APART: Statutes
28. Februar 2008 - 13:47 – Renate Huber
APART [Austrian Programme for Advanced Research and Technology]
Statutes
Announcement
The Austrian Academy of Sciences is offering APART fellowships for the promotion of postdoctoral research. These are intended to allow recipients to devote their time solely to their scientific work. By accepting a fellowship recipients commit themselves to concentrating exclusively on their research projects.
1) Objectives
The improvement of quality in the academic and non-academic fields, and the increase of international competitiveness as well as the involvement in international research programmes and projects (if necessary by staying at research institutions both in Austria or abroad) require junior scientists to have qualifications that are offered only by fellowship programmes like APART.
APART enables scientists who have already proved their aptitude for scientific research by completing their doctoral thesis and collaborating in research projects, to apply successfully for places at prestigious research institutions both in Austria or abroad.
APART can be used for the preparation of a post-doctoral thesis or equivalent projects for the continuation of scientific research. Applicants must have completed their doctoral studies at least two years before the deadline date.
APART aims at increasing Austria’s scientific potential and to appeal to female scientists in particular.
APART wants to contribute to raising the standard of Austrian scientific work to a level that is required of applicants for highly qualified jobs in science and research today.
2) Requirements
Scientists who are not older than 35 are encouraged to submit proposals.
Exceptions from the age-limit will be made for the following reasons:
· For applicants who interrupted their scientific work for reasons of child care this limit is raised by three years for each child
· Alternative educational paths (Zweiter Bildungsweg)
· Disability
Applicants must be able to prove relations to scientific research in Austria.
Applicants who are not Austrian citizens must carry out their research project at a research institution in Austria.
In addition to scientific qualifications applicants are required to submit research plans spanning several years as well as certificates ensuring the availability of necessary facilities for the research projects. (Invitations from foreign institutes and/or letters confirming a working place at the ‘home’ institute have to be enclosed.)
Recipients are allowed to lecture during the term of the fellowship (maximum of 2 hours weekly), if the purpose of the fellowship is not interfered with.
The internationality of the research project is to be ensured.
3) Fields of Science
APART fellowships are open to applicants from all fields of science, especially with regard to the objectives named in 2). Applications concentrating exclusively or predominantly on the development of procedures or products will not be accepted.
4) Payment
At present an APART scholarship amounts to 50.000 euro annually before tax.
A maximum of 18.000 euro annually may be requested for material and/or scientific equipment. This amount includes up to 6.000 euro annually for travel expenses (project-specific travel
and accommodation, etc.).
APART fellowships do not release recipients from procuring essential equipment. Applications have to be submitted to respective institutions.
Fellowships may be defined as employment at a research institution.
A maximum of 1.900 euro annually may be paid for child care.
Recipients providing proof of care for at least one child under the age of four years (e.g. single parents) may apply for a part-time fellowship. In that case, the duration of the fellowship will be extended (not more than half the duration granted).
5) Duration
APART fellowships are granted for up to three years. After the first half of the duration of the fellowship and at the end of the fellowship recipients have to present detailed work records.
Reporting is mandatory only in order to enable the Austrian Academy of Sciences to review the recipient’s achievements with reference to his or her research plan.
If the conditions of the fellowship are violated through a recipient’s own fault, payment will be stopped immediately.
6) Application, Acceptance
Applications must be submitted to the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Applicants will be selected by the Fellowship Committee, which is supported by reviewers from abroad.
This programme is intended as part of the gender mainstreaming strategy while maintaining a high standard of scientific quality and aims at keeping the proportion of female applicants and recipients the same.
Applicants are free to submit applications to other institutions (including those offering fellowships). However, the Office of Fellowships and Awards of the Austrian Academy of Sciences must be informed about these applications as well as about the outcome.
7) Terms of application
Applications should be submitted to the Austrian Academy of Sciences by May 15 of each year (deadline date). Fellowships will be granted in October. Recipients may begin at January 1 of the following year.
More than two applications for this fellowship programme by the same person are not accepted.
The decision of the Fellowship Committee is final.
8) Transparency of the Review Process
In a first meeting, the Fellowship Committee selects those applications which are to be reviewed by international experts. In a second meeting, the Committee decides about the allocation of the fellowships – this decision is based on the reviews and reports by the members of the committee.
Parts of the reviews are forwarded to the applicants. Due to financial constraints it is possible that applications must be rejected even though they had been evaluated positively.
Applicants do not have a legal right to be granted a fellowship.
9) Legal Status
The Austrian Academy of Sciences does not influence content and organization of research projects. Research plans drawn up by recipients are the criterion for support or continued support.
Recipients have sole responsibility for their research projects. They are not subject to a given work place or hours of work.
The Austrian Academy of Sciences does not acquire any rights to research results. It does not influence the cooperation of scientists with research institutions or research groups. Organization of possible cooperation with third parties is the sole responsibility of recipients.