How to Succeed in Getting an Individual Fellowship? · 2018. 6. 11. · How to Succeed in Getting an Individual Fellowship? 1.1.5. Originality of the research The originality of the

Antonino Puglisi Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow Istanbul Technical University

How to Succeed in Getting an Individual Fellowship?

[email protected]

96,40%


Creative people don’t find a job

They make them!


https://www.net4mobility.eu/ http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/guides_fo

r_applicants/h2020-guide-appl-msca-if-2018-20_en.pdf

Some indispensable tools Read the supports available

Updated at 2016


1. Understand MSCA-IF and the philosophy behind it…

…it’s all about you


Your sense of direction

Your background

Where you want to go


Your skills transfer

What people can learn from

you

What you can learn

from people


2. Know the evaluation system

Excellence 50%

Impact 30%

Implementation 20%


[CATEGORY NAME]

[PERCENTAGE] [CATEGOR

Y NAME] [PERCENTA

GE]

[CATEGORY NAME]

[PERCENTAGE]

96,40% (4.5/5)

(4.9/5)

(4.9/5)


Competition is tough!

In 2016 - 7061 eligible proposals (IF-EF-Standard)

Success rate 13.1%

Aim at >90% Score in the Evaluation!


Top

s


This is NOT a scientific paper!

Be reader-friendly

…go easy with scientific references and jargon


Get your page economy right!

6 + 2 + 2 = 10

Excellence 50%

Impact 30%

Implementation 20%


Make stick out what you really want to highlight

Use bold in sentences


It’s an individual fellowship application

Speak in the first person!

My hypothesis is that, after BBB penetration, the NanoMops will undergo (…)

My approach to the project will articulate into three Research Objectives (…)

The blend of highly qualified supervision together with hands-on training in the described tecniques will allow me to broaden my skills reinforcing my research independence. (…)


Again…be reader friendly

Use clear, high-quality images


Use emphatic language! Show your passion


Get your hands on some old successful proposals

If you can…


…. And a bit of luck!

Time

My personal recipe for success


0.001% Niemann-Pick Disease Type C

Take your reader on a journey!


Hungary Prof Frances Platt

(Oxford – UK)

Prof Suna Timur

(Izmir)

Prof Yusuf Yagci

(ITU)

Build a great scientific team around your proposal!


1. John

2. Graziella

3. Italian NCP

4. ITUNOVA

5. Mario Raimondi

6. Susumu

7. Cristina

8. Hocam

9. Cyclolab

10. Suna Timur - Ege Uni

11. EU office ITU

12. Consultant x

13. INPDA

14. Catherine

15. Margherita

16. Oxford

Friends and family

Consultant (TUBITAK)

Former supervisors Ex colleagues

Supervisor/Partners

NCP Turkey and Host Country

ITUNOVA

Ask for help…

…to proof-read&critique your proposal ITU’s European Union

Centre Research Office


Early assessment of bids!

Ideally by early summer which will give 2/3 months (over holiday period) to prepare properly

TUBITAK pre-evaluation (2022)


Reiteration


My timeline

Deadline

12th June 2017

Contact the consultant

14th September 2017

1st version

July 2017

2st version

July 2017

3rd/4th/5th version

Aug 2017

1st SUBMISSION

20th Aug 2017

2nd SUBMISSION

13th Sept 2017

Contact partners

Contact charity

You will ~ 3 months


Writing tips


Catchy title


Clear outlook


[CATEGORY

NAME]

[PERCENTAGE]

Impact 30%

Implementation

20%


1.1.1. Introduction and Aim of the Action 1.1.2. State-of-the art

Bowl them over!


What’s the challenge?

What’s the solution

What will you learn?

What will the EU gain?

Any similar calls under H2020?

Why does EU have to fund this?

Why now?


Moving from the current understanding of the “mopping-up” effect of CDs on cholesterol and from my own research

experience in chemical modification of CDs (see my CV Section 4), I set out to synthesise a library of novel CD-based

polymeric nanoparticles (‘NanoMops’) and investigate their therapeutic effect in NPC. This proposed project is structured by

the following research objectives:

Research Objective 1 (Work Package 1): Synthesis and characterisation of amphiphilic copolymers

Research Objective 2 (Work Package 2): Formation of the NanoMops, characterisation and assessment of their stability

Research Objective 3 (Work Package 3): Bioevaluation of the NanoMops

Make it clear what your goal is

1.1.3. Objective

List and explain your objectives


1.1.4. Research methodology and approach

Reference within the proposal to save space

Each objective will be accomplished through a logical Work Package structure Section 3.1.

During this project I set out to synthesise a library of CD-bearing, functional amphiphilic co-polymers (Figure 1A) that, through a process of self-assembling, will form biodegradable micellar nanoparticles (NanoMops) (Figure 1B)


1.1.5. Originality of the research

The originality of the proposed research lays on four key ideas: 1. The CDs will be embedded into a micellar nanoparticle: the embedding of CDs into a

polymeric structure has potentially tremendous advantages over the monomeric form of CDs. (…)

2. The NanoMops will be lactose-functionalised in order to promote lysosomal targeting: A plethora of carbohydrate decorated nanoparticles have been demonstrated to promote selective and active targeting., The NanoMops will be functionalised (…)

3. The NanoMops will undergo a lysosomal pH-triggered CD-release: The linker chemistry between the CD and the amphiphilic polymer (…)

4. The NanoMops will be able to cross the BBB: As mentioned, nanoparticles can exploit (…)

Do not use generic statements…

Spell it out!


