Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is eligible for support?
2. Are there any age limits?
3. Do I need to have a PhD?
4. I am freelance can I apply?
5. Can I apply to more than one TAF?
6. Can i apply for a visit to recieve training?
7. What is the maximum visit duration?
8. My research requires destructive sampling of Collections material,
will this be possible?
9. My research requires DNA extraction
from Collections material, will this be possible?
10. What does the award cover?
11. What is a Per Diem?
12. Do I need to write a report when I leave?
13. When will I find out if my project has
been approved?
14. How long after the deadline will I be
able to visit?
15. Can I reapply if I am unsuccessful?
16. Can I apply for a repeat visit to a TAF?
17. Can I apply now for a visit
towards the end of the contract?
18. Who should act as my host?
19. Who should provide my supporting statement?
20. What if my supporter doesn’t submit
the supporting statement before the call deadline?
21.Why can't supporting statements be sent via email?
22. What if I accidentally submit the application
before I have completed all the fields?
23. Can I visit a TAF in my country of residence?
24. Why is SYNTHESYS Access limited to 20 Institutions?
25. If i work in one of the SYNTHESYS institutions, can
i apply for Access?
26. Can I visit a TAF that I visited under Framework 4
or 5?
27. How will my application be scored?
28. How does the application process work?
29. How will my application be assessed?
Definitions
1. Who is eligible for support?
To be eligible to benefit from access to the infrastructure under
the contract, a User Group must satisfy the following two conditions:
- both the user group leader and the majority of the users must
come from Member States or Associated States;
- both the user group leader and the majority of the users must
come from a country other than the country(ies) where the legal
entity(ies) operating the infrastructure is(are) established.
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Eligible countries are:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (including
Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France (including Guadeloupe, Martinique,
Guyane, La Réunion), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
Plus the Associated Countries of the EU: Croatia, FYR Macedonia,
Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Republic of Serbia, Switzerland
and Norway and Candidate Countries of the EU: Turkey.
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2. Are there any age limits?
No there are no age restrictions. However, the calls are competitive
and preference is given to first time Users with high quality projects.
It is essential that you justify your request for access to your
chosen TAF. See the application guidelines for more detail.
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3. Do I need to have a PhD?
No, you do not need a PhD to apply. However you will need to demonstrate
why you need access and how the visit will benefit your future research.
Applicants will be evaluated by a User Selection Panel and high
scores will be awarded to applicants with strong curriculum vitaes
and the applicants age, versus experience and publication record,
will be taken into account. See the application guidelines for more
detail.
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4. I am freelance can I apply?
Yes, so long as your main activity is scientific research as reseach
outputs, such as published papers, are required from the visits
within a reasonable timeframe. Please provide appropriate contact
details in the fields provided.
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5. Can I apply to more than one TAF?
Yes you can apply to more than one TAF per call. However, you must
complete an application form per TAF that you wish to visit.
You cannot submit more than one application to the same TAF per
call.
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6. Can I apply for a visit to recieve training?
Training can be a component of the visit activity but not the only
purpose. It is essential that the focus of the visit is to pursue
your own research project. The visit must deliver a research output
such as a publication in a journal or a contribution to a PhD Thesis.
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7. What is the maximum visit duration?
The maximum visit duration is 60 working days per TAF over the 5-year
duration of the Contract. Please note that visit lengths under Framework
5 were for an average 20 working days. Applications for visits of
60 working days are highly exceptional.
It is possible to apply for several short visits under different
calls, but a maximum total of 60days will be awarded.
Please note that all visits must be completed by 31st January 2009.
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8. My research requires destructive sampling
of Collections material, will this be possible?
Such research must be assess on a case by case basis by the relevant
insitution. Prior to making an application contact youe host and
request their policy on destructive sampling of the material in
question.
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9. My research requires
DNA extraction from Collections material, will this be possible?
Such research must be assess on a case by case basis by the relevant
insitution. Prior to making an application contact youe host and
request their policy on DNA extraction of the material in question.
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10. What does the award cover?
The award covers all research costs in the form of a daily rate.
This will be calculated directly from your application form and
therefore you need to have discussed your project with your proposed
host in advance of submission. You will not be required to formulate
a budget.
The award also covers the cost of your international travel, based
on an apex fare, local accommodation and a per diem for your subsistence
and local travel. You will be required to meet the cost of local
travel in your country of origin, e.g. taxi to the airporrt.
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11. What is a Per Diem?
SYNTHESYS will pay International travel plus accommodation (See
Q.8). In addition Users wil receive a Per Diem to cover local subsistence
and travel. This is a set daily rate that may vary between TAF's
and is subject to local institutions regulations.
12. Do I need to write a report when I leave?
Yes, you will need to complete a User questionnaire and a confidential
form for the European Commission.
You may also be required to give a brief presentation on your project
whilst at your TAF.
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13. When will I find out if my project has been
approved?
The application process takes between 10-15 weeks from the deadline.
Once the User Selection Panel has met and agreed the allocation
of awards the results of your application will be emailed to you
and your host.
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14. How long after the deadline will I be able
to visit?
Under Framework 5 visits usually began a few weeks after the User
Selection Panel meeting. So approximately 10– 15 weeks after
the deadline.
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15. Can I reapply if I am unsuccessful?
Yes, however, you will need to discuss your application with your
proposed host before re-applying. Sometimes the User Selection Panels
will provide feedback on your application. This will help you to
strengthen the weaker parts of your application.
PLEASE NOTE - CALL 8 is the final Call so there will not be an
opportunity for you to reapply if your Call 8 application is unsuccesful.
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16. Can I apply for a repeat visit to a TAF?
