Programme «Allocations de recherche pour une thèse au Sud (ARTS)» ARTS program

Transcription

1 Programme «Allocations de recherche pour une thèse au Sud (ARTS)» ARTS program Call for proposals 2015 Non thematical ARTS call Thematical ARTS call Fondation MERIEUX : Infectious diseases IN2P3 (CNRS) : Medical applications in Lebanon Timeline Call for projects: 27 May 2015 Project selection: June September 2015 Results communication: November 2015 Disbursement: February 2016 ARTS: formerly called «IRD PhD Grants program» 1

2 Objectives ARTS PROGRAM The "Allocations de recherche pour une thèse au Sud (ARTS) is one of the programs supporting the strengthening and consolidation of research potential in southern countries being implemented by IRD in its dual role as research operator and agency. Through this program, IRD intends to help with the initial training of scientific staff in southern countries. IRD PhD grants are intended to support PhD students from southern countries who are writing a thesis under a partnership between a northern research team and a southern research team, providing them with supervision and a good quality working environment and, in so doing, strengthening these countries' research capabilities. The goal is to prepare young researchers to integrate the higher education and research system of a southern country, after finishing their thesis. Eligibility conditions Students meeting the following conditions may apply: National of a southern country Presenting a thesis topic falling within the scope of an existing research partnership between an IRD jointly-supervised unit and one or more southern teams Where the work program includes study periods alternating between the country of residence and another country (another southern country, France or another northern country) of at least 2 months' duration and, in France, limited to 6 months per year. Being under the age of 45. Assessment criteria Scientific quality of the project: scientific interest of the topic, scientific coherence of its presentation. 2

3 Quality of the applicant and relevance of career path Quality of the partnership: the project forms part of an existing north-south partnership; the actual supervision given Overall relevance of the request: the fit with national research priorities, project's connection to a formalised research program, consistency of the work program, feasibility Expected consequences: the student's prospects of finding a position in the home country, potential for strengthening the capabilities of the home (southern) country team and the north-south and/or southern regional partnership. Jointly supervised or jointly tutored thesis projects and those presented with joint financing will be given preference. The IRD promotes equality between the sexes. As a result, applications from women are strongly encouraged. Nature and terms of help provided The financing period is 36 months maximum, with no renewal or extension. The monthly allowance is a contribution towards subsistence costs, calculated on the basis of the salary for an entry-level researcher in the host country. As the PhDs are taken with study periods alternating between the country of residence and another country (another southern country, France or another northern country), the monthly payment will vary depending on the student's location. The allowance paid per country is available on the ARTS program webpage. To encourage mobility between southern countries, the allowance is increased by a fixed sum for study periods in another southern country. IRD provides social security cover for the allowance recipient during the period the allowance is paid. 3

4 IRD pays travel costs between the planned study locations, namely one return trip per year. The host team pays any operating costs together with the costs of any assignments that the allowance recipient might be required to carry out as part of his or her PhD work. Mid-way through the PhD, the allowance recipient is obliged to submit an interim scientific report to the DPF (department of research and training programs), accompanied by a detailed opinion from the thesis tutor and, if applicable, the thesis advisory committee's conclusions. A negative assessment might lead to suspension of the allowance. A final report is also to be submitted at the end of the allowance period. An agreement stipulating the various parties' commitments is signed when the allowance is awarded. As from 1 February 2016, receipt of the allowance is subject to the student obtaining a master's degree and admission to a PhD. In terms of geography, projects primarily concern Africa and the Mediterranean Basin, without excluding relevant projects in other parts of the world (Latin America, the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia). The geographical priorities nonetheless follow the classification drawn up by the OECD's development assistance committee Procedure The application pack (terms of the call for projects, summary, application form) is available on the IRD's website. The application process is done electronically (single PDF file). The different parts of the application are described below. 4

