MARIE SKŁODOWSKA CURIE ACTIONS - POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS (MSCA-PF) - Research Support Office Jeanette Bröms - Umeå Postdoc Society
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MARIE SKŁODOWSKA CURIE ACTIONS -
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS (MSCA-PF)
Research Support Office
Jeanette Bröms
OUTLINE MSCA-PF (1.5h) • Part 1 - The basics • Part 2 - Proposal B1 • Part 3 - Experiences from applying (Dr. H. Sharma) • Question time
MSCA-PF: THE BASICS
HORIZON EUROPE
EU FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME 2021-2027
Budget: €95.5 billion
MSCA - KEY FEATURES
• All career stages and
nationalities
• All research fields
• Bottom-up approach
• International, intersectoral and
interdisciplinary mobility (3 I´s)
• Opportunities for knowledge
exchange and career
development
• Attractive working and
employment conditions
MSCA ACTIONS
€6.6 billion
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Doctoral Staff Postdoctoral
COFUND MSCA &
Networks Exchanges fellowships
Citizens
(DN) (SE) (PF)
European
fellowship
(EF)
Global
fellowship
(GF)
PF MSCA-PF CALL
• Main objectives:
- Foster excellence
- Via mobility equip researchers with new skills and competences
- Support researchers career development
13 14
April
2022 - Sept
2022
Success rate ~14 - 18%
MSCA-PF – TWO TYPES
European Global
Fellowships (EF) Fellowship (GF)
Nationality? Any National* or long term resident**
of EU Member state or Associated
country
Destination? EU Member states or Third country, i.e. outside of Europe
Associated countries (outgoing phase)
Duration? 12-24 months 24-36 months
(includes a 12-month return phase to
Europe)
* Citizenship
** ≥5 consecutive yrs
MSCA-PF – BEFORE YOU START
• MSCA-PF are research and training projects
• The proposal should reflect your training needs
• Imagine yourself in 3-5 years from now
→ make a plan how to get there
• Analyze your career
What are your strengths?
What knowledge do you need?
Who can help you overcome your weaknesses?
Where can you do it?
What other skills may be useful?
MSCA-PF – HOW TO FIND A
HOST/SUPERVISOR?
Best option: look among your contacts and networks
If this fails….
https://www.net4mobilityplus.eu/eoi/
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/hosting/searchMSCA-PF - HOST
Beneficiary:
• Organisation in an EU Member state or Associated country
• Public or private, from academia or not
• Employs, supervises and trains the fellow during the project
Requires: - Experienced supervisor with the “right” track record
- Good resources and capacity
- A process for integrating the researcher in the team
Associated partner:
• Additional organisation required for the GF outgoing phase and for
PlacementsPF MSCA-PF - FELLOW
• PhD degree or successfully defended thesis by time of call
deadline
• Max 8 years research experience after (first) PhD award date
Not counting towards the maximum:
e.g. parental leave, long-term sick leave, compulsory national
service, work outside research
• Not resided or carried out “main activity” in the country of the
host* for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior
to call deadline
* Host = Associated partner of
outgoing phase (GF)MSCA-PF – COMPLYING WITH THE
MOBILITY RULE
European Fellowships (EF)
• Ex. Australian citizen incoming to Sweden (UmU). Already at UmU, but will have
resided/had main activity for less than 12 months by 14th Sep 2022.
• Ex. Swedish citizen. Postdoc in USA for 2 years. Now wants to re-integrate to
Sweden. Activity time in Sweden less than 12 months during the 3 years dating back
from call deadline.
