The STELLARnet Mobility Fellowship - Call for applicants

(Formerly known as the “doctoral mobility programme” and the “STELLARnet incubators”)

Please note the deadline has been extended until 23:59 CET of January 23rd, 2011.

What is STELLARnet?

STELLARnet (http://www.stellarnet.eu/) is a Network of Excellence, supported by the European Commission, which aims to unify the diverse research community in the field of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) in Europe. As such, STELLARnet offers many opportunities for researchers in the field to exchange views, ideas and practices.

What is the Mobility Fellowship?

STELLARnet has set up the Mobility Fellowship in order to foster dialogue and collaboration between the young generation of TEL research and experienced researchers from either academia or industry. In practice, this is achieved by creating a mechanism for targeted scholarships for doctoral candidates and young researchers to spend time in core labs, hence promoting mobility.

Fellows will make a visit of 2 months to a host site with similar or complementary research interests (duration of visits may vary from 1-3 months; however the preferred time of stay is 2 months). The work in this period will follow a plan agreed on by the host, the guest and his/her supervisor, and the STELLARnet Fellowship Board.

Funding

A Scholarship of up to €2,000 will be granted to top-ranked applicants to support travel and accommodation expenses. The amount will be reimbursed based on presentation of receipts. The candidate will also be expected to provide evidence that the expected output (see below) is underway and nearing completion.

Eligibility

If your research interests are in the field of TEL and you are a doctoral candidate with a clear view of your dissertation theme, or a researcher in the three years after receiving your PhD, you are eligible to apply to the fellowship mobility. Please note that you do not need to be a member of STELLARnet in order to apply!

If you do not comply with these conditions, do not despair! STELLARnet offers more opportunities for doctoral students (see the doctoral community of practice on TELeurope: http://www.teleurope.eu/pg/groups/46328/stellar-doctoral-community-of-practice/) and for researchers (see theme teams).

Why should YOU apply?

The Mobility Fellowship offers you the opportunity to:

  • Enter the “hall of fame” of researchers who have been supported by the STELLAR Network of Excellence to carry on and enrich their research. As applications are thoroughly evaluated for scientific excellence, this is by itself a mark of quality!
  • Collaborate with leading researchers and industry members in Technology Enhanced Learning;
  • Expand your TEL horizons by exchanging ideas with researchers working within different disciplines;
  • Disseminate the results of your research through the wide network of instruments, contacts and events offered by STELLARnet;
  • Establish fruitful and longstanding scientific relationships, possibly with a joint publication as a first outcome.

What are the topics for research?

Topics should be related to the STELLARnet Grand Challenges and applications should explain clearly where the topic fits into the Grand Challenges and how research in this topic will contribute to developing our understanding of issues within the Grand Challenges. Topics should of course relate to the candidate’s own research and applications should explain how the Fellowship will contribute to the development of this.

What should be the output of the research?

A final report, summarising the research performed during the stay is mandatory. Additionally, within the period of the mobility Fellows will be required to write blog posts on TELeurope with regular updates about their work. We encourage applicants to develop a dissemination strategy for their work and describe it in their application.

Procedure

Application

Click here to access the electronic application system.

Your application to the Mobility Fellowship has to be in agreement with your proposed host. You are expected to contact your host, discuss a possible research plan and obtain his or her support.

Please note that within the application process you are expected to submit your CV as well as a commitment letter, signed by both yourself and your host. To download this letter (WORD format), please click here.

Please make sure that you complete the application with care and follow the guidelines provided.

Finding a host

You may already know of a researcher with whom you are interested to collaborate, or you may still be in the search for one. The STELLAR fellowship board is here to help you and recommend a possible host in either academia or industry. Please contact us by completing this form. As you will still have to contact your host and discuss a possible collaboration, we ask you to consult us prior to 15/12/2010.

Evaluation process

The application will be evaluated by the Fellowship board managed by STELLARnet, as well as by reviewers external to STELLARnet. The main evaluation criteria will be:

Candidates will need to demonstrate how their proposed research will benefit from exposure to expertise and knowledge in the host institutions. They should explain how the host institution will be able to make a contribution to their research and vice versa.

Time tables

  • Publication of call: 26/11/2010.
  • Deadline for submission of applications: 15/01/2011 23/01/2011 (23:59 CET).
  • Acceptance will be announced by 15/02/2011.

The exact timing of the visit will depend on the circumstances of the host and the applicant. However, visits will start no earlier than February 2011 and finish no later than end of October 2011.

Summary of Important Links

  • To enter the application system, please click here.
  • To view the STELLARnet Grand challenges, please click here.
  • To view the STELLARnet project objectives, please click here.
  • To enter the Mobility Fellowship group on TELeurope, please click here.
  • To contact the STELLARnet fellowship board, please complete this form.