What s the next step in your career?

Transcription

1 PERCAT: Fellowships & Funding 3 rd February 2016 What s the next step in your career?

2 Why bother with funding? Next steps in (clinical) academic career Useful training opportunities Great opportunity to travel and bring back skills to your local environment, or escape altogether! Whether or not you want to become a fully independent researcher, someone with the skill and experience of writing grant applications particularly successful ones, even if small is invaluable in both research and clinical careers.

3 Funders: The catch-all

4 MRC mission Encourage and support research to improve human health Produce skilled researchers Advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the UK and worldwide Promote dialogue with the public about medical research

5 MRC research expenditure

6 MRC research expenditure

7 MRC research expenditure

8 MRC research expenditure

9 Strategy and delivery Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board Population and Systems Medicine Board Infections and Immunity Board Neuroscience and Mental Health Board Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme Population Health Sciences Group Translational Research Group Global Health Group Training and Careers Group Methodology Panel

10 MRC Fellowship & Studentship Panels Training and Careers Group Clinical Panel Clinical Research Training Fellowship Clinician Scientist Fellowship Senior Clinical Fellowship Non-Clinical Panel Career Development Award Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship Skills Development Fellowships Quantitative expertise/ Expertise at the social science interface Industry Collaborative Training & Careers Panel MRC Industry CASE Studentships MCMB/PSMB/IIB/NMHB Population Health Sciences/Translational Research/Global Health Groups Methodology/Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme/Developmental Clinical Studies Panel

11 Core Assessment Process WEEK BOARD MEMBER INPUT 0 Applications Received 4 Spread sheet of Applications 11 Referees Comments Min 3 UK/International 13 Triage Extranet Site Introducer Comments on Application & Referees Opinions 15 Triage Chair/Deputy/2x Members 16 Referees comments fed back to all applicants (anonymously) 18 Board Extranet Site Including PI Responses Request PI responses for shortlisted applicants Introducers reassigned 22 Board Meeting Detailed assessment of application DBMs lead discussion Make Awards 22+ Feedback to Applicants

12 Review Process Board Assessment (triaged applications only) Two DBMs present each proposal to the Board Drawing on referees comments and applicant s response Following Board discussion each DBM suggests a score (1-10) All Board members present vote After all proposals have been discussed they are ranked by score Further discussion Feedback will be given on all rejected applications reviewed by the Board

13 Clinical research training fellowship Clinical Up to 3 years support for clinically qualified, active professionals to undertake specialised or further research training. Jointly funded clinical research training fellowship Clinical Opportunities for additional clinical research training fellowships through collaborations with Royal Colleges and Charity funders. Clinician scientist fellowship Clinical To enable outstanding clinical researchers to make the transition from postdoctoral research and training to independent investigation. Senior clinical fellowship Clinical Prestigious award for clinical researchers of exceptional ability. Population health scientist fellowship Clinical, Non-clinical Early career training and development in population health sciences. MRC fellowship schemes Career development award Up to 5 years support for outstanding post-doctoral researchers who wish to consolidate their research skills. Non-clinical Policy internship scheme Non-clinical The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) have teamed up to offer a policy internship scheme. Senior non-clinical fellowship Non-clinical Award for non-clinical researchers of exceptional ability. Early career fellowship in economics of health Specialist Extends the preceding joint MRC/NIHR/ESRC fellowship, established to support two rounds of annual fellowship competitions. Methodology research fellowship Specialist Part of MRC's renewed commitment to methods development research aimed at developing the methodological research leaders of tomorrow. MRC Career development award in biostatistics Specialist Postdoctoral fellowship to support individuals working in, or who wish to move into, health related research. Special training fellowship in biomedical informatics (computational biology, neuroinformatics and health informatics) Specialist Awarded at post-doctoral entry level only. All proposals must include a well-specified formal training element in addition to a research project.

14 Basic biomedical fellowships Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships Provide support for the most promising newly qualified postdoctoral researchers. Final year of your PhD studies or have no more than 1 year of postdoctoral research experience Sir Henry Dale Fellowships Provides outstanding postdoctoral scientists wishing to build their own independent research career No more than 7 years postdoc experience. Expect you to have spent <2 years with your current department. Senior Research Fellowships in Basic Biomedical Science Provide support for exceptional individuals who can demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research years postdoc experience with substantial publication record

15 Research Training Fellowships Clinical fellowships Provide support for medical, dental, veterinary or clinical psychology graduates who have little or no research training, but who wish to develop a long-term career in academic medicine. Early Postdoctoral Training Fellowship for Clinician Scientists Provides support for clinicians who have recently gained a higher degree and wish to obtain high-quality postdoctoral training that will lay the foundations for a successful independent research career. Postdoctoral Training Fellowship for MB/PhD Graduates Provides support for new qualified MB/PhD graduates to make an early start in developing their independent research careers. Intermediate Clinical Fellowships Provide support for outstanding medical, dental, veterinary or clinical psychology graduates to continue research interests at postdoctoral level and develop towards independence. Senior Research Fellowships in Clinical Science Provide support for clinical investigators to further develop their research potential and to establish themselves as leading investigators in clinical academic medicine.

