KU Leuven Research Coordination Office: National Funds Infosession postdoctoral fellowships
KU Leuven Research Coordination Office: National Funds
Infosession postdoctoral fellowships
1. Introduction & Funding Opportunities
Stephanie Eggermont
Research Advisor – Research Coordination Office KU Leuven
2. Postdoc Fellowships of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)
Dr. Olivier Boehme
Policy Advisor – FWO
3. Q&A
You
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Programme
Research Coordination Office
• Who we are:
Research Coordination Office3
Research Coordination Office
NATIONAL FUNDS UNIT
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Proposal
Writing
Workshops
Interview
Training
Helpdesk
Information
What we do for you:
Administration
Research Policy
Research Coordination Office
Research Coordination Office
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Research Coordination Office
Research Coordination Office
Support with the main parts of your postdoc proposal:• Project Outline & Personal Data: Workshop proposal writing (November 5)
• Ethics: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/ethics/committees/index
• DMP:
• Data Management Plan:
• Guidelines to answer the 5 questions:
https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/associatienet/support/scholcomm/rdm/
dmps-at-fwo
• Offered by KUL HR & Doctoral schools: skills training for researchers: writing a
personal statement
Support with the interview procedure:• Mock interviews + tips & tricks document
• Offered by KUL & Doctoral schools: skills training for researchers: “Pitching and
public speaking”
• Funded by:
• KU Leuven internal fund (BOF)
• Offer:
• 1 year of postdoctoral research at KU Leuven (PostDoctoral Mandate)
• Eligibility criteria:
• Type 1:
• “reserve list” of FWO junior/senior postdoc
• No separate application for PDM
• Only eligible if application in the next round (FWO, MSCA IF) is still possible
• Type 2:
• Candidates who were formally ineligible for the FWO postdoc call in December 2020
• Submit a separate application form for PDM
• Only 1 submission for Type 2 is possible
• PhD-defense between June 1 2021 and December 31 2021
• How to apply:• Deadline: March 18, 2021
• Instructions on Gedocumenteerd
• Contact: [email protected]
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Funding your postdoc: PDM
(Postdoctoral Mandate)
Funding your postdoc: Innovation Mandate (VLAIO)
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• Funded By:
• VLAIO
• What:
• Postdoc of 1 or 2 years (success rate 30-60%)
• Research exploitation and valorization within a new or existing company (type I = spin-off creation,
type II = cooperation university-company):
• further development of strategic basic research (academic criteria; risk too high for O&O but
ensuring exploitation of results within companies)
• economic finality (clear economic objectives, added value to the company, co-funding)
• Selection Criteria:
• Scientific quality, exploitation quality and added value for Flanders
• Deadline:
• March 2021/September 2021: Extensive research proposal, letter of intent, oral defense,
consultation with LRD
Contact: [email protected]
More information: https://www.kuleuven.be/gedoc ; info sessions in June
… good for you
• Independence
• Exploring new research
domains, technologies and
cultures
• Enlarging your network
Funding your postdoc: mobility
Two types:
1. International
2. Intersectoral
Funding for mobility:
1. Fellowships
2. Travel grants (top-up)
(cfr. short/long stay abroad FWO)
European Fellowships: for research in the EU and open to researchers either coming to Europe or moving within Europe.
Global Fellowships: for research outside of the EU followed by a mandatory 12 month return to an European host.
Eligibility criteria • PhD or min. 4 years of research experience
• All nationalities
• Stronger track records, on average at least 1 year postdoc
• Comply with mobility rule
Selection criteria • Research Proposal – Training Proposal – Impact - Implementation
• Candidate
Duration: min. 12 months, max. 36 months
depending on fellowship
Budget: living + mobility + family
allowances
Mobility: mandatory
Preparation (effort) • On average 4 weeks needed but more recommended
Next deadline: September 2021 Success rate: 14% European fellowships, 14% Global
fellowships
Contact: [email protected]; More information:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/about-msca/actions/if/index_en.htm
Funding your postdoc: Marie Curie Fellowships
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Type Details Criteria Duration Deadline
BAEF (USA) Post-doctoral Research
non-renewable grants for one year,,
stipend of $45,000 and health insurance
- Belgian citizen and PhD degree from
a Belgian university
- Henri Benedictus Fund: the same as
above OR at least 2 years affiliated to
a Belgian university
12 months October 31st
2020 (and
October 31st
2021)
Fulbright
(USA)
Postdoc Scholarship of $ 3000 a month +
$ 1000 travel stipend and health
insurance
- Belgian/Lux. citizen
- PhD degree
3-9 months December 1st
2020
von Humboldt
(Germany)
Free choice of host in Germany and
project
Salary & travel, mobility allowance,…
- postdocs
- all disciplines
- host = German university or
Research Institute
6-24 months Continuous
submission
Newton (UK) Free choice of host (in UK) and project
Salary & travel, mobility allowance,…
+ £6,000/y for 10y afterwards
- postdocs
- all disciplines
- host = UK institute
24 months March/April
Contact: [email protected]
Others, see: https://www.kuleuven.be/gedocumenteerd/k/index.htm
Funding your postdoc
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Funding your postdoc: mobility for FWO-postdocs
FWO regulations art. 23:
• §1. Postdoctoral fellows of the Research Foundation - Flanders can be granted
temporary suspension of their fellowship during the period of completing a
remunerated full-time research fellowship or grant at another university,
scientific institution, a company or other organisation.
