Em resposta à falta de transparência do concurso Investigador FCT 2013, pretendemos responder com transparência. Neste sentido achamos importante divulgar as avaliações de quem estiver disposto a fazê-lo.
In response to the lack of transparency of FCT 2013 investigator call we intend to answer with transparency. In this sense we consider important to disseminate the evaluations.
Andreia Amaral
Scientific area: Animal Science.
Due to lack of space I have only pasted the grades.
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Life Sciences Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
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The overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.092
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 5.183
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 8.008
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External Reviewer 4
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Weighted score: 5.042
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Ana Cabrera
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The cadidate presents a CV in line with the career stage.
The research project promises to be an interesting and valuable one. The design is somewhat innovative. The background of the investigator is strong. The conceptual framework is well developed. The potential contribution to the field is significant. It is likely this study will advance the current state of the art of knowledge in the field. The benefits to business or society are notable, although further articulation of these benefits would strengthen the proposal. However it would be useful to develop an even more rigorous analysis plan. The degree of internationalization could be also further developed
The panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
Candidato não identificado
Evaluation
Form - Call 2013
Status
Refused
Overall
: 6
Comments:
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Physical
Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This
application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below
the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The
panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this
application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
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The
overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
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External
Reviewer 1
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Weighted
score: 3.892
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The plan
is to produce an interactive web-based tool to support the involvement of
citizens in their environment. Scientifically, there is not much here, the
emphasis being on the technical (programming) realisation of the project. It is
also not clearthat the proposed workwill develop the applicant's career. It
seems that it is work of the kind he has already been doing for some time.
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External
Reviewer 2
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Weighted
score: 7.358
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Component
A: the candidate has undertaken research and has published very good material
with relevant international impact. His research trajectory has been mainly
based at INESC-Coimbra and in the Department of Mathematics at the University
of Coimbra. The number of publications, proceedings and communications and his
involvement in projects is an evidence of a productive fulltime research
trajectory. He has only been the supervisor of two PhD thesis but has
supervised 10 MSc thesis and collaborated in PhD evaluations.
Component
B: the research objective is centred on the development of a software web-GIS
application for decision support system in urban management. The background
refers the emergent need for more collaborative processes and citizen
participation in urban planning and management processes. Although, as the
candidate says, “web reporting systems already exist”, the innovative character
of the application represents a new integrated tool for collecting and
organising information in order that appropriate feedback from users (the
citizens) can be reported and be used by decision makers for strategic urban
planning and city management. Due to its technical complexity, these comments
do not concern the evaluation of the web-GIS as a software application. They
cannot, however, be separated from the context for its operation. In that
sense, the information on the pertinent themes and debates regarding more
collaborative and integrated planning processes, expressed in concepts such as
urban acupuncture, governance and smart cities (referred in a very general manner),
are not receiving the same attention as the technicalities of the proposed
application. Thus, although the themes are relevant and the advantages of the
application (capture, integrating and reporting live real world data, with
subsequent processing, for empowering and implementing citizen participation)
seem quite innovative, the project misses a work plan and a methodological
framework articulating the production of the application with the scales,
places and contexts for intervention. These have been the centre of much debate
on the role of urban planning and public policies under neoliberal scenarios
for state intervention. The identification of the critical areas for city
development complemented by technological advances in management in an integrated
manner (which is after all the background of this project), deserves further
attention and detailed clarification.
For
the purpose of the research, the INESC Coimbra has a history and a record which
makes it an adequate and valuable host institution. The collaboration with
other research groups and institutions complementing the social component of
the urban management objectives of the project could be considered.
Component
C: the existing and foreseeing collaboration of the candidate with INESC is
articulated adequately with the stated career objectives and his development as
an independent researcher, complemented by remarkable research activities.
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External
Reviewer 3
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Weighted
score: 6.992
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The
principal investigator has 17 years of research experience after the obtention
of his doctorate. He works at the University of Coimbra.
His
research production included 11 articles and book chapters in international
peer-reviewed journals. These publications are in journals related with
Geography (such as Journal of Transport Geography, Geographical Analysis etc)
but also in applied statistics journals (European Journal of Operational
Research, Applied Stochastic Models and Data Analysis etc). In this sense the
PI works at the intersection of these two domains and the project has really a
good potential for applications. This seems to be the taste of the researchers,
to work in applications, since the theoretical part of his cv (number of
publications, the rhythm of publications- there are only 11 articles plus book
chapters) is somehow weak with respect to the usual achievements of a
researcher at this stage of his career. When I says this, I have in mind also
the number limited of doctoral research supervised and the degree of
internationalization. As mentioned in the application, the applicant intends to
use this project to achieve academic papers that will enable him to obtain the
habilitation degree.
The
project itself is rather well described and the ideas are clearly presented.
This is a research project in the framework of urban acupuncture and
sustainable management of the city, which materializes in the development of a
web-GIS application coupled to a decision support system. The researcher has
already some previous works and recent publications in this direction, which
demonstrates his ability to progress on these topics.
Franklin Gregory
Status
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Life Sciences Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.808
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An excellent and very applied proposal in an important area of agricultural biotechnology, which has business potential. The applicant is very strong, and has a good publication record, with 24 publications in international journals since the completion of his PhD in 1999. The applicant has acquired all the necessary skills and research experience to conduct the proposed work following a series of postdoctoral positions in India, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Portugal. In addition to a PhD in plant biotechnology, the applicant has a law degree in European and Transglobal Business, which provides the applicant with a strong business base from which to develop the commercial aspects of the proposed project. The applicant has a successful track record in obtaining research funding and of putting together consortia for pan-European research project applications. FTC funding will help to consolidate the applicant's strong career development plan. The proposed work is innovative and feasible with a clear overall work plan, divided into basic and applied research lines. The applicant has the necessary skills and research and business-related expertise to successfully manage and complete to proposed project and has already developed new, innovative plant biotechnologies with commercial potential. The proposed host institution, University of Minho (UM), has the research facilities to support the proposed work and experience in developing and supporting Research and Development with companies, including spin-out companies. The proposed work will help UM develop its activities in agricultural
biotechnology, which will in turn be of value to the Portuguese economy.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 7.367
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The CV of Franklin Gregory shows that he is a highly motivated scientist, trying to combine his interest in plant transformation and in vitro production of natural products with his 2nd major interest, biotechnology business,marketing, and distributing of value pharmaceuticals to be produced in plant bioreactors. There is a good, above average, record of scientific accomplishments, including publications, posters, talks on conferences and has some experience in supervision of graduate students. A current lack of high impact publications in the last years may be, in part, due to the fact that he has developed a start-up company for efficient use of green lettuce as an alternative molecular farming approach. Production of relevant proteins in plants in general is a very hot topic, if protein amounts and purity match the industrial standards. The applicant is aware of the potential of his technology and based on his business training is well suited to run a plant biotech company.
Very similar research plans in plant biotechnology are of relevance to many other groups and industries in this scientific area. The applicant should be a bit realistic to clearly define also potential scientific problems with this technology e.g. problems with difficult to express genes, partly soluble compounds, purification issues. Career development of the applicant is streamlined towards combining scientific knowledge with practical application. He is well travelled and has combined the expertise of many laboratories throughout the world, although sometimes it is not immediately evident why certain moves have been performed (often short stays).
Very positive in this respect is that he probably got to know many scientists and scientific perspectives/opinions helpful in future business development and estimating the economic benefits of his research ideas. Several awards document his achievements, but specifically in the most recent period, specific scientific accomplishments appear hidden in a vast array of activities. In contrast, he demonstrated communication skills as a coordinator of a highly ranked FP7 proposal which shows his organizing and managing potential. Internationalization is clearly visible and positive.
The research plan is twofold. The first part intends to explore the potential of the new Superagro A. tumefaciens strains to be able to transform a wide variety of plants (including monocots?). The second goal is to establish green lettuce as a bioreactor for the production of valuable proteins. Apparently, lettuce can already be transformed, so there is no further need to investigate the Superagros for this part of the project. Although both research aspects are highly interesting for biotechnologist and biologists worldwide, the scientist switches between two individual projects, which makes the application less convincing than staying with one, may be the Superagro-project. Which aspect exactly should be supported? May be for patent
reasons details of the mutagenized Agro-strains are missing. On the other hand a more realistic presentation of the potential but also the potential problems of his research and a more precise presentation of problem solving tools appear to be missing. Transfer of the knowledge of a recalcitrant plant like Hypericum, with a defined set of antimicrobial compounds towards a general transformation protocol may be hampered by the diversity of plant specific factors (defence mechanisms). However, if this research results in a universal transformation protocol this will be an important breakthrough, also worth supporting as part of the EU Horizon 2020, as indicated by the applicant.
Luís Silva
Matteo Dalla Riva
Status
Refused
Overall 7
Comments:
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The candidate presents a very good CV.
The project is original and has the potential to add new knowledge to benefit society. It addresses a relevant topic from the scientific, social and policy sides. The chosen methodology is well calibrated and it uses document analysis and semi-structured interviews.
The proposal presents the state of the art but doesn’t show clearly how it can add new knowledge on the research topic; there is not a proper discussion of contrasting ideas or theoretical gaps that the candidate could fill in. The scope of the project should also be widened and the selection of key informants should be better specified.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
Matteo Dalla Riva
Status
Refused
Overall 7
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers and the panel members. The panel closely examined these reports and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. The final recommendation of the panel is included in this report.
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers and the panel members. The panel closely examined these reports and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. The final recommendation of the panel is included in this report.
The Panel appreciates the PI’s good level of scientific output and track record. The research project was well presented and addresses some important challenges in a topical field. However, PI’s performance so far, and the quality of the proposed project, are not sufficient to be placed at the top level in the field.
Based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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Francisca Alves Cardoso
O meu nome é Francisca Alves Cardoso e a referência da minha candidatura é -Ref - IF/00628/2013. Ao contrário de muitos dos meus colegas, a minha avaliação consiste num único parágrafo: sem referência a comentários e avaliação de avaliadores externos (external reviewer). Não existe nenhuma referência ao meu CV, plano de desenvolvimento de carreira, etc.
Overall : 7
Comments:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The panel read with great interest your proposal, and were impressed by many of the ideas presented in it. There was clear evidence of a strong and active research career, which is likely to have an impact. The panel also liked the scope of bringing together ethico-legal issues with the systematising of knoweldge about skeletons held in Portuguese collections. However, the panel would have liked to have seen a more explicit discussion of exactly what are the ethical issues relating to human remains collections, and how these might vary between collections and skeletons. Concern was also expressed that while there was a clear view that models from the UK and other countries might need modifying, the nature of expected modifications could have been expanded, and the way in which legislation and access for scientists might work in practice. The overall project was very promising, but required further development.
The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The panel read with great interest your proposal, and were impressed by many of the ideas presented in it. There was clear evidence of a strong and active research career, which is likely to have an impact. The panel also liked the scope of bringing together ethico-legal issues with the systematising of knoweldge about skeletons held in Portuguese collections. However, the panel would have liked to have seen a more explicit discussion of exactly what are the ethical issues relating to human remains collections, and how these might vary between collections and skeletons. Concern was also expressed that while there was a clear view that models from the UK and other countries might need modifying, the nature of expected modifications could have been expanded, and the way in which legislation and access for scientists might work in practice. The overall project was very promising, but required further development.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
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Isabel Prata
No meu caso não atingi 6,5 no mailing review e por isso não fui sequer avaliada pelo painel. Á semelhança de outras avaliações que já vi também tive um membro do painel a dar uma classificação totalmente discrepante 7,.. ; 6,5 ; 4,2, sendo que o 4,2 não corresponde aos comentários efectuados.
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Cleia Detry
O meu nome é Cleia Detry e o número da minha candidatura é IF/00420/2013.
Nenhum dos avaliadores é da minha área de especialização, revelando total desconhecimento do assunto.
As afirmações do avaliador nº 3 (avaliador nacional) são particularmente preocupantes pois refere aspectos e conceitos completamente errados e diferentes daqueles que explico no projecto, chega mesmo a enganar-se numa das espécies em foco. Diz ainda que não vou ter tempo para o contrato porque tenho outros projectos da FCT, como???
Status
Refused
Overall 6
Comments:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.758
Weighted score: 7.758
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I believe this to be an enormously important project, which well meets the criteria laid down, is feasible and will lead to important new knowledge. It seems to me that the proposer of this project is well suited to carry out this research and it will fit well with their career plans. The main strength of this proposal is the creation of a database of osteometric information in order to be able to carry out comparisons. That will be of immense use now in carrying out research into the possible improvement of livestock, but will also be an important resource for subsequent researchers as well. I would suggest that the researchers bear this in mind during their work - that they should record information not only that will be of use to them, but also information that may be of use to future generations of researchers.
The comparisons across time, across geographical areas and across cultures look very interesting and highly promising. This study may well tell us a great deal about comparisons in terms of livestock improvements, it may also be the basis for work on the transmission of agricultural knowledge between time periods, geographical areas and cultures.
I believe this to be an enormously important project, which well meets the criteria laid down, is feasible and will lead to important new knowledge. It seems to me that the proposer of this project is well suited to carry out this research and it will fit well with their career plans. The main strength of this proposal is the creation of a database of osteometric information in order to be able to carry out comparisons. That will be of immense use now in carrying out research into the possible improvement of livestock, but will also be an important resource for subsequent researchers as well. I would suggest that the researchers bear this in mind during their work - that they should record information not only that will be of use to them, but also information that may be of use to future generations of researchers.
The comparisons across time, across geographical areas and across cultures look very interesting and highly promising. This study may well tell us a great deal about comparisons in terms of livestock improvements, it may also be the basis for work on the transmission of agricultural knowledge between time periods, geographical areas and cultures.
The only weaknesses I see in this proposed study are easily made good. It seems to me that there is more that can be done with this data than waht is proposed here. One thought on this matter is that there should be indications of diet and disease in both bones and teeth, and that both of those may be important to understand how livestock were improved. On the methodology, I have concerns that size of livestock is an indication of progress in livestock. There are other possibilities that need to be taken into account and matched to what we know of the more general culture of the time. It is not unknown for modern livestock breeders to want either smaller animals for some specific reason or to want their animals of the same general size but in different proportions. If that sort of information is recoverable in any shape of form, however fragmentary, from the contemporary records that ought to be taken into account in this study.
This does strike me as a very ambitious project which could be slightly better defined in terms of time spread and geographical spread. Having said that, if this project only attains a well defined part of its objectives in terms of time spread and geographical spread, I would say that it is well worth funding both in itself and as a basis for further studies in its area.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 6.767
Weighted score: 6.767
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The candidate has a good curriculum, with several publications as first author, two of which in journal on Web of Knowledge. The candidate has also extensive research experience, accumulated not only during her PhD, but also during her participation in several financed research projects. She has only one still going doctoral supervision and no post-doctoral supervision. The candidate describes a network of national (CBA - Facauldade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa) and international (University of Sheffield and University College of London) collaborations that will help her to attain the proposed goals of the project. The research proposal is clear, well written and with very clear goals, that can be easily attainable given the experience described by the applicant and the host conditions (UNIARQ – Centro de Arqueologia da Universidade de Lisboa). The research proposal’s state of art and research plan and methods are also well described and contribute to clarify the relevance of the project. The methodology proposed is adequate and appropriated to the goals presented. The career objectives presented (divided into two main ones: research and teaching) seem obvious but not too ambitious. Nothing is said towards the creation of her own research line or contribution to the training of new researcher in the area. The organization and structure of the career development plan is nevertheless well described and counts with the collaboration with other teams within the host institution.
