Transcript Slide 1

Irish Research Council for the
Humanities and Social Sciences
Overview of Schemes 2009/2010
Tim Conlon 24 November 2008
Agenda
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Introduction to the IRCHSS
Overview of Research Schemes
Questions
About the IRCHSS
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An autonomous agency established by the Minister for
Education and Science in 2000.
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Funded by the Department of Education and Science,
administrative support provided by the Higher Education
Authority.
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Promotes excellence and the highest standards in
research in the humanities, social sciences, business
and law.
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Facilitates the integration of Irish researchers in the
humanities and social sciences within the European
Research Area.
Research Council Members
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Dr. Maurice Bric, Chairman IRCHSS, UCD
Professor John Brewer, University of Aberdeen
Dr. Josephine Browne, IADT Dun Laoghaire
Professor Angela Chambers, UL
Professor John Coakley, UCD
Professor Vincent Comerford, NUI, Maynooth
Professor Michael Cronin, DCU
Professor Sheila Green, TCD
Professor Áine Hyland, Vice-Chair IRCHSS, UCC
Professor Rowena Pecchenino, NUI, Maynooth
Dr. Sean Ryder, NUI, Galway
Dr. Anthony Walsh, Institute of Bankers
Activities: National Schemes
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Administration of research funding schemes
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2008: 14m euro budget
203 awards in 2007/08 (plus 2.5 GREP awards)
6 schemes (plus GREP & Ulysses)
Promotion of HSS research funding
opportunities
Contribution to research policy for HSS
IRCHSS Research Schemes
Postgraduate Research Scholarship
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Research Fellowship
Senior Research Fellowship
Small Project Grant
Thematic Project Grant
Subject areas
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Anthropology
Celtic Studies
Classics & Archaeology
Cultural Studies
Economics
Education
Environmental Studies
(applications relevant to the HSS)
Film Studies
Folklore Studies
Government & Political Science;
History
International Development
Irish Language Studies
Languages, Linguistics &
Literatures
Library & Information Studies
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Law
Management & Business
Media & Communications
Philosophy
Psychology (applications
relevant to the HSS)
Religious Studies
Social & Economic
Geography
Social Policy & Social
Work
Sociology
Musicology & Theatre
Studies (excluding
applications in composition
and performance)
Theology
Awards 2003-07
Year
2007/2008
2006/2007
2005/2006
2004/2005
2003/2004
Scheme
Apps
Awards
Apps
Awards
Apps
Awards
Apps
Awards
Apps
Awards
Postgraduate
Scholarship
365
124
378
94
293
91
299
81
320
76
Postdoctoral
Fellowship
133
22
116
22
80
23
74
30
76
20
Research
Fellowship
47
10
66
9
38
10
35
16
34
10
Senior
Research
Fellowship
37
9
51
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49
10
29
12
36
13
Projects
133
38
106
20
89
13
99
21
70
40
Annual Total
715
203
717
154
549
147
536
160
536
159
Success Rate
28%
22%
27%
30%
30%
All awardees
All Current Awardees (Sample '05 - '08)
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
466
117
11
Post-Graduate Post-Doctoral
Scholarship Scholarship
Senior
Research
Scholarship
55
53
Research
Fellow ship
Senior
Research
Fellow ship
51
60
Minor Projects Major Project
Grants
Grants
21
Thematic
Project
Scheme
Post-Graduate Applications
by Field of Science 2005
American Studies
Anglo-Irish Literature
Anthropology
Archaeology
Business Studies
Celtic Studies
Classics
Drama and Theatre Studies
Economics
Education
English
Film Studies
French Studies
Geography
German Studies
Health
Hispanic Studies
History
History of Art
Irish Language/ Literature
Italian Studies
Law
Linguistics
Literary Theory and Criticism
Media Studies
Musicology
Philosophy
Political Philosophy
Political Science/Sociology
Political Sociology
Psychology/ Cognitive Science
Social Policy
Sociology
Theology
Women’s Studies
Post-Graduate Successful
by Field of Science 2005
Anthropology
Archaeology
Business Studies
Celtic Studies
Classics
Drama & Theatre Studies
Economics
English
French Studies
Geography
German Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
Irish Language/ Literature
Italian Studies
Law
Linguistics
Literature
Musicology
Philosophy
Political Science
Politics
Psychology/ Cognitive Science
Social Policy
Sociology
Government of Ireland Postgraduate
Scholarships Awarded
Helen Young – UL
The European Union as an actor in the United Nations
Simon McDonnell – UCD
Evaluating priority bus corridor performance. A case study of the Dublin