• In this case, the fellowship can be extended by the period during which no
salary was paid, with a minimum of six months and a maximum of two
years. The maximum of two years applies for the junior postdoctoral fellowship
and the senior postdoctoral fellowship combined
(not for travel grants)
Dienst Onderzoekscoördinatie11
More funding opportunities?
• KU Leuven research funding portal: GeDOCumenteerdhttps://www.kuleuven.be/gedocumenteerd/k/index.htm
• KU Leuven jobsite http://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/
• Euraxess: http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/
• International office KU Leuven:
• Travel allowances for South Mobility/ Development Cooperation: [email protected]
• Travel grants and Erasmus+: [email protected]
• Travel grants to developing countries: [email protected]
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Good Luck!
Research Coordination Office
Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship
Info session – call 2021
October 2020
Preface
• What you should learn today…
• to understand the evaluation & selection process
• to prepare an application that meets the evaluation criteria
• This presentation
• serves as applicant’s “quick starting guide” (key topics only)
• more details: postdoc webpages incl. documents & regulations
• DISCLAIMER
• Official & binding documents: regulations in Dutch• English regulations: no legal status
October 2020 16Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
Outline
1. FWO mission & key numbers
2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance
3. Evaluation & selection process
4. Preparing your application
5. … further reading & contact
Info session postdoc fellowships FWO 17October 2020
Welcome to the FWO
• Our mission• Funding of fundamental & strategic research• Funding programmes
• Individual researchers (pre-, post-doc, mobility Pegasus)• Research teams (projects, SBO, Odysseus,…)• Research infrastructure• Scientific prizes
• Principles• Bottom-up in all disciplines
• Scientific excellence and interuniversity (incl research institutes) competition
• Transparent and equal opportunities
Opening new horizons…
18October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
1587 PhD fellows
850 Postdocs
The FWO by numbers
50% PhD-fellows 50%40% Postdocs 60%
82% PhD fellows 18%64% Postdocs 36%
32,8% PhD fellows
26.7% Postdoc JR (181)
25.0% Postdoc SR (89)Call 2020
fellowships
Budget 2020: 364 MEUR
• Part of FWO Policy:• Clause in call text, application and contract on committment to RI
• Profiles for (co)promoters and researchers
• Adaptations in General Regulation and Regulation pre- and postdoc fellowships on procedure and sanctions in case of RI violation
• ! Read the detailed information and the RI Clause
Every applicant and beneficiant is expected to know the rules and what (s)he will be committed to.
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Research Integrity
October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
The FWO and social media
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Outline
1. FWO mission & key numbers
2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance
3. Evaluation & selection process
4. Preparing your application
5. … further reading & contact
Info session postdoc fellowships FWO 23October 2020
FWO Postdoctoral fellowship at a glance
• Target group• young researchers developing international independent research career
• parallel calls junior/senior: 0-3 resp. 3-6 years after PhD
• All PhD’s & nationalities
• 3-year grants• start Oct 1, 2021 (or Nov 1 2021)
• fundamental research
• > < Innovation mandates (PhD exploitation & utilization: @VLAIO)
• flexible bench fee 4 – 10 k€/year
24Info session postdoc fellowships FWOOctober 2020
Call openSep 21, 2020
SubmissionDec 1, 2020
Decision BoardEnd May 2021
Start fellowshipOct 1 (/Nov 1), 2021
• Key dates
• 2021 call additional mandates• Meise Botanic Garden
• Funds Suzanne Duchesne (King Baudouin Foundation)• Special bench fees (Med4 panel cancer research)
FWO Postdoctoral fellowship at a glance
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PhD: Oct 1, 2015 Oct.1, 2018 June 1, 2021
Eligibility window
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- Extensions eligibility window: regulations Art 6 - maternity-, parental-, sickness leave > 3m- * No eligibility window ‘senior’ if directly following FWO junior postdoc fellowship
- 2nd application: window applies
- Senior: min. 2 years as postdoc researcher required (on Oct. 1, 2021)if not as FWO postdoc: declaration by host organisation needed
senior * junior
Dec.1, 2020 submission Oct/Nov 1, 2021 start
October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
Eligible host organisations
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• Main host organisation (affiliation)• 5 Flemish universities
• Evangelic Protestant Faculty Leuven - Faculty for Protestant Theology in Brussels
• Antwerp Maritime Academy
• Vlerick Business School - Antwerp Management school,
• Institute for Tropical Medicine
• + Flemish/federal research institutes (collaboration / research location)