The candidate has a good curriculum, with several publications as first author, two of which in journal on Web of Knowledge. The candidate has also extensive research experience, accumulated not only during her PhD, but also during her participation in several financed research projects. She has only one still going doctoral supervision and no post-doctoral supervision. The candidate describes a network of national (CBA - Facauldade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa) and international (University of Sheffield and University College of London) collaborations that will help her to attain the proposed goals of the project. The research proposal is clear, well written and with very clear goals, that can be easily attainable given the experience described by the applicant and the host conditions (UNIARQ – Centro de Arqueologia da Universidade de Lisboa). The research proposal’s state of art and research plan and methods are also well described and contribute to clarify the relevance of the project. The methodology proposed is adequate and appropriated to the goals presented. The career objectives presented (divided into two main ones: research and teaching) seem obvious but not too ambitious. Nothing is said towards the creation of her own research line or contribution to the training of new researcher in the area. The organization and structure of the career development plan is nevertheless well described and counts with the collaboration with other teams within the host institution.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 6.650
Weighted score: 6.650
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As for this project, only few remarks are needed. The applicant is fully qualified as archaeo-zoologist to perform this research on the domestication of the main 3 species in Portugal, fowl, pigs, cattle, and the animal improvement between the Roman period and the Moslem one, i.e. 10 centuries at least. A dozen sites will be chosen, mainly in central and southern Portugal, and the essential source of information will be osteometry. The project is described in full detail, from the making of a comprehensive database to a synthesis on animal improvement (i.e. increase in size).
As for this project, only few remarks are needed. The applicant is fully qualified as archaeo-zoologist to perform this research on the domestication of the main 3 species in Portugal, fowl, pigs, cattle, and the animal improvement between the Roman period and the Moslem one, i.e. 10 centuries at least. A dozen sites will be chosen, mainly in central and southern Portugal, and the essential source of information will be osteometry. The project is described in full detail, from the making of a comprehensive database to a synthesis on animal improvement (i.e. increase in size).
Although the proposed research is quite ambitious, it would have been complete if horse too had ben taken into account. The historical discussion will be based on the 3 periods, Roman (first increase in size, as noted in Western Europe after the victory of Rome against the Celts), Moslem (XIth-XIIIth centuries, when a technical progress has to be assumed), and finally « Christian » (pigs ; the use of religious qualifications should be discussed). This historical framework is not strongly established, as it should be, and finds of the Modern period are mentioned as well as of Antiquity or Middle Ages. Wording is sometimes quite strange ( « the 3 cultures that occupied the Iberian peninsula », which is valid only for the Moslem one). A final remark : if the project is chosen, the applicant, who takes part in 203-2014 in 2 other programs, is only partially free for this one.
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Susana Gaudencio
The given score classifications of the IF/00871/2013 proposal were the following:
1. External Reviewer 1 score: 7,258
2. External Reviewer 2 score: 4,867
3. External Reviewer 3 score: 8,450
External Reviewer average score: 6,865
4. Final Score: 6
1. External Reviewer 1 (score: 7,258) says:
“The proposed research plan is very vague and too general. For e.g. what specific organism and gram positive bacteria will be studied, what type of compounds will be expected or targeted this study? “
I must say that my proposal is about microorganisms which are Gram positive bacteria, specifically actinomycetes. I may count the word actinomycetes in my proposal at least 9 (nine) times (keywords inclusively). There is not a simple word about “organisms” in the proposal! Actually there is a huge difference between organisms and microorganisms.
Regarding the type of compounds that may be obtained from the targeted actinomycetes, in the “background section” of the proposal many examples of compounds types have been described (including published work performed by myself and coworkers). In addition if the main aim of the project is to find new, novel, unknown compounds obviously I may not say exactly which compounds we are going to find because they are unknown. In the background section as well as in my cv and published papers it is more than clear the type of compounds that are possible to be find.
The proposal was clearly missed evaluated by the reviewer. The reviewer didn´t read the whole proposal or does not understand the scientific field, or both.
2. External Reviewer 2 (score: 4,867) says:
“apart from chemistry, the team should have expertise in microbiology – sample collection, isolation and identification, cultivation, extraction and screening of bioactive compounds producing strains”
Both my cv and the cv sinopsis clearly refer that I am an expert in isolation, purification and structure elucidation of natural products. I am also a sample collection adept (up to 2000m), and have a great knowledge of bacteria isolation and identification. It also mentions the expeditions that I had performed to collect samples, previous approved projects in the proposed field and collaborations.
I clearly say:” “S. P. Gaudencio has collaborations with Prof. W. Fenical and Dr. Paul R. Jensen from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO-UCSD, USA) in two FCTMEC funded projects ...” These are world renowned experts in microbiology – sample collection, isolation and identification, cultivation, extraction and screening of bioactive compounds producing strains! Furthermore it is written in the proposal “the proposed research may count with the collaboration of Prof. Ilda S. Sanches from DCV-CREM”. Prof. Ilda Sanches represents another great collaboration in microbiology and bioactivity screening. The proposal was clearly miss evaluated by the reviewer. Again the reviewer didn´t read the whole proposal or does not understand the scientific field, or both.
External reviewer 3 says:
“The researcher has submitted the project proposal on the goal of exploiting Oceans natural resources as to search for new bioactive compounds from marine bacteria as agents for drug discovery. According to my opinion though it is a well known good old methodology, it is a innovative project proposal and also the need of the hour for the human kind. The researchers are the process of not only exploiting the bacteria for drug discovery but also to check the different fauna and flora present in those areas.
In addition, it seems as a big project and they have to do a wide literature survey before getting on to the project. This is because the researcher is not confined to one particular species or genera. They have to work as a random trial and error methodology to find the chemically prolific marine taxa to the discovery of newer anticancer/antibiotic drug discovery.
In addition, it seems as a big project and they have to do a wide literature survey before getting on to the project. This is because the researcher is not confined to one particular species or genera. They have to work as a random trial and error methodology to find the chemically prolific marine taxa to the discovery of newer anticancer/antibiotic drug discovery.
As the researcher mentioned, the project should not only be for the purpose of publications and patents. The final outcome should be a good application which serves the human kind by the way of developing novel drug systems to cure many incurable diseases and also to avoid the formation of new pathogens. Of course, there is no doubt that the ocean’s microbial communities can be effectively examined and that cultured marine microorganisms will yield new drugs in the coming decade.
In addition, it requires much collaborative work to complete this project at various levels. Based on their previous experiences in this field of expertise, it would not be much of a problem for the successful completion of this project. Overall it is a good project proposal which could produce good results in the applied level.”
In addition, it requires much collaborative work to complete this project at various levels. Based on their previous experiences in this field of expertise, it would not be much of a problem for the successful completion of this project. Overall it is a good project proposal which could produce good results in the applied level.”
It is a fare review. The reviewer show understanding of the proposal and of the scientific field. I have nothing to claim.
4) Final Score: 6
The given score was attributed by the evaluation panel. The panel says:
“This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.”
It does not say why it was decided to lower the External Reviewer score average (6,865), which would be a 7 (seven). It does not mention their evaluations or opinions. It is a standard sentence, comparing with a friend´s evaluation (IF/00548/2013), we realize that he has got the same sentence.
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Alexandre Paiva
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 6.808
Weighted score: 6.808
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The applicant obtained the Ph.D. degree in 2008, and before that he worked about 5-year as a junior researcher. The applicant also had 5-year post-doctor research. The research field is mainly focused on (…), which are consistent with this project proposed. The applicant indicated that 13 papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals, but there are no major publications listed in the proposal. So it is difficult to evaluate the contributions on these publications with only one as corresponding author. The applicant showed some experience as scientific advisor for master and doctoral students, as well as teaching.
This project focuses on the (…). It seems that the applicant has ample funds on the research work, presently involved in 3 FCT-MEC funded projects and 1 project from company, and the applicant has did quite lots of works on the relative field. However, in the proposal there are few words on the process integration for three technologies mentioned, which should be important part of this project. In addition, the project seems to be industry-oriented, but it is not clear how to solve the challenges for industrial applications.
The applicant obtained the Ph.D. degree in 2008, and before that he worked about 5-year as a junior researcher. The applicant also had 5-year post-doctor research. The research field is mainly focused on (…), which are consistent with this project proposed. The applicant indicated that 13 papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals, but there are no major publications listed in the proposal. So it is difficult to evaluate the contributions on these publications with only one as corresponding author. The applicant showed some experience as scientific advisor for master and doctoral students, as well as teaching.
This project focuses on the (…). It seems that the applicant has ample funds on the research work, presently involved in 3 FCT-MEC funded projects and 1 project from company, and the applicant has did quite lots of works on the relative field. However, in the proposal there are few words on the process integration for three technologies mentioned, which should be important part of this project. In addition, the project seems to be industry-oriented, but it is not clear how to solve the challenges for industrial applications.
The applicant has good plan on the career development, including grant applications, research objective, teaching, collaborative, but quite limited on the international activities. The applicant’s scientific experiences showed a high potential as an independent research in the field of downstream processing. However, more achievements on the theoretical and mechanism research should be enhanced. The support from host institution can be expected.
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External Reviewer 2
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 7.233
Weighted score: 7.233
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The candidate presents a good scientific productivity, with degree of independence. His background combines supercritical extraction and separation processes with biocatalysis in nonconventional media. Based on this background, the applicant has solid knowledge to pursue research topics such as (…), which are present in this proposal. He shows a very good degree of internationalization. Moreover, the applicant presents a very good success in obtaining projects as group leader - he is the Principal Investigator (Coordinator) of a FCT funded project, running at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and he is the scientific responsible at Universidade Nova de Lisboa for another FCT funded project, headed by Universidade do Minho. At experience of doctoral and Post-doctoral supervision, the candidate has one PhD Student supervision ongoing, and two as co-supervisor, also ongoing, as well as three "Research Grants" that he supervises.The candidate presents a well structured work plan, with different tasks to accomplish the main goal of (…), which he plans to achieve by (…).The Host Institution has very good conditions, facilities and previous experience for the development of the research study. The project will contribute to benefit society and industry. The Host Institution is very well known in the field with very good infrastructures, technical and administrative support, therefore all conditions will be given to the candidate for the work and his career development plan. The application demonstrates a very good career development plan with degree of independence.
The candidate presents a good scientific productivity, with degree of independence. His background combines supercritical extraction and separation processes with biocatalysis in nonconventional media. Based on this background, the applicant has solid knowledge to pursue research topics such as (…), which are present in this proposal. He shows a very good degree of internationalization. Moreover, the applicant presents a very good success in obtaining projects as group leader - he is the Principal Investigator (Coordinator) of a FCT funded project, running at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and he is the scientific responsible at Universidade Nova de Lisboa for another FCT funded project, headed by Universidade do Minho. At experience of doctoral and Post-doctoral supervision, the candidate has one PhD Student supervision ongoing, and two as co-supervisor, also ongoing, as well as three "Research Grants" that he supervises.The candidate presents a well structured work plan, with different tasks to accomplish the main goal of (…), which he plans to achieve by (…).The Host Institution has very good conditions, facilities and previous experience for the development of the research study. The project will contribute to benefit society and industry. The Host Institution is very well known in the field with very good infrastructures, technical and administrative support, therefore all conditions will be given to the candidate for the work and his career development plan. The application demonstrates a very good career development plan with degree of independence.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 6.617
Weighted score: 6.617
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This proposal aims to study (…). These are certainly areas worthy of study, and the applicants’ plans are very ambitious and timely, but there are some concerns about the ability to actually accomplish the entire scope of work due to the broad range of topics described in the application. These concerns are also motivated by the fact that little detail is provided about what specifically will be included in the individual investigations. Additionally, the applicant does not clearly place the proposed work within the current state of the art. The use of (…) has been going on for the past two or three decades. It is incumbent upon the applicant to clearly delineate where this work would differ from established methods. The application reads more like a series of trial and error experiments rather than an insightful approach that is based on scientific insights.
This proposal aims to study (…). These are certainly areas worthy of study, and the applicants’ plans are very ambitious and timely, but there are some concerns about the ability to actually accomplish the entire scope of work due to the broad range of topics described in the application. These concerns are also motivated by the fact that little detail is provided about what specifically will be included in the individual investigations. Additionally, the applicant does not clearly place the proposed work within the current state of the art. The use of (…) has been going on for the past two or three decades. It is incumbent upon the applicant to clearly delineate where this work would differ from established methods. The application reads more like a series of trial and error experiments rather than an insightful approach that is based on scientific insights.
The applicant has a established a solid track-record of publications and has some experience in securing grant funding. Several aspects of the proposed work has a high probability of success.
It is somewhat surprising that the applicant’s professional goals and aspirations are focused on establishing a consulting company rather than a career in either academic or industrial research and development. If the formation of such a company is to be done in parallel with a career as an independent researcher, then it is laudable, but if it is the primary goal of the applicant, then it is questionable whether a FCT grant at this juncture would assist the applicant in reaching his goals.
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Chiara Pussetti
O meu nome é Chiara Pussetti, e a referência da minha candidatura é IF/01311/2013.
Reporto aqui a minha avaliação, à qual nem sei o que responder em sede de audiência prévia. Realmente é uma avaliação positiva, na qual só se sugere que teria sido interessante elaborar mais as relações entre a antropologia médica e a antropologia da religião. São áreas de estudo muito próximas, que partilham uma longa história em conjunto. Basta pensar a todo o que foi publicado acerca do “ritual or religious healing” para perceber que esta relação é de longa data. Seria certamente interessante traçar a história desta afinidade de interesse e elaborar as suas potencialidades, mas num formulário que apresentava campos muitos reduzidos (5000 caracteres com espaços incluídos) era mais relevante focar no estado da arte, nas hipóteses da pesquisas, na metodologia, e nos objetivos da pesquisa. Uma consideração deste tipo para justificar a exclusão do projeto é no mínimo uma muito fraca motivação.
A frase final, segundo e último ponto negativo da avaliação, sobre a metodologia é a mesma que recebi no ano passado, no mesmo concurso. Por causa da avaliação do ano passado, neste novo projeto elenquei todas as ferramentas metodológicas da antropologia sociocultural. Consultei todos os projetos que ganharam ERC e Wenner Gren para ter certeza de criar uma parte sobre metodologia muito forte. Até citei artigos de referência sobre método nestas áreas especificas da antropologia. No máximo, pode ser um exagero ridículo de estratégias metodológicas. Mas realmente acho difícil sustentar que era necessário definir mais claramente ou especificar com mais detalhe a metodologia.
O resto, é extremamente vago, um texto que pode servir para qualquer candidato, de qualquer área científica. Também solicitei os pareceres dos avaliadores mas ainda não recebi resposta.
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel. The applicant presents a highly relevant track record demonstrating a willingness to cross boundaries within anthropology to enrich the theoretical component of the proposed research. The combination of medical anthropology and anthropology of religion could be elaborated further, however – how this combination works, and what the implications might be for the topic.
A high level of diverse publications in the national and international spheres, along with an accomplished contribution to, and participation in, numerous funded research projects, were noted by the Panel. There is also evidence of experience in PI roles and team leadership, in-depth fieldwork experience, and of the theoretical understanding of the research process. The applicant demonstrates commitment to teaching and supervision. The wish to ensure outreach and dialogue with ‘civil society’ through a range of creative practices including arranging art exhibitions (unclear if these are research-based) adds an important dimension to the applicant´s profile. Thesis examining experience is quite extensive. This represents a very strong CV for this point in the applicant’s career.
The topic of the research project as proposed is an extremely interesting and important one, having potential ramifications beyond the immediate aims. How austerity measures might be affecting those most vulnerable to cut-backs, in socio-cultural terms, could well prove to be defining the nature of social and affective practices and belief systems among immigrant populations as described in the proposal. The research focus is very well supported. The approach to the research is ‘traditional’ in conceptualisation and application. This is nót a criticism. What could be more clearly defined and specified is the detail of the methodology.
