Applying for an NIHR Fellowship

Transcription

1 Applying for an NIHR Fellowship Dr Sara Mallinson The NIHR Research the Northwest Presented at the NIHR RDS NW Preparing an Application for the NIHR Fellowship Scheme Workshop 24/11/2009.

2 Overview About the Fellowship schemes. The NIHR application and review process. How to prepare a good application. Questions and discussion.

3 NIHR AWARDS To build research capacity in NHS. To translate knowledge into clinical practice. Applied research for direct patient benefit. Most of what I say will be applicable to other funding bodies (e.g. MRC; ESRC).

4 NIHR FELLOWSHIPS Highly competitive. Open to health and allied health professionals and applied health researchers in Universities. Provide full funding for salary costs and a contribution to research costs.

5 NIHR Fellowships Research Training Fellowship (RTF) 3 years(ft) or 4-5 PT funding to support completion of a PhD with a customised training programme in a top class environment. Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) 3 years (FT) or 4-5 years (PT) funding to support early postdoctoral research for those within 3 years WTE of completing their PhD. Career Development Fellowship (CDF) 3 years (FT) or 4-5 years (PT) funding to support experienced and successful postdoctoral researchers who are not yet fully independent but show capacity. No more than 7 years WTE of post-doctoral research experience. Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) 5 years funding for a programme of research for outstanding researchers.

6 DRF: The process 2010 January 2010: Closing date for applications. February-April 2010: Panel members review applications. May/June 2010: Short-list confirmed and invited for interview. 29 th 30 th June 1 st July 2010: Interviews in Leeds. Recommendations made by Panel to the Director General of R&D at NIHR. Offer of an award made in August.

7 The Panels This year the DRF panels will be providing peer review for the first stage of application. There are two panels of senior academics who work with the TCC. The panel membership is diverse. A list of members is on the TCC website.

8 What are they looking for? Person with potential. Tailored training/development package and first class supervision. Good PhD project.

9 The Person You need to show some research experience and an aptitude for study. Masters degree or equivalent research experience. Publications 1 st author; high impact journals; the more the merrier! Grants secured (even small things). Conference presentations. Prizes and other awards in your work/academic career.

10 Your training package You must plan high quality research training. Your proposal should demonstrate how you will cover: Good academic practice and thesis writing skills. Research training to ensure you can deliver the research. Support for specialist areas of knowledge.

11 Planning the training Training can be in-house or external, formal and informal. Look at your host institution s postgraduate training for most of your study skills and basic methods courses. Look at national centres for more specific training: eg NatCen. Look at opportunities for shadowing and visits to experts in your field.

12 Your host institution Choose a good academic centre A vibrant post-graduate community. Research excellence in your field of study. Supervisor(s) At least one of the two supervisors should have a good track record of completed PhD supervision. Their skill mix should relate to your methods and your topic. Identify them early they can really help you with your application.

13 The Project As with all PhDs, at the heart of the DRF application there must be a piece of original research. It must be applied health research that has a demonstrable benefit for patients and is relevant to current policy. It must be feasible within the 3 year time frame of a PhD. It must have an answerable question and robust design. It must be ethical!

14 Common problems with applications Training is inadequate. The academic host is not appropriate. The supervisory team does not have the right skills (inexperienced or not on topic). The candidate does not demonstrate adequate research experience. The project is too ambitious for a PhD.

15 Continued The research methods are not well defined. The programme of study and research are incoherent. The topic is already well researched and a clear case for additional study is not made.

16 Continued.. AT INTERVIEW: The candidate s presentation is poor (too long, not clear, off topic!). The candidate cannot answer key questions about methods. The candidate does not know their research topic!

17 How to get through it? Plan for plenty of development time this cannot be rushed. Use all the support you can Your academic team Research Design Service advisors Talk to people who have been through it! (RDS can help you with that)

18 If you are shortlisted Continued. Be prepared to sell yourself at interview you ARE a future research leader. Research is your passion! Know your proposal inside out and back-to-front. Try and foresee the tricky questions and have an answer ready. Have a mock interview.

19 Application outcomes 2009 A list of projects funded in all categories of fellowship in 2009 is now available on the NIHR web pages. For DRF awards there were over 120 applications, 60 were shortlisted for interview, and 26 funded.

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