Global Fellowship (GF)
• Ex. Long-term resident in Sweden, currently in Sweden. Outgoing phase to Australia
(where no previous activity), then return to Sweden.MSCA-PF –
SECONDMENTS AND PLACEMENTS
• Optional and relevant stay at another Host institute (described in B1)
Secondments Placements
Destination: Any country worldwide EU Member state or
Associated country
Sector: Any sector Non-academic sector only
Duration: Up to 1/3 of fellowship (EF); Up to 6 months;
Up to 1/3 of outgoing phase (GF); After fellowship
During fellowship (dividable)
Supporting None Letter of commitment (B2)
document.:MSCA-PF – APPLYING
• For information, templates, guides – see Funding & Tenders Portal
https://ec.europa.eu/info/fundingtenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-search
• Guide for applicants
• MSCA work programme 2021-2022
• Online guide for proposal
submission
• Information on the evaluation
process
• Proposal template
• Grant agreement template and
annexes
• EtcMSCA-PF – EVALUATION
CRITERIA
Excellence 0 —Can not be assessed
Impact Implemen 1 —Poor
50% -tation
30% 2 —Fair
20% 3 —Good
4—Very good
5—Excellent
Priority in case of ex-aequo
1 2 3
• 1 year penalty period for proposals that score below 70%
• Resubmissions: address weaknesses from the evaluation report,
make updates, improve your project if neededMSCA-PF – EVALUATION
PROCESS
• 8 evaluation panels
• Use of external experts
(selected based on keywords in part A)
• Individual evaluation → consensus →
panel → evaluation report to applicants
• Seals of Excellence to unfunded
applications with score ≥ 85%MSCA-PF – PROPOSAL
A - Administrative form B - Description of action (B1 + B2)
Researcher information
Beneficiary information
Gender Equality Plan
Budget
Ethics Self-Assessment
Security Self-Assessment
Keywords
Completed online Download template and uploadMSCA-PF – BUDGET STRUCTURE
x CCC
(1,254 for
Sweden 2022)
For the researcher Indirectly for Directly for
the researcher the institution
Incoming postdoc to Umeå: Ca 44,431 SEK/month (no family) or 48,638 SEK/month (with family)MSCA-PF – PROPOSAL PART B
Max 10
B1: pages
B2: No page
restrictionMSCA-PF: FOCUSING ON THE B1 PROPOSAL
MSCA-PF – OUTLINE PART B1 Divide the 10 pages as you wish – but be sure to follow the proposal template (important!)
EXCELLENCE Sections 1.1 + 1.2 + 1.3 + 1.4
PF 1.1 – CLARITY AND PERTINENCE OF THE PROJECT´S
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION OBJECTIVES…
• Introduction, aim and objectives
What is What is the Why not Who What’s your Why you? What’s the
it about? problem? solved yet? cares? new idea? Why now? impact?
Understandable also for the non-experts
• State-of-the-art
Up-to-date references - also from you/your supervisor!
Highlight how the project will progress the research “beyond s-o-t-a”.
Many reviewers decide whether they like/dislike your proposal
already after reading 1.1 – so write it carefully!1.2 – SOUNDNESS OF THE PROPOSED METHODOLOGY….
For each Objective describe:
• Steps/methods you will take
• Experiments, techniques, equipment to be used and why
• Challenges with chosen methods - how overcome
• Expected outcome
Inter/multidisciplinary aspects
+ Gender and diversity aspects
Open science practices
Research data management1.3 - QUALITY OF THE SUPERVISION, TRAINING AND
THE TWO-WAY TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE
• Supervision
Publication record
Expertise in the
research topic International
collaborations
Experience in supervising/
Prestigious awards and training of PhDs, postdocs
grants, incl. EU funding
Patents
• In case of a GF… you have to describe this for both Supervisors…• Training and Transfer of knowledge
From host to fellow – ”Training”
• What knowledge and skills will you will acquire from the host?
• How will you acquire it?
• How will this help your future career? → In depth in 2.1 (Impact)
Example:
To become successful at grant writing (skill), I will co-write grants with my supervisor and
participate in the workshops on grant writing organized by the Umeå University Research
Support Office (how). This will help me attract my own funding, which is key for establishing
myself as an independent group leader (career).Do not focus only on the Research skills in your training! Research skills - project-related, will advance your competency in the research field - e.g. learning new techniques, methods, instruments Transferable skills - broader, transferable to future employments - e.g. project management, grant writing, teaching, public speaking, leadership, problem solving, networking
• Transfer of knowledge
From fellow to host
• What knowledge and skills will you transfer to the host?
• How will you do it?
• How will this benefit the host? Demonstrate that you will fill an
important gap!
Example:
During my PhD, I have gained extensive experience in various cell-based assays to assess the
immunomodulatory function of candidate compounds (skill). I will transfer this knowledge to the
host lab, in the form of workshops and seminars, and by mentoring students in the lab (how).
As the host lab intends to implement these techniques in various projects in a near future,
acquiring his new skill will be highly valuable (benefit).1.4 - QUALITY AND APPROPRIATENESS OF THE RESEARCHERS EXPERIENCE, COMPETENCES AND SKILLS Summarise your career: - Where have you been and what you have learned there? - How will these experiences/skills help you achieve this project?
