligible?
Citizens of the 27 European Union member states
Citizens of the „framework associated countries“
(at present: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein, FYR of Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, and Turkey)
Citizens of the rest of the world:
For Intra European Fellowships:
- If the citizen spent one year in a member state or associated country at academia beforehand of a submission deadline (or call)
For International Incoming Fellowship:
- no constraints

35. Types of Mobilities Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship (IEF) =
From a EU-member state to another EU member state (or associated country)
Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship (IIF) =
From a third country to a EU member state (or associated country),
including funding for reintegration of researchers from ICPC* countries
Marie Curie Outgoing International Fellowship (IOF) =
From a EU-member state (or associated country) to a third country,
return to Europe mandatory
* International Cooperation Partner Countries: low-income countries, e.g. Angola, China India, Belarus, Russia, Argentina, Egypt, …

36. 1. Intra European Fellowships (IEF)
Applicants: Experienced researchers of any nationality and staying in a EU
member state or associated country. Non-European citizens should stay 12 months beforehand of the submission deadline in a EU member state
or associated country
Mobility: Project must be carried out in a host organization (university, research institute) of a EU member state or associated country other than the EU member
state or associated country you are working and living at present. Within the last 3 years beforehand of the submission deadline you must not have
stayed in the country of your proposed host institution for more than 12 months
Duration: months
Funding: Full time position (or stipend), mobility allowances, career development allowances, Länderschlüssel

37. 2. International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)
Applicants: Experienced researchers of any nationality from outside the EU member states and associated countries
Mobility: Project must be carried out in a host organization (university, research institute) of a EU member state or associated country. Within the last 3 years beforehand of the submission deadline you must not have stayed in in the country of your proposed European host institution for more than 12 months
Duration: months, optionally plus another 12 months for a „return phase“ if
you are citizen of an „International Cooperation Partner Country (ICPC)“
Funding: Full time position or stipend, mobility allowances, career development allowances, Länderschlüssel

38. 3. International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)
Applicants: Experienced researchers, citizens of the EU member states and
associated countries
Mobility: Project must be carried out in a country outside the EU member states and
associated countries. Within the last 3 years beforehand of the submission deadline
you must not have stayed in the country of your proposed host institution
for more than 12 months
Duration: months: outgoing phase months plus a mandatory
reintegration phase of 12 months. You commit yourself to return to Europe ...
Funding: Full time position or stipend, mobility allowances, career development allowances, research related costs

39. Marie Curie Proposals, part B ...
B1 Scientific and technological quality
Scientific and technological quality, including any interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspects of the proposal
Research methodology
Originality and innovative nature of the project, and relationship to the 'state of the art' of research in the field
Host scientific expertise in the field
Quality of the group/supervisors
B2 Training
Clarity and quality of the research training objectives for the researcher
Relevance and quality of additional scientific training as well as of complementary skills offered
Host expertise in training experienced researchers in the field and capacity to provide mentoring/tutoring
B3 Researcher
Research experience
Research results including patents, publications, teaching etc., taking into account the level of experience
Independent thinking and leadership qualities
Match between the fellow's profile and project
Potential for reaching a position of professional maturity
Potential to acquire new knowledge
B4 Implementation
Quality of infrastructures/facilities and international collaborations of host
Practical arrangements for the implementation and management of the scientific project
Feasibility and credibility of the project, including work plan
Practical and administrative arrangements and support for the hosting of the fellow
B5 Impact
Potential of acquiring competencies during the fellowship to improve the prospects of reaching
and/or reinforcing a position of professional maturity
Contribution to career development or re-establishment where relevant
Contribution to European excellence and European competitiveness
Benefit of the mobility to the European Research Area

40. Marie Curie: Success Rates
Call number above eval. success
of proposals threshold *
Intra Europ. Fell (76 %) 504 (18 % / 23 %)
Internat. Outg. Fell waiting 16 % **
Internat. Inc. Fell waiting 13 % **
* 70/100 points
** roughly estimated