The candidate’s career development plan positions her well to achieve her goals.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
The candidate’s career development plan positions her well to achieve her goals.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
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David Picard
My name is David Picard and I applied for an FCT Researcher Grant. The evaluators were very obviously not experts in my discipline (anthropology) and its methodology and recognized esteem indicators. One critiiques the very anthropological approach, asking me instead to develop something more alike a clinical psychology study; another states that ethnograhic observations of people in their daily lives (the main idea and approach of ethnography) is simply not feasible. One reviewer states that only one of my articles was published in a "high impact" journal - hence pushing aside publications in disciplinary flagship journals like Social Anthropology and Journal of European Ethnology. A third reviewer seemed to struggle so hopelessly with the English language (see second review below; more akin to parody than to a professionnal assessment exercise) that I have great doubts if he or she could actually have understood even the most basic ideas of the project proposal. (I got the lowest evaluation from this reviewer.) Moreover, the count of attributed marks by each reviewer does not match the overall mark. FCT may need to do homework in basic mathematics. I will contest the assessment because the assessment criteria defined by FCT were simply not followed and because the reviewers, or some of them, seemed to lack the most basic skills (i.e. mastering English) that would have qualified them for their job. I feel FCT is not doing itself any service by selecting 3rd class reviewers if they want to promote first class science.
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Maria Antónia Pires de Almeida
O meu nome é Maria Antónia Pires de Almeida,
Doutorada em História Contemporânea
Investigadora Associada do CIES, ISCTE, IUL
Desempregada, após contrato de 5 anos no programa Ciência 2007.
Status
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
External Reviewer 1
Weighted score: 7.775
The applicant has a very good CV, even though the international dimension does not seem to match her highly relevant contributions at the national level. This is certainly something that can be improved in the future. There seems to be no clear reference to a significant experience in doctoral and post-doctoral supervision, an item that FCT includes in the evaluation of the CV (1.vi). The scientific productivity of the applicant is high, as well as her degree of success in previous calls for grants and projects. The innovative and creative nature of her achievements are also very high, especially within the field of study of political elites in Portugal as well as local politics. All this produces a very high overall suitability of the research profile for the intended grant level.
The scientific merit of the research project is solid. The relevance and originality of the proposed project are also strong, in the sense that the projects builds on previous works in the scientific area and presents new questions. How innovative is the idea underlying the project is something that cannot be entirely measured before the end-result of the project is reached, but it certainly builds on previous works in the field and adds some new insights and suggests interesting new developments. The main doubt, however, emerges from the emphasis the applicant seems to allocate to the 2013 local elections in Portugal, which have just occurred in late September 2013. Their impact is likely to be significant, since 48% of the local mayors were not allowed to run again for election in the same constituency -- as the applicant recalls. But is it really possible to measure the impact of these changes in the immediate aftermath of the recent elections? The objectives presented by the applicant allow one to believe that they are not only achievable but also likely to contribute to some progress beyond the current state of art. Perhaps, though, the impact of the recent local elections could have less prominence or could be presented with greater caution or scepticism. Nevertheless, one can reasonably expect that the project will contribute to benefits to society, namely to the development of public attention and scholarly interest in local government. The methodology and feasibility of the working plan are also solid.
The host institution offers excellent conditions for the pursuit of this project as well as for the applicant's career development plan. The applicant presents a solid career development plan, consistent and plausible, as well as reasonably ambitious. The latter is entirely consistent with the candidate's prior achievements towards research independence.
External Reviewer 2
Weighted score: 7.567
The project is sound in its goals and methods. The applicant has developed a long-lasting experience as research coordinator and therefore merits full credit with respect to the envisaged research plan. The research goals are fairly clear, and the relevance of the topic quite straight forward. From a methodological standpoint, not much is said but it seems that the author has a full grasp of the literature and knowledge of the ways the existing databases can be used and ameliorated. The link with an international network conducting interviews in other countries (Comparative Candidate Survey) seems quite promising, although not much is said with references to the type of interview which will be conducted and who exactly will be interviewed. I assume the comparative links will allow the author to conduct interviews which will then be comparable, but more information on this issue would have been highly appreciated since much is left to guess. What seems to be quite complicated in terms of causal linkage is the following: "Analysis of the present problems of overpopulation of urban areas (and suburban areas, with historical centres’ abandonment), depopulation of rural ones, economy, demographics, social movements and political solutions presented in the recent past. The role of local government in these subjects, and the administrative reform projects. Political and social impacts of legislation and results of private initiatives." How will be role of the local governments be assessed? And how will the political and social impacts of legislation and results of private initiatives be evaluated? The evaluator does not have many clues. Nevertheless, all in all the project seems promising.
External Reviewer 3
Weighted score: 4.875
This is a interesting project that seeks to better understand local government in Portugal, specifically focusing on representation, leadership and elected mayors. The PI has an impressive number of publications, which is to be expected with a PhD since 2004. However, most are of the publications are in Portuguese, where notable exceptions are seen in recent papers in Rural History as well as European Societies on which the PI is to be commended. Effort has also been made by the PI to attend several conferences both inside and outside Portugal, including the ECPR. It would have strengthened the CV if more conferences outside of Europe were attended (for example, in the Americas.) The project itself focuses specifically on developments in Portugal, and there is nothing wrong in doing a single case study. However, and while some effort is made, the project would have been stronger if it were situated more fully within the wider, comparative, scientific literature. For example, work from the UK, Germany, France and Belgium is mentioned, but it is unclear how the present study builds on existing themes in the literature, and what the (further) study of Portugal will add to scientific knowledge of value to the field in general. By the PI's own admission, the project seeks to answer 'big scientific questions' and collect new data, which are fine - but it would be stronger if fuller justification was made regarding 'why does this need to be done?' and 'what exactly will be accomplished with the data analysis?' The hypothesis presented is not clear (and not phrased as a scientific hypothesis). Some phrases are also unclear (such as 'That is was citizenship is all about,' line 4 under IMPACT section.) Overall, the proposal is an interesting one, but I am not sure that it should be considered a priority for funding.
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Marzia Grassi
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 6.433
Weighted score: 6.433
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The proposal “transnational lives, mobility and gender" has got the potential to be transformed into a stronger proposal, with a clearer definition of aims, methods and desired outcomes.
The candidate demonstrates sustained knowledge of the field and has extended experience in research, including responsibilities as leading investigator.
The way the topic is presented in this application is not sufficiently anchored or clear, and some of the sections read as unfinished or speedy responses to the application form. This is the case, for example, with the sections Development/ consolidation of an independent career; and Networking/ Internationalization plan. perhaps as a result of the candidate's extensive involvement in research, the aims identified in these sections show a lack ambition and the candidate's commitment to expanding her knowledge and disseminating any resulting findings to wider audiences is insufficiently addressed. Such fact may hinder the actual impact of the research.
The proposal “transnational lives, mobility and gender" has got the potential to be transformed into a stronger proposal, with a clearer definition of aims, methods and desired outcomes.
The candidate demonstrates sustained knowledge of the field and has extended experience in research, including responsibilities as leading investigator.
The way the topic is presented in this application is not sufficiently anchored or clear, and some of the sections read as unfinished or speedy responses to the application form. This is the case, for example, with the sections Development/ consolidation of an independent career; and Networking/ Internationalization plan. perhaps as a result of the candidate's extensive involvement in research, the aims identified in these sections show a lack ambition and the candidate's commitment to expanding her knowledge and disseminating any resulting findings to wider audiences is insufficiently addressed. Such fact may hinder the actual impact of the research.
The timeliness and originality of the proposed approach remains to be demonstrated through the data provided in the form.
As it stands, it does not seem suitable to the intended grant level, as the candidate's profile does not express or show the need to become an independent scholar (which she already is).
As it stands, it does not seem suitable to the intended grant level, as the candidate's profile does not express or show the need to become an independent scholar (which she already is).
Finally, the candidate has an excellent track record in this field of research. Therefore, after considering these comments, this proposal could me transformed into a more in-depth, grounded text that could be considered for future funding opportunities more tailored to the candidate's profile.
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External Reviewer 2
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 8.133
Weighted score: 8.133
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The project seeks to fill the gap in gendered transnational studies showing how the construction of masculinity is fluid and changing and have to be renegotiated and redefined in transnational family relationship. This is a very innovative and promsing idea and the project will fill a gap in the literature. The key idea is clear and well argued. The literature taken into consideration is complete.
The project seeks to fill the gap in gendered transnational studies showing how the construction of masculinity is fluid and changing and have to be renegotiated and redefined in transnational family relationship. This is a very innovative and promsing idea and the project will fill a gap in the literature. The key idea is clear and well argued. The literature taken into consideration is complete.
In fact, when family member separate as a result of the migration of one person, fluid forms of conjugality and parenthood arise, demanding a realignment of gender roles. As the candidate argues, till now gender studies have been mostly focused on female dynamics. It is thus necessary to move away from the stereotype of African women and their relationship with the institution of marriage and family, as well as from the stereotype of nuclear European family. But few studies have addressed masculinity and migrations between Africa and Europe.
Gender and transnationalism result in an operational and transversal approach that enhance the capacity to understand how societies and institutions are changing, taking into consideration how the contemporary society works in terms of classes and access to resources and opportunities.
The hyphotesis are clearly spelled-out and the research design is solid. Perhaps, a stronger use of comparative data-sets (if available) may enrich the project. Both the impact on society and the one on scientific community are relevant.
The hyphotesis are clearly spelled-out and the research design is solid. Perhaps, a stronger use of comparative data-sets (if available) may enrich the project. Both the impact on society and the one on scientific community are relevant.
The cv and career plan of the candidate are suitable for the project.
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External Reviewer 3
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 6.258
Weighted score: 6.258
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1.Curriculum Vitae (50%). The main strength of the candidate's curriculum vitae lies in the capacity to organise a research group since 2004, that is, for a significant period of time. However, the publication record since that date has been extremely moderate compared to the potential of a whole research group. The canditate's contribution to supervising the work of graduate students is extremely moderate too insofar as she is mostly advising in-progress projects.
1.Curriculum Vitae (50%). The main strength of the candidate's curriculum vitae lies in the capacity to organise a research group since 2004, that is, for a significant period of time. However, the publication record since that date has been extremely moderate compared to the potential of a whole research group. The canditate's contribution to supervising the work of graduate students is extremely moderate too insofar as she is mostly advising in-progress projects.
2.Research Project (35%). Generally speaking, the general argument posited by the candidate makes sense. Transnational lives and gender is quite a salient issue in current research on globalisation and migration. The consideration of intra- household relationships also contributes to the Feminist approach to this analysis. And certainly gender representations may impinge on integration experiences. Nevertheless, the cursory introduction of this large topic contrasts with more specific formulations in other applications to this tender. Moreover, such a broad formulation is not reflected in the scope of publications. These two shortcomings eventually indicate that more work should be done in precising and defining this approach.
3.Career Development Plan (15%). Apparently the career development plan of the candidate consists of using this development grant to carry on the current activities of the candidate's research group. However, the bulk of the staff are finishing their work in the coming years. So, it is difficult to grasp what is the specific plan.
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Irina Sandu
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The panel took the view that the application showed a strong CV, with a wide range of outputs at all levels, indicating a very productive career. It is particularly impressive in terms of the breadth of work carried out, and the way in which you have managed to contribute at practical and other levels in your chosen fields of conservation. The aims of the project are ambitious, and while the panel thought this was commendable, it was also concerned about the risks involved. It was thought that the range of activities proposed exceeded the feasibility of it as a project, with potential difficulties for the materials involved and the success of the project. Given the high levels of expertise and the rapidly changing technologies, this is a field where team-based approaches may be more successful. The panel would advise a more focused approach, with clearly expressed empirical aims.
The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The panel took the view that the application showed a strong CV, with a wide range of outputs at all levels, indicating a very productive career. It is particularly impressive in terms of the breadth of work carried out, and the way in which you have managed to contribute at practical and other levels in your chosen fields of conservation. The aims of the project are ambitious, and while the panel thought this was commendable, it was also concerned about the risks involved. It was thought that the range of activities proposed exceeded the feasibility of it as a project, with potential difficulties for the materials involved and the success of the project. Given the high levels of expertise and the rapidly changing technologies, this is a field where team-based approaches may be more successful. The panel would advise a more focused approach, with clearly expressed empirical aims.
The panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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Eduarda Silva
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall: 6
Comments:
Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
External Reviewer 1
Weighted score: 6.367
Dr. Silva’s grant application presents a research program on the development of asymmetric organocatalysts for tackling structural and stereochemical complexity.
She has completed her PhD studies only 3 years ago. During her academic career, she has made a good number of research contributions in top-notch chemistry journals. She also attended and participated in a number of international conferences. Based on the experience acquired over the years, she has the expertise to carry on the proposed research. Unfortunately, because of the fact that she has just completed her Ph.D. studies, she hasn’t acquired any experience at supervising graduate students and postdoctoral researchers yet, which is a very minor problem. For the same reasons, no funding has been secured yet.
Dr. Silva has clearly and realistically stated and discussed the short, medium, and long-term objectives of the projects in the proposal. The goals and objectives are clearly listed and are reasonable and realistic in the timeframe of the proposal and funding period, also given the financial resources, infrastructures, and personal. The Universidade de Aveiro will provide her with all the needed infrastructures to successfully carry on the proposed research program. Technically detailed plans are discussed in this proposal and the program presented in this grant application is solid, and should lead to advances in the development of asymmetric organocatalysts for the preparation of complex structures with well-defined stereochemistry. It should also be an excellent program to train undergraduate and graduate students. On the other hand, for example, in the conjugate addition project, some of the models are bias toward favoring 1,6-addition versus 1,4-addition. Dr. Silva should attempt to develop general reactions, which would be publishable in top-notch journal and highly referenced. Similarly, chiral auxiliary based projects are not cutting-edge and will have a very low impact in the scientific community, e.g. nitrosugars. Dr. Silva proposes to work in a highly competitive and fast moving field, namely organocatalysis. It is somehow a saturated field and it is very difficult to be innovative and make a significant impact since vary large and established research groups are leading the pack.
Finally, the short and long term career objective of Dr. Silva are clearly stated. Her objectives are not overambitious, but very realistic. She has some reasonable expectations considering the resources available to carry out her research program. That can be seen positively.
External Reviewer 2
Weighted score: 8.367
Overall, the proposed work is interesting and well-planned. The basic ideas behind the work proposed are adequately supported by literature precedence and the project is within the research expertise of the principal investigator. Moreover, the applicant has shown the anticipated independence and degree of internationalization for her level of research involvement.
Applicant: Both the amount and the quality of the work published by the principal investigator are good. Moreover, she has shown the required scientific productivity and quality, as well as the intellectual capacity to meet the project's objectives, provided it is funded. Importantly, she has shown the independence expected (on the basis of her research involvement) and a good degree of internationalization. The research experience and the profile of the principal investigator are appropriate for the intended grant level.
Research Project: The proposed research is interesting and is expected to significantly contribute to the corresponding field. There is a good probability that the anticipated results will lead to high-impact research publications. The proposed work plan and methodology are adequate. The infrastructures and environment provided by the host institution are more than enough to support the materialization of the project.
Career development plan: The goals set in the applicant's career development plan are appropriate and well-organized. The grant would greatly contribute to the establishment and further consolidation of the applicant's career.
External Reviewer 3
Weighted score: 7.033
This is a solid proposal in the area of organocatalysis for which the applicant is well qualified. I would recommend that more emphasis is given to the aspects of the work where the applicant can make a unique international contribution in the area.
External Reviewer 4
Weighted score: 8.433
The present proposal is concerned with the interesting area of organocatalysis and aims the asymmetric C-C bond formation and the enantioselective synthesis of N-substituted 1,2-dihydropyridines (1,2-DHPs). The important outcome of this type of compounds is their application in pharmacology, since it addresses the problem of controlling regioselectivity. As an example that can point out the relevance of this subject is the establishment of an enantioselective synthesis of 1,2-DHPs using organocatalysts and the possible subsequent use of these new compounds in the preparation of new chiral isoquinuclidines. Between other applications, these compounds can constitute intermediates in the synthesis of Tamiflu. This young researcher is author corresponding of three (3) of her seventeen (17) papers. The presented work plan was very difficult to follow since several schemes and figures are invoked. Although the internet addresses given to reach this information it was not possible to access this information. Nevertheless the expected out comes seem to move with original ideas within the area of organocatalysis applied to asymmetric C-C bond formation and asymmetric synthesis of N-substituted 1,2-dihydropyridines and 1,6-asymmetric conjugate addition of nucleophiles to alpha, beta, gama, delta-unsaturated carbonyl systems. It is important to mention that the applicant Eduarda M. P. Silva has also been involved in the supervision of one MSc student and three final year student projects.
