Individual writing support for ERC Synergy research grant applications

'We offer a personal, individually tailored and educationally focussed journey of excellence.'

We offer services through all stages of the ERC Synergy proposal development and writing process (each is a stand alone service to cater to the needs of each applicant).

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.

All of our work is also educationally focussed. We teach researchers how to better review their own work and further enhance their grant writing skills – all of which can be taken and used into the future with other granting bodies and schemes.

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 B2 and B1 documents) (See below)

• Truncated support: Critical review and coaching support for advanced (i.e. 3/4 complete) B2 drafts or already written B2 drafts, and coaching on how to create the B1 synopsis from B2. (See also below)

• ERC Synergy Resubmission Support

• ERC Synergy Interview Preparation Support

PROPOSAL WRITING (SUPPORT, MENTORING AND COACHING IN WRITING B1 AND B2):
Here, we work with applicants who already have a developed proposal concept to write the B2 and B1 documents. This phase starts 5-12 months prior to a call deadline, and includes:

• Concept expansion (scoping the content of B2 document) prior to the commencement of the writing.

• Critical support, feedback and in-depth review of drafts, including CV/TR or main applicants.

• Substantive editing of the proposal (for clarity, consistency, flow, tone of voice).

• Coaching on how to create a strong and balanced B1 from a fully written B2 draft.

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 B2 draft (i.e. ¾ finished draft and then coach applicants on how to complete the rest of the B2 content); or 

• A fully written draft of B2.

• If the B1 5-page synopsis is written, this is fine, but it is not essential as we coach applicants on how to easily create the B1 5-page synopsis from the fully written B2 draft, and then also critically review this.

• If possible, we prefer it if B1 is not yet written by the time applicants come to us for review.

• We also fully review the the 4-page CV for each PI.

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.

• Our support is also highly educationally focussed, helping (1) applicants develop their grant writing skills in such a way that they can better write and present proposals into the future, and (2) helping applicants be better mentors to junior members within their own group.

• 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 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 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.