Evaluator Susan Healy explains why good communication skills and honesty are half the story in the application process for the ERC
Susan Healy, professor of biology at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and former ERC evaluator. Photo courtesy of Susan Healy
Scientists aren’t known for being the best at getting their message across, but clarity and avoidance of obscure terminology can go a long way when applying for a European Research Council (ERC) grant, says former ERC evaluator Susan Healy.
Applicants mustn’t hide behind state-of-the-art labels and jargon during the evaluation process, she says. “The people in the room are intellectuals and want to be intellectually grabbed. They can see through the flimflam.”
Simple language, a clear summary and an attention-grabbing first page are key to success. Evaluators spend hours sorting through applications and you want to get them excited about the idea, says Healy.
Ideas submitted to the ERC are by their nature ambitious and, most…
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