Irish Research Council Government of Ireland (GOI) Postgraduate Scholarships Shona Leith Research Development Office

Transcription

1 Irish Research Council Government of Ireland (GOI) Postgraduate Scholarships 2018 Shona Leith Research Development Office

2 Agenda IRC Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships Support for applicants Institutional endorsement Tips for Proposal Preparation IRC s Online Application System Q&A

3 Why apply? All disciplines funded Researchers of any nationality can apply You choose your research project, HEI & supervisor Prestigious Funding in your own name Stipend of 16,000 p.a., contribution to fees & research expenses Can apply before or during postgraduate degree* Funding application experience * Depending on your funding source

4 Overview of IRC PG Scholarship schemes Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships Open - application deadline 1st Nov 2017 Employment Based Postgraduate Research Scheme Expected to open Dec 2017 & Close Feb 2018 Enterprise Partnership Scheme Postgraduate Scholarships Separate call in spring 2018 Full time student Employed by Partner, registered full time student Full time student Scholarship 16k/year + fees + up to 2,250 p.a. research expenses Salary minimum 16k/year + fees + up to 2,250 p.a. research expenses Scholarship 16k/year + fees + up to 2,250 p.a. research expenses up to 2 years structured RM, up to 4 years structured PhD up to 2 years structured RM, up to 4 years structured PhD up to 2 years structured RM, up to 4 years structured PhD IRC funding 16k twds salary Irish Research Council 100% Funding: IRC 66%, Enterprise costs + 8k for fees & research funded partner 33% expenses; Partner: min. 8k No partner Partner must have operational Enterprise Partner based base in Ireland anywhere Highly competitive High success rate Less competitive

5 First Steps Download call documentation from IRC s website, esp. Terms & Conditions Guide for Applicants FAQ lists (from ) Indicative application form Read carefully! Check your eligibility Speak to your supervisor Register on IRC s online application system

6 Important! It is your responsibility to refer to and to comply with IRC s Terms and Conditions and other published documents Applicants should monitor IRC s website for updates, especially the regularly updated FAQ lists Applications or references submitted outside of online application system or after the application deadline will not be considered

7 Eligibility Any discipline Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply First/Upper Second Batchelor s degree and/or Masters degree Only one re-application to a scheme New or existing students* can apply *See next slide

8 Eligibility of existing students See T&C for eligibility of existing students and duration of awards for existing students Date of first registration is important (registrations before Sept 2015 are ineligible for structured PhD funding) Self funded students are eligible Students with SUSI grant/crc/hei scholarships (NB. Hume scholarships) are eligible Students funded from other research project grants are ineligible

9 Additional 2018 scholarships - Strategic Partner Themes Andrew Grene Postgraduate Scholarship in Conflict Resolution (funded by the Conflict Resolution Unit of Dept. of Foreign Affairs) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - EPA Research Programme ( ) pillars of Climate, Water & Sustainability DCYA Growing up in Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship - PhD research related to Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: National Policy Framework for Children & Young People ( )

10 Applying for GOI scholarship Entire application process online Enter names of Supervisor and Referees online 2 Referees required; Primary Supervisor cannot act as Referee Supervisors must be registered in the system if not on the list contact shona.leith@mu.ie Application can be re-visited and saved repeatedly Submitted application cannot be changed; recommended to participate in internal review process to ensure no omissions!

11 Evaluation Criteria APPLICANT: Capability of the applicant 40% PROJECT: Quality of the research project 40% TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT ASPECTS OF PROPOSAL: 10% ENVIRONMENT: Suitability of the host organisation 10% See Appendix 2 Guide for Applicants

12 Capability of the Applicant Track record and research potential of the applicant Personal Statement Match between applicant profile & research project References (Note: Referees will NOT have access to your application in the online system) Evaluation Criterion No. 1

13 Quality of Project Clarity and coherence of the proposed research Quality of proposed research design & methodologies Feasibility of milestones, deliverables & contingency plans Consideration of how research will advance SoA & contribute to existing knowledge Dissemination & knowledge exchange plans Consideration of ethical and sex/gender dimension Direct alignment with strategic themes where applicable Evaluation Criterion No. 2

14 Training and Career Development Clarity and quality of training & career development plan Capacity to acquire new knowledge and skills Potential for development of skills relevant to employment outside the traditional academic sector Evidence of thought as to how scholarship would impact on applicant s career path Evaluation Criterion No. 3

15 Environment Suitability and ability of Supervisor(s) to provide adequate supervision Quality of infrastructure and facilities provided by higher education institution Match between applicant, Supervisor(s) and the higher education institution Evaluation Criterion No. 4

16 Research Ethics Statement Where ethical issues may arise, applicants must complete a statement in application that careful consideration has been given to ethical implications of the proposed research. If research involves eg: Surveys, interviews, observations of humans, even if in public space or small number of people are to be involved Animals Samples of bodily fluids used - even where sourced from third parties! List not exhaustive - consult with Supervisor, read MU Research Ethics policy on website, see Research Ethics pages. Obtain confirmation from the Head of Department whether ethical approval required (no form sufficient)

17 Research Ethics Statement Missing ethical statement where required will reduce your marks! Your proposal might not receive institutional endorsement if ethical statement incorrect Application for ethical approval to relevant MU Research Ethics Sub-Committee only if and when funded Written evidence of approval from an ethical review committee must be submitted to the Council prior to the activities for which approval is required, or no later than three months of the scholarship start date.

