IRC POSTDOC 2018

Delaney101

Hi folks, this is a thread about the IRC postdoc application for 2018

Good luck to everyone !

pras1729

Hello everyone, I was just wondering does anyone have an idea when will the phase one results be out? I have been following the IRC postgrad threads here and their phase one results were out on 7th February. Given that their deadline for submission and date of final results are both 1 month ahead of the Postdoc call .. do you think the phase 1 results for postdocs would be out around 7th March?

Just curious if anyone who went through the IRC postdoc application process in the previous years could shed some light on phase 1 result dates?

Thanks, and good luck at all!

Delaney101

Hi pras1729

It's my first year applying for the IRC Postdoc. Have been checking the portal constantly since I submitted. I was expecting results in April but if they come earlier that would be great...I'd love to know the result in early March. Hopefully that's the case

are you STEM or Humanities? did you apply for 1 or 2 years?

how did you find the application? a lot of work, hopefully it pays off. It's so difficult to get a postdoc these days. I applied for 50+ in various Irish universities and nada. not even an interview

pras1729

It's my first year too, in STEM. I found the assessment flowchart here: http://research.ie/assets/uploads/2017/05/Assessment-Process-Flowchart-2018.pdf

So, the final result (phase 2) is still in April .. but seems like there is phase 1 results should be out earlier. It's a pity they don't say when exactly they will be out. I'm just guessing based on what the postgrads are talking about.

Delaney101

Yeah, it would be good to know as a soon as possible

It would be nice to know what phase of assessment (1 or 2) the application is in. My portal just states "under assessment" - has it moved to phase 2? or is it still in phase1?

pras1729

From what I see from the Postgrad threads:

- 2018: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=106084062
- 2017: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=101689290

it seems to me that they send out an email at the end of phase 1 selection to everyone informing if they have advanced to phase 2 or not.

Delaney101

Thanks. That’s good to know

Delaney101

Hi Pras1729,

Quick question - have you received any email relating to move to second phase of assessment?

pras1729

Nope, not yet!

pras1729

I just received a response to my query regarding the phase 1 results from the IRC.

"Unfortunately, I’m afraid that I don’t have any new information for you with regards to a specific date. Due to the recent snow and strike in the UK, it looks like the results will be going towards the end of the month.

Kind regards,
Irish Research Council"

Just thought I'd share the info.

Delaney101

Thanks Pras. Back to the waiting game!

pras1729

Did you hear anything, Delaney101? Seems like the final results for the postgrads are out today! No signs of phase 1 for the postdocs (?)

Delaney101

Hi pras1729, yeah i checked IRC site last night and this morning and the submission tab was missing. I took it that the website was being updated. Logged back in today and my submission still states “under assessment”. So no news yet. Keep on waiting into April. Hopefully 1st round will come out early april🀞

postdoc2018

Hi, I've been informed by my potential mentor that the IRC postdoc assessment board are scheduled to meet on April 12th so we can expect to hear after that. I'm not sure that we will get an email regarding first/second round in advance of that. In any case, we still have a couple of weeks of waiting to go!

postdoc2018

Also, I've just noticed that my application now reads 'Last modified: 28/03/2018 11:52'. I'm guessing that means they've been processing the applications in advance of the Inner Board Assessors' meeting on the 12th April.

If this is the case, then perhaps we can expect some applications to be updated as not making it to Phase 2, as per the flowchart: 'Unsuccessful applications do not progress further – OLS status updated to ‘unsuccessful application’'. The flowchart, to my eyes anyway, doesn't suggest that those progressing to Phase 2 will receive any indication of same, by email or otherwise.

Has anyone else noticed their application as having being recently modified?

pras1729

I've been informed by my potential mentor that the IRC postdoc assessment board are scheduled to meet on April 12th

Hi postdoc2018, this is good information, thanks!

If this is the case, then perhaps we can expect some applications to be updated as not making it to Phase 2, as per the flowchart: 'Unsuccessful applications do not progress further – OLS status updated to ‘unsuccessful application’'. The flowchart, to my eyes anyway, doesn't suggest that those progressing to Phase 2 will receive any indication of same, by email or otherwise.

Hmm, that's true, but looking at previous years' discussions, it seems like there has always been an email sent out at the end of Phase 1. Anyway, it's all speculation. You're right, there is no official information regarding that except what's on the flowchart.

