The Embark Initiative, operated by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET), has announced new funding of up to €4.6m for researchers under its Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme. Up to 50 awards will be offered this year to the most competitive candidates.
This is the fourth year of the scheme. Applicants can apply for funding, regardless of nationality, as long as they intend to begin their first postdoctoral research position in sciences, engineering or technology disciplines at an Irish research institution next October. The winning researchers will be subject to assessment on merit by an international assessment committee, IRCSET said in a statement.
The aim of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme to develop the country’s international reputation as an important location in which to carry out world class research, so that Ireland retains and attracts high-level R&D capabilities for the future.
Martin Hynes, director of IRCSET said: “The Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme is designed to ensure that international researchers will contribute to, as well as benefit from, the work of established research teams in Ireland. As well as providing Irish and international researchers with an opportunity to work together the Postdoctoral scheme also means researchers will be more mobile in their work.”
Applications from candidates with PhDs wishing to further their research work under the scheme should be submitted by 5pm Thursday 23 February. The highest rated applications will receive funding for two years of €33,000 (plus social insurance contribution) available in the first and second year, plus expenses of up to €5,000 each year.
Applications will only be accepted for the call through the Embark Initiative’s online grants application system, at www.embark.ie. The decision to grant funding will be based on research career to date, project description, proposed research environment and references from recognised research leaders.
By Gordon Smith