5 Application Summary sheet This must include a summary of the planned PhD thesis. Application form Unless otherwise indicated, all fields are mandatory. You are asked not to attempt to modify the form. The description of the research organizations makes it possible to appraise the applicant's scientific background; therefore each host team within a single research organization must be described. - Covering letter from the applicant on a separate sheet ; - Where the PhD has already started, the covering letter should be backed up with a progress report ; - The applicant's curriculum vitae on separate sheet(s) ; - Detailed thesis plan, approved by the project coordinator (10 pages maximum), including in particular : a precise current status report ; the objectives ; the methodology ; the partnerships ; the expected results and consequences ; an accurate work schedule ; a detailed bibliography ; and if possible, the thesis committee composition. - If work on the thesis has already started, a detailed progress report is requested. IRD Scientific Coordinator The coordinator is one of the joint scientific supervisors, a researcher from an IRD supervised or jointly supervised unit, or from a team running a project made eligible by the call for proposals, and is the contact point with the DPF (department of research and training programs), in the context of calls for theme-based projects. - Reasoned opinion on letter-headed paper from the project coordinator, accompanied by his or her CV (1 page) 5

6 - If the project coordinator is not the unit head, a supporting letter from the IRD unit head (IRD deputy unit head for a joint research unit) Southern and Northern home organizations - Additional opinion on letter-headed paper from the thesis supervisor(s) (where these are neither team leaders nor unit heads) and scientific team leaders for each of the other host teams. The reasoned opinion will describe the benefit of the thesis topic for the home research unit or institution, the way it is organized, the agreement about the work program and details of the planned study periods away from home (the dates for the first year are fixed and cannot be altered). - Copy of the master's degree or equivalent or, failing that, proof that it was obtained - A letter from the employer certifying your lay-off. The allowance cannot be combined with a salary - For applicants receiving joint funding, letter-headed document from the backer stating the terms, amounts and duration. The possibility of cumulating several grants. At the time of application, you are encouraged to inform the IRD Representative of the country or zone where your project is situated ( allowing the local IRD to be kept informed. For your information, a reference is requested by the SRC from the IRD representatives regarding all applications deemed acceptable. Incomplete applications and applications received after midnight on May the 27th 2015 will be rejected Contact: Mme Félicité METONOU address for electronic copy of the application: arts@ird.fr Telephone: +33 (0)

7 ARTS SUBJECT AREA: INFECTIOUS DISEASES Central Africa, West Africa, South Asia and South East & Indian Ocean IRD and the MERIEUX Foundation join forces to offer up to four PhD fellowships for a period of 36 months. The targeted subject areas Infectious diseases: as a priority, lower respiratory infections (pneumococcal pneumonia and flu in particular) and tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, gastrointestinal diseases, neglected tropical diseases and haemorrhagic fever are also concerned. General research areas Virology Bacteriology Parasitology Mycology Immunology Specific research areas Pathogenesis Identification of diagnostic or prognostic markers Molecular epidemiology Mechanism and epidemiology of resistance to treatment Incidence and prevalence of the disease Emerging pathogens. The targeted geographic areas Central Africa ; West Africa ; Madagascar/Indian Ocean ; Southeast Asia ; Southern Asia Applications that meet these criteria shall follow the same procedure as other applications. For scientific questions, project holders are requested to address the MERIEUX Foundation by contacting : hubert.endtz@fondation-merieux.org and leticia.lobo-luppi@fondation-merieux.org For administrative questions, please contact arts@ird.fr

8 ARTS SUBJECT AREA : MEDICAL APPLICATIONS Liban IRD and the French Institute for Nuclear and Particle Physics (IN2P3) of the CNRS join forces to co-finance up to two PhD fellowships for a period of 36 months. The targeted subject areas The targeted subject area concerns the application of physics in medicine, and in particular the nuclear methods and tools used in the fight against cancer. General research areas This work may be related to work conducted on instrumentation, modeling in medical imaging applications, therapy and radiobiology The targeted geographic areas Lebanon. Applications that meet these criteria shall follow the same procedure as other applications. For scientific questions, project holders are requested to address the IN2P3 by contacting montarou@clermont.in2p3.fr For administrative questions, please contact arts@ird.fr