My 'last modified' date hasn't changed since January 2018. Don't know what that means! Anyway, fingers crossed.

postdoc2018

Thanks pras1729. As you say it's all speculation. Torturous, on-going speculation...

In the past, have postdocs received the email regarding progression to Phase 2? I have only seen that in relation to postgraduate applications, and the PG guidelines explicitly state that an email update will be sent informing applicants of this. Not that it makes any difference really, but would be nice to know if we have progressed to Phase 2 or, equally, to be put out of the misery of waiting!

pras1729

You're right. My speculation is based on postgrads too! Seems like the postgrads discuss this was more than postdocs

Lustigelola

Hi!

Yes, my application was modified on 27 March (after the tab disappearing, etc etc). Before that, it had been modified on 10 January and 16 March... so it looks like things are moving!

Good luck to all

notsosure1

Hi all,

Has anyone heard anything new from the IRC about outcomes, etc? I only just found this thread, thanks for all the previous posts!

This wait sure is starting to...

Delaney101

Hi Notsosure1

Nothing so far. To wait continues....

postdoc2018

The board is meeting this day week (Thursday 12th) so we should expect to hear the following week, 16th April onwards, unless they are super efficient and update the portal next Friday. Which seems a little unlikely. Just have to sit tight until then!

Delaney101

The wait is killing me!

notsosure1

Hi all,

Since I'm not as familiar as others on this thread, can I ask the following:

Let's say, for those (very few) who will actually get the IRC without having to endure to put on waiting lists (don't know the correct term) and get, as it were, a first round offer, how long would this process take? I suppose answering this would require knowledge of previous years, and the assumption that a similar time-scale would be applicable, but if anyone could give me an educated estimate, I would really appreciate it!

postdoc2018

notsosure1 wrote: »

Hi all,

Since I'm not as familiar as others on this thread, can I ask the following:

Let's say, for those (very few) who will actually get the IRC without having to endure to put on waiting lists (don't know the correct term) and get, as it were, a first round offer, how long would this process take? I suppose answering this would require knowledge of previous years, and the assumption that a similar time-scale would be applicable, but if anyone could give me an educated estimate, I would really appreciate it!

Hi notsosure1,

Do you mean for the offer to be fully confirmed?

The process as I understand it is that a successful applicant will have a ‘conditional offer’ made, which is then updated to ‘award-holder’ once all the paperwork is submitted and approved (transcripts; ethics clearances; etc). I don’t know how long this whole process takes but as far as I know, conditional offers must be accepted or rejected within quite a short time frame, ie a week or two. I do know that those on the reserve list received offers into July in past years.

All awards must be (and can only be) commenced in October.

I don’t know if any of this answers your question but hope it helps in some way!

Hopefully not too much longer of a wait now...

SaraFraichi

Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie here and it's good to see that i'm not not alone in this interminable wait !

Delaney101

Hi SaraFraichi,

thanks the message. the wait is horrible isn't it! hopefully news will break soon

SaraFraichi

Hi everyone,
Just for information : i sent an email yesterday to the IRC desk and they answered me this morning that the outcome of the application will be at the end of the month! arghhh

postdoc2018

Thanks for the update. Arggg indeed! So frustrating but good to know that I can stop endlessly refreshing the IRC application forum for the next week or two anyway. Very painful though...

Delaney101

Thanks for the info SaraFraichi,

frustrating isn't it !! the wait continues till probably Thursday 26th/Friday 27th

dco_1987

Letter of offers for Postgraduate Scholarships only came in post today, so they could be tying that up and then on to Post-Doc. Good luck to all

postdoc2018

Has to be today, surely?!

Gile_na_gile

Technically, they could push it as far as Monday, by which time a proportion of us will already have made commitments to other jobs in other places. I think that for next year, they should push the whole thing forward another month. In 2016, the results were coming out late June (HUM) and early July (for STEM), which was crazy, but it is still not quite right.

Delaney101

hopefully today?

postdoc2018

I agree it is extremely late in the year and would much rather these decisions be made earlier. It’s hard to keep hedging the bets on all fronts until the outcome! The NUI postdoc fellowship only hold the interviews in July though, which seems absolutely crazy to me so relatively soeaking, the IRC are reasonable. Fingers crossed for today in any case - make sure to send an update if anything happens!

