Applying to the ESRC: Early Career Opportunities

Overview of the career lifecycle Early career funding options Studentship opportunities Postdoctoral Fellowships First Grants What this presentation covers

Overview of the career lifecycle

Early career funding options

Studentship opportunities

Postdoctoral Fellowships

First Grants

Research careers – funding pathway Centres Research Masters +3 Studentship Postdoctoral Fellowship Small Grant Large Grant Mid-career Fellowship First Grant Scheme Professorial Fellowship Priority Networks/ Groups Research Opportunities On-going Training and Development Standard Grant

Research careers – funding pathway Centres Research Masters +3 Studentship Postdoctoral Fellowship Small Grant Large Grant Mid-career Fellowship First Grant Scheme Professorial Fellowship Priority Networks/ Groups Research Opportunities Standard Grant Early career Mid career International Bilateral Grant On-going Training and Development

Annual calls: Studentship Schemes First Grants Open Schemes: Postdoctoral fellowships ESRC early career funding schemes

Annual calls:

Studentship Schemes

First Grants

Open Schemes:

Postdoctoral fellowships

Current ESRC Studentship Schemes Non-collaborative studentships Quota Nominated Studentships Open Competition Studentships Collaborative Studentships CASE studentships Joint Collaborative Studentships (With Government) Joint Research Council Studentships (MRC, EPSRC and NERC)

Non-collaborative studentships

Quota Nominated Studentships

Open Competition Studentships

Collaborative Studentships

CASE studentships

Joint Collaborative Studentships (With Government)

Joint Research Council Studentships (MRC, EPSRC and NERC)

Overview of ESRC’s Studentship Schemes ESRC studentships can only be held in “recognised” outlets The majority of studentships are allocated to outlets as “quotas” Outlets with quota places are guaranteed a fixed number of studentships Institutions with quotas select a student for each place and nominate to ESRC in May each year In addition, small number (100) of awards are allocated through an annual competition that closes in May each year

ESRC studentships can only be held in “recognised” outlets

The majority of studentships are allocated to outlets as “quotas”

Outlets with quota places are guaranteed a fixed number of studentships

Institutions with quotas select a student for each place and nominate to ESRC in May each year

In addition, small number (100) of awards are allocated through an annual competition that closes in May each year

Postdoctoral Fellowships Open date competition Applicants should have no more than three years active postdoctoral experience when the take up the award Designed to enable new researchers to: Produce publications in order to establish a track record Disseminate their research findings from previous doctoral work Further improve research skills through specialised training Carry out LIMITED research related to PhD work They are not designed for new research

Open date competition

Applicants should have no more than three years active postdoctoral experience when the take up the award

Designed to enable new researchers to:

Produce publications in order to establish a track record

Disseminate their research findings from previous doctoral work

Further improve research skills through specialised training

Carry out LIMITED research related to PhD work

They are not designed for new research

First Grant Scheme Designed to allow new researchers to gain experience in managing a research project Call opens once a year in the autumn; with a deadline in January Must not have been a PI or Co-I on an existing ESRC award Must be within 6 years of completing doctorate Projects can be up to: 3 years in duration £400,000 (FEC) 40% of investigator’s time Must demonstrate thorough mentoring arrangements

Designed to allow new researchers to gain experience in managing a research project

Call opens once a year in the autumn; with a deadline in January

Must not have been a PI or Co-I on an existing ESRC award

Must be within 6 years of completing doctorate

Projects can be up to:

3 years in duration

£400,000 (FEC)

40% of investigator’s time

Must demonstrate thorough mentoring arrangements

First Grant or Small Grant or Postdoctoral Fellowship? Small Grants Applications from £15k to £100k FEC Researchers attached to HEI can apply Assessed by: ESRC staff (eligibility) Member of Research Grants Board Member of the ESRC Virtual College Process takes approx 14 weeks

Small Grants

Applications from £15k to £100k FEC

Researchers attached to HEI can apply

Assessed by:

ESRC staff (eligibility)

Member of Research Grants Board

Member of the ESRC Virtual College

Process takes approx 14 weeks

Further information Website: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ Further information on postgraduate funding opportunities: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/postgradfundingopps Postgraduate Funding Guide http://www.esrc.ac.uk/postgradfundingguide List of recognised outlets http://www.esrc.ac.uk/eligible Further information on research funding opportunities http://www.esrc.ac.uk/RFG How to write a good application: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/proposalguidance

Website: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/

Further information on postgraduate funding opportunities: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/postgradfundingopps

Postgraduate Funding Guide

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/postgradfundingguide

List of recognised outlets

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/eligible

Further information on research funding opportunities

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/RFG

How to write a good application:

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/proposalguidance