41. Find a Call, Upcoming Calls, EPSS
Next call for IEF, IIF and IOF fellowships will be in
March 2011
Submission deadline for proposals: prob. August 2011, 17:00 Brussels Time
All calls of the Framework 7 program are announced at
All proposals of the Framework 7 program are electronically submitted by the
„Electronic Proposal Submission System“ - EPSS

43. 7th Framework Program: European Research Council (ERC)
„Bringing Great Ideas to Life“
> Bottom up research projects
> Minimum of regulations
> Excellence of the researcher, the research project and the research institution
as the only evaluation criteria

44. General Features of ERC Grants
Principal Investigators and their research team are supported no trans-national partnerships nor consortia are required
All fields of research are eligible no thematic or policy-driven research priorities need to be covered
Proposal submission only electronically in response to calls for proposals no paper or other transmission of proposals is accepted
Scientific excellence is the sole evaluation criterion no political considerations affect evaluation and funding decisions
Attractive long-term funding grants are managed according to simple procedures that combine flexibility with accountability

45. Evaluation Principles
Final Score

46. 1. ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grants
Research proposal: pioneering frontier research in any field of science,
engineering and scholarship
Principal Investigator: candidates can be of any nationality and must have
obtained their PhD (or equivalent degree) more than two years but less than twelve
years prior to the opening date of the relevant call for proposals (justified
extensions of this period may be accepted).
Host organisation: legally recognized public or private research organisation
situated in an EU Member State or an Associated Country. The brain gain program
of the EU
Funding: normally up to € 1.5 M per grant, exceptionally up to 2.0 M Duration: up to 5 years
Calls for proposals: published annually in summer (normally late July each year)
with deadlines in autumn
Starters: Submission of proposal 2 to 7 years after
obtaining doctorate
Consolidators: Submission of proposal 7 to 12 years
after obtaining doctorate

47. 2. ERC Advanced Investigators Grants
The ERC Advanced Investigator Grant (ERC Advanced Grant) funding scheme
complements the ERC Starting Grant funding scheme by targeting researchers
who have already established themselves as independent research leaders in
their own right. ERC Advanced Grants allow exceptional established research
leaders in any field of science, engineering and scholarship to pursue
frontier research of their choice.
In other words: These grants are only intended for the Champions League of
researchers world-wide who plan to run a research project in an excellent research institution in Europe .....

48. ERC: Starting Grant Success Rates
Very First Starting Grant Call in 2007
Proposals received: 9167
Proposals funded: 299 (= 3.2 %)
Second Starting Grant Call in 2009
Proposals received: 2503
Proposals funded: 240 (= 9.5 %)
Third Starting Grant Call in 2010
Proposals received: 2873
Proposals funded: 427 (14,9%) Mio Euros

49. ERC and Germany •Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG): 24
•Universität Heidelberg: 6
•Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren (HGF): 6
•Universität Frankfurt am Main: 5
•Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München: 5
•Universität Tübingen: 4
•Universität Hamburg: 4
•Universität Bonn (inkl. Klinikum): 3
•Freie Universität Berlin: 2
•Humboldt-Universität Berlin: 2
•Technische Universität München: 2
•Universität Augsburg: 2
•Universität Konstanz: 2
•Leibniz-Gemeinschaft (WGL): 2
•+ weitere 20 Universitäten und
zwei Forschungseinrichtungen mit je 1 Grant
(all grants excluding 2. call for AdG)

50. ERC Starting Grants and Europe
StG First Call 2007
CNRS FR 16
MPIs DE 12
Cambridge U UK 10
Technion IL 7
Hebrew Univ. IL 6
CNR IT 6
CSIC ES 6
Vrije Univ. Amst. NL 5
Univ. of Oxford UK 5
Univ. Leuven BE 5
StG Second Call 2009
Ecole P. Lausanne CH 7
MPIs DE 7
Univ. of Oxford. UK 6
Univ. Leuven BE 6
CNRS FR 6
Hebrew Univ. IL 5
Univ. Gent BE 5
Cambridge Univ. UK 4

