Tips for early career researchers fellowship and grant applications general career strategies

1
Tips for early career researchers
fellowship and grant applications general
career strategies

• Janet Keast
• NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
• Pain Management Research Institute / Kolling
  Institute
• University of Sydney
• jkeast_at_med.usyd.edu.au

2
Fellowship and grant applications 1

• How to sell yourself
• be realistic - get feedback to help you calibrate
  
• track record ideas career goals
  all of them are your responsibility.
• publications quality vs. quantity (IF,
  citations)
• papers vs. conference presentations
• demonstrate growing or achievement of
  independence
• show that you have a plan!

3
Fellowship and grant applications 2

• Longer term strategies
• balance high and low risk projects
• establish a profile
• the benefits and traps of collaboration
• referees and networking
• professional activities

4
www.despair.com
what should I do if my application is
unsuccessful?
5
Fellowship and grant applications 3

• Responses to failure
• accept responsibility
• be philosophical
• demonstrate resilience
• be prepared to learn from feedback
• use the opportunity to re-assess goals and other
  options

6
Generic tips for success 1

• Be informed
• know the rules
• know your competition (local, national,
  international)
• always get feedback on your work
• seek opinions supervisor, other lab heads,
  successful researchers, research office
• grants.nih.gov/training/resources.htm
• sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development
• identify a mentor

7
Generic tips for success 2

• Be prepared
• build your CV - the primary indicator of your
  abilities
• identify your own strengths and weaknesses
• recognise the role of cleverness vs. hard work
  vs. strategy
• plan ahead allow time to identify opportunities
  and maximise success
• dont push deadlines
• dont be invisible

8
Generic tips for success 3

• Regularly assess your situation
• what motivates and interests you?
• are you capitalising on your strengths and
  minimising the impact of your weaknesses?
• establish short and long term goals
• identifying and accommodating personal/financial
  constraints
• the value of flexibility