Short Term Travel Fellowship 2011 – FAQ
Q. I am a postdoc working on an SFI funded project, can I apply
A. Yes, you are eligible to apply as long as the SFI award is active for the duration of the STTF, your application must be endorsed by the SFI award holder.
Q. Under the STTF, can I collaborate with a research group in Northern Ireland?
A. Yes, collaborations with laboratories in Northern Ireland are eligible.
Q. Does the STTF constitute an extension to an existing SFI award?
A. No, the STTF award is not equivalent to a No Cost Extension. The fellowship must be completed within the term of the SFI award.
Q. Do I need to be an SFI award holder to apply?
A. No, if you are the lead PI on an active, competitively funded , internationally peer reviewed research grant with total value greater than €200K then you are eligible to apply; however you must get pre-approval from SFI by sending a CV to sttf@sfi.ie; the CV template is provided in the call document.
Q. I am a postdoc working for a project not funded by SFI, can I apply?
A. Maybe, the lead PI on your project must endorse your application and must satisfy the following criteria, he/she must be responsible for an active, competitively funded, internationally peer reviewed research grant with total value greater than €200K. He/she must get pre-approval from SFI by sending a CV to sttf@sfi.ie; the CV template is provided in the call document.
Q. I am an SFI award holder but my award amount is less than €200K, am I still eligible.
A. Yes, as long as your award is active for the duration of the STTF.
Q. Is field work an eligible cost?
A. Field work in association with an international collaborator may be eligible. Detail of the research project including any field work should be given in the justification for collaboration section of the application form.
Q. How much can I spend on materials and consumables?
A. Typical costs could be up to €1,000 per month. Consumables/material costs should be detailed in the budget justification section of the application.
Q. How do I pay the international lab for use of materials/consumables?
A. Invoicing and payment issues are the responsibility of the Irish Research Body, holding the STTF award.
Q: Will travel to an industry research lab be considered?
A: Yes, fellowships in industrial research labs are strongly encouraged.
Q. Will SFI assist with travel arrangements?
A. No, SFI are not responsible for arrangement of any travel documentation including visas or work permits.
Q. How many STTF awards can I apply for?
A. One application per SFI award will be accepted except for SRCs and CSETs where 5 applications will be accepted per award. Only one application per person is allowed in all cases.
Q. What if research facilities are available in the Republic of Ireland but better facilities/training is available abroad? Is this eligible?
A description of the facilities should be highlighted in the justification of the need for this exchange, highlighting the benefit to the home laboratory.
Q. Where do country correction coefficients come from?
A. The subsistence rates and country correction coefficients are based on the EU FP7 Marie Curie Actions 'People' Work Programme 2011.
Q. Are the subsistence rates inclusive of accommodation costs?
A. Yes
Q. Who actually submits the application?
A. It doesn’t matter who actually submits the application. However the application cover sheet must be signed by the applicant, SFI award holder and signed and stamped by the Irish Research body. For non-SFI award holders the cover sheet must reference the pre-approval code.
Q. What's the expected timeframe from application to travelling?
A. In order to allow time for the review process to be completed, applications must be received at least two calendar months in advance of the requested start date of the STTF travel.
Q. Can the lead PI work in the area of Sustainable Energy/energy-efficient technologies?
A. Yes, this is one of SFI’s remit areas
Q. What happens if the person travelling decides not to come back?
A. The applicant must have a contract in place which will enable him/her to complete the fellowship within the term of the SFI or equivalent award. One of the conditions of the award is that the applicant returns to the Irish laboratory and completes a report within 45 days of their return.
Q. How long does the return phase at the end of the fellowship need to be?
A. One of the conditions of the award is that the applicant returns to the Irish laboratory and completes a report within 45 days of their return.
Q. I am a Stokes lecturer/professor, can I apply for an STTF supplement?
A. Under the STTF 2011 call, you are eligible to apply for an STTF
Q. Can I make a number of trips back and forth between my lab and the international lab.
A. SFI will fund one return trip to the international lab for collaborations with durations of up to 3 months. In the case of collaborations which will be longer than 3 months, a second return trip is allowed to maintain contact with the home lab, this return visit to the Irish lab should not exceed 3 weeks
Q. Can a researcher who works part-time hours (with a contract covering the duration of the fellowship) apply?
A. Part time researchers will be considered on a case by case basis, please submit a CV for pre-approval
Q. Can I travel for 3 months in 2011 and then 3 months in 2012. is it possible to take the supplement in 2 visits?
A. No, to maintain the momentum of the collaboration and continuity of the research the fellowship should be completed in one block, for collaborations longer than 3 months, a second return trip is allowed to maintain contact with the home lab, this return visit to the Irish lab should not exceed 3 weeks.
Q. For awards that allow up to 5 applications, do all the applications (up to 5) have to be submitted at the same time?
A. No, we will accept them at different times
Q. Are SFI (RFP) awards that have just been announced and are still be processed (yet to start) regarded as "currently active"?
A. Yes, these are considered to be active
Q. I have an SFI Nanosci-E+ programme, am I eligible?
A. Yes, this is an eligible award
Q. I have an EI Commercialisation Fund award, am I eligible?
A. The EI Commercialisation fund is not an internationally peer reviewed award and is therefore not eligible.
Q. I am a co-PI on an EU framework project, can I apply?
A. Yes, Co-PIs on large, active EU grants are eligible to apply to STTF as long as they are the lead PI for their Institute and their portion of the funding is >200k
