EPSRC Fellowships Dr. Anne-Louise Holloway Research Capability

1. EPSRC FellowshipsDr. Anne-Louise HollowayResearch Capability Imperial College London, 19th June 2009

2. EPSRC Fellowships • Overview of EPSRC fellowship schemes • Application Process • Where to start?

3. EPSRC Commitment 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). Values are commitment 2008-11

4. EPSRC Research Fellowships • 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

5. Post Doctoral Fellowships • Enable new researchers recently awarded their PhD to establish a research career • Available in • Mathematical Sciences (up to 8) • Theoretical Physics (up to 5) • Theoretical Computer Science (up to 5) • Life Sciences Interface (up to 10)

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. The numbers game – last time Approximate number of applications received: • 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

12. Application Process

13. 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

14. Proposal documentation (Postdoctoral fellows) Apply online using Je-S • 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

15. Application Process (CAF & LF) • Awards made July 2010 • Start fellowships July 2010 – March 2011

16. 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

17. Where to start?

18. 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!

19. Make early contact with… • Head of Department Especially where statement is needed • Research Office about costing Also confirm internal procedures for submission • Personal Reviewer • Letters of Support (project partners)

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

25. Thank you