The SEAI Fellowship pilot programme will provide the opportunity for postdoctoral or experienced researchers to apply for research fellowship positions based within SEAI.

1. 2022 SEAI Fellowship
Pilot Programme
SEAI Presenters
Dr. Lucy Corcoran, Dr. Joanne Fitzgerald, Louise O’Connor, David Rossiter
SEAI National Energy Research, Development & Demonstration Funding Programme
Tuesday 10th January 2023
Accelerating transformative research to
deliver Ireland’s energy revolution

2. Dr. Lucy Corcoran
Programme Manager, SEAI
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 2
Welcome and Introduction

3. 1. Introduction
2. Programme description & objectives
3. Who can avail of the programme?
4. Key timelines
5. Definition of project roles
6. Application process
7. Evaluation process
8. Fellowship Topics
9. Submitting your application
10. Q&A
Send your questions
in the Q&A window at
any time during
the webinar !
3 www.seai.ie
Outline Agenda

4. This event is being recorded
WebEx Housekeeping
4
www.seai.ie
Attendees are muted with cameras off
Questions submitted by clicking Q&A bubble
Questions will be answered at the end of the webinar
An FAQ will be created from all questions submitted and shared
A recording and slides will be distributed after the event

5. We work with Government, homeowners, business
and communities to create a cleaner energy future
5

6. CEO
Finance &
Corporate Services
Business
Supports
Communications
SEAI Board
Data &
Insights
Research &
Technology
Business & Public Sector
Directorate
Research andPolicy
Insights Directorate
Communities &
Retrofit
Development
Home
Retrofit
Public Sector and
Transport Legal
Counsel
Audit, Risk and
Compliance
SEAI Organisation Chart
Corporate Services Directorate National Retrofit Directorate

7. Research & Policy Insights: Supporting climate action
7
www.seai.ie
Policy advisory
Business
decarbonisation
Research and
Demonstration
Statistics /
Modelling
Home
decarbonisation
Insights Action
Public sector
leadership
Consumer
behaviour
Community
activation
Evaluation
Technology
expertise

8. EU Research
Activity
Technology
Expertise
Statistics
Supports to RDD
Behavioural
Unit
Modelling
Innovation
Programme
Evaluation
Data &
Insights
Research &
Technology

9. 9 www.seai.ie
Research & Technology Department
Offshore/Ocean
Electricity
Onshore Electricity Bioenergy Heat Heating, Cooling &
District Heating
National Research
International
Research
Collaboration
Representing & connecting key National and International stakeholders
Delivering policy evidence base

10. Lead & coordinate energy
research supports in Ireland
SEAI Research & Innovation Activities
SEAI National
Energy RD&D
Funding
Programme
Horizon Europe –
National Contact
Point
UNFCCC –
Technology
Delegate
SET-Plan
Steering Group
International
Energy Agency
TCPs
Annual TCP
Appointment Call
– Open Now!
www.seai.ie
10

11. Dr. Joanne Fitzgerald
Programme Executive, SEAI
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 11
SEAI Pilot Fellowship Programme Overview

12. SEAI Fellowship overview
• Applicants submit a competitive research proposal with the
support of a 3rd level institution.
• After successful evaluation, funding awarded to 3rd level institution.
• Fellows are based within SEAI.
• Fellows research areas of Irish energy policy priority, while
immersed in the diverse activities carried out by SEAI.
• Fellows develop key skills that may open up further opportunities
at the energy research-policy interface.
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 12

13. SEAI Fellowship Programme Objectives
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 13
Build capacity in the sustainable energy sector
Build
Enhance national capabilities and capacities at the energy-policy interface
Enhance
Build capacity in bridging the gap between policy and research
Bridge
Strengthen knowledge to support the clean energy transition
Strengthen
Provide career development opportunities for participating fellows
Career
Provide researchers considering a transition from academia to the private or public sector with relevant skills
and experience
Skills
Provide opportunity for experience in energy policy and strategic development and implementation
Experience

14. Who can avail of the programme
Open to applicants who have support of 3rd level educational bodies:
• 3rd Level body must be based in the Rep. Of Ireland.
• Applicant must have a PhD or equivalent experience
SEAI defines PhD equivalent as 4 years’ full time research experience after primary degree
14 www.seai.ie

15. Eligible 3rd level educational bodies include:
www.seai.ie 15
Atlantic Technological University Technological University Shannon
Dublin City University Technological University Dublin
Dundalk Institute of Technology Trinity College Dublin
Maynooth University University College Cork
Munster Technological University University College Dublin
National University of Ireland, Maynooth University of Galway
South East Technological University University of Limerick
The complete list of
eligible 3rd level
institutions will be
included in our FAQ
sheet.