Yes, although it is advisable that you have evidence of outputs
resulting from your previous visit before you reapply and you will
need strong justification for requiring a repeat visit. The User
Selection Panel will take into consideration if the applicant has
had access to the infrastructure before. Priority is generally given
to first time users.
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17. Can I apply now for a visit towards the end
of the contract?
You need to agree your visit dates with your host within 12 months
of the call deadline.
Please note that all visits must be completed by 31st Januart 2009.
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18. Who should act as my host?
Your host is the person at your chosen TAF who will be your main
contact. They may be a researcher, curator, librarian or technician
depending on your proposed project. However, it is essential that
you contact them in advance of making your application to ensure
that they are available and are the most appropriate person to be
named as your host on your application.
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19. Who should provide my supporting statement?
Your supporting statement will be used as a reference. Therefore
it should be provided by a senior peer who knows your work first-hand.
It must not be made by a staff member from your chosen TAF.
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20. What if my supporter doesn’t
submit the supporting statement before the call deadline?
Then your application will not be eligible for
assessment by the User Selection Panel under that call. We suggest
you contact your supporter in advance of making your application
to ensure they will be able to provide the statement in good time.
You will recieve an email notifying you when the supporting statement
is submitted.
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21. Why can't the supporting statement
be sent via email?
The supporting statement must be an integrated part of the application
so that is available to the User Selection Panel.
The SYNTHESYS software is modelled on the European Commission's
Marie Curie Action System, and has been approved by the Commission
as an acceptable method of collecting applications and associated
information.
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22. What if I accidentally submit the application
before I have completed all the fields?
Before you can submit your application a full copy of your application
will appear on screen. You will need to check that you have completed
all the fields. If you have not completed the mandatory fields they
will be marked in red. You will need to cancel your submission and
complete the application before the option to submit will appear
on the form.
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23. Can I visit a TAF in my country of residence?
No.
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24. Why is SYNTHESYS Access limited to 20 institutions?
The range of institutions covered by SYNTHESYS is fixed under a
funding contract from the European Commission's Infrastructure Action.
It is not possible to offer Access via SYNTHESYS to institutions
who are not part of the contract.
25. If i work in one of the SYNTHESYS
Institiutions can i still apply for Access?
Researchers working within a TAF institution are eligible for support,
but priority will be given to applicants who are from outside of
the SYNTHESYS family.
PLEASE NOTE:
DE TAF has exceeded its allocation of Users from SYNTHESYS partner
Institutions*. If you are based in one, plese DO NOT apply to DE
TAF.
FR TAF has almost reached its allocation of Users from SYNTHESYS
Partner institutions*. There is a restricted capacity for staff
based in SYNTHESYS Partner Institutions, therefore applications
will be a very low priority.
* See SYNTHESYS Access homepage for list of SYNTHESYS Partner institutions
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26. Can I visit a TAF that I visited under Framework
4 or 5?
Yes you can. You can visit a TAF for up to 60 working days throughout
the duration of the contract. However, the User Selection Panel
will take into consideration if the applicant has had access to
the infrastructure before. Priority is generally given to first
time users.
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27. How will my application be scored?
Please see the application form and the guidelines to completing
it. These give guidance on what the User Selection Panel expects
to see and a guide to the length.
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28. How does the application process work?
Once you have submitted your application the TAF administrator will
check the application for eligibility. It will then be reviewed
internally by the named host and Facilities Managers and passed
to the User Selection Panel. The User Selection Panel will consist
of an internal staff member from each of the institutions within
your chosen TAF and an equal number of external international reviewers.
The Panel usually consists of 4 people. They will then review each
of the TAF applications and meet at the TAF for a daylong meeting
to discuss the applications. The TAF administrator will act as secretary
and note the results of the meeting. These results will then be
sent to the applicant via email.
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29. How will my application be assessed?
All of the TAF User Selection Panels will follow the same protocol.
Once the Panel have marked the applications they will meet at the
TAF to discuss their scores and recommendations.
User Selection Panel application assessment
1 |
Benefit
of the training
AND/OR
Does the project show a realistic methodological approach and
work plan? |
30 |
2 |
Does
the project contribute towards the objectives of the European
Research Area? Will there be benefit of mobility through the
transfer of knowledge and improved collaborations? Will there
be a contribution to research excellence and European competitiveness? |
10 |
3 |
Value
of supporting statement |
10 |
4 |
Is there justification for requested access to collections,
facilities and staff expertise? Consider if the User should
apply to a different TAF. Does the User have similar facilities
in their home country? |
25 |
5 |
Value of the expected gains and outputs. |
10 |
6 |
Scientific
merit of User/User Group (from CV). |
15 |
total |
|
100 |
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Definitions
Infrastructure: means the research facility (facilities)
to which user groups are given transnational access under the project.
International European Interest Organisations:
means an international
organisation, the majority of whose members are European Community
Member States or Associated States, and whose principal objective
is to promote scientific and technological co-operation in Europe.
User: means a researcher within a User Group,
including the user group leader.
User group: means a research team of one or more
researchers requesting access to the infrastructure under the project.
Each user group is led by a user group leader.
Host: the researcher, curator, technician or librarian
at your chosen TAF who will be responsible the scientific leadership
(and training if requested) in preparation for and during your visit.
TAF: one of 11 national Taxonomic Access Facilities
within the SYNTHESYS project which comprise one of more research
facility.
User: A successful applicant.
User Selection Panel: The User Selection Panel
shall be composed of international experts in the field, at least
half of whom shall be independent and external to the staff of the
Infrastructure. Selection Panel shall base its selection on scientific
merit, taking
into account that priority should be given to user groups who:
- have not previously used the infrastructure, and
- are working in countries where no such research infrastructures
exist.
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