16 Clinical & basic fellowships Career Development Fellowship This Fellowship supports outstanding non-clinical scientists at the start of their independent careers. The Fellowship provides the opportunity to set up an independent research group for the first time. Career Establishment Awards Career Establishment Awards provide five years of funding to enable new, non-clinical investigators who have just taken up their first HEFCE funded post at a UK university to establish their own research group. Clinician Scientist Fellowship The Clinician Scientist Fellowship provides four years' support for clinical researchers to develop their research skills and make the transition from doctoral research training to an independent clinical-academic investigator. Senior Cancer Research Fellowship The Senior Cancer Research Fellowship provides an opportunity for outstanding scientists to establish or to further develop an independent research group. Open to both non-clinical researchers and clinician-scientists. Research Bursaries for clinicians and professions allied to medicine This scheme aims to encourage clinicians and those in related professions (e.g. nursing, etc.) to undertake short periods of research in order to enhance the understanding between the research and clinical communities. Research Travel Awards Research Travel Awards give Cancer Research UK-funded post-doctoral researchers a chance to develop their research skills and begin to establish an independent research career.

17 There are two types of Individual Fellowships: 1. European Fellowships Held in the EU or associated countries Open to researchers either coming to Europe or moving within Europe. Can help to restart research careers after a break such as parental leave. Can also help reintegrate researchers coming back to Europe. 2. Global Fellowships Fund secondments outside Europe for researchers based in the EU or associated countries There is a mandatory one-year return period. European and Global Fellowships can also include a secondment period of up to 3 or 6 months in another organisation in Europe, where this would boost the impact of the fellowship.

18 Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship For outstanding scientists in the UK at an early stage of their research career who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances such as parenting or caring responsibilities or health issues. Female candidates are particularly invited to apply. This scheme offers holders the opportunity to: hold appointments on a part-time basis or convert from full-time to part-time and back again to help match work and other commitments, such as parental or caring responsibilities etc. claim back time spent deferring the fellowship and/or working part-time at the end of the fellowship. claim some funds for family support where these can be justified on scientific grounds, e.g. the cost of child care during a conference or collaborative visit abroad (those funds can be applied for during the Fellowship). Knowledge Transfer Partnership Offer businesses the opportunity to work in partnership with an academic institution to obtain knowledge and expertise to which they currently have no access, to address their business challenges and embed sustainable innovation. The knowledge sought is embedded into the company through a project or projects undertaken by a recently qualified person (known as the KTP associate) recruited specifically to work on that project. KTPs can vary in length from six months to three years, depending on the needs of the organisation and the desired outcomes. Engagement Fellowships Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellowships aim to support and develop upcoming stars in public engagement with science. The Engagement Fellowships champion the leaders of tomorrow by fostering the most promising upcoming talent of today. We are looking for people with a strong track record of engaging the public with ideas around biomedical science and/or medical humanities, looking to make a step-change in their careers. We will provide the freedom, resources and environment to enable exceptional individuals to develop their skills and practice in encouraging the public to examine, explore and debate the big scientific challenges that society faces.

19 Project tips: Knowing your audience You have to write for many audiences at once: The well-informed (and prejudiced) expert The well-informed (and prejudiced) non-expert The lay audience All of these are looking for slightly different things, and you have to cater for all of them! Give them what they want (/need), and make it as interesting as possible...

20 Project tips: Setting the scene Get your title right Open strongly give a short, effective summary before you dive into the main narrative Address the 3 whys : Why now? timeliness of application Why me? expertise of applicants Why here? strengths of host environment

21 Project tips: Setting the scene Relevant literature background: what are the key questions and unresolved issues in the field? Expert reviewers will be bored; non-experts do not want to be overwhelmed what specifics do they need to know to effectively evaluate your work? Which parts of the data is your team responsible for? Nice, simple overview diagrams of pathways, mechanisms and preliminary work

22 Project tips: A clear focus The hypothesis and aims Pull everything you have just said together to show the driving question behind your proposal in a clear, provable hypothesis Accompany this with several clearly-defined objectives which relate to the structure of your subsequent experimental design and methodology gives a clear roadmap for the proposal. Highlight the expected overall outcomes of the work, re-emphasising its importance.