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Dulce Belo
StatusRefused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 6.925
Weighted score: 6.925
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The applicant has a total of 8 years active research experience since PhD, and overall has achieved a good publication record. A total of 35 papers have been published, importantly with four as corresponding author. The field of single component molecular materials is clearly the focus of the applicant's past and future research, and she is looking to extend her early studies of thiophene and TTF based materials by increasing their processibiity (solubility). Unfortunately, it was not possible to evaluate the details of the proposed strategy because the proposal refers to figures and schemes that are not visible to me. I assume they are standard functionalisation strategies, such as alkylations. However, there is also no detailed description of the design strategy. Solubility comes about by disrupting packing, and the potential influence on properties is not strongly addressed. Issues of possible self-assembly (a strategy widely employed in the general area of organic materials) are also not considered. It is likely that that I would have scored this proposal much higher if I could see the detail in the schemes.
The applicant has a good supervision record, and has also made steps to increase international exposure and collaboration. COST network participation is encouraging. Mention is also made of the importance of industrial involvement. This is very important and I would have liked to see some more definite plans (for example which companies will be approached?). Some mention of IP protection should also have been made.
The applicant has a total of 8 years active research experience since PhD, and overall has achieved a good publication record. A total of 35 papers have been published, importantly with four as corresponding author. The field of single component molecular materials is clearly the focus of the applicant's past and future research, and she is looking to extend her early studies of thiophene and TTF based materials by increasing their processibiity (solubility). Unfortunately, it was not possible to evaluate the details of the proposed strategy because the proposal refers to figures and schemes that are not visible to me. I assume they are standard functionalisation strategies, such as alkylations. However, there is also no detailed description of the design strategy. Solubility comes about by disrupting packing, and the potential influence on properties is not strongly addressed. Issues of possible self-assembly (a strategy widely employed in the general area of organic materials) are also not considered. It is likely that that I would have scored this proposal much higher if I could see the detail in the schemes.
The applicant has a good supervision record, and has also made steps to increase international exposure and collaboration. COST network participation is encouraging. Mention is also made of the importance of industrial involvement. This is very important and I would have liked to see some more definite plans (for example which companies will be approached?). Some mention of IP protection should also have been made.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 7.958
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The candidate has completed his PhD at 2002-04-22. At “evaluation guide”, page 3 is written:
“Starting Grant”, aimed at PhD holders with more than 3 years and less than 8 years post-PhD experience at the time of application. This is not the case. So, I don´t know if the candidate is eligible. The candidate claims that she is discounted 18 months for each child (2). This candidate has 11 years of research experience after obtaining her PhD degree. She has several good publications (good impact factor and h-index 11). The publications (except some of them) have many co-authors, thus it is difficult to know the candidates participation. After obtaining her PhD degree the candidate has published 24 articles and participated as member in 15 financed projects. The candidate also supervised or co-supervised students. There is no doubt that the candidate has great experience in the synthesis of conducting materials and the measuring of their physical properties. This is an interesting project in an area that has a promising future. Electrically conducting materials have many applications and this group appears to be one of very few centres of excellence in this field in Portugal. The candidate shows a good understanding of the subject and her proposal shows maturity. This research area is of great future interest economically. It is well presented and has some new ideas. This is obviously a continuation of her present work and appears to have a good chance of success. The discovery and application of new conducting materials is a very important area of research. Hopefully she will be allowed to carry out independent research. Some signs of this are evident in her CV. She has already established contacts for the parts which require expertise in areas outside the scope of her competence. Internationalisation is evident although she should retain her independence and make a name for herself. The equipment necessary for the characterisation of the materials to be prepared is available in the proposed host institute.
The candidate has completed his PhD at 2002-04-22. At “evaluation guide”, page 3 is written:
“Starting Grant”, aimed at PhD holders with more than 3 years and less than 8 years post-PhD experience at the time of application. This is not the case. So, I don´t know if the candidate is eligible. The candidate claims that she is discounted 18 months for each child (2). This candidate has 11 years of research experience after obtaining her PhD degree. She has several good publications (good impact factor and h-index 11). The publications (except some of them) have many co-authors, thus it is difficult to know the candidates participation. After obtaining her PhD degree the candidate has published 24 articles and participated as member in 15 financed projects. The candidate also supervised or co-supervised students. There is no doubt that the candidate has great experience in the synthesis of conducting materials and the measuring of their physical properties. This is an interesting project in an area that has a promising future. Electrically conducting materials have many applications and this group appears to be one of very few centres of excellence in this field in Portugal. The candidate shows a good understanding of the subject and her proposal shows maturity. This research area is of great future interest economically. It is well presented and has some new ideas. This is obviously a continuation of her present work and appears to have a good chance of success. The discovery and application of new conducting materials is a very important area of research. Hopefully she will be allowed to carry out independent research. Some signs of this are evident in her CV. She has already established contacts for the parts which require expertise in areas outside the scope of her competence. Internationalisation is evident although she should retain her independence and make a name for herself. The equipment necessary for the characterisation of the materials to be prepared is available in the proposed host institute.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 7.500
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This is an application for a starting grant. Although the applicant has graduated with a PhD 11 years ago, 3 years are deducted with justification provided, therefore meeting the requirements. The applicant is an expert in the design, synthesis and characterization of new molecular materials, specially in transition metal complexes based on dithiothiophene ligands. It is recommended that the major contributions of the applicant to be given more focus in the proposal narrative order to help assess their innovative and creative nature. The applicant has successfully supervised one doctoral student till degree completion. The applicant has 35 international peer reviewed publications with more than 300 citations. has relevant publications related to the field, contributed to >10 FCT projects. The applicant established own line of research and recently started coordinating a nationally funded project (as principal investigator this is the only grant). The applicant has a PhD and postdoctoral preparation in relevant fields for the proposed work. The proposed research goal is the processing of single component molecular metals, and the applicant is involved in the pioneering stages which requires the functionalization of the neutral metal complexes in order to obtain soluble molecular materials. This pioneering effort on functionalization is a topic of a national project coordinated by the applicant. Other components of the project involve the synthesis of the molecular building blocks, film processing, and characterization. It is not clear what the impact could be on society and industry of the project is successful. Moreover, there are some connections mentioned that could facilitate industry transfer or industry outreach, however only some of the collaborations are briefly described.
This is an application for a starting grant. Although the applicant has graduated with a PhD 11 years ago, 3 years are deducted with justification provided, therefore meeting the requirements. The applicant is an expert in the design, synthesis and characterization of new molecular materials, specially in transition metal complexes based on dithiothiophene ligands. It is recommended that the major contributions of the applicant to be given more focus in the proposal narrative order to help assess their innovative and creative nature. The applicant has successfully supervised one doctoral student till degree completion. The applicant has 35 international peer reviewed publications with more than 300 citations. has relevant publications related to the field, contributed to >10 FCT projects. The applicant established own line of research and recently started coordinating a nationally funded project (as principal investigator this is the only grant). The applicant has a PhD and postdoctoral preparation in relevant fields for the proposed work. The proposed research goal is the processing of single component molecular metals, and the applicant is involved in the pioneering stages which requires the functionalization of the neutral metal complexes in order to obtain soluble molecular materials. This pioneering effort on functionalization is a topic of a national project coordinated by the applicant. Other components of the project involve the synthesis of the molecular building blocks, film processing, and characterization. It is not clear what the impact could be on society and industry of the project is successful. Moreover, there are some connections mentioned that could facilitate industry transfer or industry outreach, however only some of the collaborations are briefly described.
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Quirina Ferreira
O meu nome é Quirina Ferreira. Acabei o meu PhD em Fevereiro de 2008 e após 5 anos de pos doutoramento faço parte dos candidatos ao concurso dos investigadores FCT 2013. Concorro a este concurso com um CV que demonstra claramente o todo o meu esforço que investi durante estes 5 anos de posdoc. Tenho à data do concurso 22 publicações em revistas internacionais, 6 proceedings, 1 cap de livro, 1 projecto FCT como investigadora principal, prémios de mérito internacional e a esperança de que o meu esforço seria compensado. Contudo, sem saber como, fui excluída.
Não tenho direito a saber os nomes dos que me avaliaram, não tenho o direito em saber a minha avaliação ao mesmo tempo dos candidatos selecionados (estes sim, souberam logo e já assinaram contrato), não tenho o direito ao príncipio mais básico de uma democracia que é a Igualdade.
Por isso, deixo o meu a minha avaliação que foi feita por 3 pessoas que têm exactamente o mesmo nome, chamam-se External Reviewer. O que ainda me deixou mais incrédula foi o facto de as 3 notas que recebi (6,8 ; 8,5 e 6,1) darem, segunda a Fundação, o valor de 6! Sei que somar estes 3 valores e dividir por 3 pode ser complicado fazê-lo de cabeça mas também não me parece que seja preciso pedir a um doutorado ou a um júri de mérito internacional para fazer as contas. Na verdade a minha nota deveria ser 7,1 e segundo o regulamente escrito pela Fundação, só são excluidos contratos abaixo de 7!
O meu CV pode ser consultado em:
Status
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 6.833
Weighted score: 6.833
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The applicant has a relatively good publication record taking into account that she has completed her PhD 5 years ago. She has published of 22 papers in international peer reviewed journals and 6 papers in proceedings. According to the CV and publications, the applicant seems to have some experience in international collaboration. However, the candidate seems to have a limited experience in doctoral and post-doctoral supervision. The applicant has participated in several collaborative R&D projects but her degree of success in previous calls for grant applications/ projects is not very clear and hard to evaluate.
The applicant has a relatively good publication record taking into account that she has completed her PhD 5 years ago. She has published of 22 papers in international peer reviewed journals and 6 papers in proceedings. According to the CV and publications, the applicant seems to have some experience in international collaboration. However, the candidate seems to have a limited experience in doctoral and post-doctoral supervision. The applicant has participated in several collaborative R&D projects but her degree of success in previous calls for grant applications/ projects is not very clear and hard to evaluate.
The proposed research to create a new method for the drug administration system to be used in the therapeutics of one of the most degenerative ocular diseases sounds interesting , innovative and very ambitious. However the feasibility of the proposed work and it potential technological applications are quite doubtful. Theoretically the functionalization of the biocompatible substrate with GAGs using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) for monitoring the monolayer formation is possible. However, it is hard to see the possibility to scale up this higly technically demanding approach to produce something at industrial scale. Therefore It is very hard to see that the project can make a contribution to benefits to society or to the business sector. However, the project might result in quite interesting basic research outputs which might be useful for understanding of the fundamental phenomena taking place at the biological nano-interface.
The host institution (Instituto de Telecomunicações) seems to be quite suitable for proposed research and it expected to provide good conditions and necessary facilities to support the proposed research project and the career development plan.
Organization and structure of the career development plan looks reasonable. The career development plan and prior achievements towards research independence seem to be adequate.
Organization and structure of the career development plan looks reasonable. The career development plan and prior achievements towards research independence seem to be adequate.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 8.500
Weighted score: 8.500
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The applicant has a very impressive track record of publications, international conference presentations and invited talks in the field of organic molecules on surfaces and organic electronics. This proposal is built on her discovery of controlled self-assembled growth of molecular layers on surfaces monitored by scanning tunnelling microscopy, and aims to develop novel in-situ drug delivery surfaces for diseases such as glaucoma. The applicant is already in possession of a grant to study this and it is not clearly described how this proposal is different to what the applicant is already doing. The research methodology is clearly described and progresses from drug delivery monolayers through to organic electronic drug delivery and disease detection devices. This I assume is where this proposal goes beyond the work that the applicant is currently undertaking and this part also represents a very innovative and potentially very high impact research direction. Unfortunately the details of the methodology in this part are few, but based on the experience of the applicant and the results that will be obtained in the first two years of the project, this is a topic that is a very nice extension of the work. In terms of career development the proposal outlines a clear career path towards nanomedicine that this project will help to facilitate. There is still the question of whether or not this could be achieved even without this project given that the applicant is already working on the topic that is planned to take the first two years of this one. This should have been more clearly described in the proposal. The applicant has limited experience in supervision of research students but plans to develop this during the project. The applicant demonstrates a strong desire for collaboration with both academic and industry partners nationally and internationally.
The applicant has a very impressive track record of publications, international conference presentations and invited talks in the field of organic molecules on surfaces and organic electronics. This proposal is built on her discovery of controlled self-assembled growth of molecular layers on surfaces monitored by scanning tunnelling microscopy, and aims to develop novel in-situ drug delivery surfaces for diseases such as glaucoma. The applicant is already in possession of a grant to study this and it is not clearly described how this proposal is different to what the applicant is already doing. The research methodology is clearly described and progresses from drug delivery monolayers through to organic electronic drug delivery and disease detection devices. This I assume is where this proposal goes beyond the work that the applicant is currently undertaking and this part also represents a very innovative and potentially very high impact research direction. Unfortunately the details of the methodology in this part are few, but based on the experience of the applicant and the results that will be obtained in the first two years of the project, this is a topic that is a very nice extension of the work. In terms of career development the proposal outlines a clear career path towards nanomedicine that this project will help to facilitate. There is still the question of whether or not this could be achieved even without this project given that the applicant is already working on the topic that is planned to take the first two years of this one. This should have been more clearly described in the proposal. The applicant has limited experience in supervision of research students but plans to develop this during the project. The applicant demonstrates a strong desire for collaboration with both academic and industry partners nationally and internationally.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 6.192
Weighted score: 6.192
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The scientific track record of the candidate is very good. The interest in the internalization is not fully demonstrated in the background of the candidate. The materials proposed as supports for the intraocular drug delivery device are not sufficiently justified, thus raising concerns about its efficacy. The rationale proposed to build the drug delivery device based in monoloayers does not ensures a reasonable level of confidence that a successful device will be obtained. It is not clear if the strategy will conduct to progress with respect to the state of the art since the rational is not fully demonstrated in the proposal. There is some innovation in the proposal, but the rationale is not convincing. The interest in international collaboration although being stated is not visible in the previous published works. There is some success in attracting funding and some experience of supervision of undergraduate students. The project may be feasible but the efficacy of the proposed methods is not demonstrated. The workplan does not include validation of the safety and efficacy (either in-vitro or in-vivo) of the developed drug delivery system, raising concerns about the degree of understanding of the problem being proposed. The host institution seems not to have all the conditions to ensure all the conditions for the development of the proposed workplan. The candidate does not convincingly presented a career development plan that will enable expecting that some level of independence will be obtained in the future.
The scientific track record of the candidate is very good. The interest in the internalization is not fully demonstrated in the background of the candidate. The materials proposed as supports for the intraocular drug delivery device are not sufficiently justified, thus raising concerns about its efficacy. The rationale proposed to build the drug delivery device based in monoloayers does not ensures a reasonable level of confidence that a successful device will be obtained. It is not clear if the strategy will conduct to progress with respect to the state of the art since the rational is not fully demonstrated in the proposal. There is some innovation in the proposal, but the rationale is not convincing. The interest in international collaboration although being stated is not visible in the previous published works. There is some success in attracting funding and some experience of supervision of undergraduate students. The project may be feasible but the efficacy of the proposed methods is not demonstrated. The workplan does not include validation of the safety and efficacy (either in-vitro or in-vivo) of the developed drug delivery system, raising concerns about the degree of understanding of the problem being proposed. The host institution seems not to have all the conditions to ensure all the conditions for the development of the proposed workplan. The candidate does not convincingly presented a career development plan that will enable expecting that some level of independence will be obtained in the future.
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Ana Rita Salgueiro
Ana Rita Salgueiro
A minha candidatura tinha como referência IF/00131/2013, e foi recusada com uma classificação de 6, sendo que a média das avaliações é de 6.653. Fica no entanto a faltar uma avaliação detalhada.
