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Grantsmanship The path to securing funding for you and your research Dr Miriam Ryan, Research Development Officer Introductions! Overview of Presentation Where to begin? Building expertise Finding the ‘correct-fit’ Funder Search for partners, collaboration (if required) Grantsmanship Writing/Preparing the proposal: proposal elements Submission and evaluation Where to begin? (1) The Idea The idea Based on your current research and publications Be hypothesis driven not technique driven Current research areas where you could contribute – not necessarily in your field e.g. part of interdisciplinary research effort, but be careful! Information Sources (I) EU Framework Programme 7 (FP7) http://ec.europa.eu/research/pa rticipants/portal/page/fp7_call s Irish EU FP7 Site http://www.fp7ireland.com Financial support for proposal writing (FP7) http://www.fp7ireland.com/ Page.aspx?SP=225 Where to begin? (2) Information Sources ‘Official’ Information Sources NUIM Research web pages http://research.nuim.ie/supportservices/ Click on ‘Research Support Services’ Internal NUIM Funding http://research.nuim.ie/supportservices/funding/internalfunding Support Activities Research Promotion Grant Identification Grant Preparation Research Support Office Grant Submission Award Processing Reporting Research Administration Information Sources (II) ‘Official’ Information Sources Irish Research Councils IRCSET www.ircset.ie IRCHSS www.irchss.ie (HERA Call open Feb 2012) Government Depts. http://www.gov.ie/tag/research/ E tenders: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/ http://europa.eu/policiesactivities/tenders- Information Sources (III) www.researchprofessional.com Campus access Register for personal account Off-campus access with personal account Building Expertise Publications Conferences/ Presentations Becoming an evaluator Early Career Researcher Internal Publication fund: 18th April 2012 http://research.nuim.ie/supportservices/funding/internalfunding/Publications Building Expertise Presenting your findings at EU Level Meetings Conferences http://cordis.europa.eu/home_en.html Click on ‘All events’ http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=co nferences&lg=en&filtermode=0&epage=2 COST (Co-operation in Science and Technology) http://www.cost.esf.org/ COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Co-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research, allowing the coordination of nationally funded research on a European level. COST: > 200 running Actions c.30,000 scientists 35 European member countries http://www.cost.esf.org/about_cost/cost_stories/EarlyStage-Researchers COST : Domains and Committees Nine key domains: Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences Food and Agriculture Forests, their Products and Services Materials, Physics and Nanosciences Chemistry and Molecular Sciences and Technologies Earth System Science and Environmental Management Information and Communication Technologies Transport and Urban Development Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health Building Expertise (2) *Become an Evaluator for FP7 https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7/index.cfm (register and email me to let me know that you have applied) *Courtesy of Prof Anne Huff Selecting the ‘Correct-Fit’ Funder Early Career Researcher EU FP7 (7th Framework Programme) FP7 projects Other EU Marie Curie or ERC National Funding SFI / EI Tenders IRCSET and IRCHSS Selecting programme Complete a scoping exercise Visit websites Sign up for funding alerts Don’t be afraid of rejection Funding Be clear about type of funding Project Basic Applied Mobility Early career researchers Understand it from the Funders’ point of view (research/study to solve a problem: strategic?) Is cooperation important e.g. industry? Get every publication available on background/policy documents/annual reports Talk to programme officials if permitted Early Career Researchers ERC Starter Grants Carlos Belmonte, member of the Neurosciences ERC panel. - Show that you are brilliant, original, and ambitious in your research goals. - Write the research plan concisely, with clear objectives and a well-defined experimental strategy. Marie Curie IOF: International Outgoing Fellowships • • • • Experienced researcher (more than four years) Member state or associated country Third Country Opportunity to gain new knowledge in high-level organisation No thematic priorities; any type of host institution (public or private) • Duration 1 – 2 years outgoing phase (at Third Country host); plus mandatory 1 year return phase (at EU Member host) • What is funded? – Fellowship covers full salary and mobility costs plus small amount for research and training/transfer of knowledge costs – DEADLINE August 2012 22 Partner Search Cordis website / Expression of interest web COST Actions EU R&D Associations Conferences/own contacts How to instigate Collaboration Use existing collaborators in the department, if they exist, as early as possible (mentoring) Present papers at conferences - get