Please see here latest information on Charles Parsons Energy Research Awards
Closing Date for Applications: 27/10/2006 (1700)
Information Meeting for Applicants: 17/10/2006 (1430)
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Noel Dempsey, TD, recently announced the establishment of the awards. The awards were advertised on 6/10/2006 with a closing date of 27/10/2006.
The objective of the awards is to develop overall research capacity particularly in priority areas of energy research. A key aim is to stimulate an increase in research carried out by Engineers in the energy area.
Applications are sought from research groups active in energy research and research training, located on the Island of Ireland who wish to expand their activities.
It is anticipated that Higher Education Institutions will be the main applicants. However organisations active in research may apply provided they have suitable arrangements in place with PhD awarding Institutions.
Funding will be provided for;
The awards scheme contains a number of features designed to attract mobile young researchers from abroad to Ireland. This includes a possibility of extended funding (up to seven years for researchers), competitive salary and stipends and provision for PhD students to complete part of their PhD studies at international centres of research excellence.
The details of the announcement establishing the awards and the public advertisement can be seen in the attached links.
This guide provides details of the information required from applicants and the criteria which will be used by a panel of international experts in evaluating the proposals.
Applicants should use the evaluation criteria as the principal guide in completing their application focusing on the relevance of the research programme of the group and its ability to provide high quality research training.
All applications must have authorised institutional sign off.
Applications will be evaluated by an International panel of experts.
The parent Institutions of the research groups selected to receive Charles Parsons awards will be responsible for the recruitment of researchers and students according to standard guidelines . These include European Researchers Charter and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment and appropriate national guidelines. A coordinated approach will be made to raise International awareness of the Awards in an attempt to target mobile young researchers.
As this is a new awards scheme an information meeting for intending applicants will be held on 17/10/2006 at 1430 in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2. Intending applicants should inform Catherine Bermingham (Catherine.Bermingham@dcmnr.gov.ie) in advance.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria.
The proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria.
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Relevance of research programme to national energy priorities
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Potential of group as a centre of research excellence
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Ability of research group to provide research training
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Success in international and national peer reviewed competitions (EU Framework programme and others); third party awards and recognition
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Output of research group as seen by publications, patents etc
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National and International research collaboration including North-South collaboration.
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Industrial relevance including track record in product development, services and collaboration with industry.
Applicants should address these criteria in compiling their applications according to the recommended structure as detailed below.
Structure of Application
Identification and contact details of Research Group and Institution
- Name of head of group, address, email, phone, fax
- Identification of Parent Institution and contact details of authorised officer (contractual matters)
Description of Research Group (4pages)
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Staff composition (Identify staff members)
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Summary of current work programme and its relevance to national energy priorities (2 pages max)
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Publications/Patents. (List of recent publications/ patents, identify top 3 cited publications)
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Success in International and National peer reviewed competitions in past 3 years. (Project identification and amount)
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Recognition of group. (Details of third party awards, prizes etc)
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List current National and International research collaborations including North-South collaboration.
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Description of physical facilities including major equipment (one page max)
Ability of Group to provide research training
- Number of current postgraduate students (list of names and degree eg second year PhD.
- Output of PhDs and other postgraduates in past 5 years including completion rates.
- Structure of PhD programme e.g. advanced disciplinary courses and generic skills; supervisory structure.
- Specific placements in collaborating centres at home and abroad including industry placement.
- In the case of a non PhD awarding Institution, describe arrangement with the degree awarding body.
- Success in research training activity e.g. Marie Curie schemes of EU.
Potential of Group as Centre of Research Excellence (one page)
- Describe the impact of the Award on the development of the research group.
- Detail support of the parent Institution towards the development of the group (e.g. strategic priority of the parent Institution, new physical facilities/equipment)
Details of Support Requested.
As the Awards are aimed at the development of the research group, funding is provided for additional researchers and students rather than substitution of existing group members.
Funding will be provided for salaries and stipends and fixed amount to cover research costs. At this stage the calculation of cost of support is not required.
The indicative guideline for support is as follows. These costs are not definitive and will be finalised following discussions with Institutions.
- Researchers. PhD and 3 years postdoctoral experience. € 55,000 pa with annual incremental increases based on satisfactory performance. In addition employer costs and fixed amount towards research expenses. Continuation of funding beyond 3 years will be subject to satisfactory peer review of the individual researcher and the overall performance of the research group. A maximum of 7 years support per individual researcher will be provided
- PhD students. Engineering graduates. 4 years stipend. € 18,000 pa plus tuition fees. Fixed amount to cover research costs including visits to international centres of excellence.
- Undergraduate student support. € 1,500 per month.
Applicants should clearly indicate the number of researchers, PhD students and summer student positions which they require. Support towards summer student placements are exclusively for undergraduate engineering students. PhD students must be graduate engineers. Researchers may come from any discipline however the majority will most likely be engineers. The researchers will carry out full time research and contribute to the supervision of graduate and undergraduate students.
A description of the programmes and projects on which the new researchers and students will work should be presented. The output and likely impact should be highlighted (2 pages max).
Joint or Linked Application
In the case of joint or linked applications from different institutions, separate applications should be submitted by each partner clearly indicating the nature of the linkage.
Statement by Institution
Please find attached application for Charles Parsons Energy Research Awards from the …………………………………. (identify group) of …………………………………………(identity of Institution which will employ researchers and appoint students)
Signature for Institution;
Name;
Position in Institution:
Contact Details. (Address, email, phone, fax)
Signature of Head of Research Group:
Closing Date.
Applications should be sent by email and signed hard copy to Catherine Bermingham (Catherine.Bermingham@dcmnr.gov.ie); Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dublin 2 by 1700 on 27/10/2006.