13 March: fyi -- postgraduate funding, Ireland
Index of March 2003 | Index of year: 2003 | Full index
New Embark Scholars sought in the sciences, engineering & technology.
The Embark Initiative has unveiled a 2003 postgraduate research scholarship
scheme which will fund up to 150 new entrant Masters or Doctorate level
researchers in the sciences, engineering and technology. Operated by the
Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, Embark is
aimed at knowledge creation for the future benefit of society and the
economy and also seeks to retain highly talented researchers in Ireland.=20
A new and specially developed ONLINE grants application system will be used
to receive and process applications. This is the first such system to be
implemented in Ireland and has been developed by Embark as part of the
State's eGovernment programme.=20
Please link to http://www.ircset.ie/grant_schemes/postgrad.html
for more details.
Intending applicants should seek approval of a supervisor and have been
provisionally been accepted by a head of department/school. Your head of
department will be asked to verify online whether the details of your
qualifications/transcripts are correct.
The mechanism used will be:
Once you have completed and submitted your online application form you will
receive a confirmation email asking you to forward a recommendation letter
to your referee. Your referee will have to return by Post only the
completed form to IRCSET before
the deadline for this funding call. Please note this.
You will also receive an email informing you that your proposed Institute
of Research has been forwarded the transcripts you filled online and that
they have been requested to confirm and endorse your application. Please
ensure that the original transcripts are available to your proposed
Institute of Research (this means to the relevant head of department) in
due time for verification. This verification must also occur before the
deadline. Should your proposed Institute of Research decide not to endorse
your application your application will not proceed to assessment.
To enable the transcripts submitted by applicants to be authenticated the
Research Office will provide heads of relevant departments with an
appropriate username and password to log into the IRCSET system, look at
your transcript and verify or otherwise.
The Research Office will therefore not sign off on such proposals
but will be able to link in to the IRCSET system to see who has applied and
what the status of each applicant is.
Professor Thomas N. Mitchell, Chairman of The Irish Research Council,
commented: "In spite of an economic downturn and recent adjustments in
expenditure, it is recognised that the Government retains a long term
commitment to the promotion and funding of research. The reason for this is
that it forms the lifeblood for a knowledge based economy and Ireland's
future international competitiveness. Directly funding individuals will
ensure an increasing supply of researchers in Ireland, so vital to society,
industry and the economy.
Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme 2003
The Embark Initiative's Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme applies to
Science, Engineering and Technology related research by individuals
pursuing Masters or Doctorate qualifications in recognised third level
establishments.
All students graduating with higher honours in science, engineering and
technology are entitled to apply for funding but must be entering into
research for the first time in October 2003 (i.e., at the start of the new
academic year). A decision to grant funding will be based on the student's
academic record, research preparation and a personal statement.
=8819,050 maximum per annum will be available to Masters and Doctorate
students. =8812,700 will go directly to the student and the remainder will=
be
available to fund other forms of support such as fees, appropriate travel
and allowed expenses.=20
Funding will be available for up to three years to outstanding students
though this time period may be revised to cater for students whose research
demands longer time periods.
Applications are subject to equal assessment, strictly on merit, by an
independent academic panel.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 14th April, 2003.
The Embark Initiative
The Embark Initiative is a major national research funding initiative,
operated by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and
Technology. Through a range of highly innovative schemes, Embark invests in
People and Ideas, addressing individual research funding needs at Masters,
Doctoral and Postdoctoral level and encouraging the most talented
researchers to advance their careers in Ireland.
Embark takes a unique approach to funding people and their research ideas.
It does not target projects with an industrial or economic focus but gives
individual researchers the means to explore ideas and bring new concepts
into reality. The emphasis of all Embark programmes is on innovative and
original research, aimed at generating new knowledge within Ireland in the
national interest.
The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology forms a
Board of senior academic and industrial figures Chaired by Professor Thomas
Mitchell under the auspices of the Department of Education & Science. The
Council's initiatives operate under the auspices of the Department of
Education and Science and are funded under the National Development Plan.
Additional information is also available from:=20
The Embark Initiative
IRCSET
Brooklawn House
Crampton Ave
Shelbourne Road
Dublin 4.=20
Tel: 01 231 5000.
Eimear McGee
=20
Ph: +353 1 231 5000
Fax: +353 1 231 5009
Email: emcgee@ircset.ie
www.ircset.ie
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