Note that planning a fellowship application well in advance of the deadline is crucial. Don't just wait for a call to be announced. Instead, you should be thinking about it 12 - 18 months before the submission deadline.
18 – 12 months to go
Your job
- Identify your 'big question'
- Identify your target fellowship schemes
- Plan how to optimize your CV
- Formulate hypothesis and specific aims of application
- Work out what preliminary data are needed (if any)
- Scrutinise potential supervisors/sponsors:
- Are they suited to your project?
- Funded by competitive awards with well staffed groups ?
- Recent, internationally-leading publications?
- Strong track record with externally-funded fellows?
- Important: Fellowship panels look seriously at the supervisory / sponsorship teams. Getting the right team behind you is half the battle.
- Try to get key national and international collaborators who will raise your application to internationally leading. This also provides a wonderful training opportunity.
- Start to discuss your data, plans and ideas at national /international conferences; try to engage the leading figures with your ideas (they may end up reviewing your application)
Our job
- Advise on which schemes are most appropriate
- Put you in touch with:
- previously successful applicants and their applications
- senior staff with experience of relevant panel(s)
- Arrange a visit to Liverpool.
- Advise on the suitability of your proposed research question and aims.
- If necessary, direct you to the key people who will make your application more competitive.
12 - 6 months to go
Your job...
- Review progress:
- Have manuscripts been submitted to get your CV up to date?
- Are preliminary data on track?
- Is your big question still unanswered?
- Establish supervisory / sponsorship team
- Agree plan with national / international collaborators
- Prepare one page on hypothesis, research question, specific aims and experimental plan
- Draft the sections on your CV, background and career aspirations
- Plan your training requirements
- Important: Identifying your needs and being specific adds credibility to your application (courses, dates, venues & research visits). This is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity for bespoke training with you as a unique resource - think beyond the same (local) courses open to all-comers
Our job...
- Review progress with you and offer advice on refinement
- Arrange expert peer review of your outline research plan
6 - 3 months to go
Your job...
- Review the latest funding call information
- Submit full draft of research plan for peer-review (rule of thumb: approximately one-third background; two-thirds on what you will do)
- Contact the research support office (RSO) for a research costing.
- Complete finance sections and have them approved by your RSO
Our job...
- Review progress with you and offer advice on refinement
- Arrange peer review of your draft research plan
3 months to go
Your job...
- Submit near final version of entire application for internal peer review
Our job...
- Review progress with you and offer advice on refinement
- Arrange peer review of your near-final application
Post submission
Your job...
- Continue work on publications
- Advance your preliminary data to demonstrate momentum
- Prepare an update for the panel if significant advances are made (e.g. if the manuscript is now in press or if a grant or prize has been awarded)
- Respond to referees comments (if given an opportunity to do so)
- Start to prepare interview 'pitch' and accompanying slides
- Work out likely questions, potential weaknesses and spot new publications from others
Our job...
- Advise on responding to referees comments
- Advise on process for shortlisting and interview
Shortlisting & interview
Your job...
- Immediately inform the School and your mentor.
- Prepare slides (if requested)
- Practice your opening pitch
- Ensure background knowledge on every word in your research plan
- Practice repeatedly with your supervisory / sponsorship team
Our job...
Interview advice and arranging practice interviews
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