IMPACT Sections 2.1 + 2.2 + 2.3
2.1 - CREDIBILITY OF THE MEASURES TO ENHANCE THE
CAREER PERSPECTIVES AND EMPLOYABILITY OF THE
RESEARCHER …
Impact on your career
- How will the planned research and training
advance your career after the fellowship?
- How will you reach set career goals
(e.g. get an ERC, become senior lecturer or
group leader….)2.3 - THE MAGNITUDE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE
PROJECT’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE EXPECTED
SCIENTIFIC, SOCIETAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Impact on science
Scientific advances, new knowledge, new tools/methods etc
Impact on society
Reduced CO2 emissions, decreased mortality, raising consumer
awareness, improved policies etc
Impact on economy/technology
New products or services for market, increased efficiency,
decreased costs etc
Only include impacts where your project makes a significant and direct
contribution! Indicate magnitude and importance. State target groups.2.2 – SUITABILITY AND QUALITY OF THE MEASURES TO MAXIMISE
EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS, AS SET OUT IN THE
DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION PLAN…
Also in gantt chart (3.1)
Motivate your target audience and how you will engage with them.
Be specific when describing activities!IMPLEMENTATION Sections 3.1 + 3.2
3.1 – QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WORK PLAN,
ASSESSMENT OF RISKS AND APPROPRIATENESS OF THE
EFFORT ASSIGNED TO WORK PACKAGES
• Describe your work packages (WPs), including their deliverables
and milestones
Risks
Objectives Work packages Deliverables
(sub-projects) (outcomes)
Milestones
(checkpoints)
• Timing of work packages and their components + gantt chart
• Identified risks and strategies to mitigate risks
A contingency plan is a must-have!How to connect your different WPs?
Research WPs can run concurrently or sequentially and can be
interconnected
Parallel WPs Sequential WPs
Objective 1 Objective 2 Objective 3
WP1
Objective 1
WP1 WP2 WP3
Objective 2 WP2
WP3
Objective 3 time
Incoherent! Too risky!
37How to connect your different WPs? Cont.
Research WPs can run concurrently or sequentially and can be
interconnected
Parallel WPs Sequential WPs
Objective 1 Objective 2 Objective 3
WP1
Objective 1
WP4 WP1 WP2 WP3
Objective 2 WP2
WP3 BP2
Objective 3 time
Add Synthesis (WP4) Add back-up plans (BP2)
Introduce Synergies Proof of concept for WP1
373.2 - QUALITY AND CAPACITY OF THE HOST
INSTITUTIONS AND PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS,
INCLUDING HOSTING ARRANGEMENTS
• Quality and capacity of host(s)
Infrastructure, Facilities, Equipment, Logistics
+ Table 5.2 in B2
• Hosting arrangements
The research group(s)/environment as a whole
How you will be integrated in the team and host institution(s)
(e.g. weekly meetings, seminar series, training courses, social
activities, induction days, administrative support, networking
opportunities)COMMON ERRORS Elaborate “Excellence” section, but underdeveloped “Impact” and “Implementation” sections – ran out of time! Unclear aims and objectives Template/structure not followed Essential parts disregarded Over-ambitious Not enhancing training/career
SOME TIPS ON THE WAY
Supervisor and Host
• Chose the right supervisor/host for you
• Involve the supervisor in writing the project
The Project
• A PF proposal is not a research proposal as such, but a proposal
for training in research
• Make sure the project will expand your skills as a researcher
• Don´t be overambitious – keep the work plan realistic
• Be explicit (not general)SOME TIPS ON THE WAY Style and Presentation • Make it accessible – evaluators will be experts but not at the level of detail as you are • Bring the project to life and easy to follow – include diagrams, images, tables • Use bold, italics or underlined to highlight important points Do Your Research • Look at successful MSCA projects (abstracts) on CORDIS • Ask successful fellows for their application • Read Call Documents and Guides for Applicants carefully • Do not forget anything (avoid deduction of points)
HOW CAN WE AT RSO HELP YOU WITH YOUR
MSCA-PF PROPOSAL?
We provide:
• A start-up meeting where we discuss the call/requirements/
your project
• Written feedback on draft proposals as many times as you need
• Help with the budget
• Help if problem at submission (add us as ”Other contact
persons” in Part A!)
Contact us:
Email: rso@umu.seBest of luck with applying!
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