Grant applications: Increasing your success rate

Transcription

1 Grant applications: Increasing your success rate Remko Achten (NWO) Rosa Bulo (UU) 10 February 2014 Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

2 NWO - Chemical Sciences Grant overview How do I apply successfully? Discussion NWO-Research funding

3 Governing Board Science Divisions Earth and Life Sciences (ALW) Chemical Sciences (CW) Physical Sciences (EW) Humanities (GW) Social Sciences (MaGW) Medical Sciences (managed by ZonMw) Physics (N managed by FOM Foundation) Technical Sciences (managed by Technology Foundation STW) WOTRO Science for Global Development Institutes ASTRON Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) FOM Institute for Subatomic Physics Nikhef FOM Institute AMOLF FOM Institute DIFFER (Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research) NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research Temporary taskforces Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI) National Initiative Brain & Cognition (NIHC)

4 Talent Grant Overview NWO PhD 1 yr 3 yr 8 yr 15 yr Veni Vidi Vici Rubicon

5 Rubicon Who? Talented researchers (only NL!), 3 out of 5 year constraint When? Max. 1 year after, but also before doctorate (after approval thesis) Where? Abroad (1-2 years) at a top institution What? Dependent on country, basis 58,500 / year (* correction coefficient) + travel expenses + 230/month Criteria Quality of the applicant, the research proposal, the host institute and Knowledge utilisation Next Deadlines 2014: 2 April, 3 September, 27 November, hrs

6 Veni Who? Young postdocs, fresh doctors When? 0-3 years after doctorate, only two chances! What? for 3 years CW: ~ 11 grants/yr NWO: ~ 130 grants/yr Criteria quality of the applicant, the research proposal, paragraph on research impact Next Deadline Early January 2015 dr Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam Veni 2013, TUD Realtime tracking of toxin invasion.

7 Vidi Who? Experienced postdocs, young lecturers, (very young) professors to develop their own innovative line of research When? 3-8 years after doctorate, only 2 chances! What? for 5 years CW: ~ 8 grants/yr NWO: ~ 90 grants/yr Criteria quality of the applicant, the research proposal, paragraph on research impact Next deadline October 2014 dr Rienk Eelkema Vidi 2012, TUD Turn on, turn off: using catalysis to control material structuring, dynamics and response

8 Vici Who? senior researchers to build their own research group: experienced lecturers (UD/UHD)/(young) professors When? 8-15 years after doctorate What? for 5 years NWO: ~ 30 grants/yr Criteria quality of the applicant, the research proposal, paragraph on research impact Next deadline (pre-proposals) 27 March 2014 Dr Petra de Jongh Vici 2012, UU Stability of Supported Nanoparticles for Sustainable Catalysis

9 Knowledge utilisation What Potential Contribution to society and/or other academic areas Disciplines and organisations that might benefit from the results Implementation Action plan how can potential users be involved The period over which knowledge utilisation is expected to occur. Mandatory from 2012 Judgement guidelines in separate document Assessed by reviewers and committee 20% of final score by committee

10 Stimulating careers of women NWO CW Athena-premium Who? Female Veni-laureates from CW who obtain a permanent position (UD) When? During the Veni-project What? for 3 years NWO Aspasia-premium Who? Female Vidi-laureates who become UHD, female Vici-laureates who become Professor, and female Vidi/Vici applicants with very good marks When? Within 1 year after obtaining the Vidi- or Vici-grant What? (or in case not funded)

11 Procedure Typical evaluation procedure Veni and Vidi (sometimes pre-screening necessary) Phase 1 Preparation Proposal submission Evaluation by referees Rebuttal Evaluation by committee Granting Phase 2 Interview Ranking Advice division Decision by board (15-25%) or rejection

12 Rosa Bulo (UU) assistant professor of computational chemistry Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group Utrecht University Veni 2007/2008 Vidi 2012/2013

13 Applying for a VENI PhD Organic Chemistry, VU Amsterdam Post-doc Biophysics, ETHZ, Switzerland - first Veni proposal (denied) Post-doc BASF (Industry), Germany Post-doc Theoretical Chemistry, VU Amsterdam - ERC proposal (denied) - second Veni proposal (accepted) Veni Theoretical Chemistry, VU Amsterdam - first Vidi proposal (denied) Marie Curie Catalysis (modelling), France - second Vidi proposal (accepted) Vidi Catalysis (experiment), Utrecht University

14 Applying for a VENI First time I applied for Veni I came up with a project I could finish in three years Referee response: No vision Denied First time I applied for an ERC I imagined what my group would be like 1)short term targets (achievable within few years) 2)long term targets (future of the research group) Denied Second time I applied for a Veni I used the ERC proposal with small changes Accepted!

15 Applying for a VENI 1. Finding an innovative project your project must be ambitious short term goals long term vision your own idea it must stand out from work of your PhD/postdoc advisor it must clearly fit your background your fit with the host is important your independence is more important take the time! Project Proposal Referees Rebuttal Committee Interview

16 Applying for a VENI 2. Writing your proposal and CV Ask for help and feedback Ask for examples of granted VENI proposals Grant office? Project Proposal Referees Rebuttal Committee Interview

17 Applying for a VENI 3. Rebuttal Committee and referees are not the same They get proposal / referee reports / rebuttal at same time They have to read a lot of these Repeat and summarize all the positive referee remarks Address all negative referee remarks - Do not exceed two pages Project Proposal Referees Rebuttal Committee Interview

18 Applying for a VENI 4. Interview Mock interviews are crucial! (panel with granted Veni/Vidi) Presentation No details: Simple and catchy Assume the committee has read proposal Emphasize why research and why you for this research Project Proposal Referees Rebuttal Committee Interview

19 Applying for a VENI 4. Interview Mock interviews are crucial! (panel with granted Veni/Vidi) Presentation No details: Simple and catchy Assume the committee has read proposal Emphasize why research and why you for this research Discussion Google panel members (which two particularly?) Prepare questions and practice answers Exude confidence Remember: They don t invest in a project They invest in the future of Dutch science Project Proposal Referees Rebuttal Committee Interview

20 Applying for a VENI 1. Finding an innovative project 2. Writing your proposal and CV 3. Rebuttal 4. Interview Once you have a VENI - Use it to get a position! Project Proposal Referees Rebuttal Committee Interview

21 Applying for a VIDI VIDI: The same, but bigger 1. Finding an innovative project Approach groups about collaboration and position 2. Writing your proposal and CV Vision is even more important 3. Rebuttal 4. Interview Prepare for questions about your leadership style Show that you have given thought to your career Project Proposal Referees Rebuttal Committee Interview

22 More information Websites Contact the NWO-Chemical & Physical Sciences office: Rubicon Varsha Kapoerchan Veni Marieke van Santen Vidi Marjolein Lauwen Vici Remko Achten Athena Varsha Kapoerchan

23 Thank you for your attention Questions?