Dear Visitor,
welcome to the platform for my consulting activities on research
funding and
proposal writing. This is, and will remain, a fairly simple-structured
site providing basic information: I have neither time nor interest to
develop a very elaborate version - especially as most of my
customers contact me because of word-of-mouth
recommendations.
I
used to be a scientific coworker
of the Max Planck Society - and as a sideline advised on research
funding
topics. I was pretty good at this, and thus continued this line after
my
official retirement. Much to my surprise I discovered a niche -
apparently no one else in the German consulting system offers the very
practical palette of information and straight application assistance.
These days I lecture for all kind of organizations worldwide, and coach scientists to successfully
apply for grants from German, Israeli and European funding organizations - especially the Marie Curie
and ERC Actions of the Horizon 2020 programs of the European Commission. Below
you will find some details of the two routes my consulting has taken:
SEMINARS:
1.
A day-long seminar geared towards Graduate Schools on
the wide
variety of funding opportunities, starting at the DAAD and passing
through foundations, H2020
and NATO to the international possibilities (German or English,
with most slides in English). Sample agenda
2. A one- or two day seminar for international young scientists on research funding opportunities, and the tricks and pitfalls to consider to be successful in their applications. These seminars are usually part of status meetings of funding agencies in Asia, Africa or South America - sometimes coupled with subsequent individual consulting. Sample agenda
3. A variable-time, but very much hands-on seminar for excellent scientists on the points to consider when applying for a Starting (StG), Consolidator (CoG), Advanced (AdG) or Synergy Grant (SyG) of the European Research Council (ERC). Sample agenda
4. A
variable-time, but very much
hands-on seminar on the points to consider when applying for any of the
offers in the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA), particularly the
Individual Fellowships (IF) and Innovative Training Networks
(ITN).
5. A
seminar (2-8 hours) preparing scientists for the interview phase of ERC
StG, CoG and SyG applications. This interviewt training is very
personal, and resembles in parts the seminars offered in Germany by KoWi
or the MPG.
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE:
By e-mail and Skype I
accompany an individual
scientist as her/his personal "devils advocate" during the process of
improving an application to the ERC, the Marie Curie Program, the
German
"Wissenschaftsrat" or the Israel Science Foundation. For my
successful ERC StG, CoG and SyG customers from
abroad this usually includes coaching for the interview
phase in
Brussels (there is no interview phase for AdG applicants!).
The research topics of my customers cover a wide range - from the natural sciences to clinical studies and political sciences. In their interest I strive to design all our communications - be it webinars, pre-established SOPs, e-mail or skype - to assure an outstanding level of quality. It is my aim and pride to offer thoughtful solutions, thus enabling my clients to be successful.
At a time when success requires far more than 90 out of 100 points all of my clients appreciated the confidential and very critical personal pre-evaluation - at a very reasonable financial investment. If necessary, please contact me for testimonials.
SUCCESS:
No
one can guarantee success, but I think the figures speak for
themselves: in the last two years 50 % of my AdG customers got the
grant, 50 % of my CoG sustomers got to the interview phase
- as well as more than 50 % of the StG customers.
COSTS:
For individual
consulting I charge a very
reasonable hourly academic rate (in 15 min units) retained in time
sheets. Both sides can cancel the contract on short notice.
Please inquire about the fixed rates for national and
international seminars.
You
will find some information about
myself and the support I offer for universities,
"Fachhochschulen", independent research institutions and
individual scientists in the attached flyer.
Please note that, in general, I tend not to consult for
scientists in industry or commerce.
However, as I
gradually expand my portfolio, it is best to check the topics on this website - or contact
me at office@icck.eu.