WRITING SUCCESSFUL GRANT PROPOSALS – EMC December 2017 Applying for a personal grant at ZonMw Dr. Oliver Stockhammer Senior Program Officer ZonMw
NWO Talent schemes Spinoza Vici Vidi Veni Rubicon Rubicon max 1 year post PhD € variable (max 2y) Veni 0 – 3 years post PhD € 250 K (3y) Vidi 3 – 8 years post PhD € 800 K (5y) Vici 8 – 15 years post PhD € 1,5 M (5y) Spinoza 4 prizes per year, candidates are nominated € 2,5 M
NWO Talent schemes Spinoza Vici Vidi Veni Rubicon Rubicon max 1 year post PhD € variable (max 2y) Veni 0 – 3 years post PhD € 250 K (3y) Vidi 3 – 8 years post PhD € 800 K (5y) Vici 8 – 15 years post PhD € 1,5 M (5y) Spinoza 4 prizes per year, candidates are nominated € 2,5 M
Rubicon • directed at promising starting postdoctoral researchers • regarded as a valuable step before a possible Veni application within 1 st year after PhD has been awarded (extension of max. 1 year in case of maternal, • care or sick leave and training in clinical specialism) • offers researchers the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and experience by spending up to 2 years at a top research institute outside the Netherlands. • grant covers salary costs, research costs and travel costs. (housing, overhead etc. are not eligible) • size of the grant depends on the country where the host institute is situated and length of the stay (basis is € 63,000 per 12 months times the correction coefficients per country, + travel costs and research costs of € 230 per month) • application consists of a research proposal (English, max. 6 pages A4, 2000 words), applicant's CV (max. 3 pages A4), two letters of recommendation and one acceptance form from the intended host institute • decision within 4 month after submission The closing dates for submissions in 2018 are March 29 th , August 30 th and November 29 th . More information about Rubicon: ZonMw; NWO.
Rubicon – Assessment criteria Assessment by program committee – no (inter)national reviewers • Quality of the applicant (30%) among the best members of his/her generation in the relevant field based on CV, including publications (number and quality), the 2 letters of recommendation and the acceptance form the host institute. • Quality of the proposal (30%) quality of the proposed research, significance for the relevant field of study (innovative and pioneering), feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the research plan (period of research must be in proportion to the work to be done). Suitability of the host institute (30%) • host institute, including the research group and direct supervisor should offer the applicant a stimulating research environment and possess good facilities for academic research in relation to the proposed research. • Knowledge exchange and impact (10%) Relevance of the results and/or new insights generated by the proposed research to current economic, societal, cultural, policy-related or technological problems and probability that they will help to solve them. 20% - 25% of the applications are granted
VI - VENI / VIDI • Prestigious and highly competitive VENI VENI VENI VIDI VIDI VIDI ZonMw 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 Applications 187 147 149 81 87 83 Reviewed 67 81 80 78 87 83 23 23 24 15 14 14 Granted (12%) (16%) (16%) (19%) (16%) (17%)
VI - VENI / VIDI – Eligibility • 0 – 3 yp PhD Veni • 3 – 8 yp PhD Vidi • one application per scheme per time • allowed to apply only twice • research must be conducted at an NWO approved institution The deadline may be extended (max. 5 years) in case the applicant has : • children • female researchers – 18 month/child • male researchers – formal reduction in working time/ max. 12 month/child • taken extended leave due to illness or care responsibilities • formal reduction of working time after PhD • medical specialization • formal reduction in working time after PhD
VI - VENI / VIDI – Procedure VENI / VIDI awarded VIDI – 8 month Interview VENI – 7 month Interview selection Rebuttal applicant International reviewers Preselection (committee) Submission full proposal
VI - VENI / VIDI – Submission full proposal • Deadline Submission full proposal • VENI – first Thursday in January • VIDI – first Thursday in October • Call for proposal • Published online two month before deadline on ZonMw website • Submission • ZonMw via ProjectNet • Basic information in ProjectNet • name applicant, institute, role within project etc. • Full proposal as attachment • Impossible to submit after deadline Stick to the word limit and number of pages, do not include any attachments ZonMw didn’t ask for ! In case you have any questions contact ZonMw.