18 Sex/Gender Dimension Give due consideration to possible sex/gender dimension of your proposed research project even if you initially think there is none! Demonstrate in the relevant section that you have considered this aspect Guidelines in Guide for Applicants (Appendix 3)

19 Value of Scholarship Stipend of 16,000 p.a. + Contribution to fees ( 5,750 max.) 2,250 p.a. research expenses-see Appendix 5 Ts & Cs for guidance on eligible costs.

20 Who will evaluate your application? 11 Primary Areas available to applicants to categorize proposed research; several sub-categories under each primary area (see Appendix 1 Guide for Applicants): Biological Sciences A Biological Sciences B Chemistry Computer Science Earth and Environmental Sciences Engineering Mathematics Physics Study of the Human Past Cultures and Cultural Production Individuals, Institutions, Markets, Values, Behaviour the Mind & Environment Help the IRC to assign relevant expert evaluators by providing key words pertinent to your application.

21 Supports available Writing workshops for applicants in September (TBC) Ask your supervisor for feedback any questions to me; if I can t answer them, I ll send in to FAQs (25 th Oct FAQ deadline) Help pack Pre-submission (non-technical) application review Check of key aspects that might cause difficulties for institutional endorsement (eg. ethical approval & financial justification section). All applicants strongly encouraged to participate.

22 Availing of pre-submission review Have COMPLETE DRAFT in the online system (but do not, at this stage, submit to IRC!) with the following in subject: Your Name GOI review request By 5pm on 16 th October Include Head s confirmation re: ethical approval Applications will NOT be accepted for presubmission review after the above deadline All applicants should participate

23 Institutional endorsement Institutional endorsement subject to: Ethical statement in line with MU policy Statement re: ethical approval from Head of Department in place Sex/gender statement in line with IRC s Guide

24 GOI PG Scholarships Key Dates Writing workshops - TBC Deadline for applicants to request pre-submission (nonacademic) review : 5pm on 16 th October 2017 IRC FAQ Deadline: 4pm on 25 th Oct 2017 IRC Deadline for Applicants: 4pm 1st Nov 2017 Deadline for Supervisors, Referees & Mentors: 4pm on 8th Nov 2016 Deadline for Institutional endorsement: 15 th Nov Results expected end March 2018 Scholarships start date: 1 st October 2018 (no flexibility)

25 Tips for proposal preparation

26 Dos Read the call documents Read the call documents again Plan & Prepare your proposal early Familiarize yourself with online application system Follow Guide for Applicants and FAQs - online updates!! Write your proposal for your evaluators Check - all evaluation criteria addressed Get feedback Proofread Participate in MU internal review

27 What makes a strong proposal? Ambitious but realistic proposal Feasibility: project scope vs. time, skills, resources Fitting purpose/aims of funding scheme Funding body s mission, scheme s aims Evaluation criteria: applicant, project, training & career development and environment Clear presentation why should the IRC fund YOU? Abstract = summary of funding proposal Specific, relevant information

28 Evaluators consideration of your proposal: Feasibility Project scope Methodology Ethical implications Project feasibility Specialist knowledge / access to data Financial justification Why supervisor / institution?

29 Evaluators consideration of your proposal: Meeting scheme s purpose Involvement in teaching activities? Presentations at conferences? Project findings Impact / Career training and development Methodology mastered? New specialist knowledge/skills acquired? Publications? Networks built thanks to supervisor / institution?

30 Writing for evaluators Put yourself in the mind of the reviewer (many applications to review in limited timeframe; both expert AND non-expert) Make it as easy as possible for evaluators: First sentence in each paragraph is the most important Avoid professional jargon, abbreviations etc. Provide diagrams, tables, pictures Include Gantt chart to illustrate your project plan Explain your achievements etc. - you can only get points for what you include in your application See Guide for Applicants for information about the assessment process

31 IRC s online application system

32 Applying to the GOI call Familiarize yourself with the guide to the online system before starting your application Select the correct scholarship type (Structured Masters or Structured PhD) cannot be changed once application created!

33 Applying to the GOI call SAVE your draft regularly NEVER use go back button in your browser Must save information entered into fields on one tab before moving to another tab if not, changes will be lost Can cut & paste but formatting information will be lost Can upload a pdf with a chart etc. only if essential to understanding of research NO CHANGES possible after you submit Supervisor and referees will be automatically notified by the system once you assign them to your application Important: double-check that your referees addresses are correct! Submit early don t leave it to the last minute

34 2018 GOI Postgraduate Scholarships Thanks for listening! Any Questions?