Calendar
January
Horizon Europe Fundamentals
Jan 11, 9:30 – 11:30
EIC Pathfinder Open
Jan 22 to Jan 26
February
The ‘Excellence’ section
Feb 23, 9:30 – 11:30
March
The ‘Impact’ section
Mar 1, 9:30 – 11:30
The ‘Implementation’ section
Mar 8, 9:30 – 11:30
NCPInTheHouse
End of March
It’s always too soon to quit: Reapplying for an ERC grant
“If you fail the first time, it's not the end of the story.”
Adina Akbik, a political scientist at Leiden University, shared insights into her successful reapplication for an ERC Starting Grant after an initial setback. Despite not making the cut-off in her first attempt, Adina's persistence and use of feedback from colleagues, mock interviews, and the ERC panel contributed to her success. Facing tight deadlines for reapplication, she emphasized the value of incorporating feedback and considered the process an investment. Adina's experience underscores the importance of resilience, learning from setbacks, and collaborative knowledge-sharing for aspiring ERC grant candidates.
Key take-home messages for ERC Grant candidates:
Persistence and perseverance are crucial, especially after initial setbacks in grant applications.
Incorporating feedback, even within tight deadlines, is seen as a valuable investment in the long run.
Departmental support, including mock interviews and diverse feedback, plays a significant role in preparing for ERC applications.
Sharing successful applications publicly can contribute to collective learning and understanding of effective proposal structures.
View from both sides of the fence
“It's not about where you are, or who you are, it's your idea and how you will carry it out.”
Kresten Lindorff-Larsen, an ERC panel member, remote reviewer, and successful grant applicant, offers valuable insights for potential ERC candidates. Effective use of evaluator feedback, tailored CVs, and a project-centric focus emerge as key elements in securing ERC funding.
The emphasis on community contributions and the balance between quantitative and qualitative aspects further enriches the understanding of the ERC's evaluation criteria.
Changes in the evaluation of proposals for ERC grants
ERC President, Maria Leptin, detailed why the ERC’s Scientific Council changed the evaluation forms and processes used to decide which research proposals to fund.
In December 2022, the Scientific Council of the ERC announced plans for changes to the evaluation forms and processes for research proposals.
Acknowledging concerns, the ERC aims to allow applicants to present a more holistic and fuller account of their research careers and contributions. Furthermore, diversity and fairness considerations are emphasized, ensuring that early career researchers, those in less prominent fields, and those from less-known institutions are not disadvantaged.
Key take-home messages for ERC Grant candidates:
Excellence remains the primary criterion for selection in ERC grant competitions.
Changes aim to address concerns about inappropriate metrics and narrow evaluation methods, fostering a more holistic and fair assessment.
Emphasis on the significance of work over quantitative metrics, with narrative elements providing a more comprehensive view of a researcher's contributions.
The ERC is actively monitoring the effects of changes and is open to refinements based on feedback from applicants and the scientific community.
Key take-home messages for ERC Grant candidates:
Be aware of the global drive towards responsible and inclusive research assessment cultures, emphasizing a shift beyond traditional measurement metrics.
Recognize the importance of systematic experimentation with novel evaluation and allocation methods, as exemplified by pioneering funders such as the Volkswagen Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Stay informed about ongoing reforms in research assessment frameworks globally, understanding that the landscape is evolving rapidly.
As the focus extends beyond measurement to creating a healthy work culture, promoting research integrity, and embracing equality and diversity, candidates should align their proposals with these broader principles.
Acknowledge the growing importance of meta-research, meta-science, and the science of science in understanding research systems and decision-making, and consider how these elements can be incorporated into proposals.
Recognize the evolving nature of research funding, including the potential impact of open peer review, next-generation metrics, and applications of AI and machine learning.
The journey to responsible, experimental research funding
James Wilsdon, director of the Research on Research Institute, discussed the global shift towards more responsible and inclusive research assessment cultures. Wilsdon highlights the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) as a dynamic force in addressing concerns about conventional peer review systems. This shift responds to mounting evidence that traditional systems are flawed, resulting in wasted resources and untapped potential.
Wilsdon underscores the imperative for rethinking research evaluation globally and applauds recent reforms by the European Research Council (ERC) as positive steps toward ensuring excellence in both funding processes and outcomes.
ERC grantee Anja Leist shared her experience from calls where this type of CV was required. Anja views the narrative CV as a positive development, providing a platform to showcase a more holistic view of a researcher's career:
Allow for a more natural and explanatory mode of presenting achievements, especially those not visible in traditional metrics.
Useful for explaining interdisciplinary work, such as Anja's integration of psychology, sociology, and public health in her research.
Facilitate an easier explanation of the uptake of publications and the impact of outreach events, providing a more comprehensive view of the researcher's activities.
But it does come with a set of challenges…
Potential advantages may favour native English speakers or those with institutional support, highlighting language skills as a factor.
Reviewers need specific guidelines on how to evaluate track records to avoid biases.
Cultural differences, like modesty in self-promotion, could affect how researchers present their achievements in a narrative CV.
Key take-home messages for ERC Grant candidates:
Narrative CVs offer an opportunity to present achievements in an explanatory mode, emphasizing tangible contributions and impact.
Consider the cultural and language aspects that may influence the perception of the narrative CV.
The proposal remains paramount, but the narrative CV adds an interesting and valuable dimension to the application process.