Mathematical Sciences Early Independence Fellowship

What the assessor looks for

• is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
• has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area of its focus
• is timely, given current trends, context, and needs
• impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment
• supports wider capacity development in the field(s) or area(s) of focus
• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how you will manage them
• uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable)
• summarises the previous work and describes how you will build on and progress this work (if applicable)
• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
• provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan, including milestones and timelines in the form of a chart or diagram

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to make best use of the benefits presented by this funding opportunity to develop your career
• the right balance of skills and aptitude to deliver the proposed work
• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
• the appropriate team working or leadership skills (appropriate to career stage)
• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
• contributions to the wider research and innovation community
• contributions to broader research or innovation, users and audiences, and towards wider societal benefit

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• career development goals appropriate to the fellowship funding opportunity
• how the fellowship will provide a feasible and appropriate trajectory for your personal development and to achieve your stated career development goals (as appropriate to your career stage and field)
• how you will instigate positive change in the wider research and innovation community, for example through Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), advocacy or advisory roles, stakeholder engagement, participation in expert review, influencing policy, public engagement, or outreach
• how you will ensure continued research and professional development in those you will be managing on the project, to have a positive research and innovation experience, with opportunities or support to progress their own careers (useful links Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and Technician Commitment )
• what mentoring arrangements are proposed and how they are appropriate to you
• how the proposed work will provide a feasible and appropriate trajectory for you to acquire additional skills, like research, leadership, communication and management

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• identified the area you intend to champion for your programme
• considered your current knowledge of the modern research environment and how you will develop yourself further to deliver your proposed work
• explained the timeliness and relevance of your chosen area
• explained the objectives of your plus component in this context
• planned to implement these objectives, including your ability to be an advocate for this area and to influence

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• evidence detailing how the host will support you, as appropriate for your career development and the vision and approach of the fellowship
• who you have engaged with in your host organisation (name and role)
• how your research environment will contribute to the success of the work, in terms of suitability of the host organisation and strategic relevance to the project
• how the host organisation will ensure your time commitment to the fellowship is protected
• what development and training opportunities will be provided and how they form a cohesive career development package tailored to your aims and aspirations
• what financial or practical support, such as access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment, is being provided and how this strengthens your application

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• project staff
• significant travel for field work or collaboration
• any equipment that will cost more than £25,000
• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
• all facilities and infrastructure costs
• training costs
• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’
• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project
• the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, while minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm
• how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project
• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data)
• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with
• human participants
• genetically modified organisms

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• have completed a PhD with additional post-PhD experience or equivalent
• are not an established academic (academics who have demonstrated sustained career independence)
• have not held a position where you directed the vision of a research group, with experience supervising postdoctoral staff (more than 12 months) and shaping research direction
• do not have another application for a UKRI fellowship of this type or an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) new investigator award that is currently being assessed
• do not have part of the fellowship project as a grant application with any organisation and your application is being assessed
• have not been awarded a comparable fellowship supporting early independence or a new investigator award from any organisation
• have not secured grants as a project lead, that include support for and leading of research staff such as postdoctoral research associates as this would indicate you have already made the step-change to independence. This excludes Mathematical Sciences Small Grants due to the short-term nature of the grant.

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project
• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them
• describe any additional value that they bring to the project
• have a page limit of two sides A4 per partner

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 42KB)
• proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list
• confirmation you have their agreement where required

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.