Dear Postdocs,
you have a promising idea for an exciting research project, but it's outside of your existing funding range, i.e. there's no money for it? Apply for the QU Postdoc Grant! This QU-based grant is organised by the QU Postdoc Council and can boost your research with up to 20,000 €.
What projects can profit?
Your proposal should have a well-defined and limited scope within the grant and result in a deliverable in no more than one year.
Examples are
- production or procurement of hardware for an experiment
- purchase of a measurement device
- hosting of a networking event
- purchase of computing power for numerical calculations
- temporary employment of an assistant researcher to pursue a particular study
The possibilities are not limited to these examples and we are open to your suggestions how your research can be boosted! The grant, however, is not intended to cover routine travels, such as to conferences. A bonus is given to a project which entails science communication, and to an interdisciplinary one which connects the QU research fields.
Since the grant is intended for research ideas that are developed and carried out by young researchers and that not yet covered by existing funding, it should be made clear that the project could not be funded within an existing grant or e.g. your working group.
Who is eligible?
QU-funded and QU-associated postdocs (i.e. in CHAMPP) can apply with a project which lies within the QU research areas. Since 'QU-associated' ist not really well-defined, basically you are eligible when you receive QU emails via the researchers.champp email list.
How to apply?
At Application, fill in your personal information in the form and upload your anonymous one-page application, which describes your project, its research context and how your research would benefit from the grant. The deadline is May 31st 2023,23:59 h.
In case your project is selected for the second (final) round, you will be asked to give a 5-10 minute presentation about its merits.
You can apply for the full sum of 20,000 € or a smaller amount. In the latter case, several different projects could be funded by the grant. You can also define up to two 'reduced' versions of your project, in terms of scope and requested money.
If you win the grant, you are required to provide a nice PR-ish photo of your project and present your idea at the next QU Day as well as the results of the research one year later. In addition, you will be encouraged to be available as a member for the grant committee of a future grant round.
Who decides who gets the money?
The Postdoc Council sets up a grant committee comprised of fellow Postdocs who will decide on the applications. We aim to have 4 members, one of each QU research fields. Therefore, we hereby also ask for your help and ask for volunteers to act as grant committee members!
Perks:
- insight into various research projects across QU
- providing a valuable contribution to our local early career researchers community
- a limited-scope one-time task of about one work day in total
- putting "Participation in decision-making of local funding grant" in your CV
If you are interested in being a committee member, please write to qu-postdocgrant@desy.de. We are looking forward to your applications and mails!
