BRAIN The Brandenburg Research Academy and International Network Guide for Applicants Thank you for your interest in the BRAIN fellowship programme for experienced international young scientists (post-docs). This document contains important information concerning your application for BRAIN. Please read it carefully before submitting your application. Please also visit the BRAIN website: follow the link to BRAIN on www.mwfk.brandenburg.de. Applications must be sent in English to the Mail address brain@mwfk.brandenburg.de. The application deadline is April 15 th, 2014 (23:59 CEST). 1. What does BRAIN offer? BRAIN the Brandenburg Research Academy and International Network is a pilot programme offering 10 incoming post-doc fellowships to experienced young international researchers. It was developed by the Brandenburg Ministry of Sciences, Research and Cultural Affairs together with all Brandenburg universities. BRAIN is co-funded by the Marie Curie Programme of the European Union (co-funding of Regional, National and International Programmes). Benefits: An employment contract at their chosen host university with salaries equal to those of the Marie Curie Programme for experienced researchers, including social security and health insurance as well as pension coverage. A mobility and travel allowance. Working in an inspiring scientific environment in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. Opportunities to participate in the offers of all BRAIN programme elements accompanying the fellowships: o BRAIN Welcome All fellows will receive individual support by their host universities. Host universities will help them to settle in, to deal with local authorities and paperwork, to find accommodation, a language course, child care etc. o BRAIN Coaching A modular coaching programme will be tailored to the needs of BRAIN fellows and offer them various workshops, individual or group coachings on specific subjects such as e.g. strengthening of individual competencies, career options, team and project management, dealing with competition and conflicts, leadership competencies etc. o BRAIN on tour A programme of seminars, talks, lectures and other events will aim at offering BRAIN fellows additional opportunities for networking. Through these events, fellows will not 1
only have contact with other BRAIN fellows in Brandenburg, but also get to know the scientific landscape of Brandenburg as a whole, with all its universities and extrauniversity research institutions. Fellows will also be given the opportunity to organize their own events at venues of their choice. 2. Eligibility for BRAIN In order to enter the selection process, applicants have to meet the following criteria: Eligible applicants are non-german nationals residing abroad who have not carried out any research in Germany for the last three years. Eligible applicants have undertaken at least three years of research since obtaining their doctorate. Applications must be complete (see required documents under 3.). Applications must be in English. Research proposals must conform to the EU Ethics Guidelines (see Marie Curie Ethics Guide, http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/documents/documentation/legal-docs/guide-forapplicants-ethics_en.pdf). An Ethical Issues table to be filled out is part of the required documents and can be downloaded from the BRAIN webpage. Women are especially encouraged to apply. Brandenburg universities are very family-friendly and offer numerous possibilities of support to researchers with children (e.g. child care facilities, day-care organized during lectures, conferences or other scientific events etc.). The universities will be glad to provide more detailed information to applicants in case of any arising questions. 3. Required documents for application 3.1 Overview Applicants must send an email to brain@mwfk.brandenburg.de containing the following documents as attachments (pdf- or MS Word documents): CV 2-3 Expert references Proof of residence outside Germany for the last 3 years before application Proof of completion of doctoral degree at least 3 years before application Proof of postdoctoral research (e.g. list of published articles or books...) Additional information such as prizes etc. (in case there is such information) Research proposal (see below) Supervisor s agreement (see below) 3.2 Required contents of the research proposal The Research proposal must not exceed a maximum length of 10 pages and be structured as follows: description of the applicant s motivation for applying for the scholarship; abstract (800 words maximum); 2
structure / table of contents; description of research project; its epistemological interest and innovative content; methods proposed to achieve the goal of the research project; proof of research expertise in this particular field; schedule including projected work packages; list specifying requirements with regard to infrastructure and equipment; the completed Ethics Annex (available as a download on the BRAIN Website). 3.3 How to get a supervisor s agreement Applicants are asked to hand in a letter of agreement by a professor at one of the Brandenburg universities as one of their application documents. After you have decided which university s research focus seems most fitting with your research project, get in touch with the BRAIN contact person at this university (see contact details given on the BRAIN Website). The university BRAIN contact person will help you get in touch with the professor or research group in the research field you are interested in. Present your research project to the professor whose research you are interested in and ask her or him whether she or he would be willing to act as supervisor for your BRAIN fellowship. After you have agreed with a professor in this way, ask him or her to put their agreement in writing by using the Letter of Agreement Template (available as a download on the BRAIN Website) and send it to you by email. 