UK Research Office (UKRO)’s Post

The best article I have read so far about how the ideals of the Marie Curie Program are being betrayed by academia.

PhDs and postdocs, this is for you. Marie Curie fellowships are hard to get. Several parameters go into drafting a successful proposal. Some of the factors, like 1. Having an impactful idea 2. A proposal that is novel, new, and state-of-the-art 3. A clear and concise research methodology 4. Having a good host and hosting institute 5. Realistic milestones and deliverables 6. Having collaborations and secondments that could help your career and several more are critically evaluated by a review panel before coming to a decision. In fact, even personalised career development plans are key sections of a proposal. Having successfully secured a Marie Curie postdoc fellowship, I have been through the process. Wait! Let me rephrase that. After failing twice and successfully securing the fellowship on my THIRD attempt, I know the grind. I know the long hours my flatmate Arup K Kunti and I spent writing our proposals back in the day. When we were in the peak stages of writing our proposal, we used to spend months just holed up in our respective rooms. We would step out for about ten minutes to take a little break every two to three hours. We would look at each other and laugh at how much we’d aged in those few hours! We’d have a cup of coffee and then get back to writing. I think the day we submitted our proposals, we must have downed two bottles of amazing South African wine from the Western Cape and not felt a thing! After what we'd been through, the wine had little effect! That was our first attempt at writing a Marie Curie proposal. Neither of us got the fellowship. But we survived. We got wiser. We now had experience! A few months ago, I participated in a podcast with Nirmal Madhavan, PhD aimed at helping Marie Curie aspirants understand the process better. We covered several factors that reviewers consider while evaluating a proposal. We covered all the aspects I listed earlier and even spoke about potential ways one could approach writing a proposal. We discussed strategies for making an idea impactful and discussed the importance of being prepared to reduce last-minute stress. This is why we do what we do on LinkedIn. We try to make your journey a little easier to navigate by preparing you ahead of time. You need to know what you’re getting into and be ready for what’s coming. We are here to help! Here’s the link to the podcast. #PhD #postdoc #fellowhip #career #mentorship #phdlife #phdstudent #research #researcher #academia #science #gradschool

The next #MarieSkłodowskaCurieActions calls for proposals are just around the corner - applications for Postdoctoral Fellowships and COFUND open on 23 April 2024! Are you looking for tips on how to apply for funding under these Actions? Read on! 🙌 🔵 #MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships This Action supports researchers holding a #PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, learn new skills and develop their #careers in any field of research. They give postdoctoral #researchers the possibility to work on their own projects while receiving training and supervision to boost their careers. Learn how to prepare a successful Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal following six steps: 🔗 europa.eu/!dB783t 🔵 Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND) Through #doctoral and #postdoctoral programmes, COFUND aims to spread the MSCA’s best practices, including international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral mobility and training for researchers at all stages of their careers. Learn how to prepare a successful #COFUND proposal following six steps: 🔗 europa.eu/!kdXngN

Learn how to prepare a successful Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal following six steps #research #PhD #researchfunding

Explore the latest NAWA - Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange - EURAXESS grants and fellowships for early and senior researchers in various fields. Deadlines range from August to November 2024. Opportunities include: - ERC Advanced Grant - Postdoctoral Fellowships in Japan and Switzerland - Fulbright Junior Research Award - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships - Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship Program - Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowships - European Research Council Starting Grant #ResearchGrants #FellowshipOpportunities #EarlyCareerResearchers #SeniorResearchers #AcademicFunding"

The #MarieSkłodowskaCurieActions 2023 Postdoctoral Fellowship selection results are out 📣 This year, the European Commission will award €260 million to 1,249 #postdoctoral researchers to work at top universities, research centres, private and public organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises. 🔵 1,110 researchers through European Postdoctoral Fellowships, allowing them to carry out their projects in the EU or countries associated to #HorizonEU. 🔵 139 researchers through Global Postdoctoral Fellowships, allowing them to carry out research outside the EU or in countries not associated to #HorizonEU. 🔗 Read more: europa.eu/!Vy8BMY Next steps for the successful applicants: ☑️ Follow the instructions in the letter you have received by REA for the next steps to sign your grant agreement. ☑️ First projects will start in April 2024. For more information and guidance, please consult: 👉 europa.eu/!Hn6cn7

