MSCA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS APPLICATION & …

MSCA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS APPLICATION & EVALUATION CRITERIA

FFG Academy 2021

KEY DOCUMENTS TO WORK WITH

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The MSCA Work Programme: legally binding, describing all actions. Read the introduction and the section about the Postdoctoral Fellowships including the definitions for the Postdoctoral Fellowships towards the end of the document.

The Guide for Applicants (GfA): supporting document to the MSCA Work Programme, providing additional information and clarifications to understand the rules

The GfA will be accompanied by the following documents:o

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the proposal template for Part B, including the templates for the letters of commitmentinstructions how to fill in the proposal templateinformation about the MSCA evaluation processlist of scientific Key words

© FFG 2020 | Austrian Research Promotion Agency | www.ffg.at 2

THE APPLICATION IS COMPOSED OF…

Researchers’ table, Role of organization(s), Gender Equality Plan, Ethics explanations, Security questionnaire, Abstract…

1. Excellence

2. Impact

3. Implementation

4. CV

5. Letter of Commitment of Associated Partners (only for outgoing host of the Global Fellowship or for the additional placement hosts in the European Fellowships)

6. Description of the participating organization(s)

7. Ethics & Security : additional to Part A, if needed

B1: max. 10 pages for 1.-3.!!!NO cover or contents page, delete instructions and definitions!

B2: No overall page limit for 4.-7.


PART B – LAYOUT

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Strictly stick to the structure of the template and the layout requirements!

The page limit will be applied automatically –exceeding pages will be made invisible. Experts will be instructed to ignore hyperlinks.


YOUR CHALLENGES

… it is not only to describe a research project, but yourself, your career ambitions and a related training plan and to connect this to the host

… to fit everything into the limited space of 10 pages for the three main sections of the proposal


YOUR CV


CV

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Intrinsic to the evaluation, assessed throughout the 3 evaluation criteriaIncludes standard academic and research record Research career gaps and/or unconventional paths should be clearly explained – for fair assessment by the evaluatorsConsistency between Part A & Part B!


1 - EXCELLENCE


WHY FOLLOW THE TEMPLATE ?

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Structure and headings are based on evaluation criteria:Excellence, Impact & Implementation!

Therefore: each section of part B is important – each decimal point of the score counts!


EXCELLENCE – SUBCRITERION 1

Quality and pertinence of the project’s research and innovation objectives (and the extent to which they are ambitious, and go beyond the state of the art)

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Be very clear in the description of the objectives! Get to the point quickly -details can be explained later on in the proposal.

Briefly explain why your idea/research is important – in what way is it relevant to society? More in detail in the “Impact” section

Show that/how your idea/research is innovative and how it will contribute to advancements within the field



Soundness of the proposed methodology (including interdisciplinary approaches, consideration of the genderdimension and other diversityaspects if relevant for the research project, and the quality of open science practices)

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If it fits for your proposal, arrange the description of your planned research activities along work packages. Should be consistent with the “Implementation section”!

Interdisciplinary aspects (if relevant)

Gender and diversity dimension with regard to the research content (if relevant)



Soundness of the proposed methodology (including interdisciplinary approaches, consideration of the gender dimension and other diversity aspects if relevant for the research project, and the quality of open science practices)

• Open science practices in context of the methodology (new): o

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e.g. measures to ensure reproducibility of research outputs / research data managementdoes not refer to outreach actions that may be part of communication, dissemination and exploitation activities. These aspects should instead be described below under “Impact”.

Cross-check Part B template



Quality of the supervision, training and of the two-way transfer of knowledge between the researcher and the host

• Qualifications and experience of the supervisor(s):o

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level of experience on the research topic proposed, track record of work, main international collaborationslevel of experience in supervising researchers (PhD, Postdocs)participation in projects, publications, patents and any other relevant results


https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/bb02d56e-9b3c-11eb-b85c-01aa75ed71a1/language-en


Quality of the supervision, trainingand of the two-way transfer of knowledge between the researcher and the host

• Typical training could be:o

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training-through-research: individual personalized research projectadditional scientific skills: new techniques, instruments, research integrity, big data/open science, …transferable skills: proposal preparation, entrepreneurship, IPR management, exploitation of results, patent applications, supervising, gender issues, …



Quality of the supervision, trainingand of the two-way transfer of knowledge between the researcher and the host

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Inter-sectoral or interdisciplinary transfer of knowledge (e.g. through secondments or additional placement), if it makes sense for the project and/or your career developmentParticipation in the research and financial management of the project, task coordination and monitoringOrganisation of scientific/training/ dissemination events and of communication and outreach activities


CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN

A CDP must be established jointly by the supervisor(s) and the researcher. In addition to research objectives, this plan comprises the researcher's training and career needs, including training on transferable skills, teaching, planning for publications and participation in conferences and events aiming at opening science and research to citizens. The CDP should be established at the beginning of the project and revised when needed.



