Andrea Budiša is a postdoctoral researcher in the Aquatic Ecology Department at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO). She studies marine microalgae, consisting of diverse types of microorganisms whose harmful effects include aesthetically unpleasant phenomena such as sea foam and mucilage and substances that are toxic to fish and marine mammals as well as humans. Her day-to-day work is a split between time in the lab, where she performs experiments and analysis, and desk work analysing data.
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'The Grant Week brings together prominent scientists as role models and offers insights into alternative career paths’
What were your expectations for the Grant Week prior to attending?
‘I wanted to get a first overview of what is needed to apply for a grant, which includes how far ahead one needs to plan, what the characteristics of different grants are, and to find out something more about the proposal evaluation.’
What parts of the three-days programme did you find most interesting?
‘I focused on two parts. The first was a one-to-one consultation with the career advisors, which broadened my perspective on employment opportunities beyond the grant scheme aimed at a research-oriented career. I learned more about what Academy offices can offer and many useful tips on how to network outside of the academic sector. But it also felt like the right place to discuss what support a postdoc like me would need if I were to continue my career at a university rather than an institute.
‘The other part I focused on was about grants. And there was a lot of helpful information shared during the workshops, but also in a more informal setting afterwards, when we heard from others who had applied earlier with greater or lesser success.’
Which workshops and lectures did you attend?
‘I attended all three lectures – How to Define Your Impact, How to Get a Grant, and The "Generative Turn" in AI – because it’s always interesting to hear about career steps from an accomplished scientist on a path that all of us [postdocs] are on. The perspectives on grant writing in all three lectures, which could be described as atypical or unusual, boosted my motivation and encouraged me to contribute my ideas.’
Andrea selected three workshops covering where to start and what to know before applying for a grant: Overview of the Funding Landscape, Getting Ready for Your VENI Proposal, and Horizon Europe.
‘The first was a perfect introduction to what one's options are, what we can expect from getting a grant, and what is expected after getting it. It helped me to identify my grant options and showed me how to plan for my proposal. The second workshop zoomed in entirely on the specifics of individual VENI grants, a nationally funded grant scheme for which most postdoctoral researchers are eligible. The third workshop briefly covered the details of the collaborative Horizon Europe projects.’
Andrea attended the third workshop because her work is currently funded by a major Horizon project, and she wanted to learn more about the process of getting a grant, preparing it, and the vocabulary used, as opposed to what is expected afterward.
What makes the Grant Week a unique event in your opinion?
'The Grant Week is a well-thought-out event that covers everything one needs in the initial stage of applying for any bigger grant scheme in Europe. It brings together prominent scientists as role models and, aside from that, offers insights into alternative career paths utilising all our strengths and knowledge. The networking aspect is no less valuable because one encounters many like-minded individuals and learns about their experiences.’
Over the course of the three days, Andrea met several postdocs and learned about their career paths and successful and less successful grant applications, which gave her another layer of information that would have otherwise not been covered in the lectures/workshops.
Finally, do you have any advice for current and future colleagues?
'I would advise them to attend the Grant Week because meeting new people and hearing about their careers can help you crystalise the direction in which your professional development is going. Secondly, this event is a must if you plan to apply for any grants, both as a PhD student and a postdoc. And finally, there is much more to learn and find out about yourself and what your options are outside of grant schemes.’
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KNAW Grant Week 2024
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO)
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) conducts basic and strategic research on organisms, populations, ecological communities and ecosystems on land and in water.
More about this institute