Concorri à área de "Natural Sciences - Earth and related environmental sciences" e fui avaliada pelo painel de "Physical Sciences and Engineering" que não comtempla nenhum avaliador da minha área específica.
Os comentários revelam que o projeto que apresentei foi lido e que , pelo menos, o resumo do meu cv também o foi.
Os comentários foram os seguintes:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 4.733
Weighted score: 4.733
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This candidate has a fair curriculum vitae for someone at this stage in their career. The list of conference presentations is particularly impressive. The list provided on funded projects is good but it is not totally clear what the role of the candidate was in these projects – I couldn’t see mention of them being the principal investigator. The candidate also seems to have moved around quite a lot in their work. I thought the theme of the proposal was very interesting as it looks at the links between environmental exposures and human health. Unfortunately the work programme of the proposal was quite vague. For example: it wasn’t clear to me whether environmental stressor data would be obtained from previous work or through experimentation; it wasn’t clear what the scale of the study would be in terms of sites investigated; and it wasn’t at all clear what health outcomes would be considered. I am also not convinced that just pushing the data through a PCA analysis will yield anything helpful (apart from pressures that we already know are important). I think the weaknesses in the proposal is due to the fact that the candidate is coming from a natural science background and has limited experience of human health risk assessment. The host organisations seems appropriate and has a record in technological and health hazards. There were some good ideas presented on internationalisation but very little mention of who exactly the candidate would interact with from overseas laboratories. The career plan was OK but I would have liked to see a bit more on what the candidate would do to progress their career (e.g. picking up new skills through training). Overall while the aim of the proposal is worthy, I’m not sure that the proposed work plan will deliver the results expected.
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External Reviewer 2
This candidate has a fair curriculum vitae for someone at this stage in their career. The list of conference presentations is particularly impressive. The list provided on funded projects is good but it is not totally clear what the role of the candidate was in these projects – I couldn’t see mention of them being the principal investigator. The candidate also seems to have moved around quite a lot in their work. I thought the theme of the proposal was very interesting as it looks at the links between environmental exposures and human health. Unfortunately the work programme of the proposal was quite vague. For example: it wasn’t clear to me whether environmental stressor data would be obtained from previous work or through experimentation; it wasn’t clear what the scale of the study would be in terms of sites investigated; and it wasn’t at all clear what health outcomes would be considered. I am also not convinced that just pushing the data through a PCA analysis will yield anything helpful (apart from pressures that we already know are important). I think the weaknesses in the proposal is due to the fact that the candidate is coming from a natural science background and has limited experience of human health risk assessment. The host organisations seems appropriate and has a record in technological and health hazards. There were some good ideas presented on internationalisation but very little mention of who exactly the candidate would interact with from overseas laboratories. The career plan was OK but I would have liked to see a bit more on what the candidate would do to progress their career (e.g. picking up new skills through training). Overall while the aim of the proposal is worthy, I’m not sure that the proposed work plan will deliver the results expected.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 7.858
Weighted score: 7.858
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The candidate has a PhD since 2009 and a Post-doc FCT grant (2010). She developed her research at GeoBioTec, published 2 books, 3 book chapters and 9 papers on International peer-reviewed journals (>2/year considering the PhD date).
The candidate abilities and skills seem adequate to execute the proposed research plan.
The degree of internationalization is good with the participation on the organization of international meetings and workshops. She participated in several research projects (1EU and 4 FCT) one of them under her coordination. She has experience in doctoral and MSc supervision, co-advising 1 PhD thesis and 2 MSc thesis.
The proposed research plan is innovative. It aims to develop, in a Medical Geology (MG) context, a multivariate data analysis combined with geostatistics modelling, to explain mathematical results and identify associations between quantitative and qualitative variables. The plan description proposes the development of a unifying methodology to solve problems associated with very different types of data. However no many details are given concerning the origin and quality of the different data to be analysed.
The degree of success expected is high. It can be especially interesting for its practical application at Portuguese level. It is not only a scientific but also a practical project.
The proposed plan give the possibility to the candidate, already with some experience of scientific independence, to continue research in this scientific domain contributing to develop a consolidated and funded team at CERENA.
The candidate has a PhD since 2009 and a Post-doc FCT grant (2010). She developed her research at GeoBioTec, published 2 books, 3 book chapters and 9 papers on International peer-reviewed journals (>2/year considering the PhD date).
The candidate abilities and skills seem adequate to execute the proposed research plan.
The degree of internationalization is good with the participation on the organization of international meetings and workshops. She participated in several research projects (1EU and 4 FCT) one of them under her coordination. She has experience in doctoral and MSc supervision, co-advising 1 PhD thesis and 2 MSc thesis.
The proposed research plan is innovative. It aims to develop, in a Medical Geology (MG) context, a multivariate data analysis combined with geostatistics modelling, to explain mathematical results and identify associations between quantitative and qualitative variables. The plan description proposes the development of a unifying methodology to solve problems associated with very different types of data. However no many details are given concerning the origin and quality of the different data to be analysed.
The degree of success expected is high. It can be especially interesting for its practical application at Portuguese level. It is not only a scientific but also a practical project.
The proposed plan give the possibility to the candidate, already with some experience of scientific independence, to continue research in this scientific domain contributing to develop a consolidated and funded team at CERENA.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 7.367
Weighted score: 7.367
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Experience – Extensive, productive, appropriate to the topic of grant. Published books, book chapters as well as peer-reviewed papers. Internationally active in the community. I do not see any successful grant applications with the proposer as a PI. If these exist, they should be more clearly documented. The emphasis on books and book chapters compared to journal publications is unusual. Also, there is only minimal experience advising graduate students, but this may be the norm for a starting grant such as this.
Experience – Extensive, productive, appropriate to the topic of grant. Published books, book chapters as well as peer-reviewed papers. Internationally active in the community. I do not see any successful grant applications with the proposer as a PI. If these exist, they should be more clearly documented. The emphasis on books and book chapters compared to journal publications is unusual. Also, there is only minimal experience advising graduate students, but this may be the norm for a starting grant such as this.
The topic is environmentally important – diffusion of contaminants into human population. Methods are innovative and robust for the problem. It would have been helpful to show some equations and results regarding this approach. I assume the format of the application does not allow inclusion of figures, but this is a mistake.
Good recognition of problems with linking contamination and effects. The proposed work addresses the uncertainties in existing data and how to handle these uncertainties in predicting human health impacts. This is a very perceptive problem to choose, and I can imagine this type of work will have huge impacts on society and the field of environmental risk if the methods developed here are successful and adopted by others.
Good recognition of problems with linking contamination and effects. The proposed work addresses the uncertainties in existing data and how to handle these uncertainties in predicting human health impacts. This is a very perceptive problem to choose, and I can imagine this type of work will have huge impacts on society and the field of environmental risk if the methods developed here are successful and adopted by others.
Outcomes have a high probability of success in terms of creating a big picture link between mining contamination and human health as well as establishing an international network focused on this area of research. The PI of this proposal demonstrates a good balance between doing original research and interaction with the medical geology scientific community.
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Marta Abrantes
Status
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel -IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
Weighted score: 6.833
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The proposed pesticide detoxification method focusing on accelerating phosphoester bond hydrolysis with molybdenum oxides in this project is new and proved to be partly creative and effective. The designed complex MoO2Cl2(DMF)2 seems to be a promising promoting agent to catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphoester in the organophosphate pesticides. Moreover, the author is an expert in inorganic/organometallc synthesis and catalysis with a special focus on molybdenum chemistry and so she has laudable abilities and skills to execute the proposed project. However, the project somehow exists some shortages in the following aspects. First, even though the author has published 27 papers in international peer reviewed journals, the papers related to the application of the complex MoO2Cl2(DMF)2 on the hydrolysis of phosphoester are limited and so the theoretical basis based on the project proposed is relatively weak. Second, according to the published work by author, the reaction temperature (35-75 oC) is much higher than the room temperature and it’s difficult to use the complex MoO2Cl2(DMF)2 in the actual production. Meanwhile, the catalytic effectiveness of MoO2Cl2(DMF)2 on the hydrolysis of phosphoester is relatively low at the low temperature (35 oC) and the dosage of catalysts relative to the substrate is also too high. Last, the research on hydrolysis of phosphoester is limited on the model substrates and few works have been done on catalyze the organophosphorus pesticides. So it’s a long way to achieve the aim proposed. Based on the above points, the author need make more efforts to execute the proposed project.
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External Reviewer 2
Weighted score: 7.833
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The proposed Research plan addresses the use of molybdenum oxides as accelerators of the phosphoester bond hydrolysis and therefore their potential in pesticide detoxification. This is an interesting project which deals with a very relevant environmental issue, but lacks the necessary extension. In the research Plan and methods, the exploratory nature of the project is emphasized, but this is a 5-year project and it was expectable that some ideas concerning more than testing pesticide simulants were envisaged. In this way, the link between the main chemical purpose, which follows the research on molybdenum chemistry developed by the applicant since her PhD, and the possible applications is relatively weak. The applicant has a good record of scientific publications (27, high h factor of 15, PhD obtained in 2004), though irregular, and probably resulting from the successive contracts in different institutions. She has experience in supervision, but the proposal in very scarce in data, namely, whether she was independently supervising the PhD (was the thesis finished) and postdoc student and when. Despite being the correspondent author in the recent papers, which indicates independent research, there are always several co-authors who are senior researchers in other institutions. Their role has not been clarified in the proposal. The applicant has a good internationalization, having worked as a post-doc researcher abroad for two years and keeping several
collaborations with foreign scientists, as well as participating in a COST Action. The career objectives are well structured, linking the previous experience with the future, but there is not much about the development. The host institution is adequate to carry on a project of this kind and she has the knowledge and skills to execute it.
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External Reviewer 3
Weighted score: 6.292
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The applicant has an established research profile with publications (as corresponding
author) in the leading archival inorganic chemistry journals (notably Inorg. Chem., Tetrahedron Lett., J. Mol. Catal. A and J. Organometal. Chem.). The applicant has built on undergraduate studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a postdoctoral appointment at Technische Munchen, working in the area homogeneous catalysis. The award of a Humboldt Fellowship is significant recognition of the applicant’s academic credentials. The applicant has secured funding in competition and has solid experience of MS and PhD level supervision. I note the invitation to contribute a paper to a special issue of Dalton Transactions on the theme of “New Talent: Europe” – this is clear evidence that the applicant is recognised as a researcher with evident talent and potential. The applicant’s proposed work will focus on the application of
molybdenum based catalysis for the degradation (hydrolysis) of organophosphate pesticides and is directed at detoxification with applications in ameliorating negative public health (and presumably ecological) impacts. I would have liked to have seen a more convincing statement (with quantitative data) regarding the benefits of the proposed application of Mo catalysis over existing (even non-catalytic) treatments. How will the Mo catalysts be applied for actual (in situ) pesticide treatment – it is not obvious from the planned work how the applicant will realise actual application/detoxification. The work will certainly generate useful information on the design of Mo complexes for organophosphate hydrolysis. Catalyst screening should be coupled with toxicity tests to establish the efficacy of the catalyst system. The distinction between solid and liquid assays is not clear – how will this inform ultímate application. The stated outcomes/impact are far too vague and generic. The proposed work has merit in terms of developing Mo catalysis and the proposed end application is important but the Case for Support is lacking any real sense of adventure or appreciation of the complexities of actual end application. Career objectives are reasonable but rather low key – the applicant should be aiming higher.
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Rita Teixeira
The candidate is applying for a "starting grant" despite 8 years of post-doctoral experience, and one previous 5-year research position (Ciencia 2007), and no justification for deviation. She has been in good international labs in previous steps of her career and therefore the levels of publication are good, but one notes that the publications that came out of her first period of independent career (2008-) are of very low impact. The nature of the project is laudable in the choice of species, as any conclusive result may impact at the economic level for Portugal. Research in cork-Oak has so far been affected by the serious handicap of just performing purely descriptive molecular approaches on genes otherwise chosen from transcriptomic profiles and correlative functional analysis in the model Arabidopsis. The basic transcriptomic data from where the candidate selected these genes is not published yet, so it's difficult to perceive the scientific robustness of the choices of these particular genes, but given that she an active member of the project, and the available information from other species one is left to believe that these are reasonable choices. The outline of transformations is well designed, but one misses a reference on the transformation method, for which we have to accept that the candidate already developed a functional protocol.
Levels of funding could have been better; likewise the number of students and postdocs directly supervised be the candidate.
The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and individual reviews conducted by external referees which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
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Sofia Gama
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.325
Weighted score: 7.325
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Dr Gama has a good number of publications some as first author, her h-index is appropriate for her stage of career. She should work on manuscripts for which she is the corresponding author, demonstrating her way to become an independent researcher. She has a broad training in chemistry, including recent exposure to radiopharmaceuticals, which demonstrate her flexibility in choosing future directions. She conducted part of her work in Hungary as visiting student, thus had exposure to different research environments.
Dr Gama has a good number of publications some as first author, her h-index is appropriate for her stage of career. She should work on manuscripts for which she is the corresponding author, demonstrating her way to become an independent researcher. She has a broad training in chemistry, including recent exposure to radiopharmaceuticals, which demonstrate her flexibility in choosing future directions. She conducted part of her work in Hungary as visiting student, thus had exposure to different research environments.
She has good track record for grants, obtaining FCT funding until 2014.
Her proposed research area is novel and has excellent potential for development of new pharmaceuticals.
Her proposed research area is novel and has excellent potential for development of new pharmaceuticals.
The aim of proposal is clearly stated and the objectives are appropriately organized in a sequential manner.
The research methodology for objective 1 could use some more details around the strategy of designing the new compounds to be tested. The nature of the compounds should be outlined (e.g., structurally related or from different chemical family.
The third objective lacks details. In large brushstrokes, the lead candidates will be tested in vitro, but it is not clear whether Dr. Gama will lead these experiments and what models will be used. This is not the area of expertise of the applicant, thus collaborations should be in place or projected for the success of this objective.
The scientific and societal benefits of the proposal are evident.
Career goals are well outlined.
The third objective lacks details. In large brushstrokes, the lead candidates will be tested in vitro, but it is not clear whether Dr. Gama will lead these experiments and what models will be used. This is not the area of expertise of the applicant, thus collaborations should be in place or projected for the success of this objective.
The scientific and societal benefits of the proposal are evident.
Career goals are well outlined.
The host institute CQE is well equipped for the chemistry part of the proposal. The ability of the applicant to conduct biological testing there is uncertain.
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External Reviewer 2
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 6.992
Weighted score: 6.992
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summary & aims
summary & aims
- targetted therapeutic effect against cancer, via cytotoxic compounds selective for non-canonical DNA structures
- determine the validity of the non-canonical DNA targeting approach as an antitumoral strategy worth / interest / novelty Medicinal Chemistry - novelty: selective targeting of non-canonical DNA architectures as an anticancer strategy – improve selectivity.
Multidisciplinary approach, using cutting-edge methodologies - impact: human health, new metal-based drugs towards cancer scientifically reliable / feasible?
- Yes – excellent conditions for carrying out proposed project within the applicant´s research Centre (Bioinorganic Chemistry Group at CQE)
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Rui Costa Lopes
Overall 7
The applicant has a very good CV with publications in top specialty international peer-reviewed journals and books. He has experience with funded research projects, as team member, and with international research networks. The starting grant position is adequate for this applicant that has a PhD and 4 years post-PhD experience and has revealed an intense scientific activity during this period. Since he obtained the PhD degree, he has been dedicated to the study of implicit prejudice and discrimination and normative and legitimation processes, fields in which the project is situated.
The project is generally well presented, with a good review of the literature and an adequate methodology. It will allow the advancement of knowledge and understanding of psychosocial processes implicated in critical decisions towards low status groups and it will therefore have a huge impact in the applied sense. Through the identification of the predictors of critical decisions towards low status groups, an important outcome of the present project will be the improvement of the efficiency of services that have a direct relationship with low status groups, such as the case of Portuguese Police. One question that was raised about this project is related to the distinction between automatic and reflexive processes. The author intends to study automatic (mainly emotional processes) and reflexive processes. However, it is not clear how they are distinguished. In the same way, no information is provided in respect to the assessment of anxiety. The host institution will provide the necessary conditions to carry out the research project.
