Theme Group Applications



Procedure for submitting a NIAS Theme group proposal


 

What is a NIAS Research Theme Group?

A NIAS research theme group is a group composed of mostly two to up to five scholars from the Netherlands, and two to up to four scholars from other countries. They are Fellows of NIAS either for one full research year (1 September to 30 June) or one semester of five months. In exceptional cases, a fellowship of one period of three months may be considered. Researchers work both individually and as a team on a clearly defined research topic with the aim of producing a concrete result such as a book, scientific paper or conference. The same quality criteria that apply to regular Fellows also apply to the participants of a theme group. On occasion, the theme group may offer a place to talented junior researchers who are thus able to further develop their skills by working closely with senior researchers.

The theme group activities are supervised by one or more coordinators, one of whom is always a professor at a university or research institute in the Netherlands. The group may be extended by visitors for up to three months. External funding will need to be found for this.

A theme group should preferably be linked either to an externally financed project or a project for which external financing will be sought (for example by the KNAW, NWO, EU), or to a NIAS area of interest (see Regular Fellowships page).

NIAS Research Theme Groups in previous years.

How is a NIAS Research Theme Group initiated?

A NIAS research theme group can be initiated in a number of different ways.

  • A researcher at a Dutch university can submit a theme group proposal.
  • The Rector together with the Scholarly Committee may invite a specific researcher to submit a proposal that explores a topic which she considers of particular interest.

A theme group proposal consists of a short summary of no more than three pages. This contains the topic, the methodology, and the expected research product, as well as a list of the preferred theme group members.

Evaluation

The proposal is first checked by the NIAS Directorate and if necessary the initiator is asked to make adjustments or revise the proposal. The Directorate then solicits comments from external reviewers. The proposal, together with the reviewers’ comments, is put before the Scholarly Committee. The Scholarly Committee takes the following five main criteria into account in making its evaluation:

  • The proposal must be of significant academic interest and preferably be innovative and inter-disciplinary.
  • The project should be set up in such a way that progress can be made during the five or 10 month period of concentrated research. Evidence of progress should be reflected in the publications and a workshop or conference at the end of the period to present the findings to an international audience of peers.
  • The theme group should be international in composition.
  • The proposed group should preferably be inter-disciplinary in composition, perhaps with an unusual combination of sub-disciplines.
  • The qualitative and quantitative contributions made by the Dutch scholars should be such that the theme group has a strong impact on scholarship in the Netherlands.

The following criteria are also considered of importance:

  • the academic status of the applicant within the research field in question;
  • the originality of the proposal and evidence of the benefit of group collaboration;
  • the expected impact of the theme group on the participants' research fields;
  • previously established international collaboration between the proposed participants among themselves and with others;
  • an account of how the planned activities will lead to a joint end product;
  • the coordinator’s leadership qualities;
  • the feasibility of the study and resources, in particular the feasibility and the lasting impact of research results.

Exploratory Workshop

If a project proposal meets the criteria above, the coordinator will be granted the opportunity to organise an exploratory workshop. This will be held at NIAS and last for one to two days. At this workshop the coordinator will ask nominee theme group members and, if relevant, other experts, to discuss the research plan critically in terms of content, practical implementation, the time-table for the research year as well as the composition of the theme group. The nominee members are informed about all aspects of a fellowship. On the basis of the outcome of this exploratory workshop, nominee participants can state whether they will make themselves available for participation in the theme group.

Final Evaluation

The final research theme group proposal of up to three pages is submitted to the Scholarship Committee together with the participants' fellowship applications. The applications are evaluated both on their individual merits as well as in terms of their contribution to the theme group proposal.

Successful applicants are awarded a NIAS Fellowship.

Time-table

Ideally, the creation of a theme group is put in motion before the selection of the candidates for the individual non-themed fellowships starts, that is, 18 months before the start of the research year.



Last Modified: 14-11-2011