EPSRC FellowshipsDr. Anne-Louise Holloway

Research Capability

Imperial College London, 19th June 2009

EPSRC Fellowships

Overview of EPSRC fellowship schemes

Application Process

Where to start?

Values are commitment 2008-11

Cross-Council activities:Living with environmental change (£9M).Global Uncertainties: security for all in a changing world (£6M).Ageing: life-long health and wellbeing (£11M).

EPSRC Commitment

Fellowship schemes focus on different stages of an academic career:

Postdoctoral Fellowships for new researchers, recently completed a PhD

Career Acceleration Fellowships supports talented individuals at an early stage of their research career

Leadership Fellowships those with potential to develop into the research leaders of tomorrow

EPSRC Research Fellowships

Enable new researchers recently awarded their PhD to establish a research career

Available inMathematical Sciences (up to 8)Theoretical Physics (up to 5)Theoretical Computer Science (up to 5)Life Sciences Interface (up to 10)

Post Doctoral Fellowships

Post Doctoral Fellowship - eligibility

Up to 3 years postdoctoral experience at start date of fellowship

Full time research for 3 years

Primarily for salary

Funds available for:

Small equipment items (e.g. computers)

Travel (e.g. visits to collaborators and conferences)

Post Doctoral Fellowship - Contacts

Mathematical Sciences – Caterina Mora

Theoretical Physics – Katherine Rooke

Theoretical Computer Sciences – Claire Hinchliffe

LSI – Zoe Brown

Call released on 2nd June closing date for proposals is 26th August 2009

RAEng/EPSRC Research Fellowships

Up to 10 awards

Up to 3 years postdoctoral experience

Full time research for up to 5 years

Apply for salary, T&S, other costs (small equipment, lab consumables etc)

Apply through Je-S; guidance on RAEng site www.raeng.org.uk

EPSRC contacts: Carmine Ruggiero

Career Acceleration Fellowships (CAF)

Supports talented individuals at an early stage of their research career

Full time research for up to 5 years

Can be held part time

Can apply for research costs for whole duration

Staff, equipment etc

Outline Call will open mid-July

Closing date late September 2009

EPSRC Contact: Anne-Louise Holloway

Career Acceleration Fellowships - eligibility

PhD or equivalent

Must not hold a permanent academic post

Usually hold a research position

Between 3 and 10 years postdoctoral, industrial or equivalent experience

Career breaks taken into account

Applications welcome from across EPSRC remit

The numbers game – last time

Postdoctoral

LSI 60

Maths 80

Theoretical Physics 25

Theoretical Computer Science 25

RAEng 110

CAF 415 outlines; LF 249 outlines

119 full proposals invited, 69 LF and 40 LF

Awards will be made in July 2009

Approximate number of applications received:

Application Process

Application Process (Postdoctoral Fellowships)

Full proposal submitted

Closing date Autumn 2009

Postal peer review of full proposals

Applicant response to reviewers

Sift panel decides who will be interviewed (Feb 2010)

Interview panel approx March 2010

Awards made March–April 2010

Release fellowship call

(June)

SiftPanels

(February)

Deadline for full proposals

(September)

Postal peer review of full

proposals

Interview panels(March)

Awards made(April)

Applicant responds to Reviewers

Proposal documentation (Postdoctoral fellows)

Cover Letter – indicate area

Application form

Case for Support

Candidate’s track record, proposed research, Impact Plan

Other documents

Diagrammatic Workplan

Justification of Resources

List of Publications

CV

Host organisation statement

Personal Reviewer report

Apply online using Je-S

Application Process (CAF & LF)

Awards made July 2010

Start fellowships July 2010 – March 2011

Release fellowship call

(July)

OutlinePanels

(December)

Deadline for outline

proposals(September)

Invite full proposals

(December)

Postal peer review of full

proposals

Deadline for full proposals(February)

Interview panels(June)

Final Allocation

Panel

Awards made(~50)

Applicant responds to Reviewers

Outline applications (CAF & LF)As part of your Je-S application, attach

Outline Case for Support (max 3 sides A4)

CV (max 2 sides A4)

List of publications

Note – there is plenty to do in Je-S too so allow extra time, e.g. Outline cost Non-technical summary

Full applications (CAF & LF)

Applicants successful at the outline stage will be invited to submit a full proposal

Where to start?

First steps…

Check eligibility and remit

Ask EPSRC if necessary

Check Je-S access

Read supporting documentation carefully

Please check if the call document answers your question before getting in touch with us!

Make early contact with…

Head of Department

Especially where statement is neededResearch Office about costing

Also confirm internal procedures for submissionPersonal ReviewerLetters of Support (project partners)

A good Case for Support

Ask colleagues to review your proposal rather than just reading it

Use appropriate fellowship reviewer form

Reviewers are the technical experts

Must impress them

Don’t expect reviewers to read links – all relevant info should be included

Make the reviewer’s job as easy as possible

Help peer reviewers!Clear title & objectives

Make summary understandable

Make proposal as easy to read as possible!

Limit technical jargon where possible

Explain acronyms on first usage

Not just case for support

Other attachments need effort too

Applicant’s Response

Reviewers’ comments sent to applicants via Je-S

Applicants may provide response for panel (2 sides of A4)

Positive Referee Reports

still need to be read carefully

Unsupportive Referee Reports

need careful consideration before responding

address specifics – avoiding aggressive or dismissive responses

don’t waste the opportunity to clarify issues

Your fellowship interview..

Read invitation carefully

Time & Location – arrive early

Presentation format & content

Panel membership, if given

Practice presentation and interview

Predict likely questions- look at assessment criteria

Be aware of wider context of your research

Ask current/past fellows for advice

Thank you