Quality of the supervision, training and of the two-way transfer of knowledge between the researcher and the host

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Outline the two way ToK between the researcher and the host institution(s):o

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Explain what new knowledge the researcher will gain during the fellowship at the hosting organisation(s) and how it will be acquiredOutline the previously acquired knowledge and skills that the researcher will transfer to the host organisation(s)

For GF: Explain which new knowledge and skills will be acquired in the TC and how they will be transferred back to the host institution in Europe during the return phase



Quality and appropriateness of the researcher’s professional experience, competences and skills

• Balance this information with your CV -information here should:o

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reflect and summarize the information provided in the CValso highlight/explain more in detail the most important/relevant achievements and competences gained so far

18© FFG 2020 | Austrian Research Promotion Agency | www.ffg.at

2 - IMPACT

IMPACT – 3 SUBCRITERIA

Credibility of the measures to enhance the career perspectives and employability of the researcher and contribution to his/her skills development

Suitability and quality of the measures to maximise expected outcomes and impacts, as set out in the dissemination and exploitation plan, including communication activities

The magnitude and importance of the project’s contribution to the expected scientific, societal and economic impacts

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IMPACT SUBCRITERION 1

Credibility of the measures to enhance the career perspectives and employability of the researcher and contribution to his/her skills development

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Reads as a continuation from section 1 “Quality and appropriateness of the researcher’s professional experience, competences and skills”

= you already highlighted your existing competences under “excellence”, and also what you will learn (research and training) so here focus is on what is you will have learned during the fellowhip that will help you for the time after the fellowship


Think about your fellowship: What impact will it have for your career?

Which new skills and competencies will you have developed, including

transferable skills?Why are these relevant for your career

later?


Suitability and quality of the measures to maximise expected outcomes and impacts, as set out in the dissemination and exploitation plan, including communication activities

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Mind the difference: Dissemination vs Communication and Project vs Results

Open Access of research outputs (most prominently: peer reviewed publications and research data)


INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCEPTS OF COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION & EXPLOITATION Helpful material: Presentation from a webinar organised by

the EC 9 June 2021 https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/docs/h2020-funding-guide/other/event210609.htm

Stephanie Weber,European IP Helpdesk c/o EURICE – European Research and Project Office GmbH

https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/docs/h2020-funding-guide/other/event210609.htm

DISSEMINATION IS NOT COMMUNICATION

DISSEMINATION

targeted at peers - scientific or „the wider research and innovation community“, industry & other commercial actors, professional organisations, policymakers− to communicate research results, transfer

them into other research settings, for commercial purposes or policy making

COMMUNICATIONtargeted at the general public to create awareness among the general public about the project and its results, implications for citizens and society −

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done in a way that can be understood by non-specialists for the researcher to understand better public concern and interest

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EXAMPLES

Dissemination measures

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papers at conferences

publications in journals

open dataCommunication measures

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press articles

researchers’ night

blogs & videos

Writing a Proposal for the MSCA Individual Fellowships 2626

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION ?

How will you disseminate &

exploit your results to the scientific

community?

How will you communicate your

project & results to the wider public?

Be specificTo whom, how & how often?

Check with your hostAre there some traditional formats, media which can

be of use for you? Is there practical support

from the institution?

OPEN ACCESS

What does it mean? Peer-reviewedscientific publications resulting from MSCA funding are deposited in open access repositories, i.e. free of charge online access for the user. No embargo anymore!

RESEARCH DATA

For projects generating/collecting data during the project a Data management plan is required in the first 6 months of the action deliverable Template

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The magnitude and importance of the project’s contribution to the expected scientific, societal and economic impacts In your words…

What is your project’s contribution to science,

society and/or economy?


3 - IMPLEMENTATION


IMPLEMENTATION SUBCRITERION 1

Quality and effectiveness of the work plan, assessment of risks and appropriateness of the effort assigned to work packages


WORK PLAN

Work Package:major subdivision of your project

Examples:•••

WP Trial PhaseWP Data collectionWP Dissemination & communication


WORK PLAN

Deliverable:is a distinct output of your project

Examples:•••

Publication on results of the first trialReport on collected dataData management plan (obligatory)


WORK PLAN

Milestone:a control point in your project that helps to chart progress.For instance completion of a key deliverable,a critical decision point for further development etc.

Examples: ••

First trial period completedRelevant data collected


WORK PLAN

Milestone vs. Deliverable: a good understanding helps you to•••

write a convincing work planmonitor your projectdo the reporting towards the EC

YDS




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Make sure everything is coherent & well connected: objectives - WPs - deliverables - milestones

don’t forget to integrate into work plan •

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dissemination & communication activitiestraining activities incl. soft skillssecondments (if you have any)




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Mention how often you will •••

meet your supervisorcross-check the work plan revise the career development plan etc.

Show that you have well-considered, realistic time planning

Assign the effort to each WP in a transparent way




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Administrative & research-related risks: •••

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What are they? How probable will they occur? How about your mitigation measures? What is your plan B?

Make sure to think this through for each WP




Examples:•

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“strains might not grow under experimental conditions…”“collected samples might not represent the required conditions..““failure of major equipment…”“supervisor leaves…”

followed by contingency plan


Reflection:Draft the risk management plan

for your project:risk / probability / contingency plan



Quality and capacity of the host institutions and participating organisations, including hosting arrangements

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try to be specific

mention the infrastructure that will ensure success of your project

mention relevant support structures (project management, European office, HR services, Welcome centre, endorsement of Charter & Code, …)

ask your host institution for support here


SUPPORT IN AUSTRIA

Supervisor & administrative support from the host institution

http://www.forschungsservice.at/index_en.html

FFG Proposal Check for Fellowships with an AT host:please send your full proposal (B1 and B2) as .doc or .pdf to

[email protected] or via file transferFor Call 2021: until 12 September 2021

Yasmin Dolak-Struss

Lil Reif

Therese Lindahl

© FFG 2020 | Austrian Research Promotion Agency | www.ffg.at

http://www.forschungsservice.at/index_en.html

mailto:[email protected]

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MSCA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS APPLICATION & …