What really matters when choosing your PhD Institute? Five years ago, when I was applying for PhD programmes, I thought the institution's reputation was everything. I believed that the reputation of the institution held the most significance because it determined the funding, networking, and career opportunities. However, now I've come to realize that there are two more important things to consider: the location of the institute and the research lab you join. The location of the institute matters for your well-being during your lengthy PhD journey. Factors such as proximity to family, cost of living, and access to resources and amenities can greatly impact your experience. Moreover, the lab you join is paramount in shaping your PhD experience. The expertise, mentorship style, and resources within the lab will determine the quality of your research and personal development as a scholar. While reputation is important, it should be weighed alongside the location of the institute and the research lab you plan to join. All three factors contribute uniquely to your success in completing your PhD. So, what do you think is most important?

MSCA postdoctoral Fellowship opens soon Hosting, secondments or non academic placement in Sweden or with partner organizations. Non academic placement gives 6 extra months. We will support to make next career step after MSCA fellowship. European Postdoctoral Fellowships. 1-2 years. Open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe. Researchers of any nationality can apply. Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. 2-3 years. Mobility of researchers outside Europe. First 1-2 years are spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply. Not resided in EU host country more than 12 months during 3 years before MSCA submission. Defended PhD thesis at the time of the deadline; maximum of 8 years after the date of PhD award. Researcher with interest to apply? Read more https://lnkd.in/dNhWyTfP

Join International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA), Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars/ l'Association Canadienne des Postdoctorantes et Postd, and ANIH on September 17th, 2024📅, from 4 PM to 6 PM CEST for an engaging online public debate on the challenges researchers face with fellowships!   📌Key Topics:  Canada: Henrietta Bennett (CAPS) will discuss the lack of employee status for postdocs in Canada, using CAPS' longitudinal survey data.  Portugal: Ana Ferreira (CICS.NOVA) will explore the shift from fellowships to contracts and its impact on researchers in Portugal. Germany: Tracy Wietecha (Max Planck PostdocNet) will share successes in phasing out stipends and ongoing policy efforts with WissZeitVG. Norway: jorunn Norgård (Norwegian Association of Researchers) will highlight union advocacy tackling precarity in Norway and EU levels.  Spain: Francisco J. del Castillo (ANIH) will address legal reforms improving career conditions for researchers. 🎯 Free registration required: Register via Zoom by September 16th: https://lnkd.in/dj8AgZMj

☝ It's valuable to have other PhD-students as colleagues nearby! 🔊 My experiences During the initial phase of my PhD journey, I lacked nearby PhD-student colleagues, and I felt the absence of like-minded individuals. However, I had the privilege of engaging with fellow PhD-students from various departments at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, as well as at @ORU at Odense University Hospital. Thankfully, Merete Celano Wittenkamp has recently joined as a fellow PhD student and now occupies the office adjacent to mine at Gentofte Hospital. What a pleasure to have daily 'tete-a-tete’ conversations with a like-minded! 💡 My considerations Some cconsiderations for the importance of having a fellow PhD student: ▶ Peer support and understanding: Fellow PhD students can relate to the challenges and experiences unique to doctoral studies, providing a supportive environment where individuals can share struggles, successes, and strategies for overcoming obstacles. ▶ Intellectual stimulation: Interacting with colleagues can foster intellectual exchange, sparking discussions, debates, and collaborations that enrich the research process and contribute to academic growth. ▶ Emotional support: Doctoral studies can be emotionally challenging, and having a supportive community of peers can provide emotional reassurance, motivation, and solidarity during periods of stress, self-doubt, or uncertainty. 👉 Your experiences and considerations What are your experiences and considerations of having fellow PhD-students? #PhDstudent #shareddecisionmaking #decisionaid #cocreation