Preparing an ERC application
Dr John Burden
Research Support Services
Which scheme?
Starting Grant
Consolidator
2-7 years PD experience
7-12 years PD experience
Develop independent career
Scientific track record of great promise
Transition from supervised research to
independent research
Consolidate independent research
programme
Establish research team
Strengthen independent research team
that has been recently created
Conduct independent, excellent
research
Conduct independent, excellent
research
Up to 5 years
Up to 5 years
Up to €1.5M
Up to €2M
Which scheme?
Starting Grant
Consolidator
2-7 years PD experience
7-12 years PD experience
Develop independent career
Scientific track record of great promise
Transition from supervised research to
independent research
Consolidate independent research
programme
Establish research team
Strengthen independent research
team that has been recently created
Conduct independent, excellent
research
Conduct independent, excellent
research
Up to 5 years
Up to 5 years
Up to €1.5M
Up to €2M
Track record and evidence of Independence
•
•
•
•
Publications – guidelines for each scheme
Funding – collaborations, small amounts, fellowships
Prizes and awards, patents
Talks, presentations, workshops & visits (especially invited)
“Applicants are encouraged to evaluate their track-record and
leadership potential against the above-mentioned benchmarks that
have been adopted by the Scientific Council, in order to decide for
themselves their likelihood for success, thus avoiding to invest effort
in proposals that are very unlikely to succeed”
Publications Guidance
Starting Grant
• significant publications (as main author) in major international
peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in the
leading international peer-reviewed journals of their respective
field
• at least one important publication without the participation of
their PhD supervisor.
Consolidator Grant
• “several important publications without the participation of their
PhD supervisor”
• “significant publications (as main author) in major international
peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in the
leading international peer-reviewed journals of their respective
field. “
Finances will influence work programme
Need to develop a 5 year work programme tailored to the available resources
• How much of your salary will be included?
• How many years PDRA/Technician time
• Consumables & other lab costs to support work
RSS will advise on costs and what staff could be employed
Create a work programme to match the budget
Work programme not single grant
PDRA 1
Research Projects
PDRA 2
PDRA 3
Overarching Research Theme
Need to have a
coherent research
programme with
several research
projects suitable
for the amount of
staff time and
resources
requested
How to apply
2014 call deadlines;
• Starting Grants
• Consolidator Grant
25/3/14*
3/6/14*
(*Not confirmed but unlikely to change much)
Once call announced Guide for applicants is available – Read thoroughly
Electronic application system – Participant portal
Tell RSS & Department you are planning to apply – internal review and procedures
Structure of application
Part A – Administrative forms
A1
Summary of proposal & PI
A2
Host Institution details
A3
Project costs
Part B Research Proposal
Mandatory template must be used
Strict page limits, font, font and margin size
B1
Synopsis (5 pages)
PI CV (2 pages)
Track record (2 pages)
B2
Scientific proposal (15 pages) including state of the
art, objectives, methodology, resources, ethical issues
Supporting Documentation – Host institution supporting statement, PhD
certificate
B2 – Scientific proposal
• Background
– What is the context of the research?
– Why is it important (Scientific excellence)?
– What preliminary work?
• Aims
– Research Question?
– What do you want to do?
– Why? (Scientific excellence, “at and beyond the frontiers of understanding “)
• Methodology
– Detailed multi-page programme of research
– Technical (not too technical)
• Outcomes
– What will the research deliver
– Be realistic, you are committing to deliver this
– Basis of future career
• Justify resources requested
In summary……
• Start early;
• Build track record
• Establish collaborations
• Develop proposal with input from others
• Offer what the Funder wants;
• Fit research to funder criteria
• Understand the form & fill in correctly
• Excellent research, Independence, basis of future career
• Talk to RSS