Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key...

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Transcript of Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key...

Page 1: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing
Page 2: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship

Info session – call 2021

October 2020

Page 3: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

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 3Info session postdoc fellowships FWO

Page 4: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

Outline

1. FWO mission & key numbers

2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance

3. Evaluation & selection process

4. Preparing your application

5. … further reading & contact

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Page 5: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

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…

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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

Page 7: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

• 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

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Page 8: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

The FWO and social media

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Page 10: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

Outline

1. FWO mission & key numbers

2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance

3. Evaluation & selection process

4. Preparing your application

5. … further reading & contact

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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Page 18: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

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)

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Uniform evaluation: scoring descriptorsScoring grids preselection / interview

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Selection process

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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

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• 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

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2021 call: timeline evaluation & selection

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Page 24: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

Outline

1. FWO mission & key numbers

2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance

3. Evaluation & selection process

4. Preparing your application

5. … further reading & contact

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Page 25: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

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

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Preparing your application – e-portal

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Or first:

Info session postdoc fellowships FWO

Page 27: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

Preparing your application – e-portal

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Your e-application:

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October 2020 28

• 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

Page 29: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

• 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!)

Page 30: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

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

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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

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Submitting your application

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-> automatic confirmation follows-> registration number sent-> eligibility check: Q&A with FWO admin

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≤ December 1 2020 – 5:00 pm CET

Declaration by the applicant!… GDPR, research integrity,…

Page 33: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

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

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Page 34: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

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

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Page 35: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

Outline

1. FWO mission & key numbers

2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance

3. Evaluation & selection process

4. Preparing your application

5. … further reading & contact

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Page 36: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

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

[email protected]

• (e-portal/IT problems only)

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Page 38: Applying for a FWO postdoc fellowship...The FWO and social media 9 Outline 1. FWO mission & key numbers 2. Postdoc fellowships at a glance 3. Evaluation & selection process 4. Preparing

…and good luck!