4. Selection You will receive an email confirming the receipt of your application and informing you whether it has been found complete after a check at the BRAIN office. You will be informed via email at all relevant stages of the selection process. 4.1 Selection Panel The BRAIN Selection Panel consists of 9-10 members: 7 international scientists (one outstanding expert from each of the following fields of research: the Arts, Engineering, Humanities, Social and Economic Science, Law, Life Sciences, Natural Science), 2 representatives of Brandenburg universities (one each for the two German types of universities University and University of Applied Sciences ). A representative of the University for Film and Television Konrad Wolf Potsdam-Babelsberg will be an additional member of the Selection Panel for Applications concerning the research focus of this university. 4.2 Steps of selection process and selection criteria 1. All applications that have been found eligible are evaluated by two external reviewers, at least one of them international. One of them will be one of the 7 international experts who are members of the Selection Panel. Both reviewers will be outstanding experts in the field of research of the application they evaluate. 3
2. In the evaluation, merit will be judged quantitatively as well as qualitatively, taking into account the applicant s whole range of knowledge, experience and capability. The following list of criteria and their weighting will be applied: Academic excellence (weight 66%) Maximum Score Quality of research proposal 5 Innovative content 5 Feasibility 5 Description of Methods 5 Participation in national and international research co-operation (proof of which is required) including international mobility 5 Proof of independent research undertaken after obtaining doctoral degree, in one or several disciplines, such as Articles published in renowned scientific journals, particularly as single author or, in case of multiple authorship, as first author (in refereed journals only, see footnote 1 ) 5 Monographs 4 Papers in edited volumes (as contributor or editor) 4 Conference proceedings (as contributor or editor) 3 Conference contributions 3 Conference organisation and management 4 Patents 4 Development and marketing of a product 4 Scholarships, prizes and other academic awards 10 Total 66 Other criteria (weight 34 %) Supervision of other researchers or students 8 Director of a group of young researchers 5 Teaching experience at university level 10 Active involvement in the administration of a university department or research institution (e.g. member or chairperson of a committee) 5 Evidence of intersectoral mobility such as research undertaken in industry as well as at university or a research institute, participation in a joint research group combining academic as well as industrial researchers, cooperation with enterprises etc. 6 Total 34 1 Please state whether the journal belongs to the top third (A), middle third (B) or lower third of journals in your field according to its international impact, or in the humanities, whether it is a peer-reviewed journal. 4
The state of Brandenburg aims at promoting high standards in university teaching. Therefore, should two candidates be judged of equal merit in any other respect, their (evaluated) teaching experience will turn the balance. 3. A ranking list will be composed on the basis of the evaluations made. A final selection meeting will take place in Potsdam and will be attended by all panel members in person. The panel will discuss the ranking list and the summary reports. The top 20 candidates on the ranking list as well as those for which there has been a considerable difference of opinion between the two evaluating experts, will be invited to be ready for a short interview via Skype according to a schedule which will be communicated well beforehand to all candidates concerned. In the interviews candidates will be asked to once more verbally explain their motivation for applying for a fellowship and the main aspects of their research project and maybe answer some additional questions arising from the written application. Criteria for the interviews are as follows: Communicative competences including language competences in English (max. 8 points) Quality of oral presentation of the research project (clear, understandable, appropriate length) (max. 7 points) Convincing presentation of individual motivation for the application (max. 5 points) Capacity for teamwork (max. 5 points) The points awarded (total of max. 25 points) will be added to the points given for the evaluation of the written applications. The total of both evaluation aspects will be the basis for the final selection decision. 4. After the interviews, panel members will reach a final decision on the 10 fellows by consensus. In the rare case that consensus cannot be reached during the meeting, a final consensus meeting will take place. 4.3 Selection Process timetable: Publication of the call: January 15 th, 2014 Application deadline: April 15 th, 2014 Examination of applications for eligibility and completeness: approx. April 15 th to May 31 st, 2014 Review process: approx. 3 months Selection Panel meeting: planned for the second half of August 2014 Delivery of award documents to chosen fellows: Information on factors for rejection to unsuccessful applicants Start of fellowships: within two weeks after selection decision within four weeks after selection decision approx. 2 months after selection decision 5
5. Contact For any questions concerning your application for a BRAIN fellowship, please contact the BRAIN help desk at the Brandenburg Ministry of Sciences, Research and Cultural Affairs: Edith Mobou Dzuno Brandenburg Ministry of Sciences, Research and Culture Referat 23 Dortustr. 36 D-14467 Potsdam Phone: +49 (0) 331 866 4766 Email: brain@mwfk.brandenburg.de BRAIN Webpage: Follow the link to BRAIN on www.mwfk.brandenburg.de 6