23 Project tips: A balanced structure Balance is critical your proposal has to be ambitious, but feasible to complete within the relevant timeframe. There is a difference between being cutting-edge and being over-ambitious! Have clear work packages, linked not interdependent Set the context for each how does it contribute? Include contingency plans and alternatives recognise risk and address it What resources do you need to achieve these?

24 Project tips: Keep it simple Your audience will have dozens of applications to review Make their lives easier with: Clarity & consistency background: aims: experiments: outputs White space Diagrams summarising key concepts and experiments Gantt charts Acknowledgement of risks Justification of value

25 Project tips: Leadership & collaboration Why are you leading this? Why now, and where are you going? Who is supporting you? What specific skills are relevant to this work and will ensure delivery? Why are you doing the work at this location? Is it people, equipment, or something else? Who are the stakeholders? How have they fed in, and how will they benefit?

26 Project tips: Appropriate costings Know what you need Type of grant Fellowship, project, small award? Know the market what else has been funded, how much for, and are there new priorities? Cheap is not the same as value for money!

27 Project tips: Delivering impact Impact the new buzzword Who will benefit, and how will they benefit? How will you ensure that they benefit? Emphasis is beyond academia: clinical, commercial, culture, public and policy Specificity is crucial there is no general public Be proactive rather than passive

28 Know your submission systems

29 Beyond the case for support: Other info Proposal Form Case for Support: 3-12 pages 1. Title 2. Importance 3. Scientific potential 3.1. People and Track Record 3.2. Environment 3.3. Research Plans 4. Ethics and Research Governance 5. Data Preservation for Sharing 6. Exploitation and Dissemination Letter(s) of Support Justification of Resources: 2 pages Data Management Plan: 2 pages Pathways to Impact: 2 pages CVs: 3 pages, 2 pages background info and 1 page references MRC Industrial Collaboration Award (MICA) form plus Heads of Terms

30 Local support and sign-off The College of MDS runs an early notification system working with potential Fellows between 4-6 months ahead of funder deadlines Senior staff support Grant Clinics workshops with potential Fellows to review their hypotheses, objectives, preliminary data and methodology. Idea is to make sure the application A) is as strong as possible B) is targeted to the right funder C) has appropriate local context in terms of strategy and infrastructure We have an online approvals process (the pink form ) which enables key staff in infrastructure facilities and services, local administration, research support and Head of School to review and sign off the application - Typically submitted 2-3 weeks ahead of deadline - Needed before application can be authorised by Finance and others online

31 Grant clinics Peer review and advice works best when you are developing your ideas, not when you have a fully-written grant and an imminent deadline The Grant Clinic board includes senior researchers with plenty of experience of writing and reviewing grants from across the breadth of College research Candidates can freely approach and request help via Research Facilitator. Each candidate will have a specifically-tailored group of reviewers to discuss and develop ideas for grant submissions several months in advance of submission Candidates submit brief written ideas in advance, then give a short (10 min) presentation on the day, followed by extended discussion and assignment of a Mentor for continued support

32 Remember internal approvals! Applications are not just a simple matter of you filling in the forms and hitting the button you do need School/College approval to submit, and online systems will have people who have to authorise submission after you (typically Finance) 12 weeks ahead of any Fellowship application, you need to send an Intention to Submit form to the R&KT Office to be reviewed by a senior academic to approve that the application can go forward, and recommend any changes (and/or a Grant Clinic). Main School/College approval is via online pink form process, responsive system which checks various aspects of your proposal and submits it for authorisation NHS organisations have similar deadlines and processes to authorise support. Submit info for approval around two weeks before your application, and online submission of proposal 1-2 days early to allow time for sign-off to be given.

33 FAQs Can/should I apply for lots of different fellowships and funding streams simultaneously? In some cases each funder has very different priorities and interests; some streams prohibit you from applying to others at the same time, or at least require you to declare it; you need to be strategic about where and when you apply, and use feedback to build the next iteration of any application (very likely you won t be successful first time!). However, some combinations (e.g. MRC/Wellcome) work. I have a big publication coming out in the next few months, should I just delay? Possibly, for very competitive Fellowship awards. But that doesn t stop you applying for smaller travel, training, conference and preliminary data awards to boost your credibility when it comes to making that main application. How important is mobility? Very! People who have moved between institutions (especially internationally), built up their skills and linkages, and delivered good outputs in each are more credible as research leaders of the future. If you re desperate to stay in one place, you can emphasise the strengths of your environment and still do some collaborative training visits nationally and internationally to bring skills back to Birmingham. I ve been unsuccessful a few times is it worth trying again? Yes, unless you are receiving resoundingly negative feedback at review. Almost every PI including the successful big names fails more than they succeed with grant applications. All it takes is you to build your writing skills, finally have enough preliminary data and to get lucky!

34 Any questions?