16. 2022 Pilot Fellowship Call – Outline timelines
Key Dates
Call Open Wednesday the 30th of November 2022
Application Deadline Tuesday the 14th of February 2023, 3pm
Stage 1: Eligibility March 2023
Stage 2: Evaluation April 2023
Stage 3: Interview April/May 2023
Award Notification June/July 2023
All call details are available at:
https://www.seai.ie/grants/research-funding/research-fellowship/
16 www.seai.ie

17. Definition of Project Roles
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 17
Fellowship
Applicant:
Academic
Sponsor:
Organisation
Sponsor:
SEAI
Supervisor:

18. Definition of Project
Roles
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 18
Fellowship Applicant:
The Fellowship Applicant will
be responsible for the research
activities, reporting,
dissemination and other duties
associated with the proposed
fellowship in-line with SEAI
policies.

19. Definition of Project
Roles
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 19
Academic Sponsor:
The Academic Sponsor is based within the
Sponsor Organisation and will take
administrative responsibility for the Fellow if the
applicant is successful. Academic Sponsors must
be core-funded members of academic staff
with an employment contract that covers the entire
duration of the fellowship. The sponsor will carry
responsibility for liaising with the HR dept of the
3rd level body in relation to any contractual and
employment requirements, leave entitlements and
other administrative duties for the Fellow with the
3rd Level Educational Body while the Fellow is
participating in the Fellowship Programme.

20. Definition of Project
Roles
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 20
Fellowship Applicant
Academic Sponsor
Organisation Sponsor:
The confirmed 3rd Level Educational Body
supporting the fellowship application.

21. Definition of Project
Roles
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 21
Fellowship Applicant
Academic Sponsor
Organisation Sponsor:
SEAI Supervisor:
Fellows will be assigned an SEAI supervisor who will
provide support and guidance for the duration of their
Fellowship.

22. 22 www.seai.ie
Fellowships – Important information
• Fellows shall comply with all relevant SEAI
workplace policies, as notified by SEAI.
• Fellows will be provided with an appropriate
workspace and the necessary IT equipment
to fulfil their duties.
• Currently SEAI is operating a hybrid
working model and it is expected that
fellows would be in the office at least two
days per week in 2023, however this is
subject to change.
• Fellowships will be 2 years’ duration with
longer considered in exceptional
circumstances if justified.
• Successful applicants will commence
fellowships in Q3.

23. 23 www.seai.ie
The application form – what's needed?
Application
Form
Call Doc
Guidance
1
• Fellowship Suitability
2
• Excellence and Innovation
3
• Relevance and Impact
4
• Work Plan
5
• Budget
6
• Letters of support

24. Application Form – breakdown
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 24
• Section 1 Project and Applicant Details
• Section 2 Candidate and Motivation
• Employment History
• Motivation to undertake Fellowship
• Most relevant research outputs
• Key achievements in development of individuals
and collaborations
• Contribution to wider research community and
society
• Key achievements supporting the research
community
• Section 3 Excellence and Innovation
• Section 4 Relevance and Impact
• Includes Communication and dissemination plan
• Data management
• Section 5 Work Plan
• Project management (max of 5 work packages)
• Gantt Chart
• Section 6 Budget

25. Application Form – Section 6 Budget
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 25
Applicants should outline relevant
experience within the Application
Form (Section 2).
Applicants should apply for the
appropriate point on the IUA scales,
commensurate with experience.
Please refer to https://www.iua.ie/for-
researchers/researcher-salary-
scales-career-framework/

26. Evaluation
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 26
Stage 1
Eligibility Assessment
Applications will be assessed
to ensure administrative
compliance with programme
requirements and objectives.
Stage 2
Technical Evaluation
Applications passing the
eligibility assessment will be
technically evaluated under
the evaluation criteria outlined
below.
Stage 3
Interview
Following technical evaluation,
highly ranked applicants will
be invited to participate in
an interview.

