1. Research Support Services
Research Fellowships
Dr John Burden
Research Support Services

2. What is a Fellowship? A research based training role
Personal award aimed at developing an academic career
Available at all stages of career
PhD
New post-docs
Experienced post-docs
Special circumstances – Career breaks etc
Limits on eligibility – 10 years postdoc cut off is normal
Extremely competitive – 10% success rate common

3. It is not a research grant
What is a Fellowship?
It is not a research grant
It is about the Person, Place & Project (in that order)
A bigger picture than just research;
Where will you be in 5 – 10 years time
How will this Fellowship take you there?

4. What gets Funded?

5. What are funders looking for?
Evidence of:
Independence
Academic leading research group in 5-10 years
Commitment to academic career
Outstanding research ideas
Leadership potential
Person, Place, Project

6. Person - What is in a Track Record?
Publications – quantity / quality / citations
Independence – your ideas, not working for someone else
Funding – collaborations, small amounts, fellowships, prizes
Managing staff – postdoc, student, research assistant
Teaching – developing & delivering content
Get yourself known
Talks, presentations, workshops, visits, networking, letter of support
Make a plan now!
address any gaps, training, colleagues

7. Person - Impact What is the outcome of your research?
Who will benefit from it?
How will they get to know about it?
Academic: papers, publications, conferences, books, workshops, methods, theory & application
Societal: policy, public engagement, enhancing quality of life, health and creative output, environmental sustainability, social cohesion
Economic: Economic competitiveness, wealth creation, commercialisation, R&D Investment

8. Place Why have you chosen Warwick?
Research Environment - Support necessary for project and developing
research skills
Training Environment – What development opportunities, courses etc are available to support ECR development?
Dept. commitment Lab space, equipment, support staff, office space, finance, contract, future plans
Mentors Ability to support research and development, previous record, independence – not a free post-doc

9. Project Internationally leading Independent
Pushing the boundaries of research in your area
New direction
Independent
It is yours – not supervisors
Based on experience and previous research record
Part of the “Big Picture” – where does it lead?
Provide research training
Successful outcome – realistic & deliverable

10. Writing a successful proposal
General Guidelines
Funder Documentation – Read guidelines and rules and stick to them
Match to funder mission & strategic priorities
Well written, detailed & clear
Allow sufficient time – Rushed proposals show
Eligibility criteria vs readiness
Use input from others – Academics, Fellows, Peers, RSS, non-specialists
Excellent research, value for money, high impact, well presented

11. What is in a proposal?
On-line or paper application form - many “pages” with specific word limits, etc
Case for Support
Background, Aims, Methodology
Costing – from Research Support Services or host institution
Justification of Resources
Track Record / CV
Management & Risk
Research Environment
Impact
Impact Plan
Supporting letters

12. What’s in a proposal In addition you will also need:
Referees/ Mentors – careful selection
Institutional Support/ Departmental sign off
Future developments
Gantt chart, equipment quotes, letters of support etc
Training Programme

13. Training plans PhD Post Doc Academic Research Management
Where do you want to be in 5/10 years time?
What will you need to be able to do that job?
Where are you now and what skills do you need to bridge the gap?
Research skills, Management Skills, Teaching Experience
Courses, Masters modules, University training & Development schemes
Adding value

14. Collaborators and mentors
Strengthen your application with support from external collaborators & mentors, either as a mentor, part of an advisory committee or through letter of support.
Experts in field
Relevant to proposed project
Outcomes & Impact
Outside Warwick/Other Departments
Letters of support
Plan ahead and build your network – conferences, invited speakers, direct contact.

15. It all takes time! Proposal Development
The more time you can spend developing and refining your proposal, the better it will be.
Allow time to complete formal submission processes such as internal peer review and university sign-off before submission
Minimum of 3 months – don’t leave it until the last minute
6-9 months before final decision, 1 year until start
Internal Peer Review
University Sign-Off
Procedures
Submission

16. What is right for you?
Research Area – Who is funding it? What schemes are available?
Eligibility – experience pre/post PhD, nationality
Geographical requirements
Stay put or move on?
Relationship with host department
Other ways of funding your work?
Are you ready?

17. Sources of Funding Research Councils BBSRC, MRC, NERC, (ESRC), AHRC
Royal Society Personal Fellowships, very competitive (<10%).
URF (3-8 Years Post Doc), Dorothy Hodgkin (flexible work)
Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship, very prestigious/competitive. Up to 5 years Post Doc.
Wellcome Trust Major funder of biomedical research, all aspects of biomedical science, clinical & non-clinical, range of awards for all career stages
Other Charities Many charities fund research – specific, problem solving, partial
funding

18. European Funding Marie Curie-Sklodowska Fellowships Must move country
Success rates higher than many other fellowship schemes
Most successful have large input by host academic
Deadline Annually in August – Decision by Christmas
European Research Council (ERC)
Up to 7 years post-doc experience
Excellent science, Excellent researcher
5 years funding aimed at establishing research group

19. In summary…… Start early; Offer what the Funder wants;
Build track record
Establish collaborations
Develop proposal with input from others
Offer what the Funder wants;
Fit research to funder criteria
Understand the form & fill in correctly
Excellent research, value for money, high impact, well presented
Remember the bigger picture
Career Development
Training award
Future Academic leader