IRC postdoc 2016

stecos2011

IRC postdoc fellowship results out yesterday. I am on the 'reserve list'. Does anyone know how this works? How many are usually on this list etc?

star_barbie

Hi there, I am in the same boat.

Looking through threads from previous years it seems there was a threshold of score, and once people with conditional offers began to decline these, IRC began working through the list of reserves based on a 'one out, one in' system. I read in one of the threads that we should be able to get information on our scores etc, so I've emailed the research office of the institution to which I'm applying to see if they can provide any guidance.

I remember being told that threshold scores of over 90/95 were common, and higher for humanities due to the lack of overall arts funding.

Also from previous threads, it seems this process could drag on until July or August!

stecos2011

I've been reading through old threads as well and it's difficult to know how to rate the chances of getting a conditional award from the reserve list. It certainly does seem to happen, though, so I'm holding out hope for the moment. I really hope it doesn't drag on too long, or why it should. Surely anyone offered an award would accept or decline it almost immediately.

I think the threshold for humanities last year was 92/100.

stecos2011

I've just emailed the IRC looking for a bit of guidance. I'll post any information I get in response. You might do the same?

star_barbie

Absolutely, anything I get I'll post the information here!

star_barbie

Just heard back from the university.

We should get letter from IRC (eventually) with a breakdown of scores across the five sections, and this will state what the threshold is as well.

They were unsure about the time frame conditional offer people have to accept/reject, considering it due to start October 1st, general view was that it could take a while!

The response was quite positive, in that typically a good few get conditional offers who had been on the reserve list, so that's cheering.

stecos2011

Thanks for that. It is encouraging that some of the reserve list eventually get offers. I was just talking to one of my referees and he said much the same and that it's not over 'till it's over etc. he also said that conditional awardees get about four weeks to accept or decline. I still haven't heard back from the IRC itself but would hope to do so today. I'm sure they are up to their eyes in there at the moment.

stecos2011

Essentially it will come down to where we are placed on the reserve list and there will be no information provided on that. I wonder do they have separate lists for Humanities and Science?

star_barbie

I'm not sure (as with almost everything about this I guess!), but I think there must be separate lists because of the different thresholds.

I might try giving them a call later to get some general information, I know they don't tend to respond to things like that, but it's worth a try! Will update you.

star_barbie

I just gave them a quick ring, they were very lovely. We should get our scores (and probably the threshold score) in the post before the end of the month. People on the conditional list have been asked to confirm acceptance by next Monday, so they'll start to work stuff out after that and make more offers.

I'll keep posting any information I get!

stecos2011

Thanks so much for that. It provides some clarity and at least I can stop checking my emails every five minutes until next week! I still haven't heard back from them but I assume I won;t have anything to add to what you've been told when I do. So it would appear that offers for declined places will start next week and offers for places forfeited because the conditional awardee did not fulfill the terms and conditions will come later in the month. If, indeed, there are any of either!

tuamstar

Did you received any feedback on your application?
Was thinking about applying to IRC amongst others and when I looked at it I found an article mentioning a few drawbacks:

brianmlucey.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/thoughts-on-the-irish-research-council/

The application takes ages and I don't know anyone who went through it so would be really glad for any advice or any experience report...

Thanks!

stecos2011

Hi Tuamstar. Are you in Humanities or Science?

tuamstar

stecos2011 wrote: »

Hi Tuamstar. Are you in Humanities or Science?

Humanities!

stecos2011

This is my first time applying so I don;t have feedback on my application yet - it's still 'live' and I think that feedback on unsuccessful applications comes some months down the line.The application is torturous and it's difficult to give general advice as one could go on for half an hour about each section. One thing I would say is that you should keep in mind that the research proposal itself only counts for 25% of the marks. So while it has to be spot on, do not neglect the other sections that might seem secondary to you - particularly the one about the suitability of your proposed research institution and mentor which also counts for 25%, odd as it seems. So you have to make a very strong case for both. The same with the gender statement. They take it very seriously, even though, for most of us, it seems totally irrelevant. So make sure you set out at length exactly why it's irrelevant.

star_barbie

Hi Tuamstar, I would agree with stecos2011. Also, the application process is long and torturous, but I suppose like any of these funding applications, they're all the same, it's maybe the most efficient means of trying to dole out public money.

If you're thinking about it I would recommend various workshops and advice from the research office of whatever institution you're applying to - I found those massively helpful. You can also send your application off to the various research offices and they'll give you feedback on applications prior to submission as well. Also, I sent my application to my two referees and they had great comments as well.

But yeah... the application does take ages! I found it really useful though, useful for other applications too.

stecos2011

I agree. It is a huge amount of work but it is a very good exercise in terms of other applications and book proposals for publishers. The word limits are really tight so you learn to focus and condense. I tried to keep this is mind as I entered my third full week working on the application!

stecos2011

I called the IRC as I had not had a reply to my email. Nothing to add to what you were told, Star Barbie. They hope to begin drawing on the reserve list (if they are to draw on it at all) by the end of next week.

star_barbie

Thanks stecos2011! Let's keep our fingers crossed I'll check in with news, information etc.

stecos2011

Ditto.

stecos2011

any news on whether the reserve list has been activated yet? the suspense is killing me!

star_barbie

Haven't gotten any info/correspondence on it at all... same here

stecos2011

did anyone out there get get a conditional award from the postdoctoral reserve list last year?

lace21

hello, how long did you wait until the final outcome? Anyone changed to award from reserved list? Thank you!

star_barbie

Hi Lace21 - mid-July for me before I was moved to award status, by which point I had pretty much lost all hope and had accepted a job!