The benefits of Co-funding – Beatriu de Pinós Programme

I wanted to go to Barcelona for three reasons that were equally compelling: to work with Prof. Tejada and his group, to come back to Europe to develop my research, and to join my wife in her new position.

First I contacted the group I wished to work with at the University of Barcelona. The leader was an experienced scientist with an outstanding career. He was not the ambitious leader seeking fast publications with high impact factor, he resembled instead a recently graduated student with plenty of energy for new projects. He told me he had some funding to hire me but insisted that I should apply for my own project and get my own funding — you have to preserve your independence and grow as a scientist, he said. I confess that his words delighted me; but mainly with respect to getting hired immediately rather than preserving my independence as a scientist.

Oriol introduced me to the COFUND program. A young scientist I had met in New York, he had received funding to conduct his research at the University of Barcelona under the Beatriu de Pinós Programme (from Autonomous Government of Catalonia). The COFUND action supports existing or new regional, national, and international fellowship programmes and aims at supporting the career development of promising, experienced researchers by letting them choose a research topic and an appropriate host organisation — exactly what Prof. Tejada had encouraged me to do.

I immediately gathered information about how to apply, which topics could be funded, and what the funding covered. Both the university and the funding agency (from Autonomous Government of Catalonia) were responsive and helpful in pointing me towards the appropriate call — I believe that the regional nature of the programme was the reason everyone at the university knew about it.

I spent about a month shaping the project I wanted to present. I spent time and resources (coffee, muffins, and beers) so that I could put forward my ideas to as many colleagues as possible. I received comments from people who — maybe without noticing — polished some project activities or sharpened some impact points. Applying for a fellowship is always challenging but there is always something that works: I asked Oriol for advice — and for a copy of his proposal. The Beatriu de Pinós Programme programme has a similar application structure to that of the individual Marie Curie fellowships: thanks to this I came across countless tips and tricks in online forums, especially regarding how to structure each application section and stress the key points. My proposal was awarded funding and I began my project and dream in Barcelona.

Working independently within a scientific group means you can choose what directions to follow or what people you collaborate with. I soon realised that this was not indeed a choice but a responsibility. I had an excellent relationship with members of the group and I tried to involve them all, as many as possible, in my project: experiments, simulations and theory. It was too ambitious. Once we started to get results I ran into trouble with crediting people for what they had — or had not — done.

Although the funding did not cover lab or office supplies, the university and the group I joined helped both me and visiting collaborators from other universities settle in. I missed however guidance on establishing new collaborations and applying for grants, as well as having my own research budget.

I’m still developing my work at the University of Barcelona, but it is now time to find projects that allow me to think more than two years ahead. COFUND has raised my awareness of belonging to a large community of young researchers that has expertise, a network, and plenty of ideas.

If I had to say something to an undecided COFUND applicant, I would say that if you want to preserve your independence, as Prof. Tejada told me a few years ago, and develop collaborative projects, you should go for it: talk to the group you wish to work with and discuss your project and ideas with people — even if they work in a different field.