11 January 2016
Dear colleague,
2016 Francis Crick Institute Attachments
Following the successful pilot selection of university staff transfers (attachments)
to the Crick, which took place during 2015, I am pleased to announce this year’s
call.
The Attachments initiative supports the development of collaborative research
between Crick group leaders and university researchers. There is particular
emphasis on inter-disciplinary research—especially that involving the physical,
mathematical and computational sciences—as well as on clinical translation. We
also wish to promote the training and development of early career researchers.
The flexible nature of this initiative allows individual university group leaders,
members of their teams, or entire research groups to transfer to the Crick for
periods of between three months and six years. A reciprocal arrangement is in
place for Crick researchers to transfer to the universities.
Further information and details about the 2016 selection process are in the
attached document.
This is a great opportunity to forge new collaborations between the Crick and its
university partners, and I encourage you to participate.
All the best for 2016!
Jim Smith
Call for exchange of researchers between the Crick and its University
Partners
Introduction
One important way to help fulfil the Crick’s Discovery without Boundaries strategy
is to bring together researchers from the Crick laboratory and its partner
universities to undertake new inter-disciplinary collaborations. To help achieve
this, university staff from twenty research groups selected through a pilot selection
round will move into the Crick as secondments, satellite groups or sabbaticals
during 2016.
Secondments: A group leader (often in the early stages of their career) and her or
his entire laboratory transfer to the Crick for three to six years.
Satellite groups: Groups of one to three researchers from a university group
transfer to the Crick for an agreed period (usually between three months and three
years).
Sabbaticals: A university group leader spends up to a year working in a Crick
research group, typically learning new techniques or undertaking hands-on
research.
The pilot selection focussed on university researchers moving to work in the Crick.
The second round will introduce reciprocal arrangements in which Crick
researchers might move, as Secondees, Satellites or Sabbatical workers, to
university laboratories.
Applications will be assessed on the quality of the proposed research and its interdisciplinary nature, with a particular focus in the physical, mathematical and
computational sciences, and in clinical translation. Consistent with the Crick’s aim
to create future science leaders, applications involving early career researchers are
particularly encouraged.
Useful information

Applications are welcome from all university principal investigators following
discussion with the appropriate Dean, and from all Crick group leaders after
discussion with Jim Smith and, where appropriate, other members of the
Research Directorate. For Crick group leaders, the duration of the attachment
should not exceed the GL’s tenure.

University principal investigators moving to the Crick will remain as university
employees, and Crick group leaders will remain as employees of the Crick.

Attachments are expected to be externally funded. Should core-funded Crick
researchers move to a university laboratory as part of an attachment
arrangement, their equipment and consumable costs will not be covered by
core funds, and their positions will not be back-filled.

Secondments are intended to provide a training and development opportunity
for early career researchers who can benefit from the research environment
and support available at the Crick or in the university laboratory. Seconded
research groups are also expected to add value to the host institution.

Applications for satellites and sabbaticals should be based on discussions with
the collaborating group leader, and should include a short supporting statement
from the collaborator.

Applications from the Crick should be supported by Jim Smith and the Research
Directorate, and applications from the university should be supported by the
relevant Dean or equivalent.

Applications will first be assessed internally by the appropriate university or the
Crick, with selected projects then being considered by a panel including
representatives from the Crick and the university partners.
Key dates:
Applications submitted to home institution
Universities send selected applications to the
Crick and the Crick sends selected applications to
the universities
Applicants notified whether or not they have
been shortlisted for interview
Crick/University selection panels
Notification of outcome
11th March 2016
18th April 2016
Mid-May 2016
13th June 2016
22nd June 2016
24th June 2016 (am only)
Early July 2016