VI - VENI / VIDI – Preselection Preselection (committee) Only if the number of applications is at least 4 times the number of grants available • common for VENI • sporadic for VIDI • done by program committee • based on the 3 criteria • quality of the researcher • quality, innovative character and academic impact of the proposed research • knowledge utilization • committee assess applications globally and comparatively and rates them in terms of their chance of success • you have the right to object
VI - VENI / VIDI – International reviewers International reviewers • Anonymous reports – mostly international • Expert opinion • Will only review one application • 3 reports per application • Informs committee on quality of the application (A+, A, B, UF, U) You have the opportunity to exclude reviewers!
VI - VENI / VIDI – International reviewers International reviewers Review based on the criteria as described in the call • Curriculum vitae • In top 10-20% of peer group, academic excellence demonstrated by thesis, publications and other relevant achievements, clear indication of an outstanding talent for academic research, fits to profile (Veni/Vidi) • Demonstrably capable of generating innovative ideas and independently developing these successfully, has both a good national and international position, capable of leading and supervising other researchers and staff (Vidi) • Quality of proposal • Relevance (scientific), originality & challenging content, suitability of method, Innovative aspects and Academic impact (Veni/Vidi) • Aimed at building up a new line of research, international importance of the proposed research area (Vidi) • Knowledge utilisation • Relevance (societal), Effectiveness & feasibility of approach, Realistic assessment of period for knowledge utilisation, Intended active contribution of researcher
VI - VENI / VIDI – Rebuttal Rebuttal applicant • Focus on comments, not “score” (A+, A etc.) • Reply to all comments • Provide evidence • Improve proposal, but don’t write a new one • Update your CV • Stay friendly • Stick to the format, don’t exceed word limit
VI - VENI / VIDI – Interview selection Interview selection • Based on application, review reports and rebuttal • Committee will select most promising candidates for interview • Committee will evaluate your application based on the following criteria • CV (40%), Proposal (40%), Knowledge Utilization (20%)
VI - VENI / VIDI – Interview Interview • Invitation at short notice (approx. 2 weeks) • Fixed date and time - Utrecht • Check who is on the committee • 5 min. presentation, 15 min. discussion • Critical for success!
VI - VENI / VIDI – Interview Interview Presentation: • Don’t exceed 5 minutes • Don’t repeat research plan in detail • Clarify important reviewers remarks • Stay true to yourself • Understandable for all committee members • Don’t use Jip & Janneke style!
VI - VENI / VIDI – Interview Interview Discussion: • Everything is open for discussion • Keep in mind that not all committee members are experts in your field • “Back-up slides” are allowed • You will need to convince the committee that • you are the right person • your proposal is original and challenging • Based on the interview the committee will make her final decision
ZonMw - Off Road (high risk – high gain) • Young scientists – 2 to 6 years after PhD (no extension!) • Proposals should be out of the box – innovative – high risk-high gain – unconventional • Should lead to proof of concept • Short projects – 12 to 18 month • Budget – €100.000 max. (12 month), 125.000 max. (18 month) • Criteria: • Out of the box idea (50%) • Quality of the research plan (30%) • CV (10%) • Knowledge utilisation (10%) • Assessment by program committee – no (inter)national reviewers • Interviews for final decision
Questions Rubicon: Peter Arentsen arentsen@zonmw.nl Veni: Guillaume Macor macor@zonmw.nl Off Road: Erica van Oort oort@zonmw.nl Vidi: Oliver Stockhammer stockhammer@zonmw.nl http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/onderzoek-resultaten/fundamenteel-onderzoek/
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