The ESRC
Future Leaders Scheme was announced recently and can be found online at http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/15938/future-research-leaders.aspx. The closing date for proposals is
16:00 on 4th October 2012.
The ESRC’s
strategy is to invest in the most talented people by offering diverse and
flexible training to outstanding individuals at all stages of their careers. As
a priority, they aim to expand and integrate transferable skills development
into postgraduate training and other career-development schemes. The Future
Research Leaders Scheme forms a key part of this strategy. The scheme is open
to high-quality candidates from anywhere in the world who have a maximum of
four years’ postdoctoral experience and the support of an eligible UK research
organisation. The ESRC would like to emphasise that the scheme is intended to
support researchers who are at any point in the four year eligibility period
and encourages applicants who are currently completing or who are immediately
post PhD.
Funding is
available for a maximum of 3 years with an overall limit of £312.5k at 100%
FEC, with the ESRC funding 60% and the host HEI funding 40% of the grant
holder’s time. The ESRC aims to fund around 70
awards.
All
applications shall be processed in the usual way via Research Business
Development and Contracts (RBDC) and Finance Advice and Support (FAS). However,
each application is required to have a letter of support from the Vice
Principal of Research. Thus, although the number of applications from
individual institutions in not limited, the ESRC would like institutions to
consider applications carefully prior to submitting them through this
call.
Prof Chris
Hawkesworth, therefore, will co-ordinate a review of outline proposals and will
select application candidates on behalf of the University based on the
following selection criteria:
·
Originality,
potential contribution to knowledge, i.e. research excellence, including
o
The academic
potential of the applicant
·
Research
design and methods, including the appropriateness of collaborations, including
but not limited to multi-disciplinary/international links
·
Outputs,
dissemination and impact, including:
o
Quality of
the plans to develop knowledge exchange skills and the proposed activities to
maximise the impact of the research
·
Organisational
support, including
o
Quality of
the proposed skills development plan,
o
The
appropriateness and demonstration of commitment of the proposed mentor(s),
o
Commitment of
the host research organisation to the applicant’s career development.
Please send draft-version outline
proposals and CVs to rpo@st-andrews.ac.uk, and cc to busdev@st-andrews.ac.uk, marked for the attention of the
Deputy Principal by the 27th August 2012. We hope that this
deadline will give successful internal candidates sufficient time to complete
their proposals for submission via Je-S by the 4th October.
Required
Information for internal review:
- A outline proposal (1-2 pages) – Draft
version
- A CV (1-2 pages)