27. 27 www.seai.ie
Evaluation Criteria
Overall
100%
Fellowship
Suitability
30%
Excellence &
Innovation
30%
Relevance &
Impact
20%
Quality &
Efficiency of
Implementation
20%

28. 28 www.seai.ie
Evaluation Criteria continued
Fellowship Suitability (30%)
• Relevance of qualifications and experience
• Motivation to undertake fellowship
• Scientific outputs appropriate to career
stage
• Other communications and public
engagement
• Overall suitability for proposed project
Excellence and Innovation (30%)
• Familiarity with relevant RD&D
activities/knowledge of the area
• Quality of the proposed approach and
ambition related to state of the art in Ireland
and beyond
• The validity and reliability of the prospective
approach

29. 29 www.seai.ie
Evaluation Criteria continued
Relevance and Impact (20%)
• Relevance to the needs of the Irish energy
sector with particular reference to national
policy such as it pertains to SEAI’s remit
• Builds and/or maintains national capacity,
capability and critical mass to carry out
internationally leading research activities
underpinning the energy sector
• Relevance of enterprise, scientific, policy
and social impacts of project outputs
• Strength of communication/dissemination
and exploitation plans and approach to data
management
Quality and Efficiency of Implementation
(20%)
• Coherence and effectiveness of the
proposed fellowship project work plan
• Quality of project framework, clarity of
deliverables and milestones with a credible
breakdown of activities

30. Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 30
7 Fellowship Topics
Fellows located in
Research & Insights
Directorate, SEAI
Full fellowship topic details
available in the Call Document

31. This Topic aims to improve understanding of gender aspects of the energy transition.
This fellowship could address following objectives, among others:
• Review available literature on gender considerations in the energy sector;
• Consider whether energy policies in Ireland are gender neutral or gender blind;
• Assemble detailed data and information and/or review available databases on the different
policy implementing programmes in SEAI;
• Investigate whether gender plays a role in the implementation of programmes;
• Where gender data is unavailable provide recommendations for whether gender data should
be collected and the process that would need to be followed to implement the data collection;
• Make recommendations about how gender considerations could be included in the design
phase of new programmes;
• Consider the impact of gender on the communication strategies for policy implementing
programmes;
• Conduct additional research activities relating to gender in the energy sector which may be
required to support SEAI in delivery of relevant activities.
Topic 1 - Investigating gender aspects of Ireland’s clean energy
transition
31 www.seai.ie
Research &
Technology
Dept

32. Research &
Technology
Dept
Topic 2 - Investigating ecological conservation management while
maximising Ireland’s clean energy transition
32 www.seai.ie
This topic aims to examine ecological conservation management and its role in Ireland’s clean
energy transition.
This fellowship could address the following among others
• Review policies in place in European member states, identifying measures that may support
the mitigation of negative impacts to the Irish context, and tracking any unintended
consequences;
• Literature review of evidence-based research into effective mitigation and compensation
measures that have contributed to planning confidence;
• Habitat Management - review the efficacy of existing management plans and analysis of how
adaptive management could be put in place based on current best evidence;
• Consider how ecology legal requirements fit in to the planning regime, including suggesting a
best practice review process for local authorities to follow;
• Conduct additional research activities relating to ecology in the energy sector which may be
required to support SEAI in delivery of relevant activities.

33. Research &
Policy
Insights
Directorate
Topic 3 - Applying an innovation to impact framework to achieve
Ireland’s clean energy transition
33 www.seai.ie
Support SEAI in translating outputs from its Research & Technology, and Data & Insights
Departments into continuously developing sustainable innovative programmes that identify and
support high impact business opportunities.
This fellowship could address the following among others:
• An extensive literature review and assessment of:
• Different innovation to impact frameworks
• Innovation models and management approaches
• Identify issues and challenges to the Irish energy sector in innovation;
• Design an Irish Innovation to Impact Framework for SEAI including:
• Adaptable process template
• Core tool template and toolkits
• Common language and definitions
• Trial of the framework with a number of different departments of SEAI, supports and guidelines on how to
use the framework;
• Conduct additional research activities relating to innovation to impact in the energy sector which may be
required to support SEAI in delivery of relevant activities.

34. Topic 4 - Developing a research impact framework to support
Ireland’s energy research sector
34 www.seai.ie
Research &
Technology
Dept
This fellowship project would be tasked with creating a Research Impact Framework for energy research.
This could be developed by identifying potential areas of energy research impact from the research
impact assessment literature and based on research assessment criteria. By conducting an extensive
literature review, this research could aim to define, from an Irish energy research point of view:
• A new definition of research impact and impact evaluation;
• A typology of research impact evaluation designs;
• A methodological framework to guide evaluations of the significance and reach of impact that can be attributed
to research;
• Conduct additional research activities relating to funded research in the energy sector which may be required to
support SEAI in delivery of relevant activities.