The project is generally well presented, with a good review of the literature and an adequate methodology. It will allow the advancement of knowledge and understanding of psychosocial processes implicated in critical decisions towards low status groups and it will therefore have a huge impact in the applied sense. Through the identification of the predictors of critical decisions towards low status groups, an important outcome of the present project will be the improvement of the efficiency of services that have a direct relationship with low status groups, such as the case of Portuguese Police. One question that was raised about this project is related to the distinction between automatic and reflexive processes. The author intends to study automatic (mainly emotional processes) and reflexive processes. However, it is not clear how they are distinguished. In the same way, no information is provided in respect to the assessment of anxiety. The host institution will provide the necessary conditions to carry out the research project.
The career plan and prior achievements are congruent with the future independence of the applicant as a researcher in the field of implicit prejudice and discrimination and normative and legitimation processes.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
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Raquel Varela
O meu nome é Raquel Varela e a referência da minha candidatura é IF/00538/2013. A minha avaliação consta destas linhas, vagas, que podiam ser aplicadas a quase todos os candidatos e a outras áreas científicas. Podiam ter sido escritas para um historiador, um biólogo ou um físico quântico. Não tive acesso a um único parecer de avaliadores até à data, desconheço quem foram e se existiram e que avaliação me foi dada por cada um destes avaliadores. Até à data não consta do meu processo qualquer evidência empírica de suporte à avaliação que me foi dada. Comuniquei, por escrito, à FCT que tenho suspeitas de ter sido avaliada por membros que não podiam avaliar o meu projecto no quadro do regime de incompatibilidades, previsto no regulamento. Pedi à FCT que me confirmasse o nome dos avaliadores, para se confirmar ou negar a suspeita do processo.
A todos estes pedidos não foi dada qualquer resposta.
O meu cv pode ser consultado em:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The Investigator has a very good productivity, expertise in managing research groups and a remarkable level of internationalization
The project is very well articulated with clear goals defined in a systematic way. However not all the questions proposed are so interesting and innovative and some of the “main working hypothesis” pointed out by the applicant are too broad and often automatically answerable. The goals should be more clearly defined expecially for the comparative phase explaining which are the other countries with which the Investigator will compare the Portuguese case. The possible methodological and conceptual tensions between the comparative approach and the transnational one should also be taken into account.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
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Ana Delicado
A minha candidatura não foi sequer apreciada pelo júri internacional, mas sim por apenas 2 avaliadores "externos" (e não os 3 "em regra"). Um deles não parece sequer ter tido em conta o CV ou o plano de carreira e tece comentários perfeitamente arbitrários sobre o projecto (qual é o sentido de referir a transferência de tecnologia num projecto sobre utilizadores?). A disparidade entre as duas notas é incompreensível.
Status
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
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The overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.508
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This proposal is quite balanced and very strong according to the objectives of the type of grant. The strongest element in the curriculum vitae is the scientific produtivity of the applicant, but also strong are the abilities and skills to execute the proposed project, the degree of internationalization, the degree of success in previous calls for grant applications/projects, and the overall suitability of the research profile for the intended grant. In general, the curriculum vitae is consistent and cumulative in scientifc terms. The only significant weakness is the inexpressive experience in doctoral and post-doctoral supervision, and the innovative and creative nature of the achievements could be stronger, in the theoretical and methodological grounds, for instances, if we consider the wide experience of the candidate. The merit and innovative nature of the project is globaly very strong, wether in theoretical, methodological and empirical terms, and the project is consistently structured, in terms of relevance and originality, innovative character, progress beyond the current state of art, adequacy of the methodology and of the work plan, contribution to society, and feasability and conditions granted by the host institution. The organization and structure of the career development plan and the adequacy of career development plan and prior achievements towards research independence is, therefore, quite strong, but could be stronger if, as already decribed, the applicant's experience would be more integrated with doctoral and post-doctoral supervision and with more innovative contributions for it's scientific field.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 4.733
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This is a useful project that aims to analyze the social factors underlying the adoption 'green' technologies in electricity generation and cars. This work can contribute to the Portuguese climate change policy. But I found the proposal to be rather unambitious in its engagement with existing debates about technology transfer or adoption; plus the project did not expand the candidate's existing useful background in science and technology studies. For these reasons, the proposal seemed to be rather descriptive and general, rather than taking a proposal from the literature and then analysing that. For example, there are various theories about how to advance the adoption of technologies; or about the sociology of how and why they are adopted (perhaps relating to which sectors of society do so; or under what terms they do so; and relating to policy-relevant factors such as trade policy / branding and national origin of products, etc). The project could also be made more attuned to the candidate's own interests in STS or sociology too, such as by looking at concepts such as nature; networks; boundary work; or forms of representation and citizenship that could have been more ambitious and which could have advanced theory. As it stands, the proposed methods and subjects are competent for the task proposed, but the impression is that the resulting work would be rather general. The dissemination plans could also be more specific in terms of which policies and policy users would be targeted.
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Mónica Afonso
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.083
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Scientific Merit of the Applicant:
The applicant has a solid CV with publications in international journals with a good impact factor. Although 7 years have passed since her PhD, she has only worked in research for 3 years, which accounts for the relatively low number of publications considering the full 7 years span time. But even considering the 3 years span the number of publications is relatively low, as well its impact reflected by the relatively low number of citations.
Her formation has the applicant the adequate formation to conduct the research work proposed in the project.
A good network of contacts has been established that can allow a good degree of collaboration and internationalization of the project.
Even considering the 3 years span the number of publications is relatively low, as well its impact reflected by the relatively low number of citations.
Although there has been collaborations in projects, the applicant has not coordinate yet any research project.
The applicant has some experience in co-supervision of 3 PhD students, but limited due to the 3 year effective working time in research.
Given the research profile of the applicant, the starter grant level would be the adequate application grant, however comparatively to other applicants, the low number of publications can be drawback.
Host Conditions, Feasibility and Scientific Merit & Innovative Nature:
Concerning the project proposal, it is well integrated with the objectives of the research team where the applicant is presently integrated, where relevant work in the field has been made. It is also in line with the background of the applicant.
The state of the art describes well the problem and the references used are recent, revealing that the applicant has a good level of knowledge of the field of research where the applicant proposes to develop the work. Having said that, the research plan is well structured but more likely to be achieved in a three year span than in a five year project.
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.083
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Scientific Merit of the Applicant:
The applicant has a solid CV with publications in international journals with a good impact factor. Although 7 years have passed since her PhD, she has only worked in research for 3 years, which accounts for the relatively low number of publications considering the full 7 years span time. But even considering the 3 years span the number of publications is relatively low, as well its impact reflected by the relatively low number of citations.
Her formation has the applicant the adequate formation to conduct the research work proposed in the project.
A good network of contacts has been established that can allow a good degree of collaboration and internationalization of the project.
Even considering the 3 years span the number of publications is relatively low, as well its impact reflected by the relatively low number of citations.
Although there has been collaborations in projects, the applicant has not coordinate yet any research project.
The applicant has some experience in co-supervision of 3 PhD students, but limited due to the 3 year effective working time in research.
Given the research profile of the applicant, the starter grant level would be the adequate application grant, however comparatively to other applicants, the low number of publications can be drawback.
Host Conditions, Feasibility and Scientific Merit & Innovative Nature:
Concerning the project proposal, it is well integrated with the objectives of the research team where the applicant is presently integrated, where relevant work in the field has been made. It is also in line with the background of the applicant.
The state of the art describes well the problem and the references used are recent, revealing that the applicant has a good level of knowledge of the field of research where the applicant proposes to develop the work. Having said that, the research plan is well structured but more likely to be achieved in a three year span than in a five year project.
A benefit for the society is expected from the results related with advances from organic electronics for biodiagnostic.
Strategic Planning and Conditions for Independent Research:
The objectives of the career plan are well defined, and include the establishment of multi-disciplinary with researchers form the institute.
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External Reviewer 2
Weighted score: 6.425
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Organic bioelectronics is a newly emerged multidisciplinary field with potential applications in biological and biomedical devices. Due to its newness, a large knowledge gap in understanding the fundamental mechanisms still exists. The applicant proposes to investigate the fabrication and performance evaluation of Organic Electrochemical Transistors, OETCs supported on the biocompatible substrates such as biocellulose (a skin substitute) fabricated by inkjet printing. Overall, the proposal is logically laid out. The expected outcomes from the proposed research are quite significant, if successful, including testing organic electrochemical transistors, sensors and electrodes, stimulation and measurements the activity of neural cells, integration of biocompatible electronic circuits, and investigation of fundamental mechanisms behind response inherent to the devices. As an electrochemist, the applicant has been trained and has the qualifications to conduct the proposed research. She has shown a range of ambitions to achieve her goal of her professional career. Also, benefited from her prior experience, the applicant has a broad international connection with other research groups across the world. This could be an advantage for here research. She also receives a solid support from her hosting institute. The complementary nature between the applicant and his hosting institute would further enhance the success of the project.
A weakness noted in the proposal is the lack of description of hypothesis for fundamental mechanistic study
Organic bioelectronics is a newly emerged multidisciplinary field with potential applications in biological and biomedical devices. Due to its newness, a large knowledge gap in understanding the fundamental mechanisms still exists. The applicant proposes to investigate the fabrication and performance evaluation of Organic Electrochemical Transistors, OETCs supported on the biocompatible substrates such as biocellulose (a skin substitute) fabricated by inkjet printing. Overall, the proposal is logically laid out. The expected outcomes from the proposed research are quite significant, if successful, including testing organic electrochemical transistors, sensors and electrodes, stimulation and measurements the activity of neural cells, integration of biocompatible electronic circuits, and investigation of fundamental mechanisms behind response inherent to the devices. As an electrochemist, the applicant has been trained and has the qualifications to conduct the proposed research. She has shown a range of ambitions to achieve her goal of her professional career. Also, benefited from her prior experience, the applicant has a broad international connection with other research groups across the world. This could be an advantage for here research. She also receives a solid support from her hosting institute. The complementary nature between the applicant and his hosting institute would further enhance the success of the project.
A weakness noted in the proposal is the lack of description of hypothesis for fundamental mechanistic study
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Ana Viseu
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel. In particular, the panelists and external referees were very favorably impressed with the CV, especially with participation in research teams and involvement at research conferences, though more publications in high-ranked outlets would certainly strengthen the CV. As for the research project, it is exciting and ambitious but needs to specify more carefully how the ideas and concepts borrowed from others will be made relevant and brought to bear on the current project. For exemple, there is mention of examing new facts and figures about the body but not enough said about which ones. Or it is said that they are negotiated and acquire power and that they involve body, nature, etc, but more careful argumentation would be needed here to make clear how the case will be made. One referee suggested that "the methodology must be better justified, specifying the units of analysis, to select case studies and transnational comparisons to make. It should also be argued how the gender differences are evaluated at the ethnographic level, the different actors involved, because in principle it is crucial for the study of the body, also the virtual body. The role of the socio-political and economic context of the technology industries is not sufficiently pointed out." Once some of this is given more careful thinking-through, the prospect for the research look promising as do the prospects for career development. But at this point and given a very competitive contrast group, the proposal was not yet sufficiently carefully developed.
The panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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Sandra Dias
Candidatura: IF/00410/2013 (Starting grant)
Status
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
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The overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 6.733
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The applicant has a well documented expertise in material science, inorganic and organic chemistry, Transition metals chemistry, with a strong component in synthetic chemistry to obtain novel heterocyclic compounds, liquid crystalline materials and compounds with magnetic and conductor properties.
She has an adequate scientific output, with some publications on high impact journals and on topics relevant to the implementation of the proposed activities.
The applicant has collaborations with several groups, both at national and international level and a good level of internationalization.
She has worked as researcher in different research project.
The applicant reveals a significant independent thinking and a good degree of professional maturity and autonomy.
Some training and supervising activity at graduate level is reported is pointed out.
The applicant's expertise inorganic chemistry and liquid crystals matches very well the with the proposed activities, and makes her suitable to carry out the proposed research project.
The proposal has a good scientific quality, the proposed activities are sound and have been adequately presented against the state of the art in the field of organic photovoltaic.
This research plan proposes solutions to fabricate more efficient OPVs, based on liquid crystals containing (…) which are expected to addresses some of the current drawbacks of OPVs. A moderate originality can be envisaged.
The objectives have been clearly described both in terms of fundamental understanding and in term of potential technological impact.
The proposed methodology is clearly described and overall convincing.
The workplan is very simple but at the same time effective. May a higher degree of detail on the fabrication and characterization of prototypes of photovoltaic cells integrating the new materials would be amenable A sound career plan for the applicant is provided, presenting actions for contributing to advance her scientific independency and consolidating her academic career, with a specific goal of transferring technology for national companies or the creation of spin-off corporations.
The impact of the project has been also presented in terms of contribution to training new generation of students in the specific topics of the project and also on the definition of long-term solutions for alternative energy sources and the imperative need to reduce carbon emissions.
A scientific network with expertise in many areas of interest for the project, both at national and international level, is intended to be formed, taking also advantage of the applicant' s previous contacts as well as the established collaborations of the host group.
The host institution offer an adequate environment to carry out the project, as material synthesis laboratories and laboratories dedicated to the characterization and fabrication of electronic devices are available to perform the planned activities.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 5.833
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Scientific merit of the applicant – The candidate, with ca. 12 years of scientific activity, published 10 articles in good (and one very good) international peer-reviewed journals, including J. Org. Chem., Eur. J.
Inorg. Chem. (4) and Polyhedron (2), and is the first author in 4 cases.
The ensemble of articles received 48 citations. The candidate experienced several research environments in the UK (where she obtained the Ph D), Germany and in Portugal. Orientation of research students is not mentioned. The candidate was apparently PI of a FCT research project not recommended for funding (quote: «She was, however, unable to obtain funding as principal investigator»). The only major scientific contribution described is the synthesis of a specific bimetallic
cobalt(II) complex (Eur JIC 2008, first author).
Research project – The proposed research project, entitled «Liquid crystals, the future of OPV cells», is intimately related to an already running FCT project (2012) in the research group, entitled «Towards very efficient OPV cells through utilizing liquid crystal phases as electron-acceptors», whose PI is not the candidate. Both projects are on the use of discotic liquid crystalline (DLC) phases in OPVs. A certain type of electron donor is proposed here, whereas in the already running project the focus is on the electron acceptor. The main part of both projects is the same: synthesis of disk-like materials and study of their DLC phases.
Career development plan – The career development plan is reasonable. The candidate plans to connect with her previous collaborations. The host institution has most of the means and the expertise for a successful project.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 4.650
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Taking into account that the synthesis of organic materials is a complex and time-consuming work, the researcher shows average-to-good scientific activity (publications). She also shows some level of leadership on the supervision of personnel. A drawback is the low level of participation in research projects as a PI. Good internationalization is observed, as well as collaboration with international laboratories.
The research project is good, very interesting and state-of-the-art. The application of liquid crystals in organic solar cells could be the solution to obtain highly efficient devices with the possibility of long lifetimes. Many are the issues to overcome but the project is novel, risky and ambitious. The methodology is clearly described and encompass several steps, from synthesis of the materials to the characterization and device preparation, which makes the project complete and complex.
A main drawback of this proposal is the the project seems to be a continuation of her actual research group activities and there is not strong novelty described on the project proposal aside of what has already been done in the group. It seems from the proposal that this candidate is following her current Group needs and projects to continue her career. She also seeks to continue with the international collaborations of her actual group but not indication of willing to establish new collaboration on her own. The career objectives of the candidate are poorly described and no clear goals or vision for independence are seen.
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Status
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
The overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
ISTO QUER DIZER QUE NAO FUI AVALIADA PELO PAINEL INTERNACIONAL? NAO DISSE A FCT QUE HOUVE APENAS UMAFASE DE AVALIAÇAO? ESTA NAO DEVIA TER SIDO FEITA DIRECTAMENTE PELO PAINEL INTERNACIONAL?
