Research Council for Biosciences and Environment: Decisions on research posts as Academy Research Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher
At its meeting on 29 March 2012, the Research Council for Biosciences and Environment decided to grant funding to 14 Academy Research Fellows and 27 Postdoctoral Researchers. The Research Council also decided on a reserve list of three applicants for research posts as Academy Research Fellow and two applicants for research posts as Postdoctoral Researcher in case any of the researchers who were granted funding decide not to receive the funds. The funding period will start in September 2012.
All applicants will receive an email message of the decision. After receiving the message, applicants can read the decision on their application in the Academy’s online services.
Before Academy funds can be paid, the Principal Investigator and the site of the research must have confirmed that they will receive the funding. This confirmation is done in the Academy’s online services. By confirming to receive the funds, the PI and the site of the research accept the content of the funding decision and commit to complying with the conditions set by the Academy for the use of the funds.
Decisions based on international peer review
The Research Council’s funding decisions are primarily based on a review of the scientific quality of the submitted research plan and the scientific merits of the applicant. The applications are reviewed by international peers. On each application, the Academy requests a written review report by a scientific expert panel or at least two external written reviews by esteemed researchers in the field in question. More information on the review principles is available on our website.
The applications submitted within the September 2011 call were reviewed in January-February 2012 by nine international panels, two of which were arranged together with the Research Council for Culture and Society. The panels involved a total of 69 experts from 20 countries (most of them from the UK, Germany and Sweden). Overall, the applications were of a high international standard. The applicants can read the review issued on their own application in the Academy’s online services.
Funding for Academy Research Fellows supports career advancement of independent researchers
The Research Council for Biosciences and Environment received a total of 81 applications for research posts as Academy Research Fellow. Women accounted for 36 per cent and foreigners for 30 per cent of all applicants. Funding was granted to some 17 per cent of the applications, that is, the total amount of funding for the salaries for research posts as Academy Research Fellow amounted to some EUR 5.7 million.
The funding is granted to cover the researcher’s salary, but he or she can also apply for funding for research costs. The Research Council will make separate decisions on this funding in April 2012. The funding for research posts as Academy Research Fellow is granted for five years.
Academy Research Fellow funding is intended to advance and strengthen the opportunities of the best and advanced researchers to qualify themselves for academic leadership and establish themselves as independent researchers. Consequently, the reviewers paid attention to the career advancement of talented researchers. Other key criteria included the applicants’ suitability for a research post as Academy Research Fellow and their ability to head a research team. In addition, the Research Council paid attention to the proportion of women and the equal distribution of research fields among the funding recipients. The Research Council also stressed the importance of international collaboration and mobility.
Funding for Postdoctoral Researchers supports the independent development of researchers
The Research Council for Biosciences and Environment received a total of 152 applications for research posts as Postdoctoral Researcher. The total sum applied for amounted to EUR 46 million. These figures are almost the same as in the October 2010 call (153 applications, some EUR 45 million). The Research Council decided not to review two applications, as the date of the degree certificate of these applicants did not meet the criteria set for the call. The total funding granted for research posts as Postdoctoral Researcher came to EUR 8.2 million. The success rate was 18 per cent.
In the calls implemented in line with the full cost model (2009–2011), the average amount of Academy funding for research posts as Postdoctoral Researcher has been EUR 300,000 per project. The Research Council strives to grant the sum applied for, if the costs are well justified and in line with the funding instrument in question. The funding is intended only for the Postdoctoral Researcher’s own salary, research costs and mobility costs.
Besides the research plan and the scientific merits of the applicants, the panel and Research Council members paid attention to international and national mobility and independent advancement during the Postdoctoral Researcher term. Again, these were the most important science-policy criteria in the Research Council’s decisions.
Young researchers are actively encouraged to go abroad after completing their doctorate or at least to transfer to another research team when embarking on an independent research career. All of the applicants who were granted funding had included such plans in their applications. The Research Council sees that international experience and active networking both in Finland and abroad are often preconditions for a successful research career.
More information:
Academy Research Fellows
Senior Science Adviser Tiina Petänen, firstname.lastname@aka.fi, tel. +358 9 7748 8263
Science Adviser Harri Hautala, firstname.lastname@aka.fi, tel. +358 9 7748 8408
Postdoctoral Researchers
Science Adviser Annika Raitala, firstname.lastname@aka.fi, tel. +358 9 7748 8323
Science Adviser Kata-Riina Valosaari, firstname.lastname@aka.fi +358 9 7748 8216
For more information on the review of applications and the full cost model, see our website at: