IRCSET 2011

NeuroticMonkey

Hi all,

Was hoping to start a thread here about applying for IRCSET funding in 2011 primarily because, given the state of the economy and all this talk of Budget 2010 being "the harshest budget in living memory" etc, I am concerned that this scheme won't actually run at all. I was hoping to get the perspective of postgrads/ those with more more experience than I in how the funding agencies roll.

I'm a recent grad (2010) from a Biomed discipline. I applied for IRCSET and a Wellcome Trust grant last year but wasn't successful (even though we made it to the final cut in the WT application process). Basically, I have a PhD project lined up that I'm really interested in and a willing but fund-less supervisor but I cannot afford to hang around hinging my hopes on IRCSET so I'm wondering if I should cut my losses and look for a position in the UK.

Also, in general, what sort of projects are IRCSET funding these days. I get the vibe that they are only funding projects that are likely to provide a commercialisation opportunity not too far down the road (Chemistry-related, new diagnostic tests..that type of thing). My particular proposed project doesn't show that sort of potential in, say, the next 5 years.

Anyway, thoughts on the matter and on the general future of funding in Ireland would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

PS: feel free to use this thread to discuss all things IRCSET.

CandyFromABaby

Hey NeuroticMonkey,

Cheers for posting this thread mate! I regularly trawl Boards for advice and IRCSET is one of the things on my mind these days. I've just started my final year dissertation and I'm hoping to stay on to do a PhD with my supervisor. I was discussing this with him the other day and I got the feeling from him that IRCSET is gonna be the big one this year as very few researchers, in our department anyway, were able to bring in SFI funds this year. I think only something like one in the whole department got any projects funded.

Personally, I don't feel the govt can cut the scheme any more this year, especially after halving the number of scholarships last year. It is, after all, an important way of attracting foreign students to come do postgrad work here. The major query I would have (for anyone with IRCSET experience) is: Is there ANY point in applying if you are only on a 2:1 from third year??

I really hope someone with some info on this can shed a bit of light on it.
:pac:

token56

Funding in general is becoming extremely difficult to come by these days, I'm lucky to have started a year ago and even though things were bad then, they are even worse now. Regarding IRCSET funding, its definitely becoming more and more of a challenge to get, a reduction in the number of scholarships and an increase in applications due to other funding sources drying up is leading to alot more competition. All anyone can do for IRCSET funding is do up the best application you can and hope for the best. I'd advise anyone who can to apply for the enterprise partnership scheme too if it's an option. So if you know a company or could find one that would be interested in your work and would be willing to partly sponsor you (I think its 1/3 of every year funding they must provide) it gives you an added chance.

The other options are to just look high and low for funded PhD's but these are becoming a rare commodity now. If can you find an opportunity to go abroad on a funded PhD I'd say go for it.

NeuroticMonkey

Cheers for the reply. You've pretty much summed up my own and my super's sentiments. I guess I was just trying to see if there was any hope out there on the ircset front. It is looking grim alright. It's a pity seeing as jobs in the sector are so scarce, and now to see the funding for education drying up too is pretty sad really.

Scienceless

So when are IRCSET expected to be accepting applications for the Post Graduate Scholarship Scheme in 2011? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Scienceless.

NeuroticMonkey

Scienceless wrote: »

So when are IRCSET expected to be accepting applications for the Post Graduate Scholarship Scheme in 2011? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Scienceless.

They normally announce it in Jan, with applicant deadline in Feb, Super/Refs deadline in March, results in April. That's how it was last year.

I'm not holding my breath for it this year though.

apoeiguq3094y

There has been a shift in the main science funding bodys in Ireland particularly SFI and IRCSET, they tend to be looking at the impact of the research and end applications. I started on IRCSET 2 years ago and any real life benefits of my work are a good few years down the line.

With SFI its more about you're supervisor and their funding application. With IRCSET its more about how you spin it. If you look at the mission statement for IRCSET and any of their news articles, try and phrase your applications so it ties in with them. Even if your work does seem to have a commercial output in the near future, your supervisor may be able to help you talk about possible outcomes. You can also talk about how you are going to use the skill set you develop during your Ph.D. to work in a start up or something.

You should also talk up non-commercial outcomes of your research and the HUGE effect they will have on society. Its all about how you sell it really.

I think IRCSET went to 4 years of funding this year, so it seems as if they remain commited to it.

alisonoc

Hi guys,

I was wondering if anyone knew about the enterprise partnership scheme? I applied for the co-funding this year in October but I haven't heard anything yet except that my application was received. Does anyone know when they give the results?

Thanks

Eva_moo

I am unfortunately a very impatient person and am so fed up of waiting for the results of IRCSET this year. It really does appear to be very competitive but to be honest from further research and applications, the UK and other European countries appear to be just as competitive. So fingers crossed

postgrad23

OP, look up PRTLI. It's better than IRCSET and it's coming out for next september.
http://www.hea.ie/en/node/1218

You can also get demonstratorships from colleges, you don't need private funding. They're not as much money, but rent has fallen so much now that it's almost the same as IRCSET was five years ago.

xmcam

Hey you guys,

Does anyone know when IRCSET 2011 Postgraduate Result comes out?
The guideline said that result will come out tomorrow, but cannot find any information from the website.
Thanks

Log Lady

xmcam wrote: »

The guideline said that result will come out tomorrow, but cannot find any information from the website.

I am also (nervously) awaiting the IRCSET results.
Have never been given a more specific date than the end of April though. Where did you see tomorrow being mentioned?

xmcam

Log Lady wrote: »

I am also (nervously) awaiting the IRCSET results.
Have never been given a more specific date than the end of April though. Where did you see tomorrow being mentioned?

See the screen-shot I got from the guideline 2011:

Guidelines for Applicants
The calendar for the 2011/2012 competition is as follows:
15-Dec-10 Pre call announcement and call information available on website
12-Jan-11 Online application system opens
16-Feb-11 Online application system closes for applicants (i.e. 5 weeks after call opens on IRCSET website)
02-Mar-11 Online application closes for Supervisors and referees
16-Mar-11 Online application closes for members of staff of the Research Offices in the Higher Education Institution
Week of 18th April
Competition results published

Good luck!

jellytots!

Hello,
I'm also not so patiently waiting for the results. I had already seen in the guidelines "week of the 18th". I really hope they are out today will be torture if this goes on all week. Its ridiculous cause we will just have to constantly check eek! Either way I just want to know! Good luck to you all and lets hope we have some news in a few hours:D

mp3guy

Yeah, this is a bit painful alright. Results could be out any minute. Or Friday 5pm

mp3guy

From the site;

***It is intended to have the results of the EMBARK POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION 2011 posted up on our website on Thursday 21st April***

Can relax now, until Wednesday night

mathew

But Thursday seems ages away!!

Does anyone know how many people (roughly) apply for it? It seems last year there were about 150 awards given.. I'd love to know how many that was out of.

silvo

Ooops mp3guy beat me to it

niall0s

mathew wrote: »

But Thursday seems ages away!!

Does anyone know how many people (roughly) apply for it? It seems last year there were about 150 awards given.. I'd love to know how many that was out of.

Last year

A total of 654 eligible applications were assessed with funding available for 150 awards.

mp3guy

niall0s wrote: »

Last year

A total of 654 eligible applications were assessed with funding available for 150 awards.

Source?

kisaragi

It said it in the email with your feedback last year... Lowest score that got funding was 80, highest score was 99.

mp3guy

kisaragi wrote: »

It said it in the email with your feedback last year... Lowest score that got funding was 80, highest score was 99.

Thanks. So does that imply that everyone 80+ also got funding?

mathew

I would assume so, unless they turned it down or were somehow found ineligible..

kisaragi

mp3guy wrote: »

Thanks. So does that imply that everyone 80+ also got funding?

Unless they were still waiting on their degree marks and didn't get a first (pretty sure this is necessary) I presume so!

mp3guy

So who wants to guess what time today? I'm guessing around 11.30am, since they made the update about the date on Monday at that time.

kisaragi

Probably about 16.55 just to make us suffer :P

jellytots!

its driving me mad! I just keep refreshing the page I hate suspense!!
Interesting logic I really hope its before then. But I was thinking worst case scenario 2pm cause the released the post doc results at that time last week. But they also stated they were going to at that specific time. eek

mathew

I just want to find out!!!

I had a look at the timestamp on last years PDFs. They were put up at 4pm on the 13th. According to last years thread tho, the date for announcement was the 14th. So it seems they went up early last year. No such luck this year..

I hope its soon

mp3guy

I've got a handy firefox plugin that's automatically refreshing every 30 seconds. All I must do now is wait.

jellytots!

yeah pity there is no such luck this year. I really hope we don't have to wait till four or five:eek:
I mean it has to have already been decided so would they not just put them up!!

Log Lady

I am refreshing the page so often I think I have developed OCD Good luck everyone!