Research Ireland Fellowship

The Research Ireland Fellowship Programme aims to provide postdoctoral researchers with the opportunity to develop their career through experiencing first-hand, the diversity of activities carried out by a funding agency, through a placement within Research Ireland.

Research Ireland is keen to be part of a framework that can enable researchers to seek and secure diverse career opportunities in areas such as industry, research funding and administration, public administration and Government affairs. For those individuals interested in these types of careers, the Fellowship Programme will provide an opportunity to develop key skills which may assist them in securing these types of roles.

In addition to the experience gained through the Programme, there is also a comprehensive training plan for all Fellows and opportunities to work with a mentor.

Tell us about your Fellowship at Research Ireland

My day-to-day activities are varied and interesting, including managing grants led by Principal Investigators, covering both pre-award and post-award administrative tasks. This involves the assessment of grant applications after submission, eligibility checks, grant application reviews, stakeholder management, managing budget change requests, ensuring compliance, and monitoring the progress of funded projects.

I also had the opportunity to work with other teams across the organisation, using my expertise to drive engagement with various stakeholders, writing reviews and case summaries of completed projects for different programmes.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of applying?

The Personal Statement is a great opportunity for you to show who you are and why you are a great fit for this fellowship. Think about the elements of your CV that set you apart from other candidates and why the fellowship is important to you and how you see it helping with your career progression. I would recommend having a look at the Research Ireland website to get a feel for the kind of work taking place within the organisation before applying. If possible, chat with a staff member in Research Ireland beforehand to get insights into the organisation and the type of work you might be doing.

Tell us about your Fellowship at Research Ireland

I started my fellowship with a very academic and core research background. I was a little anxious about working on the other side of research with a funding organisation. However I found my manager and team to be extremely cooperative and understanding. I began working in small capacities on different programmes under Individual-led Research. I have developed a greater understanding of these programmes and now have a bigger role to play in terms of handling the applications and decision-making. In parallel, the Fellowship has several other activities such as training and individual development, communication and engagement (with previous and current fellows) incorporated into the structure of the programme that helped me to confidently mould into my new role.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of applying?

I would strongly advise them to review the programme structure, understand the available programmes, and clarify their personal expectations for the fellowship. If needed, they should reach out to the Research Ireland team with any concerns. Personally, I found it very insightful to attend the information webinar and discuss my queries with the Programme Manager and one of the current fellows. Overall, I would say it’s a great experience for anyone looking to explore and develop a deeper understanding of the broader research ecosystem.