EMBO European Molecular Biology Organization

EMBO Installation Grants

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About

The EMBO Installation Grants have developed through a collaboration with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in support of scientists in Central Europe. In the framework of this collaboration 23 scientists and a series of meetings for Central European Scientists have been supported.

Today the EMBO Installation Grants as an EMBC funded scheme have replaced this activity. The aim of the grants is to allow young scientists to install their independent laboratories in an environment that frequently does not provide a mechanism that offers true independence to scientists early on. The scheme is expected to strengthen science in participating EMBC Member States. At present applications are accepted from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Portugal, Poland and Turkey.

The scheme is entirely funded by the participating EMBC Member States and successful applicants receive an annual support of 50,000 euro for three to five years and benefits similar to those of the EMBO Young Investigator Programme. Each participating country sets an upper limit to the number of grants available per year.

The scheme is administered by the EMBO Young Investigator Programme. Institutions and successful job candidates apply together to gain funding beyond normal start-up packages. The commitment and support of the receiving institute during and beyond the tenure of the grant is regarded as an essential part of the scheme and is meant to ensure continued support of the academic career of the recipient.
EMBO will administer the annual distribution of grants to the recipients. Successful applicants will be eligible to apply to the EMBO Young Investigator Programme once they meet existing requirements.

Eligibility

Applicants should:

  • have an excellent publication record
  • have spent at least two consecutive years prior to the application deadline outside the country in which they are applying to establish their laboratory
  • be negotiating a full-time position at an institute/university in participating member states by the date of application
  • Candidates who are planning to establish independent laboratories in the country that they are applying for can be in that country for two years at the time of deadline.

No age limit applies.

Application

The institute should describe:

  • the institute's infrastructure
  • available equipment
  • relevant colleagues (i.e. show that the scientists at the institute work in areas that are relevant to the applicant's research)
  • the duties of the applicant
  • detail the offer that is being made to the applicant

Application forms should be completed by the individual scientists and the receiving institute. It is expected that the institute makes the applicant an offer that goes beyond that of a position and laboratory space.

Please ensure you download the following updated guidelines (see box at the right):

  • Institute Application Guidelines
  • Institute Application Form
  • Scientist Application Guidelines
  • Scientist Application Form

Applications are accepted only online via the online application system, with deadline 15 April each year.

NOTE: Please provide names and email addresses of three referees via the online system as early as possible. Your referees will be automatically contacted by EMBO to submit their letters before the deadline. Letters of reference will only be accepted via the online application system.

Selection


The selections will be made by the EMBO Young Investigator Committee. 
Eligible applicants will be selected for interview with an EMBO Member expert in their area of research.
The offer made by the institute will be taken into account by the selection committee. An offer that is not considered adequate for the project presented by the applicant will receive low scores and as a result, may not be funded.

Timetable for the selection procedure
Deadline for applications
 15 April
Interview report due
 30 June
Applications to selection committee
 15 July
Announcement of Award
 November

Applicants will be informed of the results via email.

Benefits

Aside from the global exposure and enhanced reputation that association with EMBO brings, membership of this programme offers a host of other benefits:

Annual EMBO Young Investigator Meeting

The meeting facilitates networking amongst Young Investigators, Installation Grantees and EMBL group leaders. All programme members are invited to participate. Meetings take place at the EMBL, and every third year in a programme member’s institute.
The 2009 meeting will take place at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey, from 13 – 15 May 2009.

Mentorship by an EMBO Member

An EMBO Member chosen by the programme members serves as his/her mentor. EMBO provides funds towards an annual visit. The mentor gives advice on research projects and promotes the mentee's invitation to relevant conferences. Initially the mentee invites the mentor for a visit to the institute.

Please read the Travel Guidelines and Travel Expense Claim Form (see box to the right).

Financial support for networking with other programme members or EMBL Group leaders

The networking supports collaborations between programme members groups or between programme member groups and EMBL groups. The collaboration can take the form of visits, student exchange or joint group meetings.
Please send an email to yip @ embo.org with a short description of the nature of the proposed collaboration and proposed budget. On completion of the collaboration fill in the Networking Report Form (see box to the right).

Access to core facilities at EMBL

EMBL has granted the EMBO Young Investigators access to its core facilities at the same rates as the EMBL group leaders. If you are interested in any of the services, please contact the EMBL core facility leaders directly. Some restrictions may apply due to internal policies. EMBO supports visits within the framework of its networking support.
EMBL core facilities exist for Advanced Light Microscopy, Genomics, Proteomics, Protein Expression and Purification, Electron Microscopy, Flow Cytometry, Monoclonal Antibody and Chemical Biology.

