Minister Harris announces €23 million investment in Ireland’s top post-doctoral researchers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today (Friday 7 May) announced €23 million in funding for a programme for post-doctoral researchers to become research leaders.

The investment, which is a joint initiative between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC), will see some 40 early career researchers, across all disciplines, supported to develop cutting-edge projects through awards of up to €550,000 over a four-year period.

The focus will be promoting women researchers in academia, in support of equality, diversity and inclusion across the higher education sector.

Speaking today, Minister Harris said:

"I'm delighted to announce this new initiative to help early-career researchers to lead a research project and develop the essential skills and experience necessary to become research leaders of the future.

"This investment will focus on addressing gender imbalance in academia and we really want to encourage applications from women researchers."

The new joint programme between SFI and IRC and will help ensure greater cohesion across our research performing institutions.

The funding was provided as part of Budget 2021.

Minister Harris added:

"As we seek to rebuild after COVID-19, the work of researchers and scientists will be key to helping the economy recover.

"We have begun to address the shortfall in funding for research but we have much more to do."

Earlier this year, Minister Harris announced the Irish Research Council was to receive additional funding of €3.2 million per annum to support close to 1,300 early-career researchers.

The additional investment saw the IRC post-graduate stipend increased from €16,000 to €18,500 per annum and funding for its post-doctoral researchers also increased.

Minister Harris concluded:

"I’m pleased to see this new joint programme between SFI and IRC contributing to my department’s objective of fostering enhanced collaboration across our research ecosystem.

"This builds on previous investment into the sector including the additional funding for PhD IRC Stipends."

Notes

See further details for applicants, including how to apply.

The objectives of the SFI-IRC Pathway programme are to:

enable talented post-doctoral researchers to develop their track record and establish themselves as independent investigators, with the support of their Research Body
provide a mechanism for Irish Higher Education Institutions to retain excellent early career researchers from all disciplines and support their development towards becoming research leaders of the future
fund excellent research with potential impact across all disciplines
contribute to further development of the Higher Education system through knowledge creation, training and skill development
support early career researchers in securing non-Exchequer funding and develop their network through the European Research Area
increase the representation of female researchers in the higher education sector and promote alignment with international policies including research assessment, Open Science and equality, diversity and inclusion
contribute to a cohesive research ecosystem in Ireland and support SFI & IRC in achieving their strategic objectives, as described in the strategic plan for each agency
increase the representation of female researchers in the higher education sector and promote alignment with international policies including research assessment, Open Science and equality, diversity and inclusion

The SFI-IRC Pathway programme will support over 40 individual awards up to €550,000 over a four-year period (including overhead). The programme will have two streams:

1. Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM)

2. Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences (AHSS)

The SFI-IRC Pathway programme includes a gender initiative which aims to encourage eligible research bodies to seek applications from excellent female researchers. Upon submission, all applications will be treated equally regardless of the gender of the applicant. SFI will act as lead agency managing all applications.