• Main supervisor @main host organisation(-> recommendation letter on invitation by FWO)
• Co-supervisors @ main /other host institution(s)
Outline
1. FWO mission & key numbers
2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance
3. Evaluation & selection process
4. Preparing your application
5. … further reading & contact
28October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
Step 1
Remote assessment: 2 ext reviewers + 2 panel members
-> synthesis by panel rapporteur
(online) panel meetingconsensus scoring & ranking
Rejectedproposals
Step 2
Panel meeting: interviewsconsensus scoring & ranking
Single submission 2-step evaluation & selection process
Retained for step 2 interviews
Selectedcandidates
Rejectedproposals
29October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
Submission to panels
• Panel structure fundamental research• ‘Fellowships’ panels (PhD/postdoc)
• 31 panels: 30 in 5 scientific domains + interdisciplinary panel (cross-domain)
• Updated panel members list: published Jan 2021
• 12 members incl. scientific chair
• >50% members with non-Flemish affiliation
• Choose panel that best fits your application!• Check panel scopes
• motivate choice
• “out-of-scope” = score ‘0’
• Interdisciplinary panel?
• Follow acceptance criteria decision tree
30October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
Evaluation of your proposal
• Consensus panel decisions (scoring & ranking) in both steps
• Roles in panel (per application):• Rapporteur (synthesis & feedback)
• 2 panel members as internal evaluators in preselection
• 2 external reviewers (on-topic specialists) in preselection
• selected by FWO
• you may suggest (up to 3) experts to be excluded (motivation)
• Rapporteur and internal reviewers take the lead in interview
• but all panel members involved in Q&A
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Competence as postdoc researcher
• Expertise/knowledge in own research fieldInsight in project approach and positioning
• Reasoning skills and critical scientific mindset
• Clear vision on professional future and motivation
Scientific contribution• Quality & impact publications & other output• Emerging reputation & upward trajectory• (sr) Developing scientific independence
Relevant competences & motivation• Skills & expertise (acquired / developing)• Building research career (mobility*, collaboration, …)• (sr) Supervision & mentoring
* mobility: international / intersectoral(from 2022 call: interinstitutional –sr.)
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Scientific quality, relevance and challenge, originality• Originality / contribution state-of-the-art• Risks and challenges
Quality research approach, feasibility• Methodology• Feasibility, risk mitigation
Phase 1 preselection
Phase 2 interviews
Phase 1 + 2
Evaluation criteria “candidate” & “project”
60% 40%
Weighted total score (both phases)
Uniform evaluation: scoring descriptorsScoring grids preselection / interview
October 2020 Info session postdoc call 2020 33
Selection process
October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO 34
Available fellowships -> panels90% - - > proportional distribution over panels (quota)10% - - > assigned to ‘best remaining candidates’
Step 2 – interviews• (quota) best ranked candidates with score ≥4 for Candidate and Project
• best remaining candidates’: ranked over all panels
- > assignment of remaining 10% fellowships
- > reserve list
• Rejected applications
Step 1 – preselection• (quota x 2) best ranked candidates invited to interview
• Rejected applications
• All feedback AFTER selection decision Board (≥ June 2021)
• Compiled by panel member (‘rapporteur’)
• Including comments based on panel consensus decision and scores
• Template per criterion (Candidate, Project)
• “Strengths”
• “Weaknesses”
• “Comments and suggestions for improvement”
• No further correspondence on feedback
• Do NOT contact panel members!
Feedback to candidates
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Out in step 1- Scores preselection- Panel comments
Grant- Scores interview- Synthesis panel comments step 1 & 2
Out in step 2- Scores interview - Synthesis panel comments step 1 & 2
2021 call: timeline evaluation & selection
36October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
Outline
1. FWO mission & key numbers
2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance
3. Evaluation & selection process
4. Preparing your application
5. … further reading & contact
Info session postdoc fellowships FWO 37October 2020
Preparing your application – e-portal• E-portal/E-loket (www.fwo.be) (register in time!-> FWO Validation /48hrs)
• Direct access: https://fwoweb.fwo.be
• New version e-portal
38Info session postdoc fellowships FWOOctober 2020
Preparing your application – e-portal
October 2020 39
Or first:
Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
Preparing your application – e-portal
October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO 40
Your e-application:
October 2020 41
• General: • National registration number
• Also non-Belgian applicants with Belgian ID card
• ORCID registration https://orcid.org/ !