Quality Bus Network
Mr Cian O’ Callaghan – UCC
Capital and Culture: Urban Regeneration in Cork and Limerick
Ms Nessa Cronin – NUIG
Mapping the Land: A Cultural History of the Cartography of Ireland
Emma Dillon – TCD
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Animal Disease Eradication Strategies: Foot and
Mouth Disease in Ireland
Government of Ireland Postgraduate
Scholarships Awarded
Ronan Moore – NUIM
Extra-parliamentary politics and the printed word in mid eighteenthcentury Dublin
Deirdre Nic Mhathúna – UCC
Filíocht Phiarais Feiritéir
Christiane Gernet - Dublin City University
Globalisation and Women's Agency in South America - The response of
women's activism
Kathleen Moylan - Dublin Institute of Technology
New Crossroads: Emerging identities and public spaces in 21st century
Dublin
Postgraduate Scholarship
 Valued at €16,000 per annum. Fees
are also paid.
 Awarded for up to three years.
 EU applicants ordinarily resident in
Ireland.
Postdoctoral Fellowship
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Valued at €31,745 per annum.
One or two years duration.
Candidates who have completed their
PhD not more than five years
previously.
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Postgraduate Scholarships
Overview
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Open competition
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Only selection criteria is ‘excellence’
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Only fund the best research proposals
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Assessed by an expert International peer review panel
(15 – 30 reviewers from outside the Irish academic
community)
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Transparent process – feedback from review is
provided
Evaluation Process
Five-phase approach:
1. Eligibility and Adherence to Terms and
Conditions
2. International Independent Peer Review
3. Pre-meeting evaluation by Board
Members
4. International Assessment Board meeting
5. Post-meeting follow up and feedback
The Board (…a board)
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Chair: Prof. Arnd Bohm, Carleton University, Canada - Department of German Language and Literature
Prof. Robert Aldrich, University of Sydney, Australia - Professor of European History
Dr. Simon Ball, University of Glasgow, UK - Reader in Modern History
Prof. Stefan Berger, University of Manchester, UK - Chair of Modern German Historical Studies
Prof. Mary Bryden, University of Reading – School of European Studies (English Drama, Literature, French Theatre, Literature and Religion)
Dr. James Clackson, Jesus College, Cambridge, UK - The Faculty of Classics
Dr. Claire Connolly, Cardiff University, UK - School of English, Communication and Philosophy
Dr. Virginia Crossman, Oxford Brookes University, UK - Modern Irish History
Prof. John Darby, University of Notre Dame, USA - Comparative Ethnic Studies
Prof. Hastings Donnan, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - School of Anthropological Studies
Prof. Richard English, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - Centre for Irish Politics
Dr. Marco Ercolani, University of Birmingham, UK - Economics Department
Prof. Robin Frame, University of Durham, UK - Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Prof. Patrick Hanafin, Birkbeck College University of London, UK – School of Law
Prof. Bernadette Hayes, University of Aberdeen, UK - Department of Sociology
Prof. Brian Ilbery, University of Gloucestershire, UK – Cultural Geography
Prof. Josef Jarab, Palacky University, Czech Republic - English and American literature
Prof. Evanthia Lyons, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - School of Psychology
Prof. James Mallory, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology
Dr. Ian McBride, King’s College, London - Early Modern History
Prof. Brian Ó Conchubhair, University of Notre Dame, USA - Dept. of Irish Language & Literature
Dr. Oscar Odena, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - School of Education
Prof. Michael Power, University of Edinburgh, UK - Clinical & Health Psychology
Prof. Shaun Richards, Staffordshire University - Director Research and Enterprise, Faculty of Arts, Media & Design (Comparative Literature)
Prof. Jim Samson, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK - Professor of Music
Prof. Robert Savage, Boston College, USA - Associate Director Irish Studies
Dr. Tanja Staehler, University of Sussex, UK - Centre for Literature and Philosophy
Prof. Alan Warde, University of Manchester, UK - Sociology
Dr. Claire Willsdon, University of Glasgow, UK – History of Art
Peer Review College
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Database of Humanities and Social
Sciences experts to contribute to national
and international evaluation practices.