1.3 Quality of the supervision and of the integration in the team/institution

• Your supervisor…

• Your host department

Qualifications and experience of the supervisor Prof. Yagci is a professor in polymer chemistry at ITU. He is an internationally recongnoised scientist in the field of polymer chemistry. He has been awarded several international and national science awards such as (…)

The Chemistry Department at ITU with its 19 research groups working in the filed of polymer chemistry or related

areas provides an excellent base for the proposal. The department has a track record in regular exchanges of visiting researchers (…)

ITU adopts the principles set out in the European Charter Code for Researchers and in the Code of Conduct for the

Recruitment of Researchers. ITU’s European Union Centre Research Office will assist me to obtain residence permit and

in the financial management of the action. ITU has also a Technology Transfer Office (ITUNOVA TTO) which provides

support to protect any Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) that might arise from the project (I have already made contact with Mr. Oztan at ITUNOVA TTO office).


Where do you want to go? …and how?

1.4 Capacity of the researcher to reach or re-enforce a position of professional maturity/independence

Prof Yagci and I have formulated a customised Personal Career Development Plan for me that will entail: 1) Publication of 2-3 scientific papers in high-impact factor, open-access, journals Section 2.2 2) Participation in international conferences (at least 2 Section 2.2) (…) 3) Hands-on training on polymerisation and polymer characterisation techniques, nanoparticle formation and

bioassays, 4) Tutoring of interns in the lab as well as teaching of a course on CDs and supramolecular chemistry,

5) Developing my research management skills (…)

6) Through the extensive research network of Prof Yagci I will also be well placed to build my own network opportunities in the polymer chemistry community (…)

7) Looking to work with and through collaborative research and innovation networks funded under Horizon 2020.


[CATEGORY NAME]

[PERCENTAGE] [CATEGORY

NAME]

[PERCENTAGE]

Implementation

20%


Imagination is your limit!

I used hyperlink with a short excerpt in the proposal


2.2 Quality of the proposed measures to exploit and disseminate the action results

Activity Target Expected Impact

Scientific

publications

My target is to publish 2-3 papers during the fellowship in open-acces, high impact factor, peer-reviewed journals such as: 1) Scientific Reports - Nature (on the chemistry part of the project), 2) Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (on chemistry and the bioassays)

Papers will be published accordingly to EU’s recommendations on Open Access and will be advertised through professional networking channels e.g LinkedIn, Academia.edu, ResearchGate, Twitter, etc...

Participation in

international conferences

Targeted confrences are: 1) International Cyclodextrin Symposium (Japan 2018), 2) Annual Congress of the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS).

Share data and network with specialists in the field at European and International level

Networking

1) With other researchers working on NPC in Turkey, Europe and internationally 2) With European Reference Networks (ERNs), networking healthcare providers across Europe to tackle complex or rare diseases

Strengthen the EU network of researchers working on NPC

Work with industrial partner

CycloLab

Other research groups working on NPC - Build a stronger network of researchers working on CD-based therapies for NPC

- Help optimise results from project

Use a table to save space! 3-4 strong ideas

http://ec.europa.eu/health/rare_diseases/policy_en




Numbers!!!

2.3 Quality of the proposed measures to communicate the action activities to different target audiences

Activity Target Expected Impact Set up a dedicated

website on the project

Wider public Raise awareness around the NPC globally and in Turkey in particular

Engaging with industrial partner Oxford Nanopore

Technologies

Raising awareness about speed diagnosis and treatment of Niemann-Pick type C

Providing specific test for early diagnose of NPC though their DNA-sequencing technology

Engage with charitable organisations

INPDA and NPUK

1) Write regular updates on the project to be disseminated through INPDA and NPUK networks

2) Facilitate progress in research and influencing policy-making

3) Raise awareness about NPC in Turkey

INPDA distributes news articles via email, website and social media reach approximately 1000 worldwide. INPDA Facebook page reached over 2,700,000 post engagements in May 2017 INPDA Website has around 1k view/month. NPUK Newsletter reaches 1000 by post and is circulated to an additional 700 by email

Previous employer



[CATEGORY NAME]

[PERCENTAGE]

Impact 30%

[CATEGORY

NAME]

[PERCENTAGE]


3.1 Coherence and effectiveness of the work plan

3.2 Appropriateness of the allocation of tasks and resources


3.3 Appropriateness of the management structure and procedures, including risk management

Supervision and Technical Management: the project will be managed under a two-level monitoring mechanism: 1) A weekly meeting between Prof Yagci (supervisor) and myself will be the backbone for the

planning and the implementation of the project. This will serve the purpose of checking on short

term administrative and scientific research goals. The weekly meetings will also be a vital part of the

mentoring aspect of the fellowship to check on my professional development and to make sure the project is developed in cooperation with the Supervisor. 2) A meeting every 4 months with an Advisory Committee comprised of Prof Yagci (for the

chemistry aspect) and of Prof Timur (Ege University - for the biological aspect) together with

another academic member from the Host institution to advise me and establish possible contingency plans to ensure quality outputs.


3.3 Appropriateness of the management structure and procedures, including risk management

Risk/Failure Risk Level Contingency plan In forming stable

nanoparticles low-

medium Fine-tuning of the length of the blocks in the

amphiphilic polymer In cellular uptake of the

nanoparticles low-

medium Fine-tuning the content of appended lactose on the

NanoMops’ surface In crossing the BBB in cell

models low-

medium Fine-tuning the content of positive charges on the

NanoMops’ surface

Equipment failure low Seek usage of similar instruments at ITU adjoining

universities

Dikkatiniz için teşekkür ediyorum

[email protected]


Your mobility

How to Succeed in Getting an Individual Fellowship? · 2018. 6. 11. · How to Succeed in Getting an Individual Fellowship? 1.1.5. Originality of the research The originality of the

Documents