EMBARK Initiative investing in people and ideas.

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EMBARK Initiative investing in people
and ideas.

• Funding for SET graduates
• NUI Galway
• Martin Hynes,
• info_at_ircset.ie www.ircset.ie

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Background of EMBARK

• I aim to give a broad overview, but first
  IRCSET
• Chaired by Prof. Jane Grimson, with a Council of
  representatives from research institutions and
  industry
• Mission is to train researchers of the first rank
  and to promote excellence across a broad range of
  research in science, engineering and technology.
• Does not exclusively target research projects
  with an industrial or economic focus but instead
  aims to support researchers in exploring ideas
  and bringing vision to reality
• Presentation should be on site shortly
  GradIreland.

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Funding and Applications

• Many sources available but get advice
• Remember to research research leaders
  www.expertiseireland.com
• Great variety of online sources Science Citation
  Index, Journals, Expertise Ireland
  http//www.researchcareersireland.com/Default.aspx
  
• General career Nextwave www.nextwave.org

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On choosing a supervisor--

• Questions to help select a Supervisor
  http//www.phd-survey.org/advice/Advice20-20sect
  ion20three.htm
• Others that go close to addressing the issue are
• http//nextwave.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/20
  04/09/09/19
• http//nextwave.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/20
  03/08/21/6
• http//www.grad.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Onlin
  e_resources/What_Do_PhDs_Do_/Getting_the_most_from
  _a_PhD/p!eXeccpL

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Do not expect career to be linear
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Topic for Postgrad Research

• Have you a strong interest in a particular field
  of research?
• What experiences have you of actually working in
  that discipline examples might include summer
  work, tutorials or any exposure to postgraduates
  already working in it.
• Will the requirements of developing a career in
  that field suit your desired behaviour office
  work, laboratory environment, field work,
  intensive work on computers?
• Look at some current papers related to the PhD
  topic of interest how dynamic is the field, how
  available are the data, are you interested in
  reading the material even if it stretches your
  comprehension at this point?

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Supervisor search

• This will be a relationship for 3-4 years and you
  need to get a feel for how it might work. Try to
  spend time with them informally how do they
  operate with their existing postgraduates, how do
  they publish, and what conferences do they
  contribute to?
• Talk to their current candidates and see how
  often they meet, what structure there is to
  meetings, how is progress monitored.
• What is the usual completion time for a PhD under
  their supervision and what do the doctorates go
  on to as their next career step?

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Where?

• Question whether you should continue at your
  undergraduate location.
• Wide variety of scale, funding and research
  orientation postgrad culture.
• Is the institution / supervisor known for
  research in your desired topic area?
• Is there a handbook for graduate students and an
  induction programme?
• Only then look at funding availability.

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Funding search

• Respond to call for proposals from one of the
  organisations listed in the following
• Identify the supervisor / research team and talk
  to them
• Follow the money watch for project based
  announcements in your chosen field and go
  convince them they need you.

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Irish Agencies summary see handout
www.ircset.ie
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Health Research Board

• Funds all areas of health research (biomedical,
  clinical, public health, epidemiology, health
  services)
• Project grants (3 years)
• Fellowships (in health services, nursing and
  midwifery, clinical)
• PhD training sites (4 years)
• More information fromww.hrb.ie

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Research Councils

• IRCHSS
• Post-Graduate Scholarships
• Presenting later this afternoon 15.30
• Info at www.irchss.ie

• IRCSET (Embark Initiative)
• Post graduate research scheme
• Post-doctoral Fellowship scheme
• Emerging schemes
• Further www.ircset.ie

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Mission orientated

• Science Foundation Ireland www.sfi.ie
• E.T.S. Walton Visitor Awards
• SFI Fellow Awards
• SFI Fellows Research Professorships
• SFI Investigator Programme Grants
• CSETS
• Research Frontiers Programme

• Enterprise Irelandwww.enterprise-ireland.com
• Commercialisation Fund
• Innovation Partnerships
• Short term visit/travel schemes
• Campus Companies Programme
• FP6

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Mission designated prioritiesEnvironment
Marine

• EPA
• ERTDI doctoral Scholarship scheme
• Environment Health
• Environmental Economics
• Biodiversity
• ERTDI Small scale studies (open to all)

• Marine Institute
• Michael Manahan Marine Research Fellowship Award
• (themes)
• Postgraduate Fellowship

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Mission designated prioritiesAgriculture Food

• DAF
• ERTDI research stimulus fund (open to all)
• Teagasc
• Walsh Fellowships

• COFORD
• Applied Research Programme (open to all)
• Communications and IT
• Mechanisation
• Product Process Development

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Back to specifics on IRCSET

• Primary focus on the individual, building
  research capacity in Ireland.
• Funding Activities
• Research Scholarships
• (2 calls, Feb 2005 560 awards to date)
• Research Fellowships
• (78 ongoing, call closing 25 Feb)
• Project Based Research
  

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Research Scholarship Scheme

• Open to students, with the appropriate
  qualification wishing to obtain a Masters or
  Doctoral degree by research
• Scholarship Package
• Terms and Conditions
• Assessment Procedures
• Application Form
• All EU citizens eligible to apply
• Scholarships must be held at recognised third
  level institution in the Republic of Ireland

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Terms and Conditions

• Open to those commencing a research degree for
  the 1st time in Ireland in the Autumn of the year
  of application
• Qualifications normally 1st class results, few
  upper 2nd class honours degree other factors
• PhD funding 3 years, Masters funding 1 year
• Extensions are possible
• Two calls per year closing April August
• Significant expansion of scheme 2005

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Terms and Conditions

• Total Value 19050 max per annum
• 12700 maintenance support for research,
  conference attendance and fees.
• Scholars encouraged to participate in appropriate
  conferences
• Scholarship paid to Research Body in quarterly
  instalments
• Review of progress yearly reports

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Assessment Procedures

• Applications assessed independent experts
• Assessors will consider all elements of the
  application

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Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

• Supports basic research at postdoctoral level in
  SET
• Aimed at those at an early stage of their
  postdoctoral career
• Helps researchers to associates with established
  research teams with international recognition
• Candidates from any country may apply to this
  scheme
• Fellowships must be held in Rep. of Ireland

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Project Based Research

• Until 2004 supported EI SFI.
• New targeted schemes under consideration
  Trans-disciplinary.
• Projects exploratory, novel innovative
• building on existing programmes/groups
• One call for applications per year

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The Result a community of research

• Improved opportunities
• Research careers
• Research awards
• Annual symposium
• Continuing contact

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Summary

• Rapid acceleration of research investment from
  1.4 to 2.5 of GNP by 2010.
• Explicit recognition of shortage of Ph.Ds
• Many new funding sources now available
• Scientific excellence is the common denominator
• IRCSET Unique niche, supporting researchers
  from early stage to enable them to acquire skills
  and knowledge to succeed