The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) has announced offers of research funding to 150 candidates from the first call under its Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme 2008. Of these awards, 135 are to successful EU candidates and 15 are to successful non-EU candidates.

The total value of funding offered will be approximately €10.8 million, on completion of this round of funding. The scheme supports new Doctoral and Masters level researchers in science, engineering and technology.

IRCSET programmes are aimed at knowledge creation within Ireland for the future benefit of society and the economy.

The Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme is targeted at developing the country's international reputation as an important location in which to carry out world class research, so that Ireland retains and attracts the highest level R&D capabilities for the future.

The call is open to applicants worldwide who must carry out their work in Ireland.

As well as the standard Embark Initiative Scholarships, IRCSET will also be offering Enterprise Partnership Scholarships in the coming weeks. This scheme is designed to sit alongside the Embark Initiative Scholarships and will increase the opportunity for researchers in Ireland. 

Announcing the offers of funding, Professor Jane Grimson, Chair of IRCSET, said:

“We are delighted that once again, the quality of applicants to this call was extremely high.

"IRCSET is committed to fully developing and supporting Ireland’s brightest and best researchers in order to sustaining the growth of Ireland’s social and economic well being.

"If we are to ensure that we do not lose out to other international research centres, we must retain the talent and creativity of Ireland’s research community.

"This round of funding will contribute to the ongoing development of a supportive infrastructure underpinning Irish based research that will attract and encourage researchers to remain in Ireland within their chosen fields.”   

Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme 2008
The Embark Initiative’s Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme applies to Science, Engineering and Technology related research by individuals pursuing Masters or Doctorate qualifications in recognised third level establishments.

All students graduating with higher honours in science, engineering and technology are entitled to apply for funding. A decision to grant funding is based on the student’s academic record, research preparation and a personal statement.

PhD funding will be available for up to three years to outstanding students though, exceptionally, this time period may be revised to cater for students whose research demands longer time periods.
Applications are subject to equal assessment, strictly on merit, by an independent academic panel.

IRCSET
Funded by the State under the National Development Plan, IRCSET operates research funding initiatives which support talented researchers in their early stage career formation across Masters, Doctoral and Postdoctoral levels in the sciences, engineering and technology. They are also designed to ensure that Ireland will become an internationally attractive location for high-level research. The emphasis of its funding programmes is on exploratory research aimed at yielding new concepts, findings and innovations within Ireland. The main scheme operated by IRCSET operates is The Embark Initiative.

IRCSET also operates an Enterprise Partnership Scheme where it co-funds researchers in co-operation with leading industry partners.

Since its inception in 2002, the Council has this far allocated in excess of €60 million to support the career formation of over 1,000 researchers in Ireland.  Funding is made available through a series of strictly competitive calls for applicants. Selection for funding is based on merit and the decision process is overseen by independent assessment panels.

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology forms a Board of senior academic and industrial figures, chaired by Professor Jane Grimson under the auspices of the Department of Education & Science.

Further details are available at http://www.ircset.ie