Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology
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Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology IRCSET EMPOWER: Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowships in Science, Engineering and Technology GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS 2011/2012 Contents 0. Key Dates ............................................................................................................ 3 1. Description of Scheme .......................................................................................... 3 1.1 Scheme Objective .......................................................................................... 3 1.2 Research Mobility .......................................................................................... 3 1.3 Enterprise Partnership Scheme ....................................................................... 4 1.4 Who can apply? ............................................................................................. 4 1.5 Value of the Fellowship .................................................................................. 5 1.6 How to apply ................................................................................................. 5 1.7 Number of Fellowships to be awarded ............................................................ 6 1.8 Queries? ........................................................................................................ 6 1.9 Guide for Applicants ....................................................................................... 6 2. Profile of a Competitive Applicant ......................................................................... 7 3. Eligibility Criteria .................................................................................................. 7 3.1 Eligible Applicants .......................................................................................... 7 3.2 Eligible Irish Research Bodies .......................................................................... 8 3.3 Applying with two host institutions or two Mentors ......................................... 9 4. How to apply ....................................................................................................... 9 4.1 Prior to Application ........................................................................................ 9 4.2 Online Application System .............................................................................. 9 4.3 Mentors ...................................................................................................... 10 4.4 Referees ...................................................................................................... 11 4.5 Research Officer Endorsement ...................................................................... 12 4.6 Application Workflow .................................................................................. 13 4.6. Applicant Form ........................................................................................... 14 4.7. Choosing a Primary and Sub-discipline ......................................................... 15 4.8. Guidelines for writing the PDF upload .......................................................... 15 4.9 Enterprise Partnership Scheme ..................................................................... 17 4.10 Submitting the Applicant Form ................................................................... 17 4.11 Helpdesk ................................................................................................... 17 5. What happens next? .......................................................................................... 18 5.1 Eligibility Checks .......................................................................................... 19 6. Assessment Procedures ...................................................................................... 19 6.1 Assessment Panels ....................................................................................... 19 6.2 Assessment Criteria ...................................................................................... 20 6.3 Good Practice and Conflicts of Interest .......................................................... 24 Appendix 1: IRCSET Postdoctoral Research Disciplines .............................................. 26 Appendix 2: Screenshots from Online Application System ......................................... 35 2 0. Key Dates Call Opens 26th October 2011 Call Closes for Applicants 7th December 2011 Ca ll Closes for Mentors and Referees 14 th December 2011 Deadline for Research Office Endorsement 20 th December 2011 Announcement of Results April 2012 Earliest Fellowship Start Date 2 1st July 2012 Latest Fell owship Start Date 2 31 st December 2012 1. Description of Scheme 1.1 Scheme Objective The objective of the IRCSET EMPOWER Scheme is to provide top-quality early-stage researchers with the opportunity to avail of a career development fellowship at an Irish Host Institution. The scheme is designed to encourage excellence in research by funding those at an early stage of their postdoctoral career to associate with established research teams who have achieved international recognition for their work. The duration of a fellowship is 2 years. The general subject areas that will be funded under the IRCSET EMPOWER Scheme are: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth/Environmental Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics. Interdisciplinary applications will also be supported. The applicant will identify a host Irish Research Body and Research Mentor within the Republic of Ireland. This mentor will provide advice and support to the fellow during their fellowship. The successful applicant will hold a Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship in Science, Engineering and Technology . 1.2 Research Mobility IRCSET strongly advocates a variety of experience within the postdoctoral phase of career development. To encourage this, applicants with no postdoctoral research experience must choose a host Irish Research Body and Research Mentor for their EMPOWER fellowship which is different than that at which they completed their PhD. Some exceptional circumstances can be foreseen but these will require complete scientific justification . A section has been provided on the application form for this purpose. For applicants with postdoctoral research experience; applicants must choose a host Irish Research Body and Research Mentor for their EMPOWER fellowship which is different than that where they are currently employed. Some exceptional circumstances can be foreseen but these will require complete scientific justification . A section has been provided on the application form for this purpose. 3 Note that proposing a fellowship with your current Research Mentor at a new Irish Research Body because this Mentor is relocating to this new Irish Research Body does not constitute research mobility under the terms of this scheme. Scientific justification must be provided. The Assessors chosen to evaluate applications to the EMPOWER scheme will evaluate the justification. If it is not convincing, they will deem the application as ineligible for funding. 1.3 Enterprise Partnership Scheme IRCSET also offers additional Postdoctoral Fellowships each year through the Enterprise Partnership Scheme , whereby awards are co-funded by IRCSET and an eligible Enterprise Partner. Enterprise Partnership Scheme award holders receive the same financial support as an EMPOWER Fellow but also gain valuable industry-related research experience. There are two methods of applying for an Enterprise Partnership Scheme Fellowship: 1. Where an Enterprise Partner has been identified and has agreed to co-fund a fellowship, applicants should only apply directly to the Enterprise Partnership Scheme. Details may be found here . 2. Where an Enterprise Partner has not been identified, EMPOWER applicants can indicate their interest in also being considered for an Enterprise Partnership Scheme fellowship by completing the appropriate section of the EMPOWER online application form. By completing this section of the form, the applicant authorises IRCSET to discuss their EMPOWER application with potential Enterprise Partners with a view to possible co-funding of a Fellowship.1 This process will not begin until after the results of the EMPOWER Call have been announced. 1.4 Who can apply? The eligibility criteria are (in brief): • Currently hold or about to receive a doctoral degree, awarded by any institution worldwide. 2,3 • Have not yet been employed in a postdoctoral research position for more than 36 months at the closing date of the call. Career breaks or periods in industry will not be included in the calculation of 36 months. • Have co-authored at least one peer-reviewed research publication or demonstrable equivalent intellectual property output. • Ensure that their research proposal subject falls into one of the subject areas described above, or is interdisciplinary within those areas. More specific details about these criteria can be found in Section 3 of this document. 1 Only the applicant’s profile (education, work experience, publications) and research abstract will be shared with the Enterprise Partners. The full text of the research proposal will not be shared. Enterprise Partners must sign a confidentiality agreement prior to IRCSET allowing them to view an application. 2 If successful in the competition and offered a fellowship, before they begin the fellowship , applicants must provide offical confirmation that they either hold a PhD, or have passed their viva