START NOW!12 weeks left till deadline (16 August 2012)

Contact with lead scientist and host institution – working relationship

Marie Curie application is LONG – up to 25 pages

Guides, rules and regulations handbook also long

Developing ideas, communicating impact, clarity, brevity

Start writing/sketching out your project proposal as soon as possible

•Scientific and Technological Quality

•Training

•Researcher

•Implementation

•Impact

Strengths Research project well structured , clearly stated research objectives. Provides new information to research community.

Provides relevant and clear description of the state of the art; justifies project - unanswered research questions.

Itemises material needed in order to meet the main project objective. Detail - archaeological sites, lab techniques.

Interdisciplinarity – organic geochemistry and more traditional archaeological techniques.

Host lab and supervisors are recognised world leaders in the field.

Project well-embedded in ongoing European projects, strengthens European collaboration.

Weaknesses Step-by-step details of some of the techniques are missing.

Questions of sample contamination receive minimal attention.

Criterion 1: Scientific & Technological Quality (S&T)

Criterion 2: Training

Strengths Training objectives clearly stated.

Training in new technique for the applicant, can only be learned in a few places.

Relevance and quality of additional scientific training and complementary skills are high.

Personal career plan developed by the researcher and the leading scientist.

Complementary skills - project management, presentation skills - will be developed.

Host expertise in training, mentoring & tutoring (number of scholars/students already hosted).

Weaknesses No training in advanced use of digital resources/IT for extended analysis of results.

Criterion 3: Researcher

Strengths Publications include books , articles in peer-reviewed international, interdisciplinary & subject-specific journals.

Displays evidence of independent thinking and leadership.

Proposed research well-matched with applicant's scientific background.

New knowledge acquired and techniques learned will contribute greatly to professional maturity.

Weaknesses CV not always clear on the nature of funding received and work undertaken.

Coverage in CV of the period 2006-2007 is vague.

Criterion 4: Implementation

Strengths Facilities available at the Host are state of the art.

Host engaged in international collaborations, experienced in welcoming and training foreign researchers.

Reputation of the supervisor ensures feasibility of the project.

Detailed work plan and schedule for monitoring progress is presented.

Results of a pilot study have demonstrated feasibility and credibility .

Weaknesses Sufficient time for the dissemination of the results is not planned.

No detail of how practical arrangements for monitoring progress of fellow’s research will becontrolled and evaluated by Host.

3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24

Securing Licences to Export/Alter            

Liaison with museums, universities and archaeological companies

                       

Processing of sherds from N.I. Neolithic sites

Processing sherds from southern Irish sites

Scrutiny and interpretation of mass spectral and isotopic data

Dissemination of initial results

Selection and prep of sherds for radiocarbon dating

Radiocarbon dating of residues

Analysis and dissemination of final results

  Continuing activity   Major activity

Everybody likes a Gantt chart...

Criterion 5: Impact

Strengths Project will help place Irish material within wider European context.

Results of analysis a subject of interest to both specialists and the general public throughout the ERA.

Project strengthens European leadership in the field of analysis.

Project increases European excellence and competitiveness in archaeological research.

Research collaboration between Ireland, the UK and countries of the ERA will be strengthened.

Skills the fellow will take back to Ireland after fellowship - significant contribution to applicant’s career

Weaknesses Relevance of research to local, regional, national and international cultural heritage issues?