35. Topic 5 - Research informing model methodology and functionality
to enhance comprehensive energy modelling capability
35 www.seai.ie
The SEAI Energy Modelling Team identifies potential solutions and pathways for decarbonisation of heat,
electricity, and transport energy use in Ireland and to drive effective climate action.
Some example areas that a fellowship project could explore include:
• Open-source simulation and optimisation model development
• Development of detailed freight and car fleet model incorporating consumer decision making component
• Electric power modelling
• Data-driven Infrastructure and Investment planning
• Detailed consumer choice modelling and behavioural analysis
• Net-zero pathways and sector coupling
• District heating, Hydrogen, Energy Storage, Power to Gas-Demand-side flexibility and Optimisation, incorporating
modelled methodologies for security of supply with high renewables, high electrification (weather-dependent supply/
demand)
• Modelling negative emissions technologies
• Model development on potential barriers for low carbon heating technologies in industry
Data &
Insights
Dept

36. Topic 6 - Improving the effectiveness and equity of energy saving
programmes
36 www.seai.ie
As part of its mission to bring about an energy revolution in Ireland, SEAI has a wide array of programmes
awarding financial grants to households to speed up the adoption of measures that decarbonise and reduce
energy use. These programmes include improving the heating efficiency of homes, converting to electricity-based
heating, encouraging a shift to electromobility, and facilitating local electricity generation.
The SEAI’s current programme portfolio offers a uniform grant for each kind of energy measure undertaken by
the recipient, regardless of socio-economic considerations, with the only exception the Fully Funded Energy
Upgrades Scheme (formerly Warmer Homes) which fully funds home upgrades for recognised disadvantaged
groups.
This fellowship will investigate the cumulative distributional effects of SEAI’s portfolio of programmes on
Ireland’s population. Distributional effects here should be taken to represent a range of dimensions of the Irish
population, for example income, gender, geographic regions, urban/rural gradient, immigrant populations,
Traveller communities, etc.
Data &
Insights
Dept

37. Topic 7 - Behavioural economic trials to understand energy
consumption and encourage uptake of energy saving measures
37 www.seai.ie
This Topic calls for a Research Fellow to collaborate on trials focused on understanding the
behavioural, economic and social drivers of energy consumption and encouraging adoption of
energy saving activities.
The unit has a number of ongoing trials which could be further developed into academic projects.
These include field trials focused on energy efficiency uptake and ongoing behavioural surveys
examining consumption patterns. We also welcome applicants to propose their own research topics
which align with the scope of the BEU activities.
A proposed project could include:
• Design and development of online and field experiments
• Lead and contribute to analysis of quantitative data
• Undertake literature reviews
• Qualitative research to understand behavioural drivers of emissions
• Produce academic papers and policy briefs arising from the research findings
• Communication with key stakeholders and coordination of stakeholder events
• Presenting research at academic and policy conferences
Data &
Insights
Dept

38. Louise O'Connor
Programme Executive, SEAI
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 38
How to submit your application

39. Submitting your application
39 www.seai.ie
• All applications should be submitted via
SEAI’s Project Evaluation Platform (PEP)
https://pepportal.seai.ie/ before the
submission deadline
• Prepare your application
submission offline. E.g. completed
application form and supporting
documentation.
• Register and login early to familiarise
yourself with the portal.

40. 40 www.seai.ie
Submitting your application
• Once you have registered and logged into the portal, Click
Applications in the navigation side bar and select Pilot from
the dropdown.
• To create an application select the add button highlighted
below

41. Submitting your application
41 www.seai.ie
PEP Submission
• Section A – Applicant Details and project
summary
• Under the "Project type" heading please
select RDD fellowship
• Section B - Supporting Documentation.
Please upload your complete Application
Form, and all supporting documentation
under the appropriate heading.
• Warning: Once you click submit you will
NOT be able to edit your application.

42. 42 www.seai.ie
• Please refer to the PEP guidance
document which will be available to
download on our website.
• Only fully complete applications
received prior to the 3pm
application deadline will be
considered for evaluation.
Submitting your application
https://www.seai.ie/grants/research-
funding/research-fellowship/

43. Top tips
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 43
1
5 weeks before
submission
deadline – Start
preparing now
2
Allow time for
obtaining Letters
of Support,
required
signatures etc.
3
Become familiar
with the PEP
portal
Login in
& Register early
4
Review the Call
Document, and
the PEP
application
guidance
document.
5
SEAI cannot
review or provide
feedback on
draft applications
6
FAQ document
will be shared
and available on
the Fellowship
website after the
webinar
 Only fully complete applications received in advance of the 3pm deadline, on Tuesday the 14th of
February will progress to evaluation
 If you have a query, please contact energyresearch@seai.ie

44. Q&A Session
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 44

45. Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland’s energy revolution 45
THANK
YOU e: energyresearch@seai.ie
w: https://www.seai.ie/grants/research-
funding/research-fellowship/
SEAI National Energy Research, Development
& Demonstration Funding Programme