A alínea 3 do art. 9 do cap. 3 do Regulamento do concurso diz: "As candidaturas avaliadas na primeira fase de avaliação que apresentem uma classificação inferior a 5 (cinco) valores, não são admitidas à segunda fase de avaliação, independentemente do número de vagas constantes no aviso de abertura do respetivo procedimento concursal." Disto deduzo que neste concurso toda candidatura com classificação superior a 5 valores (como é o meu caso) devia ter sidodiscutida pelo painel internacional e não descartada pelo “painel de pré-selecçao?”
O facto do “Social and Humanities Panel” exigir uma avaliação mínima de 6.5 valores para discutir um projecto indica quese apoiaram na alínea 5 do artigo 11º do mesmo capítulo do regulamento, que indica: “As candidaturas cuja classificação
seja inferior a 7 (sete) valores são excluídas.” MAS ISTO SÓ ERA NA SEGUNDA FASE DE AVALIAÇAO (PAINEL
INTERNACIONAL), À QUAL EU NUNCA CHEGUEI (POR CAUSA DO “PAINEL DE PRÉ-SELECÇAO?”)...
AINDA NAO PERCEBO: POR QUEM FUI EU AVALIADA? PELO PAINEL INTERNACIONAL OU APENAS POR UNSAVALIADORES DA FCT, SEM ESPECIALIZAÇAO NA ÁREA DO MEU PROJECTO?
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External Reviewer 1
Weighted score: 3.783
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// It is hard to see how this project will advance knowledge of architecture in general or […] in particular. There is already a great deal of research on […]. The applicant does not seek to correct past inaccuracies, errors etc. Instead the aim is to demonstrate the value of 'genetic research', a term which is never defined. Is it similar to or different from Lucien Goldmann's 'genetic structuralism'? Goldmann, of course, is not mentioned in the bibliography. At least the applicant does claim to have some kind of methodology, however mysterious. The researcher has a fulsome track record of previous research and publication - so that is not a problem. And, the research setting seems satisfactory too. /
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External Reviewer 2
Weighted score: 6.992
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[…] which is a methodology for the analysis and interpretation of written works, a kind ofarchaeology of writing based on primary documentation, is a quite innovative approach to the creative spirit ofman. To shif the question from the text to the writing, that is to step backwards, behind the printed matter, is to analyze the deep structure of creative thinking, entering the mind of an author/writer who is not present. For a long time, in the previous century, understanding a text was limited to the dechiffering of its meaning, between the lines or not. And for another long time, understanding was linked to the reader's skill of 'rewriting' the book when reading it. The archaeological approach of genetic criticism is introducing new methods, based on computer-aided analysis, to fix the process of writing per se. The case study for this kind of posthumous analysis will be offered by […] who left in his archive a large number of manuscripts for several books that changed architectural theory in the […] The proposal is comprehensive, the methodology is innovative and the focus on […] is justified […] His work was for a long time praised without been actually 'read', but is now reconsidered and rediscovered internationnally. The candidate has already build the skill to face the complexity of this research, working both on […], and is promising a scholar contribution in the field of architectural history and theory.
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External Reviewer 3
Weighted score: 7.383
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The applicant proposes a critical analysis of the written work produced by […] The methodology toapply, consist in a genetic criticism of the […] writings. The applicant intends to use an electronic tool, to analyze the […] process of writing. This project follows the research methodology applied by […] to the study of […]
written work. The applicant identifies the possibility of an unfilled camp in this analytical process, which can be filled with the development of an electronic genetic edition. In the research proposal does not exist a scientific argument to read […] written work. Theapplicant mentions that the research will start with the subject of housing, foreseeing in that sense, an approach guided not by a specific issue but by the programmatic scope of […] architecture. The electronic tool will allow to collect information to be treated by the scientific community. Nevertheless, it should be considered that the written production of […] is wide and ambiguous, so it could be very ambitious to undertake this task without a research team. For that reason it seems that the proposal should be more speculative in terms of a particular writing produced by […], or a precise subject about his thought […]
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Florbela Pereira
O meu nome é Florbela Pereira, a minha candidatura tinha como referência IF/01192/2013, sendo recusada com uma classificação de 6, não foi sequer apreciada pelo júri internacional, mas sim por 3 avaliadores "externos". A disparidade entre as notas é incompreensível e eu tenho muitas dúvidas que os avaliadores sejam da área.
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
This application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
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The overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
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External Reviewer 1
The overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 8.000
Weighted score: 8.000
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The applicant is an established researcher. As stated by the applicant, the proposed research plan aims pursue the building and consolidation of a new branch in the REQUIMTE chemoinformatic group - NPs Drug Discovery, which are stated to be the followings: a) developing a chemoinformatics methods to predict biological activities, such as antitumor, antibiotic, anticholinesterasic, anti-HIV and etc., of MNPs using empirical/quantum chemical descriptors as well as 1D NMR data, b) developing chemoinformatics methods for the automatic interpretation of NMR data of MNPs, c) developing a chemoinformatics tool to improve the dereplication process of MNPs extracts using 1D NMR data, d) exploring the predictions to synthesize new MNP-like compounds with promising biological activities. The researcher has mentioned that the present proposal was conceived to design a focused strategy en route to anticancer and antibiotic drug discovery but we intend as well to investigate the improvement of the dereplication process of MNPs extracts using QSAR models built from the 1D NMR data of the extracts, the fractions, and the bioactive compounds. These NMR QSAR models can help to develop a complete new NP drug strategy that consists in frontloading of both extracts and subsequent fractions with 1D NMR descriptors that were used by the QSAR models to predict bioactive compounds prior to screening for drug discovery. Marine products are possible source of new therapeutic agents. QSAR/QSPR modeling techniques are important tools for ligand design and development. I find this proposal interesting. However, due care should be taken for validation of the models to be applied.
The applicant is an established researcher. As stated by the applicant, the proposed research plan aims pursue the building and consolidation of a new branch in the REQUIMTE chemoinformatic group - NPs Drug Discovery, which are stated to be the followings: a) developing a chemoinformatics methods to predict biological activities, such as antitumor, antibiotic, anticholinesterasic, anti-HIV and etc., of MNPs using empirical/quantum chemical descriptors as well as 1D NMR data, b) developing chemoinformatics methods for the automatic interpretation of NMR data of MNPs, c) developing a chemoinformatics tool to improve the dereplication process of MNPs extracts using 1D NMR data, d) exploring the predictions to synthesize new MNP-like compounds with promising biological activities. The researcher has mentioned that the present proposal was conceived to design a focused strategy en route to anticancer and antibiotic drug discovery but we intend as well to investigate the improvement of the dereplication process of MNPs extracts using QSAR models built from the 1D NMR data of the extracts, the fractions, and the bioactive compounds. These NMR QSAR models can help to develop a complete new NP drug strategy that consists in frontloading of both extracts and subsequent fractions with 1D NMR descriptors that were used by the QSAR models to predict bioactive compounds prior to screening for drug discovery. Marine products are possible source of new therapeutic agents. QSAR/QSPR modeling techniques are important tools for ligand design and development. I find this proposal interesting. However, due care should be taken for validation of the models to be applied.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 4.558
Weighted score: 4.558
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Component A: CV
Component A: CV
Strengths:
- The results of the applicant’s research are provided in the proposal by publications (9) and patents (12). Industrial experience should be also pointed up.
- The applicant has a background in natural products, organic synthesis, and chemoinformatics; the latter applied in particular to marine natural products, so her experience is suitable for some of the main project goals.
- Major achievements of the applicant have to do with the development of new synthetic procedures and chemoinformatics work (e.g. CI tools to teach chemistry to blind people).
- The results of the applicant’s research are provided in the proposal by publications (9) and patents (12). Industrial experience should be also pointed up.
- The applicant has a background in natural products, organic synthesis, and chemoinformatics; the latter applied in particular to marine natural products, so her experience is suitable for some of the main project goals.
- Major achievements of the applicant have to do with the development of new synthetic procedures and chemoinformatics work (e.g. CI tools to teach chemistry to blind people).
- The applicant has been granted with national FCT PhD and Post-Doc fellowships, as well as an Assistant Researcher position.
Weaknesses:
- Not an impressive research publication record, taking into account the level of experience.
- No communication of the applicant’s research work in national and international conferences.
- In some cases, it is difficult to establish the original contributions of the applicant to the published work. Moreover, it is not sufficiently demonstrated in the proposal that the fellow has the skills to carry out the proposed project, especially in what concerns programming skills.
- Not an impressive research publication record, taking into account the level of experience.
- No communication of the applicant’s research work in national and international conferences.
- In some cases, it is difficult to establish the original contributions of the applicant to the published work. Moreover, it is not sufficiently demonstrated in the proposal that the fellow has the skills to carry out the proposed project, especially in what concerns programming skills.
- The degree of internationalisation of the applicant is not detailed in the proposal.
- Until now, the applicant did not have mentoring activities of doctoral and post-doctoral fellows. Further, the applicant has only applied to a national FCT scientific project that has not been rated for funding.
- Until now, the applicant did not have mentoring activities of doctoral and post-doctoral fellows. Further, the applicant has only applied to a national FCT scientific project that has not been rated for funding.
- It is not sufficiently demonstrated in the proposal that the applicant has a suitable research profile for the intended grant level - development.
Component B: Research Project
Component B: Research Project
Strengths:
- Multidisciplinary subjects are to be dealt with such as chemoinformatics, synthetic and medicinal chemistry.
- Multidisciplinary subjects are to be dealt with such as chemoinformatics, synthetic and medicinal chemistry.
- The background and motivation for the proposed research is well-described, specifically why it is important to explore marine natural products as source leads for the development of efficient drugs.
- The project objectives are relevant for the pharmaceutical industry and medicinal chemistry community, and also timely due to its potential impact on drug discovery and related health issues.
- A work plan is presented with defined tasks that are appropriate for the project. Also, the chosen methodology is reasonable.
Weaknesses:
- Lack of innovative aspects: No new approaches are really proposed to undertake the problem envisaged, but only slight efforts to improve older approaches.
- A much wider literature overview concerning the subject of virtual screening should be given to show good orientation in wider consequences.
- Lack of innovative aspects: No new approaches are really proposed to undertake the problem envisaged, but only slight efforts to improve older approaches.
- A much wider literature overview concerning the subject of virtual screening should be given to show good orientation in wider consequences.
- Although expected results are clearly stated, it is not clear what will be done in the case that e.g. the future envisaged syntheses will fail. A back up-plan would thus be beneficial.
- The host is well equipped and will provide all the necessary experimental and computational facilities for a successful execution of the project.
- Arrangements for an effective implementation and management of the scientific project are not sufficiently tackled in the proposal.
- The host is well equipped and will provide all the necessary experimental and computational facilities for a successful execution of the project.
- Arrangements for an effective implementation and management of the scientific project are not sufficiently tackled in the proposal.
Component C: Career Development Plan
Strengths:
- With this project the applicant will reinforce her expertise in chemoinformatics but also in other related areas (e.g. bioinformatics).
- With this project the applicant will reinforce her expertise in chemoinformatics but also in other related areas (e.g. bioinformatics).
- The project can strengthen the host-group position regarding chemoinformatics tools related to the drug discovery field.
Weaknesses:
- The potential of acquiring competencies during the fellowship to improve the prospects of reinforcing the fellow’s position of professional maturity and diversity, as well as towards independence are not demonstrated. Moreover, the contribution to career development of the applicant is way below of what it could without the alliance with (or exposure to) the industry sector.
- Finally, the fellow’s independent thinking and leadership qualities are difficult to judge from the proposal as they are inadequately detailed.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 4.925
Weighted score: 4.925
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The applicant aims at using computational tools to discover pharmaceutically important marine compounds. This objective is sound and has scientific significance. However, this proposal did not emphasize enough on the experimental confirmation of theoretical predictions, which made this project proposal incomplete if this research were to truly benefit the basic science sector and/or the industrial sector. If the applicant wishes to focus on the computational parts in her career, at least she should demonstrate enough collaboration with experimental labs that can verify her predictions and provide clues to refine her prediction models.
The applicant aims at using computational tools to discover pharmaceutically important marine compounds. This objective is sound and has scientific significance. However, this proposal did not emphasize enough on the experimental confirmation of theoretical predictions, which made this project proposal incomplete if this research were to truly benefit the basic science sector and/or the industrial sector. If the applicant wishes to focus on the computational parts in her career, at least she should demonstrate enough collaboration with experimental labs that can verify her predictions and provide clues to refine her prediction models.
Previous publications of the applicant were mainly on teaching tools of chemoinformatics. These research experiences demonstrated that the applicant had textbook knowledge, but they are not enough to demonstrate the applicant has strong capability of scientific research. She did not have enough scientific publications in internationally recognizable research journals. I noticed only two JOC articles, but no JBC articles and no NPR articles. The applicant lacks a strong track of previous research excellence.
In light of the above comments, I do not suggest rewarding of this grant with the current proposal. The applicant is encouraged to re-apply in later years provided that the applicant can 1) secure stable collaborations with established bioactivity labs, so that the research carried out in silico can be combined with experiment data to make a full story; 2) conduct at least one research that uses your proposed strategy to discover a bioactive marine compound and publish in a reputable journal. One feasibility study would be strong evidence for the feasibility and the significance of this "development grant" type of application.
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_______________________________________________________
Jamal Lasri IF/00353/2013
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments:
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Physical Sciences and Engineering Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of
reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria
used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Overall the panel considers this proposal to be of
reasonably good quality. However based on the combined set of criteria
used in the assessment it was not ranked high enough to be funded.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 5.800
Weighted score: 5.800
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Dr. Lasri’s grant application presents a research program on the development of novel heteropolynuclear systems via [2+3] cycloaddition of 1,3-dipoles of functionalized nitriles with prospective catalytic, biological, and photophysical properties. He has completed his PhD studies 9 years ago and has a good publication record. During his
academic career, he published a good number of research manuscripts in
top-notch chemistry journals. Based on the experience acquired over
the years, he has the expertise to carry on the proposed research described in this grant application.
Dr. Lasri’s grant application presents a research program on the development of novel heteropolynuclear systems via [2+3] cycloaddition of 1,3-dipoles of functionalized nitriles with prospective catalytic, biological, and photophysical properties. He has completed his PhD studies 9 years ago and has a good publication record. During his
academic career, he published a good number of research manuscripts in
top-notch chemistry journals. Based on the experience acquired over
the years, he has the expertise to carry on the proposed research described in this grant application.
Over the years, Dr. Lasri’s has acquired a good experience at
supervising Ph.D. students.
supervising Ph.D. students.
The short, medium, and long-term objectives of the projects are stated and discussed in the proposal. The goals and objectives (tasks) are listed and are reasonable and realistic in the timeframe of the proposal and funding period, also given the financial resources, infrastructures, and personal.
While the preparation of the compounds is well described, the study on their reactivity is poorly presented and very brief. Dr. Lasri should have described in details why these two types of reactions to study have been selected (oxidation and cross coupling reactions) and how he was planning to study them. Again, very little information is provided.
Finally, the short and long term career objective of Dr. Lasri are
not discussed. In these sections, Dr. Lasri discussed the milestones
of the projects in details. Career objectives and project milestones
are very different and it is unfortunate that Dr. Lasri did not include that information in the present proposal.
not discussed. In these sections, Dr. Lasri discussed the milestones
of the projects in details. Career objectives and project milestones
are very different and it is unfortunate that Dr. Lasri did not include that information in the present proposal.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 6.950
Weighted score: 6.950
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The applicant proposes a Research plan dealing with [2+3] cycloaddition reactions to prepare heteropolynuclear systems with interesting catalytic, biological and photophysical properties. This project follows very closely the work carried out in recent years in what concerns the chemistry support. The main five tasks deal with the synthesis of compounds, but almost nothing is discussed in Task 6
about immobilization of the compounds and about studying and applying
any properties to practical purposes. Therefore the expected outcomes
do not seem to come from the same project. The applicant has a good
list of publications, and is the corresponding author of a significant
number and only author of some recent ones, displaying some
independence in research during his contract as Ciência 2008 researcher. He is co-author of five Portuguese patents, participates in seven projects and has co-oriented two PhD students. He has the competence and skill to carry on the project, considering the similarity with previous research (not too innovative, from the
contents of the proposal). There are more doubts in what concerns the
aspect which are not sufficiently described. The career objectives do
not seem very ambitious and the career development is presented like
the management of a project. The internationalization is very small, especially considering that the applicant received his PhD abroad. Poster communications have many authors to be conclusive and oral ones have taken place mainly in Portugal.
