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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PEGASUS-2 ([PEGASUS]Â², giving wings to your career.)

Teaser

Summary

With [PEGASUS]Â², the Research Foundation â€“ Flanders (FWO) aims to enhance human capital in fundamental research in all scientific domains by attracting more excellent researchers to Flanders via incoming postdoctoral fellowships, as well as by bestowing researchers in Flanders with increased international experience via outgoing postdoctoral fellowships. This brain circulation through international and intersectoral mobility will not only foster excellence in the researcherâ€™s training and career development, it will also contribute to dissolving regional and (inter)national boundaries and bring the European Research Area nearer to completion. Based on the success of the previous cofunded programme and the lessons learned from its execution and external evaluation, [PEGASUS]Â² is a deepened and extended programme including two fellowship schemes for experienced researchers: (1) 3-year incoming fellowships and (2) 3-year outgoing fellowships composed of two years of research abroad and one return year to the fellowâ€™s host institution, in order to reintegrate into a long term position. Candidates can be of any nationality and active in any scientific discipline. In line with the European Charter and Code, the FWO is committed to fair and transparent recruitment and appraisal procedures, safeguarding the excellence and attractiveness of Flemish research in particular and of the ERA more generally. Fellows will be offered attractive employment conditions including a bench fee on top of the living and mobility allowance. By providing support and training all within an optimal research environment and enjoying the best working conditions, [PEGASUS]Â² offers experienced researchers a unique opportunity to boost their research career through international and intersectoral mobility.

Work performed

Prior to the start and during the first months of the granting period FWO started preparing the launch of the [PEGASUS]Â² programme. A wide (regional/international) dissemination strategy including a customized logo, poster and brochure was set-up. In addition, a dedicated webpage was created. On this website applicants could find all necessary information: timing, regulations, guide for applicants, FAQ, link to the online application module, â€¦ For each call a EURAXESS job vacancy was created. In September 2015 the [PEGASUS]2 programme was officially launched in the presence of our EC programme officer, representatives of the [PEGASUS]Â² host institutions, international partners, â€¦ and most importantly: interested researchers. The modalities of the programme were explained including a testimony of a former Pegasus awardee (COFUNDed under FP7).
Two calls were launched in the framework of the [PEGASUS]2 programme. The first call (deadline on February 1st, 2016) was launched during the launch event in September 2015. A second call (deadline on May 1st, 2016) was launched in February 2016. In the first call, 81 applications were received and 16 INCOMING/4 OUTGOING fellowships were awarded. In call 2, 167 applications were received, 33 INCOMING/7 OUTGOING fellowships were awarded. No further calls will be launched.
In a first step each application was subject to an eligibility check that was based on the rules clearly described on the [PEGASUS]2 website, in the [PEGASUS]Â² regulations, guide for applicants and online application module. Ineligible applicants were informed about this decision and their application was rejected for further evaluation. Eligible applications were further processed by a three-step evaluation procedure. First, the applications were sent out for external peer-reviews. In a second step, the project proposals were evaluated by the domain-specific panel to which the applicant submitted his/her application (30 monodisciplinary/1 interdisciplinary). Proposals that got ranked in this step were evaluated in a third phase by our Commission for International Collaboration (CIS) who made two final lists of successful INCOMING/OUTGOING fellows respectively + reserve list. Applicants were informed about the outcome of their application in June 2016 (call 1) and November 2016 (call2). Within three months all applicants (successful/unsuccessful) received a feedback report (reports of all 3 evaluation steps). Researchers funded by the FWO are required to identify any ethical aspects in their research. This is effectuated as follows: a self-assessment before submission, a screening during evaluation, and an in-depth ethical assessment when granted and needed.

Final results

Not only will the [PEGASUS]Â² programme noticeably improve the skills, working conditions and career perspectives of the incoming and outgoing fellows, it will also have a considerable impact on both the human resources management of the Research Foundation â€“ Flanders (FWO) and that of the participating (foreign) host institutions. As put forward in the FWOâ€™s 2012-2016 policy plan, internationalisation is regarded as a strategic lever to enhance human capital in research. Therefore the FWO actively encourages transnational mobility and specifically designed [PEGASUS]Â² to attract more foreign researchers to Flanders via the incoming fellowships, as well as to bestow Flemish researchers with increased international experience via the outgoing fellowships.Not only will this programme raise the number of international fellows in Flanders, it will also install a transnational mind-set both among the fellows and their colleagues at the (foreign) host institutions. The â€˜brain circulationâ€™ thus induced will contribute to dissolving regional and national boundaries and bring the European Research Area nearer to completion. The [PEGASUS]Â² programme also offers both its incoming and outgoing fellows a unique opportunity to boost their career by providing support and training all within an optimal research environment and enjoying the best working conditions. On the one hand these fellowships aim at improving the researchersâ€™ skills in their specific research domain, via acquisition of new methods and techniques, interaction with group members and mentoring. Both incoming and outgoing fellows will benefit from the intellectual and socio-cultural exchange with their peers and through their immersion in a highly qualified international environment help FWO reach its strategic goal of keeping Flemish research in line with international standards. Yet on the other hand the fellows will have access to a wide range of transferable skill training and inter-sectoral activities, improving the researchersâ€™ competencies and resulting in a more attractive profile for the general job market. Moreover, following its strategic goal of being a researcher-friendly institution, FWO ensures that this acquisition of skills can occur in optimal working conditions. Fellows are free to choose a host institution that best fits their needs and [PEGASUS]Â² fellows are exempt from additional duties at the host institution, such as administrative or clinical tasks, supervision of exercises, practices, or seminars in order to fully focus on their research and training. In addition, the evaluators will thoroughly assess the quality of and support offered by the host institution and lab, guaranteeing as such the excellence of the research environment. Finally, the network the fellows will build will prove useful for expanding consortia and applying for further (inter)national research funding or for identifying job opportunities in other sectors.