Delaney101

will keep checking today and send notification if I see any change.

This whole process has been a horrible wait. It would be better if they gave us abit more information e.g., expected dates of results; through phase 1 & 2. What happened to the so-called phase 1 & 2. I suppose the strike in the UK delayed the process somewhat?

Solli

Minister is meeting with the Council today so expect announcement within the hour...

postdoc2018

Solli wrote: »

Minister is meeting with the Council today so expect announcement within the hour...

Eeek what does that mean?!

Delaney101

who said that?

postdoc2018

Would be very surprised if they make an announcement this late in the day, especially considering that the portal hasn’t been down at all today. But fingers crossed! Obviously can’t leave my computer now until close of business...

Delaney101

is today the day?

postdoc2018

I’m starting to think that by ‘end of April’, they meant ‘sometime in May’...

Gile_na_gile

In other years, it has meant halfway into the next month for STEM applicants. On previous form, the results should be out today shortly before noon. Will probably give them a ring if there is no news. Can't keep hedging until next week...

A bit materialistic on the dayof the crate drop, but given rent in Dublin and dependents etc, do ye know how much the salary amounts to monthly after all deductions? I know there is a 3.3k PRSI contribution on top of salary, as well as pension, but what would be the montly take home?

Delaney101

I read in another post about monthly take home pay? with deductions I read 25-26k per annum €2k per month ish + 5,000 expenses

Gile - I know what you mean. It's nice to get a postdoc to do your own research etc but there's a lot of risk and sacrifice. Pay isn't great and permanent job is a pipe dream (IRC being a stepping stone but not solid ground). Risk and sacrifice even more with family, mortgage, leaving job, leaving home country etc. is it worth it?

just throwing that out there to shake up the conversation?

Gile_na_gile

I think this award is ideal for those who would be on Level 1 postdoc, in which case the salary is ok, and you get to do your own pet project completely designed by you with your mentor's guidance. If you have postdoc experience (at Level 2 or higher), and a nice flow of publications (teaching counts for little...), then the fellowship is a 10k paycut in exchange for your own project.

Note that our economy is once again doing well, and there are lots of postdoc opportunities for a country of our size and an increasing trickle of lectureships. Would be good if they had two levels, but I think they are addressing this at the moment with something in between this and the Laureate award, which has lots of assistant professors and senior lecturers among awardees.

Delaney101

yeah that's a good point, especially about postdoc levels. which I agree with. Your optimistic. I would be more pessimistic.

postdoc2018

It’s not going to be today either, is it?

Re: the salary - it hasn’t changed for literally years (a decade even?) which is a bit of a disgrace really. That said, things have been so volatile in Irish Higher Education in the last few years that it’s understandable. However, as you mention Gile_na_Gile, now that things are improving in the sector, surely the onus is on the IRC to match cost of living. I was interested to see that the NUI fellowship salary is 40k. Pity there’s only one of them this year!

Gile_na_gile

The NUI fellowship is 40k in its entirety, whereas the IRC is 45k including fieldwork, PRSI, and pensions contributions. So I am wondering if maybe the NUI one (literally one) is not even lower in salary? There was pressure this year to raise the IRC salary, but it wasn't successful. The Enterprise one might be higher, but they are late with putting the call out, so who knows. I think the salary reflects the fact that we are 'postdoctoral students'

Delaney101

IMO, despite the drawbacks of IRC, at least it's based on peer-review and merit. unlike so many postdoc positions advertised (in the humanities - don't know about STEM),which are internally pre-ordained in a nepotistic fashion.

sorry the wait is making me vent!!

chocksaway

I've been working as postdoc for over a year now at point 2.

i've applied for this grant as money in the lab was tight and liked the idea of running my own project at last.

But over time I've decided that I have no desire to do it. Post doc life is too demanding with long hours and supervision of junior students/staff to be taking a pay cut for

The salary scale is completely screwed.

L.Belcher

Well thank you all - the wait has been horrendous, but lurking in your company has made it a bit more bearable. Was really hopping for some news by now - surely there were applications that could have been eliminated early on (including, I suspect mine). Now I don't know how much effort I have to out into my Tesco interview. Ahh, who am i kidding, I don't have the experience for Tesco...