known in the area Register to become a Framework 7 Evaluator Benefits Additional Resources Advanced training Expansion of funding opportunities Joint publications Access to new funding opportunities Collaboration expectations Collaboration not always 50:50 Not everyone is suitable some have egos People/organisations seldom benefit equally Participants can have different goals when entering a partnership What makes it work Good personal relationships Timely communication between partners Try to understand the culture, behaviour, and attitudes of the other partners (especially if industrial) Grantsmanship Useful sources of information THE ART OF GRANTSMANSHIP by Jacob KRAICER, University of Toronto http://www.hfsp.org/how/ArtOfGrants .htm How To Wow A Study Section: A Grantsmanship Lesson By Karen Hopkin The Scientist 12[5]:11, Mar. 02, 1998 Proposal Elements Title (mini-abstract - Acronym) Project Overview: Abstract (do it last!) Background info. (review of relevant literature) Project detail Objectives Methods Project Management Resources (available/ needed) Impact/publications/dissemination Budget (cost-effectiveness) Features Common to all proposals Proposal must be well written *and* in keeping with funders objectives ‘Market’ your idea Use Diagrams/Tables Budget realistically Publications or results to date Evaluation criteria/marks available Features Common to all proposals 1. Proposal must be well written *and* in keeping with funders objectives 2. ‘Market’ your idea 4. Budget realistically 3. Use Diagrams/Tables 6. Evaluation criteria/marks available 5. Publications or results to date Budget importance Funders often look at the budget first. "I look at the budget. Over the years I've learned that narrative can be enriching, but the numbers are stark and straightforward. I want to see that the money is doing the job described in the proposal." Joel Orosz W.K. Kellogg Foundation The budget = a financial picture of the project. A budget narrative is useful in defining the costs included on a project budget. The Budget (cost effectiveness) Project your expenses as accurately as possible. Don’t inflate costs as this can easily be seen in the evaluation. What will be required, and decide what needs to be allocated under the following headings: Personnel Costs (Include PRSI + pension as separate costs). Identify personnel (e.g. Permanent staff member, contract staff, post-grad (incl. stipend, fees etc.) Post-Doc. Indicate % time spent on project. Project Costs: Make sure the costs are realistic Overheads: Funding Body’s Overhead Policy Adequate justification of unusual costs Proposal Evaluation Criteria (1) EU projects 1.Relevance Meets objectives of work programme? 2. Potential Impact Suitably ambitious Innovation/Exploitation Clear objectives Progress –State-of-Art Collectively = high quality 3. S&T Excellence 4. Quality of Consortium Proposal Evaluation Criteria (2) EU Projects 5. Quality of Management 6. Mobilisation of resources 7. Other issues Project Mgt = high quality Plan for mgt of knowledge Resources integrated to form coherent project? Financial Plan adequate? Gender Ethical Societal implication Review other successful applications The Research webpages Examples of previous successful grant applications in various programmes. EXAMPLE, Please return to me before end of seminar! Well written Proposals Guidelines and paperwork adhered to Step-by-step: Progression of ideas. Project management. Ask a successfully funded researcher (need not be in your area) to review your grant proposal before you submit it. ‘Getting to the top of a big pile’ Grant writing for tight times - Elisabeth Pain, 2007 ERC Starting Grants http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_ development/previous_issues/articles/2007_0 7_27/caredit_a0700107 ‘strongest research proposals had promising long-term prospects’ Resources & Environment for Early Career Researcher Show how the scientific environment will contribute to the probability of success of the project. For Early Career Investigators, show institutional investment in the success of the investigator – Independent space – Institutional support – Equipment, facilities, unique features of the environment – Collaborators Show you have or can get all needed resources Other Early Career Opportunities Search for fellowships in your area - in Marie Curie Host Fellowship funded projects http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index.cfm/jobs/fgS earch ASM Graduate and Post Doc Opportunities http://www.asmgap.org/page04f.shtml Never be reluctant to use your current contacts Credits/Acknowledgements Professor Anne Huff, Visiting Professor for Research Development. Designing Research and Writing for Academic Publication. http://business.nuim.ie/people/anne-huff S. John Levin, PhD, Michigan State University: Social Service Projects http://www.learnerassociates.net/proposal/ Credits/Acknowledgements (2) Dr Sean Mc Carthy, Hyperion Ltd. Training courses www.hyperion.ie Resources Contacts in NUIM : [email protected] Research webpages http://research.nuim.ie/support-services/