Sectoral meetings

Programme membership currently exceeds 200 including past members and Installation Grantees. This allows the formation of focus groups such as in neurobiology, immunology, plant biology or DNA repair. These groups organize meeting and symposia tailored to various requirements and formats funded by EMBO. 
Should you wish organizing such an event, please contact the EMBO Young Investigator office.

Laboratory Management Courses tailored to scientists' needs

The EMBO Young Investigator Programme has developed leadership training for scientist. The basic courses address issues of staff selection, leadership, effective problem solving and communication. Advanced leadership courses treat particular issues in depth, such as coaching, managing lab conflicts, time and self-management and programme management.
Courses are offered throughout the year and are free of charge for programme members. Travel costs are not covered.

Annual PhD course for students in Installation Grantees laboratories

Programme members annually organize a course for their PhD students, to give them an opportunity to experience the scientific diversity and resources assembled within the membership of the programme.
Each year a group of Young Investigators gets together to plan this course. It is mainly taught by programme members. Students from all Young Investigator and Installation Grantee laboratories (present or past) are invited to apply for participation.
The week-long course hosts 36 students and includes scientific lectures, tutorials, student research presentations, poster sessions, grant writing and paper review exercises.
Participation fees for students are covered by EMBO.

Support for EMBO Installation Grantee group members

Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau
EMBO covers registration fees and accommodation (an overall value of 1000 euro) for selected Young Investigator/Installation Grantee PhD students and post docs. The Young Investigator/Installation Grantee host lab is expected to cover travel costs. EMBO is billed directly for those costs. Students/post docs have to apply for support with the EMBO Young Investigator office.

Nature Source Event
EMBO covers registration fees (75 euro) and supports travel up to a total sum of 200 euro per selected student/post doc. Students/post docs have to apply for support with the EMBO Young Investigator Programme office. Participants are reimbursed after the event using the YIP Travel Expense Claim Form (see box to the right).

The EMBO Meeting
EMBO covers registration fees for eight Young Investigator/Installation Grantee PhD students. Apply for support with the EMBO Young Investigator office (2009 meeting already filled).

Annual advert in Nature for PhD and post doc positions in Young Investigator laboratories

Programme members are invited to post PhD or post doc positions available in their laboratories in an advert in the magazine Nature.

The one-page advert is posted once per year (October/November) and is supported by a web-page on the EMBO web-site detailing the position offered.

In 2009 EMBO will interview applicants from India.

Award of 50,000 euro annually for 3 years

The EMBO Installation Grant is initially awarded for three years, extension by two years is subject to review by the EMBO Young Investigator Committee. The SDIG project board, consisting of the representatives of the participating Member States of the EMBC will hold an initial review of the successful applicants. Grantees will be notified of the exact date and place in due course.

Successful applicants will receive 50,000 euro annually from the hosting EMBC Member State via EMBO. The award has to be taken up within the calendar year after selection. A maximum of 10% of the award will be allowed for overheads. A maximum of 20% can be used towards the salary of the successful applicant. The grant can be spent at the discretion of the grantee in support of the laboratory's research efforts. The grant does not have to be spent within the calendar year but can be forwarded to future years within the granting period.

Grantees have to submit an annual scientific report (one page) and a financial report to EMBO at the end of each calendar year during the granting period.

Free subscription to EMBO reports for one year and the opportunity to submit a review

Young Investigators are invited to submit a review for publication in EMBO reports. Free subscription to EMBO reports and free online access to EMBO reports and The EMBO Journal for one year are automatically provided.

Should you not receive a copy of EMBO reports, please contact the EMBO Young Investigator office..

EMBO Young Investigator booklet including profiles, research summaries and contact details

A booklet featuring each member of the programme is compiled and distributed annually. It includes profiles, research summaries and contact details of all current programme members. It is distributed to over 2500 scientists, national and international granting agencies and ministries to increase the awareness of these excellent young scientists.

See full list of downloadable booklets.

Young Investigator newsletters

We keep in contact with you via a bimonthly newsletter sent via email, updating you on upcoming events and deadlines, opportunities within the programme and news on other programme members.

The Young Investigator Committee
The Installation Grantees selection process is overseen by a committee comprising EMBO Members expert in different areas of research, taking into consideration gender and nationality balance.
The committee performs the pre-screening and the final selections are done during a two-day meeting of the committee taking into consideration all application documents and the interview reports.
Diverse composition of the committee and turnover ensures that all decisions are made solely on the basis of science.