• Diplomas & posts/career• Correct, complete &up to date!• PhD future date (<1 June 2021): keep FWO updated
• Disciplines• Use level 4
• Publications• Complete list!• Updates after submission may be mentioned during interview
• Addresses• (future) ‘Belgian service address’!• Legal domicile address
• Non-Belgian domicile in EU: add TIN code (tax identification number)
Preparing your application – personal details
Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
• General:• English + Dutch! (title, abstract, PhD title)• Up to 3 free text keywords
• Host institution - supervisor• Main host institution + main supervisor (+ co-supervisor(s))
• FWO invites main supervisor for recommendation letter
• Additional Flemish/federal host institutions (+co-supervisor(s))• Other co-supervisors and their affiliation
• Peer review• Selection of panel (motivate)• Exclude ext. reviewers (motivate)
• Ethics• EU-conform ethical questionnaire
• Data Management Plan• Info: NL - EN
Preparing your application – various items
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“junior or senior” -start “Oct 1” or “Nov 1” (binding choice!)
Preparing your application – ‘candidate’
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Evaluation criteria ‘candidate’ (preselection)
• 5 main publications• Other scientific output + impact• Scientific awards
• Motivation statement• Skills developed• Competences to acquire• Vision on career
• Career breaks• Supervision & mentoring• Mobility (Research stays)
• Scientific contribution• Quality & impact publications & other output• Emerging reputation & upward trajectory• (sr) Developing scientific independence
• Relevant competences & motivation• Skills & expertise (acquired / developing)• Building research career• (sr) Supervision & mentoring
October 2020
panel
Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
Check new Mobility opportunities : research in collaboration with company or other organisation
October 2020 44
Project description – WORD template ≤10 pages• Improvements w.r.t. 1st application• Rationale and positioning w.r.t. the state-of-the-art• Scientific research objective(s)• Research methodology and work plan• references
Submitted to other funding? Be transparant!- Update FWO on pending evaluations!
Positioning (research group, (inter)nationally)
Preparing your application – ‘project’
Approval/adjustment bench fee
Bench fee /yearMotivate if >€ 4,000 /year
Evaluation criteria ‘project’
- Scientific quality, relevance and challenge, originality! International state-of-the-art
- Quality of the research methodology and feasibility! Risk mitigation
panel
Submitting your application
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-> automatic confirmation follows-> registration number sent-> eligibility check: Q&A with FWO admin
October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
≤ December 1 2020 – 5:00 pm CET
Declaration by the applicant!… GDPR, research integrity,…
Additional fellowships / bench fees
• “Meise Botanic Garden – FWO” fellowships• 1 postdoc fellowship (< - reserve list) funded by Meise Botanic Garden
• Agreement on being additional host institute (before submitting application)
• Grant: FWO contract + collaboration agreement Meise Botanic Garden & main host institute
• King Baudouin Foundation – special bench fees cancer research• Fund Suzanne Duchesne, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation -> 70,000 euro
• Best ranked Med4 candidates (jr-sr) resp. k€ 30, k€ 20, k€ 20
• Project outline: additional paragraph motivating use of special bench fee
October 2020 Info session postdoc call FWO 46
Making it to step 2: interviews
• Invitations and instructions early April 2021 (end preselection)
• Interviews 23 April -17 May 2021
• @FWO or online?
• FWO will decide timely (COVID-19 situation)
• Interview format: pitch + interview
• Interview instructions and guidelines will be available
• Opportunity to mention realizations since submission date
• Evaluation criteria different from preselection (criterion ‘candidate’)
• Score grid interview
• Focus on ‘competence’ as postdoc researcher
October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO 47
Outline
1. FWO mission & key numbers
2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance
3. Evaluation & selection process
4. Preparing your application
5. … further reading & contact
Info session postdoc fellowships FWO 48October 2020
Further reading & contact
• Programme webpages junior NL - EN / senior NL - EN
• Regulations (legal version: Dutch)
- General / Postdoc programme / bench fee / peer review
• Supporting documents
- This presentation / Screenshots e-application
- Scoring grids preselection / interview
- Instructions and Guidelines interview – to be published later
• Help! Who to contact• Additional info & specific questions
• FWO file administrators per domain
• Dirk Otte, programme manager fellowships
• (e-portal/IT problems only)
49October 2020 Info session postdoc fellowships FWO
…and good luck!