Nuclear Physics Grants and
Application Process 08/09
• SG Guidelines and Applications
• TG Guidelines and Applications
• Opportunity for questions and discussion
S.J.Freeman
University of Manchester
Chair of STFC NPGP
SCIENCE BOARD
Physical and Life
Sciences
Committee PALS
“Facility Users”
Nuclear Physics
Grants Panel
NPGP
Projects PeerReview Panel
PPRP
“Exploitation”
“Construction”
Standard Grants
Rolling Grants
Travel Grants
Project R&D Grants PRD
Project Grants
“PEER REVIEW”
Particle Physics,
Astronomy and Nuclear
Physics Science
Committee PPAN
“STRATEGY”
EXECUTIVE
Nuclear Physics Grants Panel
2008 - 2009:
Prof Sean Freeman (Manchester) - Chair - NS/E
Prof Alison Bruce (Brighton) - NS/E
Prof Martin Freer (Birmingham) - NS/E
Dr Dave Ireland (Glasgow) - QCD/E
Dr Alex Murphy (Edinburgh) - NA/E
Prof Bob Wadsworth (York) - NS/E
Prof Phil Walker (Surrey) -NS/E
plus two new members (one external)
E = Experiment
T = Theory
QCD = Hadron Physics
NS = Nuclear Structure
NA = Nuclear Astrophysics
SG Funding Opportunities/Constraints
Expectation that STFC will award 4-6 SG in the
2008/09 Grant Round.
STANDARD GRANTS (SG):
 compared to rolling exploitation programmes, SG are generally
shorter-term, well-defined projects.
 project-specific equipment, consumables, academic time, PDRA
posts, studentships and T&S.
 visiting fellows (VF) may be stand alone or part of a SG
 no formal limits on duration, but typically three years
STANDARD GRANTS (SG) continued:
 Can be multi-institutional: one case, several JeS.
 Can use RG staff or cross-community posts: must be clearly identified
and FTE levels given in case.
 No support for running conferences and short courses via SG (see
Katharine for funding methods).
Application Procedures
In general similar to SG Applications in 07/08, but some differences and
some comments.
 Scientific case within FOUR sides of A4.
 Staff time (academic, PDRA etc.) needs properly justifying in terms
of the specific activity on the project; biographies are not sufficient.
½ side of A4 per post.
 Project studentships require proper justification in terms of their
influence on the potential research outcomes of the grant and a
specific thesis project must be identified.
 Non-staff resources need justifying in TWO sides of A4.
For stand-alone VF requests, a short description of scientific
aims and objectives and justification of costs is required.
For all VF applications, a CV of the visitor is needed.
Publication Records
Provide summary statistics, as before, of peer-reviewed publications and
technical reports: no conference proceedings, other than IEEE/NIMS
under Technical Reports.
In addition, for each investigator, a full list of publications from
calendar years (05-08) with titles, full author lists as appear in journal,
and reference….these are easily compiled using Web of Science or
Nuclear Structure References.
Outreach and KE
Plans need demonstrating, as in 07/08 Round.
STFC Assessment Criteria
CATEGORY 1: Absolute pre-requisite, without which an application will not be
considered for funding:
Scientific Excellence
International Competitiveness
Strategic value within STFC programme
CATEGORY 2: Supporting evidence which increases the confidence in a successful
outcome:
Productivity of investigators
Productivity of grant supported staff
Quality of leadership/management
Suitability of institution/group
CATEGORY 3: Important additional criteria the opportunities and plans for which
must be addressed in the application:
Potential for knowledge exchange
Quality of outreach plan
STRATEGY INPUT
STFC strategy will develop during the Grant Round; NPGP
will to react to this. Community strategy and consultation report exist.
Scientific excellence AND international competitiveness are still absolute
demands on a successful proposal, whether an application is high or low
priority in the Strategy.
NB: Advisory Board nominations close 30th September.
Submission and post-submission processes
Deadline: Thursday 13th November 4pm
Referees: Electronic process with opportunity to respond.
Clarification: No formal meetings, but Panel members may solicit more
information via the Office by email.
Approval Process: NPGP recommendations are submitted for
approval by the Executive.
Outcomes: ALL communication on results of process will done through the
Office. Feedback will be given in consultation with the NPGP, but individual
NPGP members will not enter into discussion of grant outcomes.
Announcements: Likely in May/June 2009.
Earliest start dates likely June/July 2009.
TG Funding Opportunities/Constraints
Expectation that sufficient funding to cover the T&S estimate
from community consultation. Reduced costs may increase
availability of TG or SG funding.
TRAVEL GRANTS (TG):
 to provide essential short-term travel and related support for
experimental and theoretical programmes, where funding does not
currently exist elsewhere.
 for experimental travel, only experiments which have been
peer-reviewed by PAC, or similar committee, will be accepted.
 for theoretical travel, analogous support is available for time-critical
research activity.
 applications will be considered up to November 2009, in the first
instance, after which the operation will be reviewed.
TG Funding Opportunities/Constraints
TRAVEL GRANTS (TG) continued:
 Themes funded in the 07/08 round will not be considered.
 Experimental applications should be made as soon as the experiment
is scheduled.
 Any essential costs will be considered.
 Could include: T&S, consumables, running costs, academic time and
fEC costs (but see note on previous slide).
 Expectation that all requested costs will be very close to actual
expense.
 PDRA posts and studentships will not be supported.
 All academics requesting travel funds must normally be named on the
PAC proposal.
 Any unusual circumstances/issues inquiries via the Office
TG Applications
The experimental proposal to the relevant PAC should be provided as
the Case for Support.
For theoretical travel, a short case (~two sides A4) should be submitted
describing the work undertaken and why it is time critical and essential
to travel.
Applicants should justify all requested resources within one side of A4.
Evidence of scheduling (e.g. relevant email) should be submitted with
the application.
TG Process and Time Scales
Light-touch peer-review will be carried out, making judgments on the basis
of the Category 1 STFC Assessment Criteria, but cost effectiveness will be
an important additional factor. Level of resources may be adjusted.
Every effort will be made to make decisions as quickly as possible,
normally on a two/three week timescale. But travel made prior to a decision
is at the applicants’ risk.
Questions and Comments on
RG, SG and TG Procedures?
Subsequent Questions and Queries via the STFC
Office:
Dr Katharine Schofield
Nuclear Physics Programme
The Science and Technology Facilities Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1SZ, UK
Tel: (+44)1793 413171