Guide for Evaluators
Table of Contents 1 General information about NanoTRAINforGrowth... 4 2 Evaluation process and criteria... 4 2.1 Introduction... 4 2.2 Evaluation process... 5 3 Procedure... 6
This guide is designed for the experts in charge of reviewing the applications submitted to the NanoTRAINforgrowth s fellowship programme; providing information on the principles and expectations of the programme. It is intended as a reference document to help evaluators familiarize themselves with the programme, briefly presenting their rationale, main components, the process of evaluation as well as the criteria and the evaluation grid to be used to formulate the evaluation reports. Complete information about the programme is provided on the NanoTRAINforgrowth website along with the detailed Guide for applicants.
1 General information about NanoTRAINforGrowth NanoTRAINforGrowth is a fellowship programme launched by the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL). This fellowship programme provides funding for outstanding international postdoctoral fellows (from all over the world and nationality) to sketch out a research project and work on their own research idea, at INL s Facilities. NanoTRAINforGrowth is designed to increase the research potential and career prospective of researchers. NanoTRAINforGrowth open to inventive, promising and experienced young and independent researchers, respectively, from all disciplines who wish to undertake applied or targeted research activities, and boost their career through international mobility. INL s NanoTRAINforGrowth fellowship programme has the objectives of: Promoting career development prospects of experienced researchers/fellows. Providing specialized training to experienced researchers/fellows. Enhancing capacity building in INL s major strategic RTD areas. Expanding and increasing fellowship training opportunities. The NanoTRAINforGrowth Fellowsip Programme will place passionate and talented experienced post doc researchers, coming from any country in the world, at the International Iberian Nanotechnology laboratory s facilities. The programme is designed to attract the best and brightest post doctoral researchers and to improve the scientific productivity of their research efforts. The Programme's objectives are to deepen and strengthen the capacity of the experienced researchers to carry out rigorous market oriented research in the nanotechnology, while it will simultaneously increase the availability and development of high quality nanotechnology research in Europe. The Programme will award 24 research fellows that will be provided with an attractive remuneration package and receive specialized "mentoring" guidance. 2 Evaluation process and criteria 2.1 Introduction The NanoTRAINforGrowth expert will evaluate international mobility projects proposed by young researchers holding their PhD and having less than 10 years of research experience. Experts should keep in mind that NanoTRAINforGrowth fellowship programme is designed to reward: The most talented and promising young and independent researchers, evaluated on the basis of their academic record and experience. Research proposals which are scientifically rigorous, in line with and adding value to the fellow s career path. This programme will join a group of highly talented individuals working in niche scientific and technological area and will all contribute to building strong research groups in Europe.
2.2 Evaluation process The evaluation procedure of the NanoTRAINforGrowth Fellowship programme follows a three stage process: First stage: CV and RTD project evaluation The first stage will be focused on the evaluation of the CVs and project of the candidates by experts. Details of the evaluation criteria are provided in annex 1, of this document CV Evaluation In this section, not only should the scientific production and skills of the researcher be evaluated, but also whether their personal career path corresponds to an interesting and original trajectory. The section takes into account the candidate's years of experience to reflect the differences in the academic merit of the candidate. Academic record should be assessed with consideration to the special constraints brought by the respective scientific field at stake. The evaluations should need to adapt and assess how the capacity of being productive varies according to the different subjects/ scientific fields. Research project proposal In this section, the quality of the RTD projects is to be evaluated as a whole, assessing the relevance of the proposal in relation to the researcher s career identity. The wide scope of the topics covered by the programme may lead to proposals raising ethical issues. Please indicate if the candidate has taken them into account and illustrate how he/she justifies the eventual issues raised. In addition to the marks, for each section, you are invited to elaborate Comments and overall Conclusions and General Comments, which are mandatory to validate the evaluation. After this evaluation stage, the results are handled to the Selection Committee which shall elaborate a list of excluded candidates and shortlisted candidates. The Selection Committee then suggests a list of shortlisted candidates for the interview. The reasoning which has led to this decision will be part of the final evaluation report to be developed by each Selection Committee. Second stage: Interview and final assessment Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. After this process, a recruitment report, following a defined template, to the Human Resources (HR) department. In this report, the Selection Committee gives a ranking of the selected candidates, and a clear justification for such a ranking. The justification shall include scientific and technical arguments, reports from interviews, which led to the list of selected candidates, in order of preference. At this stage, INL s Selection Committee assesses each candidate s education and experience, verifies if the candidate meets the technical requirements for the project proposed by him/her, and analyses in depth his/her research experience, previous training stages, level of responsibilities assumed, types of environments where he/she has worked, and career track. During the interview and for the final assessment, candidates carry out a scientific presentation to demonstrate his/her communication capabilities, as well as, research maturity.
Confidentiality and conflict of interest Experts understand that being involved in the reviewing task implies respect of rules on confidentiality and conflict of interest. 3 Procedure The NanoTRAINforGrowth coordinator will request via email that selected experts evaluate one or more applications. Once selected agree to evaluate the application(s), they will receive from the NanoTRAINforGrowth coordinator the complete application form of the candidate(s). Appointed experts will also receive the template of the evaluation report composed by the evaluation grid (annex1) that they have to be returned by email filled out in English in a complete, clear and concise manner. Experts will be informed by email about the deadlines to complete the evaluation stage.
4 Contact information Paula Galvão INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n 4715-330 Braga Portugal T:+351 253 140 112 2202 F:+351 253 140 119 paula.galvao@inl.int www.inl.int
Annex 1: Evaluation Grid Table Nº 1: Methodology for assessing CV s General skills Max. Score Skills parameters Skills Score Experience 5 Pre doctoral experience Post doctoral Experience Candidates are evaluated on multiple parameters, including but not limited to, laboratory and computational experience, participation in general laboratory management activities, courses taught, coordination of bachelor and master students, etc. Scientific outputs 30 Publications Patents Patents & scientific publications: book chapters, articles in scientific journals and proceedings of international conferences that the candidate has authored or coauthored. The impact of publications (measured by the impact factor of the journals and the number of citations by other authors) is taken into account as well as scientific and technological level, degree of innovation, evidence of international collaboration, and contribution to advancing the state of knowledge. Note: impact factor and number of citations are recommended to be included for each listed publication RTD Projects 10 Coordination/ participation in multiinstitutional International projects Coordination/ participation in National projects Other projects Other scientific activities: participation of the candidate as a coordinator or researcher in scientific projects subject to competitive application process taking into account the territorial scope, size, level scientific / technological and degree of innovation. Research autonomy will be valued. Mobility and interdisciplinarity 5 PhD Post doctoral positions Candidates with research experience in more than one research institution and/or research areas will be valued TOTAL 50
Table Nº 2: Methodology for assessing RTD project Evaluation Criteria Score S&T Quality Max. 15 RTD Project Proposal Feasibility Max. 10 Impact on the career development of the candidate Max. 5 Total 30 Table Nº 3: Methodology for assessing Interview Evaluation Criteria Score Fluency in English Max. 10 Interview Capacity to present and defend the RTD proposal Max. 10 Total 20