PE&RC call for institutional collaboration 2020

Introduction

In 2018, PE&RC initiated a call to stimulate collaboration between Wageningen University and the other PE&RC partner institutes via joint short-term PhD and/or postdoc projects. After two successful years, the call is set out again for 2020. To this end we invite academic staff members of PE&RC to submit a proposal for institutional collaboration within PE&RC.

Eligibility criteria

• Applications must be submitted by at least 2 PE&RC registered staff members from at least 2 PE&RC institutes being: WUR-ESG, WUR-PSG, WUR-ASG, UVA-IBED, VU-ES, UU-E&B, NIOO, NATURALIS, and RADBOUD-IWWR.
• One of the applicants must be affiliated to Wageningen University as funds are provided by Wageningen University.
• Funds are meant for short-term PhD and/or postdoc projects. The project can be executed by 1 or 2 PhD candidates, 1 postdoc, or a PhD-Postdoc collaboration. In case of PhD projects, the application should involve work on a new project that is not part of the original PhD proposal. The outcome of this work may of course be included in the PhD thesis.
• Funds cover gross salary costs (postdoc max. scale 11.5) plus and approximately 35% overhead.
• Appointment of PhD(s) and/or postdoc(s) has to be at Wageningen University as the call is funded by Wageningen University strategic funds. However, research activities may be performed at non-WUR PE&RC institutes.
• The maximum months to be funded depends on the requested appointment:
  
  • PhD project: 4 months
  • PhD-PhD project: 2 months each
  • Postdoc: 3 months
  • Postdoc-PhD: 1 month postdoc and 2 months PhD
• In total, 5 projects will be funded.
• Funded projects will have to be completed before 1 November 2021. Funds will be allocated to the group(s) involved in 2020.
• Upon completion awardees are required to submit a short project report (max 2 pages) and to present their findings in the next edition of the PE&RC day.

Submission of pre-proposals

Applicants are invited to submit a proposal that includes:

• Title;
• Focus and aim of the project (max. 250 words);
• Relevance given the PE&RC mission (Understanding the functioning of natural and managed ecosystems to improve the quality of life) (max. 150 words);
• The manner in which the proposed project will strengthen the institutional collaboration, identifying the specific role of the proposed candidate(s) (postdoc/PhD), including the expected output of the project (max. 150 words);
• Groups involved and time to be spent by a specific postdoc / PhD candidate(s);
• Appointment details: name of person(s) employed, employment period, chair group;
• The budget requested.

Pre-proposals must be submitted by e-mail to office.pe@wur.nl on or before 15 October 2020

Selection procedure

• Pre-proposals are evaluated by by an independent committee, established by PE&RC.
• A maximum of 6 applications will be selected based on eligibility, quality, and added value for PE&RC.
• Selected applicants (i.e. the academic staff members submitting the application) are required to pitch their proposal during the 2020 PE&RC Day (18 November 2020, at Naturalis, Leiden). Depending on the local Corona regulations at that moment it may also be that the presentation has to be given online. The PhD candidate(s) / postdoc(s) involved in the application may also take part in the pitch during the PE&RC Day. If one or more of the applicants cannot be present during the pitch, this needs to be communicated to the PE&RC Office as soon as possible. Only if there are valid and strong arguments for all staff members to be unable to perform the pitch (to be judged by the PE&RC Office), it will be accepted to have the involved PhD candidate(s) / postdoc(s) pitch the proposal.
• The PE&RC Day audience votes for the best pitch / best proposal.
• Final selection of those to receive the funds is based on the pitch score given by the audience. The exact scoring system will be communicated during the PE&RC Day.
• The best five proposals are awarded the grant.