52. Leader of a Max Planck Research Group at a Max Planck Institute
Formerly: sNWG (selbstständige Nachwuchsgruppe)
Young, highly qualified scientists and researchers. The brain gain program of MPG
To qualify scientists for leading positions in the higher education and scientific research sectors through early independent work; freedom in the given research field
Personal budget to cover material and human resources
Funding for core equipment
Average salary group W2 of the federal salary law
5 year support term with a possible 2 x 2 years extension
Application follows an international job announcement
Tenure track options at MPIs …

53. Let‘s have a break?

54. Part 2: Schedule 1. How to Write a Winning Proposal
2. Some Proposal Writing Strategies
3. Life Strategy for a Prospective Scientist

55. How to Write a Winning Proposal
(By courtesy of Carsten Thoms, Jena School for Microbial Communication)
A proposal is NOT a project plan.
The intent of your proposal is to “sell” what is in the project plan.
Your proposal is a document prepared to convince of the value of your project.
Your proposal must not be based on emotions, it must be based on
facts, information and solid rationale linking the what to do with the how to do it, and why.

56. How to convince a donor to support your proposal?

57. How to convince a donor to support your proposal?
1. The anticipated outcome justfies the investment
2. Your proposal is reasonable
3. The suggested host institution is the right place to carry out your project
4. You are the right (and only?) person to carry out the project
5. You are a great investment
6. The suggested host/advisor is the perfect person to promote your
scientific career

58. 1. The anticipated outcome justifies the investment
Provide your reviewers with strong arguments to justify the investment by
- providing short information about the area of research and state-of-the-art
- providing facts and data from your own work as a basis for the project you
are applying for
Present your arguments in a way that your „related“ reviewer (i.e. the expert of your area of research) could be able to convince non-experts who also might evaluate your proposal (within a committee?), resulting in the final decision whether you get funded or not!

59. 2. Your proposal is reasonable
Show clearly that you know what you are talking about in your proposal:
If your project idea is based on something not feasible, or your reasoning has
significant errors, this will kill your application.
Support all of your statements with few, but well selected literature references. Be sure that you cite the very recent and important literature in your research area.
If your project is based on ideas you are not an expert in:
Get an expert opinion on it and include it into your proposal, even by citing the expert if needed or helpful.

60. 2. Your proposal is reasonable
If some of your conceptual ideas are risky:
Show clearly that you are aware of the risks and have considered them
(don’t hide them!).
Point out the potential for alternative ways to get to exciting results in
case the main path does not work out. Explain why you could enter the “terra incognita”!
Show that the results can still be useful, even if they differ from the
expectations.

61. 2. Your proposal is reasonable
Things can be accomplished within the timeframe of the fellowship/project:
A proposal is not a project plan … but you’ll be required to provide a
precise working plane and schedule!
Save text – show it graphically

64. X Show clearly that the project will result in publications (or patents)

65. 2. Your proposal is reasonable
Very important:
You have to believe in your project and your proposal!

66. 3. The suggested host institution is the right place to carry out your project
Why not somewhere else? Why don’t you stay at home?
- Equipment is available
- Organisms to be researched are available
- Field conditions or field sites are adequate
- Expertise is available
Your place of choice is better than anywhere else in the world!!!

67. 4. You are the right person to carry out the project
Adapt your CV to your proposal
Make sure that the following is visible in your CV:
- Methodological experience
- Successful previous research stays (you can easily adapt to new
environments)
- Successful completion of previous research projects (optimally proved by
publications!)
- Existing collaborations (you are a team worker and you know where to
get help if needed)

68. 4. You are the right person to carry out the project
Adapt your reference letters to your proposal (if possible)
If somebody else praises you, it’s worth 1000 times more as if you do it yourself!

