Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Funding for Postdoctoral Funding for Postdoctoral ResearchersResearchers

in the context of career developmentin the context of career development

Drs. Ana Terres and Fiona KillardOffice of the Vice-President for Research

(OVPR)

Researchers Development Program Lunch Time Career Development Seminars

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

PD Funding: How to start?PD Funding: How to start?• Open calls vs closed calls?• By area of research? i.e bio, eng, comp, hhs…• By funding body? SFI, HRB, IRCHSS• By kind of scheme? Fellowships, projects…• By source? Internal vs external vs european• By eligibility? 2,4, 5 years post PhD…• By purpose of the grant? Commercialisation,

training..• …etc

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

PhD Post Doc 1-3 years Post Doc 4-8 years Post Doc 8+ years

27*

*Very Conservative Estimate

30* 34* 35+

You have to be STRATEGIC when applying for funding!

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

PhD Post Doc 1-3 years Post Doc 4-8 years Post Doc 8+ yearsHRB Marie Curie Fellowship

HRB Standard Post Doc Fellowship

IRCSET Empower/IRCHSS Postdocs

IRCSET Inspire

WT Sir Henry PostDoc Fellowships

EPA PostDoc Fellowships

(*)

(*)

(*)

SFI PIYRA

SFI SIRG

ERC Starter Grant

WT Career development

Marie Curie Outgoing & IntraEU Fellowships(*)

WT Senior Research Fellowship

HFSP Long term Fellowship(*)

HFSP Career Development

Marie Curie Reintegration

(*)

(*)

EI commercialisation schemesFellowships: Postdoc applies and salary is covered

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

PhD Post Doc 1-3 years Post Doc 4-8 years Post Doc 8+ years

PI applies and PD salary is covered (PD may write grant)

HRB Health Research Award

RFP/Questor Projects/National Digital Res. Centre etc

PD may apply as co-applicant with PI but salary is not covered (PD may write grant)

Short Term Travel Fellowships (SFI/WT)

Conference Support (DCU/SFI)

Research Visitors Programs (SFI/DCU)

Access to Res. Facilities (Tyndall)

Strategic Funding: training, networking, collaborations

DCU Research FellowshipSalary for PD is partially covered for own research

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Health Science Engineering/ICTHSS

IRCHSS

HRB

WT IRCSETIE

Funding Bodies

RIA

DCRGA

FULBRIGHT

IRISH AID

Foras Na Gaeilge

FP7/Other EU

FP7/Other EU

FP7

FP7Other EU

SFI

TeagascEPA

SFI

Marine Institute

FULBRIGHT

IRCSET

IERIA

RIA

RIACharities:Cancer,

Cystic fib,RD info FULLBRIGHT

FULLBRIGHT

HFSP

HFSP

EMBO

NIH

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Postdocs: 1-3 years post PhD• HRB Marie Curie Fellowships• WT Sir Henry Postdoctoral Fellowships• EMBO Postdoctoral Felloships • EPA Postdoctoral Fellowships• IRCSET Empower• IRCSET Inspire • IRCHSS postdoctoral fellowships• HFSP Long term Fellowships• Marie Curie Intra-European and Outgoing

Fellowships• Apply for a postdoctoral job abroad: Euraxes

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

• Many require mobility abroad or from the lab where you did your PhD

• Average 2-3 years funding• Starting PD salary• Grant applied for by the PD researcher• Grant will look good in your CV• Essential time to boost your publication record

and nurture critical collaborations.

Postdocs: 1-3 years post PhD

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Postdocs: 4-7 years post PhD• Marie Curie Intra-European and Outgoing

Fellowships• HFSP Career Development Fellowships• Marie Curie Reintegration Grants• Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellowships• SFI President of Ireland Young Researcher Award• SFI Starter Investigator Research Grant• European Research Council Starter Grant• Enterprise Ireland commercialisation schemes

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

• Most of these grants are very hard to get and the standard is extremely high.

• Marie Curie grants are the most achievable option but require mobility.

• Project Grants that include Postdoctoral salaries are a good option. PD can have an important input into these with the PI – most funding bodies have project-type grants.

• Academic route?: Start applying for jobs NOW• Start thinking about European project funding

Postdocs: 4-7 years post PhD

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Start thinking about EU funding asap• Register as an expert evaluator for FP7

https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7/

• Network in Brussels: Get known- you can get money from Enterprise Ireland to go to networking events

http://www.dcu.ie/rss/fp7.shtml

• Join a COST Action- All disciplines

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Postdocs: 8+ years post PhD

•ERC Starter/Advance grants•WT Senior Research Fellowship•Marie Curie Outgoing, IntraEuropean and reintegration Fellowships. •EI commercialisation schemes•European funding: coordinator role?•US funding?

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

European Funding: Coordinating an action?

US Funding: NIH and SFI

Postdocs: 8+ years post PhD

Funding for multinational, collaborative research projects. These networks can be small (3 partners) or large (20+ partners).

FP7 Cooperation

Long shots:

NIH Foreign Grants

NIH/NSFApplication as

Co-PI or subcontractor

SFI US- Ireland Partnership:

•Nanotechnology •Diabetes •Sensors

•Cystic Fibrosis

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

• Fellowships are practically impossible to get if you are not an absolute genius

• Very few project grants will pay the salary of an experienced researcher if not extremely essential for the project.

• Time to get very creative in your approach to get funding: have to use your networks and collaborators.

• Think about your exit strategy and focus your efforts: academia, industry, administration, business, etc: Long term postdoc-ing is very difficult to sustain.

Postdocs: 8+ years post PhD

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Key lessons to be learned:• Finding your own funding for Postdoctoral salary is easier

during the first few years of postdoctoral career.

• Early focus on extending your collaborations and network is important: use available funding opportunities (Internal schemes, travel support, European opportunities, etc).

• Practice grant writing as soon as possible- work with your PI - good way to learn.

• Researchers have to take responsibility for the development of their careers: Start with the end in mind.

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Focus on target or leave my options open?

Post doctoral Research12345678…

Post doctoral Research

Exit strategy

Academic:

•Lecturer Sen. Lecturer Ass Pro Pro

Non Academic:•Law, ethics, patents•Research manager•Industry•Science policy•Science communication/editor/producer•University/Funding agency administration•Entepreneur•Business/financial•Etc.

Additional qualifications

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Academia Industry•High impact publications?

Research Admin/Management•Additional Business Qualifications•Management Experience•Organisational Skills•Mentoring experience•Invited talks•Organisation of conferences•etc

Entrepreneurship/Business•Additional Business Qualifications•Management Experience•Organisational Skills•Patents/know how/Entrepreneurship•Invited talks•Organisation of conferences•Network

•High impact publications/Books…•Patents

•Teaching experience•Mentoring experience

•Invited talks•Organisation of Conferences

•National/International recognition

•Technical Knowledge and ability

•Management Experience

•Depending on the industry-too many years of post doc could be detrimental- bear in mind.

Office of the Vice President for ResearchRDP- I

Contact OVPR for help.

FIONA BRENNAN: Enterprise Ireland

FIONA BRENNAN: European FundingIRCHSSIRCSETFulbrightHumanities Funding

ANA TERRES:All other funding