Personalised writing support for ERC Synergy research grant applications

We care about the individuals and teams that we support - each one of them different - and for each, we offer a personal, individually tailored journey of ERC grant writing.

We are highly experienced working with all areas of research.

Preparing for an ERC Synergy grant is a challenging and time consuming process - on top of the everyday challenges of academic life. Our focus is on making this process as enjoyable and as stress free as possible - for all individuals that we work with.

Synergy grants are often written in either two ways: (1) with a lead PI doing the majority of the writing, whilst being supported by the other PIs; or (2) All PIs work together to develop and draft the proposal. 

Each of these approaches requires a different format and structure in terms of support. We carefully tailor our support to each Synergy group that we work with.

A hallmark of the way in which we work with applicants is the numerous interactions throughout the support process - allowing for a fully personalised trajectory for each applicant that we support.

SERVICE OPTIONS INCLUDE:

• Full proposal Writing (Support, Mentoring and Coaching in Writing Proposal drafts for Part I and Part II) (See below)

• Truncated support: Critical review and coaching support for advanced (i.e. 3/4 complete) drafts or already written drafts (See also below)

• ERC Synergy Resubmission Support

• ERC Synergy Interview Preparation Support
  

Stage 1:  Strengthening the proposal framework. In this phase, we work with the PIs to first help define the concept in a more consistent and convincing way, and setting the foundational structure for the scientific proposal, before they begin the writing phase. This stage includes defining in clear and consistent terms:  what is the challenge; why is it a problem; why do we need to overcome it; what are the bottlenecks; why have they not yet been addressed; why can they now be addressed; what recent underpinning by the applicant supports this new avenue of research (also supports the validity of any hypothesis); proposal aim; objectives; workplan overview; team; collaboration; novelty of the research; impact and risk mitigation etc.

Additionally, all of the synergistic aspects of the proposal needs to be defined (across several areas).

Stage 2: CV/TR. Alongside Stage 1, we coach the each PI on creating a very strong ERC 4-page CV/TR and will review and provide feedback on this over 2 iterations.

Stage 3: Proposal Writing Phase. Once Stage 1 and Stage 2 are complete, we then coach and mentor the applicant on the full proposal draft, working on the draft in smaller manageable stages, prior to achieving a full and complete draft. This includes Part I (B1), Part II (B2), the Resources and Time Commitment section, and the Appendix on current and submitted grants.

Our coaching includes proposal content, structure, clarity, flow, consistency and presenting clear and balanced storytelling.

We do this through quite a lot of contact and iterations/feedback rounds.

Our in-depth feedback on drafts is highly personalised, and should we identify weaknesses in a proposal, we will always work at providing the applicant with suggestions and/or options as to how the weakness can be remedied.

 
TRUNCATED WRITING SUPPORT: CRITICAL REVIEW OF ADVANCED OR FULLY WRITTEN DRAFTS
Our draft review work is in-depth, and we provide quite substantial and in-depth feedback. Due this this, applicants can be quite overwhelmed by this form of feedback within a single round of review. As such, we do not offer ERC proposal review support in a single round of review. Instead, we work with applicants in quick successive rounds of review in stages, breaking up the proposal into manageable sections over a very short time period (e.g. 10-28 days).

Here, we work with applicants closer to the deadline and fully review:  

• An advanced draft (i.e. ¾ finished draft and then coach applicants on how to complete the rest of the content); or 

• A fully written draft of the proposal.

• We also fully review the the 4-page CV/TR.

This form of support is fully tailored to each individual situation, according to the stage that the draft is in when applicants come to us for review, the timeline needing to be worked to etc.

THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR SUPPORT

• Our feedback on drafts is highly personalised, in-depth, direct and to the point, and should we identify weaknesses in a proposal, we will always work at providing the applicant with suggestions and/or options as to how the weakness can be remedied.

• When any of our clients interact with us, they will find us to be down to earth and approachable professionals, who have a real passion for what we do, and we understand and appreciate how busy the life of an academic can be.

• All of our work is based on a strong process-driven foundation.

• We believe in honesty and transparency, and in building strong and healthy relationships with our clients.

METHOD OF DELIVERY
Our method of delivery is via (1) personal ‘one-on-one’ online coaching and feedback sessions; and (2) online via email. The breakdown of this is individually tailored to each individual (some applicants may find online meetings more helpful, whilst others may have more of a preference for working more though email.

WHO WILL APPLICANTS BE WORKING WITH
You will work directly with either Fire Sanders or Willem Bouma, both qualified and experienced senior trainers. Both Willem and Fire have experience working with all panels and areas of research, and have worked with numerous applicants and institutions throughout around Europe and beyond. 

We have over 15 years (specifically) working on European, Dutch, German, Swiss and other national research grant proposals - and over 25 years experience with scientific promotion cases, research grant applications, interview training, review and editing of high impact research journal articles and writing nominations for prestigious prizes and awards. We specialise in what we do and offer – and ERC grant writing is no exception.