69. 5. You are a great investment
Funding organizations mainly focus on two aspects:
1. To fund a successful research project with exciting and useful outcome:
- you provide interesting ideas with a certain kind of originality
- your project is methodologically sound
- your project reveals a good character of independence
- your project is quite embedded into related research networks
2. To support a promising researcher who is on the verge to become an internationally renowned scientist, bringing fame and fortune to the funding organization:
- you are able to accomplish things and gained substantial experience
- references: other people, too, see your potential and attest your
experiences (quality, not quantity of the references counts!)
- you are member of the relevant societies/organizations/associations
and attend national and international meetings and conferences

70. 6. The suggested host/advisor is the perfect person to promote your scientific career
His/her good reputation will increase your degree of popularity
His/her network will broaden your network
He/she might become your substantial collaborator in the future
>>> His/her good reputation strengthens your application

72. Some Proposal Writing Strategies
1. Make the referee happy!
Don’t be boring, but avoid emotions (facts only)
- Follow all guidelines precisely
- Structure your text, avoid long paragraphs and long sentences, and facilitate
quick finding of answers to questions that may come up.
Ensure that each paragraph contains one important message.
- Use structuring elements as much as possible (headlines, lists, highlighting of
important points)
- Use graphs to save text

73. Some Proposal Writing Strategies
2. Provide your referee with convincing arguments to support your project
- Try to imagine which of your project ideas could easily convince non‐experts
- Design your proposal in a way that it provides a list of arguments for the
referees (highlighting, “summary-boxes”, keywords or short explanations on
left or right margin)
- Don’t be too shy presenting your merits. Provide your referee with phrases
to praise you (but don’t exaggerate!)

74. Some Proposal Writing Strategies
3. Invest as much as possible efforts in optimizing the summary/abstract
„Es gibt keine zweite Chance für den ersten Eindruck!“
- The abstract is the very first impression of your proposal!
(exciting? boring? conclusive? not conclusive?)
- The abstract is may be the only thing the referee reads!
- Don‘t hesitate to use up-to-date terms („groundbreaking, sustainable,
interdisciplinary“), but do not exaggerate!

75. Some Proposal Writing Strategies
4. Get external advice
Once you are done with the first version of your proposal, check precisely for all points mentioned here and revise until you are completely satisfied.
Then try to get two kinds of advice:
- expert‘s advise
- non-expert‘s advise

76. Some Proposal Writing Strategies
Expert’s advise
- Ideas sound?
- Reasoning conclusive?
- Experiments feasible?
- Additional ideas/hints?
Non-Expert’s advise
- Is the project worth taxpayers (or
donators) money?
- Could the text be shortened or
streamlined? Which paragraphs
or chapters are redundant?

77. Some Proposal Writing Strategies
5. General remarks
- Be open to critical comments from others and don’t try to argue
You can’t argue with your referee during the evaluation process
- If you feel there is a weak point, work on it!
- Once you finalized a sound proposal, send it to as many funding organizations
as possible (carefully adapting it to their guidelines and to their scientific and/or
“political” scope)

79. Life Strategy for a Prospective Scientist
Problem:
- Waiting time for a fellowship awarding decision: several months
- Application deadlines don‘t fit your schedule: waiting time even longer!
- If your application gets declined, you‘ve waited months - and have nothing!
Solution?
Start with your application long before the end of your PhD studentship!
But:
„Not even my PhD project is settled. How am I supposed to develop a project idea for a postdoc project at this stage?!“
„Finishing my experiments and writing up my dissertation keeps me busy
enough! There is no time for anything else!“

80. Life Strategy for a Prospective Scientist
Two Steps for advise
Step 1: Finding a project idea
Be observant
- when doing your experiments
- when reading papers
Write down your ideas and do literature screens on your topic
- do you find contradiction or support to your ideas?
- is your idea really new?
- already compile the literature you found - the list can be included
into your proposal

81. Life Strategy for a Prospective Scientist
Step 2: Finding a host
- Check the collaborators of your PhD supervisor(s)
- Whenever you attend a conference: have a look at the other participants (can
become potential hosts!)
- Go to a conference attended by potential hosts and talk to her/him, because then:
… you will have an expert on your side to mutually develop your project
… you get immediate feedback, e.g. whether required facilities exist
… you may convince her/him to purchase extra equipment
… you can make sure that your potential host is really interested in your project
… however, there can be one big disadvantage:
If your idea is excellent, it may gets stolen ………………

82. Give your project idea time to evolve ...
Contact research funding advise offices,
the sooner, the better!
Good luck!
Dr. Jan-W. Kellmann, Research Coordination
MPI for Chemical Ecology, Jena