Inhibition of Apoptosis in TCells and Neutrophils by Type I Interferons

1
What makes a successful fellowship application
Christopher Buckley Rheumatology Research
Group MRC Centre for Immune Regulation University
of Birmingham
2
What is a Fellowship?

• Why do Fellowships exist?
• Why do you want to obtain a fellowship? Be honest
  with yourself!
• Where do you want to do your fellowship?
• What subject area to you want to do your
  fellowship in?

3
Fellowship Schemes
Clinicians Basic Scientists AHPs Senior 5
years Career Progression (50 funding from
Institution) 2 years Travelling 1
year Educational Research (PhD/Masters training)
- 3 years Clinicians Clinician Scientist
(postdoctoral training) - 3 to 5 years Clinical
Research (PhD training) - 3 years Orthopaedic
(PhD training) - 3 years Barbara Ansell
(paediatric rheumatology entry level) 1
year Basic Scientists AHPs Career Development
(postdoctoral training) 5 years PhD
Studentships 3 years Foundation Fellowships- 3
years Allied Health Professionals AHP Training
(PhD training) 3 years
4
Fellowships and ResearchThe three Ps

• Why do you want to obtain a fellowship? Be honest
  with yourself! (PERSON)
• Where and with whom do you want to do your
  fellowship? (PLACE)
• What subject area to you want to do your
  fellowship in? (PROJECT)

5
What marks out a good Fellow?The three I s

• IDEAS
• INFLUENCE
• IMPLEMENTATION

6
How are Fellowships assessed?

• Remember what is being assessed.
• The assessment of a fellowship application is
  VERY different to a project grant
• The Dragons Den
• Life is not fair The assessment panel can only
  judge what is in front of them!

7
What is Science ?

• Science is about acquiring and classifying
  information
• Science is not a means of establishing truth it
  establishes facts
• Technology versus Hypothesis driven science
• Communication apply Rutherfords barmaid test

8
How does Science progress?

• Apprenticeship
• Define your question
• Test the hypothesis
• Assumptions are deadly
• Risk assessment
• Individuals and consortia

9
What is Clinical Science ?

• Medicine is a mixture of art and technology.
  (washing machine engineer- Dx and Mx)
• Subject to the same pressures of institutional
  and sociological change as basic science (120)
• No more difficult than basic science
• Not needed to deliver a good clinical service?

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How does Clinical Science progress?

• Lava lamp model
• (paradigm shifts for example H.Pylori)
• Medical advance a disruptive technology
• Mobile phones
• MRI
• anti-TNFa
• Statins
• Clinical science circle bench -bed, bed-bench,

Mixed
All Basic
All Clinical
Jonathan Rees
11
Some useful tips..

• Define your questions clearly
• Have a clear vision and share it
• Give yourself time to sharpen your saw
• Always look for the win-win situation
• Careful about judging
• People are the Currency of Science
• If the grass is greener on the other side, water
  your own.

12
Keep the end in sight..

• Always get feedback after unsuccessful fellowship
  applications
• Have a mentor(s) who will be honest with you
• Reflected glory is often brighter
• I win when you win
• A little joy goes a long way.

13
Try to develop good habits
Its not our abilities that shape our future but
the choices we make (Dumbledore to Harry
Potter).