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International discipline experts to
participate in national scheme
evaluations.
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National discipline experts to contribute to
the work of the IRCHSS in consultations,
reviews of existing awards progress
committees, and potential nominations for
international assessments (as an when
required). www.irchss.ie
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Postgraduate Scholarships
Overview
Attributes useful for research
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Committed
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Passion for subject area
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Self motivator
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Work on own initiative
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Independent
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Creative
Postgraduate Scholarships
Criteria
Applications evaluated under T&C paragraph 15 also see application form part 14
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Description of topic (no more than 600 words)
Methodology (no more than 600 words)
Research plan (no more than 400 words)
Relationship of the project to existing research (no more than 600 words)
Description of any specialist knowledge/data (e.g. language
competence, technical skills, use of specialist software, etc.) required to
undertake the project (no more than 400 words)
Reason for choosing the institution and supervisor for the project (no
more than 400 words)
Progress to date (no more than 500 words). <currently registered>
The applicant’s record and academic achievements (as determined by
the assessors on the basis of the application material provided)
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Criteria
Applications evaluated under T&C paragraph 17 also see application form part 15
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Description of topic (no more than 600 words)
Methodology (no more than 600 words)
Research plan (no more than 400 words)
Resumé of doctoral thesis (where a proposal is a direct continuation of the
doctoral thesis – state how the fellowship will expand and develop it) (no more
than 200 words)
Relationship of the project to existing research (no more than 600 words)
Specialist knowledge/data (e.g. language competence, technical skills, use of
specialist software, etc.) required (no more than 400 words)
Institution and supervisor for the project (no more than 200 words)
Description of modifications made to the proposal if the proposal has been
previously submitted (no more than 200 words)
Conference papers and publications planned (no more than 200 words).
Dissemination plans (no more than 200 words)
The applicant’s record and academic achievements (as determined by the
assessors on the basis of the application material provided)
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Postgraduate Scholarships
Overview
PhD Award
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Develop a specialist individual piece of research so as to make a new contribution
to the body of knowledge in the area.
Post PhD
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Postdoctoral Award
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Publish: to gain recognition by peers and advance career, present papers at
seminars/conferences, develop new research direction
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Research or policy track?
Academic career?
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Lecturer
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Professional researcher (Academia, Industry)
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Policy
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Opportunities to travel – academic posts/research teams abroad
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EU collaborative research programmes (2008)
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Contribute to Ireland’s knowledge-based economy
International Opportunities
NORFACE
ERA-NET
Challenges & Opportunities
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Ambitious targets set for HSS.
IRCHSS primary and consistent funder
of HSS.
Gap in funding of HSS infrastructure.
Important Dates
Advertised
Closing
Post Grad Scholars
November 2008
30 January 2009
Postdoctoral Fellows
November 2008
23 January 2009
Questions?
IRCHSS Contact Points
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Tim Conlon – Director (Acting)
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National Schemes:
Fiona Davis, Programme Manager
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EU/International Activities:
Sorcha Carthy, European Projects Officer
[email protected]
www.irchss.ie