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External Reviewer 3
The applicant proposes a Research plan dealing with [2+3] cycloaddition reactions to prepare heteropolynuclear systems with interesting catalytic, biological and photophysical properties. This project follows very closely the work carried out in recent years in what concerns the chemistry support. The main five tasks deal with the synthesis of compounds, but almost nothing is discussed in Task 6
about immobilization of the compounds and about studying and applying
any properties to practical purposes. Therefore the expected outcomes
do not seem to come from the same project. The applicant has a good
list of publications, and is the corresponding author of a significant
number and only author of some recent ones, displaying some
independence in research during his contract as Ciência 2008 researcher. He is co-author of five Portuguese patents, participates in seven projects and has co-oriented two PhD students. He has the competence and skill to carry on the project, considering the similarity with previous research (not too innovative, from the
contents of the proposal). There are more doubts in what concerns the
aspect which are not sufficiently described. The career objectives do
not seem very ambitious and the career development is presented like
the management of a project. The internationalization is very small, especially considering that the applicant received his PhD abroad. Poster communications have many authors to be conclusive and oral ones have taken place mainly in Portugal.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 7.092
Weighted score: 7.092
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Dr. Lasri (born in 1973) has studied basic sciences in Casablanca (Morocco) and finished with a bachelor degree in 1992. For his master in chemistry (graded in 1997, he moved to the University Hassan II (Casablance) and for his PhD (in 2004) to Valencia (Spain), where he worked on a subject in Organic Chemistry. After a short postdoc stay at the Universidad Jaume I de Castellón (Castellón de la Plana, Spain)
he became postdoctoral fellow at the Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, TU Lisbon in the group of Prof. Dr. A. J. L. Pombeiro. Since 2008 he is associated researcher at the same institute.
Dr. Lasri (born in 1973) has studied basic sciences in Casablanca (Morocco) and finished with a bachelor degree in 1992. For his master in chemistry (graded in 1997, he moved to the University Hassan II (Casablance) and for his PhD (in 2004) to Valencia (Spain), where he worked on a subject in Organic Chemistry. After a short postdoc stay at the Universidad Jaume I de Castellón (Castellón de la Plana, Spain)
he became postdoctoral fellow at the Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, TU Lisbon in the group of Prof. Dr. A. J. L. Pombeiro. Since 2008 he is associated researcher at the same institute.
Dr. Lasri has published up to now more than 30 manuscripts listed in
ICI-Web of Knowledge, mainly in good to excellent journals. His present research deals with transition metal promoted cycloaddition reactions and thus combines his expertise in Organic Chemistry with the experiences of his host group in Inorganic Chemistry. However, the number of approx. 30 publications after approx. 15 years of scientific work is not a manifestation of an outstanding output. For the present application, Dr. Lasri wrote a project being related to some preceding work carried out during the last years. Thus there is a good base to develop this project into progress. While the goal of the present scientific project has been worked out nicely, there is one point to be criticized, that I already mentioned in my reports on other projects in this series of applications a had a look on: The chemistry described here and which is expected to be carried out during the next year is closely related to the preceding work, that the applicant has carried out being a postdoc in the group of Prof. Pombeiro. It is therefore not clear to me how the applicant will manage to develop into the leader of an independent research group, which in my opinion should be the aim of a development grant. If I am wrong with this, I beg your pardon, but in my country this would be the case. The research institution Dr. Lasri is associated with is excellent, even by an international comparison. There is no doubt that the equipment that is available in the department is adequate to guarantee an unhindered progress of the proposed project. The internationalization and the collaborations he presents in his applications should be improved.
ICI-Web of Knowledge, mainly in good to excellent journals. His present research deals with transition metal promoted cycloaddition reactions and thus combines his expertise in Organic Chemistry with the experiences of his host group in Inorganic Chemistry. However, the number of approx. 30 publications after approx. 15 years of scientific work is not a manifestation of an outstanding output. For the present application, Dr. Lasri wrote a project being related to some preceding work carried out during the last years. Thus there is a good base to develop this project into progress. While the goal of the present scientific project has been worked out nicely, there is one point to be criticized, that I already mentioned in my reports on other projects in this series of applications a had a look on: The chemistry described here and which is expected to be carried out during the next year is closely related to the preceding work, that the applicant has carried out being a postdoc in the group of Prof. Pombeiro. It is therefore not clear to me how the applicant will manage to develop into the leader of an independent research group, which in my opinion should be the aim of a development grant. If I am wrong with this, I beg your pardon, but in my country this would be the case. The research institution Dr. Lasri is associated with is excellent, even by an international comparison. There is no doubt that the equipment that is available in the department is adequate to guarantee an unhindered progress of the proposed project. The internationalization and the collaborations he presents in his applications should be improved.
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_______________________________________________________
Elena Brugioni
Status
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments: »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel -IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
Weighted score: 7.125
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The researcher’s profile is strong and evidences a consolidated expertise in the field of postcolonial studies, in particular within the field of literary and cultural studies. She has a substantial track record regarding publication, a sizeable international experience and has displayed considerable organizational talents and capacity for initiative. Her experience as a supervisor, is limited, which can be explained by the positions she has occupied so far. Her career development plan is realistic and well thought of. The host institution has been rated as excellent by FCT and offer all prerequisites for a successful integration and development of the research project.
The aim of providing a comparative analysis based on a corpus of African writers intent on bringing to light alternative paradigms and different perspectives is relevant and, to some extent, capable of providing original results. However, the concept of “counterpoint”, which builds the cornerstone of the project, remains rather vague and is insufficiently specified, which may have the consequence for the project to become trapped in dichotomies representing a simple reversal, instead of a rethinking and unthinking of hegemonic perspectives. Likewise, the intended goal of revitalizing the humanities’ approach through the incorporation of postcolonial perspectives, in itself an endeavour which can be traced at least to Edward Said, would have needed a more incisive specification. On the whole, the commendable direction hinted at by the general presentation of the project could have been more incisively characterised.
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External Reviewer 2
Weighted score: 6.692
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The candidate has realized a considerable list of publications, including a monograph, two edited volumes together with a number of coeditors as well as 6 articles in journal or books. The publications are in national scientific outlets. The description of the proposed research is vague and wordy. It is difficult to find in the text presented what exactly the candidate’s contribution within the area of African and Literary and Cultural Studies will be, except that Postcolonial and Gender Theory will be ‘tackled as alternative epistemologies”. There is nothing, in principle, against such a methodological orientation, but it is not enough to convince the reader that, therefore, and because of the scientific background and experience, the project must be considered “an innovative and ground-breaking research within the fields of African Literary and Cultural Studies”. It would have been useful if the candidate had made an exposition of the traditional methodologies and approaches and their influences upon the society, the errors that were made and the kind of wrong representations that we recreated, as a preparation of an exposition showing how those errors can be avoided by the novel approach, why the chosen methodology is better, how exactly it is groundbreaking and innovative. It also remains too vague to what extent the consideration of photography, cinema, etc. will constitute an added value. This extension of the research looks logical, of course, but it may not be, since one would expect that an adequate methodology, suited for the literary object under study, would generate results that are self sufficient.
It should therefore be justified in more detail why these sidestepsare a necessary part of the research. The explanation of the importance of the research for the development of the candidate’s position in the field isadequate, as are the institutional conditions.
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_______________________________________________________
José António Camilo Guerreiro Camões
IF/00561/2013
Overall 7
The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The researcher’s profile is of high quality, particularly in the field of scholarly, including electronic edition, certainly meeting the criteria for the grant under application. The applicant demonstrates a very clear path of work, from sustained preceding activity into this new project and on into future work on the 19th century. The host institution appears perfectly adequate for hosting this project.
As for the project itself, the applicant shows a considerable experience in online text editing and is evidently well acquainted not only with the corpus under consideration but also with the issues raised by scholarly digital editing. The presentation of the project is clear enough, but it would undoubtedly have benefited from more careful editing and a more incisive formulation. The project as a whole is philologically oriented, which, it could be argued, is both its strength and its weakness: while the object of making available online in carefully prepared editions an hitherto practically unknown corpus is of high relevance, one would indeed have welcomed a more specific discussion of editorial criteria, including criteria for textual and editorial commentary; on the other hand, it would have been relevant to specify some of the ways the project may go beyond textual edition, providing a foundation for the production of new knowledge on Portuguese 18th-century society and allowing the applicant to further develop and present internationally research e.g. on advancements in the digital humanities, reworkings of the Portuguese theatre canon or the sociology of the theatre, etc. The perspective on career planning would have clearly benefited from a closer consideration of these and similar topics.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
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Social experiences and management of chronic illness
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External Reviewer 2
As for the project itself, the applicant shows a considerable experience in online text editing and is evidently well acquainted not only with the corpus under consideration but also with the issues raised by scholarly digital editing. The presentation of the project is clear enough, but it would undoubtedly have benefited from more careful editing and a more incisive formulation. The project as a whole is philologically oriented, which, it could be argued, is both its strength and its weakness: while the object of making available online in carefully prepared editions an hitherto practically unknown corpus is of high relevance, one would indeed have welcomed a more specific discussion of editorial criteria, including criteria for textual and editorial commentary; on the other hand, it would have been relevant to specify some of the ways the project may go beyond textual edition, providing a foundation for the production of new knowledge on Portuguese 18th-century society and allowing the applicant to further develop and present internationally research e.g. on advancements in the digital humanities, reworkings of the Portuguese theatre canon or the sociology of the theatre, etc. The perspective on career planning would have clearly benefited from a closer consideration of these and similar topics.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
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_______________________________________________________
Marta Maia
De 5,7 a 7,5...
Social experiences and management of chronic illness
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 5.708
Weighted score: 5.708
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The project meets the criteria imposed by the FCT in order to be evaluated. The project presents some degree of innovation. It is innovative in trying to establish the binomial Social Sciences / Biomedicine . The theoretical frame of reference is very directed to other diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C , where the candidate has much of his experience. The methodology is not clearly defined and the sample is small compared to the number and territorial dispersion of patients with pathology . The objectives are very comprehensive . Both serve to this investigation as to any other. Should cover several areas of the country to be able to tell if the pathology takes contours representing different. This approach would also allow to understand if upport for disease , by the various institutions and even families are different . The study presents very descriptive and based only on perceptions. The bibliography is not updated and focused on the object of study . The candidate could per sought as references , other experiments conducted in other countries . The expected results are weak and therefore do not think that will prove to be as a good contribution to science and society in general. The candidate , being a research scientist with several years of experience , has some weaknesses consistency in their curriculum . Their activities have been very focused on HIV and poorly diversified in connection with sector institutions and society in general. The applicant shall submit a curriculum and directed to the study of HIV , which should continue to investigate , trying to establish a greater connection to the community , either through institutional or via informal caregivers.
The project meets the criteria imposed by the FCT in order to be evaluated. The project presents some degree of innovation. It is innovative in trying to establish the binomial Social Sciences / Biomedicine . The theoretical frame of reference is very directed to other diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C , where the candidate has much of his experience. The methodology is not clearly defined and the sample is small compared to the number and territorial dispersion of patients with pathology . The objectives are very comprehensive . Both serve to this investigation as to any other. Should cover several areas of the country to be able to tell if the pathology takes contours representing different. This approach would also allow to understand if upport for disease , by the various institutions and even families are different . The study presents very descriptive and based only on perceptions. The bibliography is not updated and focused on the object of study . The candidate could per sought as references , other experiments conducted in other countries . The expected results are weak and therefore do not think that will prove to be as a good contribution to science and society in general. The candidate , being a research scientist with several years of experience , has some weaknesses consistency in their curriculum . Their activities have been very focused on HIV and poorly diversified in connection with sector institutions and society in general. The applicant shall submit a curriculum and directed to the study of HIV , which should continue to investigate , trying to establish a greater connection to the community , either through institutional or via informal caregivers.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 6.300
Weighted score: 6.300
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The proposal is for adeveoplmet grant The aim of the research which is clearly articulated is to gain insight into the day-to-day experience and management of diabetes, understood as a chronic disease that involves some degree of disability and suffering and that requires self-care. The study focuses on young people and adults between the ages of sixteen and sixty years old, so then people who would be in their active or productive lives. The study approaches the question of how sick persons manage their disease through an analysis of their therapeutic itineraries within health care processes, the care-giving practices of their family members, their own health practices, and the social support net. This research aims to use qualitative methods. The major long-term career objectives are stated as involving working on other chronic diseases, such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases, in the same perspective but focusing on the concept of chronicity. The proposal is focusing on an important topic but lacks detail in relation to methodology ( particularly in relation to sampling and analysis) , the type of diabetes being addressed and how its is informed by and will inform theory. The host institution should be able to provide the appropriat conditions to support this research . The career develooment plan appears clear and well structured should supprt reseah independence. Overall the proposal is strong but with numerous weaknesses.
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External Reviewer 3
The proposal is for adeveoplmet grant The aim of the research which is clearly articulated is to gain insight into the day-to-day experience and management of diabetes, understood as a chronic disease that involves some degree of disability and suffering and that requires self-care. The study focuses on young people and adults between the ages of sixteen and sixty years old, so then people who would be in their active or productive lives. The study approaches the question of how sick persons manage their disease through an analysis of their therapeutic itineraries within health care processes, the care-giving practices of their family members, their own health practices, and the social support net. This research aims to use qualitative methods. The major long-term career objectives are stated as involving working on other chronic diseases, such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases, in the same perspective but focusing on the concept of chronicity. The proposal is focusing on an important topic but lacks detail in relation to methodology ( particularly in relation to sampling and analysis) , the type of diabetes being addressed and how its is informed by and will inform theory. The host institution should be able to provide the appropriat conditions to support this research . The career develooment plan appears clear and well structured should supprt reseah independence. Overall the proposal is strong but with numerous weaknesses.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 7.517
Weighted score: 7.517
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The research project is inscribed in a clear framework dealing with chronic illness. The intended work on patients of Type 1 diabetes mellitus pursues the previous work on HIV and C hepatitis and, in this sense, is perfectly coherent with the candidate line of study. The interactive construction of patient subjectivity, in contact with medecine professionals and with family and other people surronding him or her, is well emphazised. The necessity of improving the relations between doctor and patient is perfectly exposed and the necessity to create a social pedagogy concerning the particular situation of chronic patients. They are supposed to be autonomous, capable of coping with the quotidianity of their treatment, but at the same time are vulnerable and depending on the strong directives given by the medical staff, too often in a framework provoking lack of communication or misunderstanding. The work intends to treat this important question from the phenomenological analysis of illness narratives. The aim is to convince authorities of the convenience of shifting from a curative model of health towards a coordinated, comprehensive one. The work intended on stigma and social rejection, on the difficult communication between patient and doctor, the analysis of cultural representations of chronic illness seem adequate. A more active participation of the patient in the caring for his health and a major social visibility for chronically ill persons, that need to be heard and accepted, are good objectives. Some more detailed description of how this noble objectives can be reached would given some more strenght to the project.
The research project is inscribed in a clear framework dealing with chronic illness. The intended work on patients of Type 1 diabetes mellitus pursues the previous work on HIV and C hepatitis and, in this sense, is perfectly coherent with the candidate line of study. The interactive construction of patient subjectivity, in contact with medecine professionals and with family and other people surronding him or her, is well emphazised. The necessity of improving the relations between doctor and patient is perfectly exposed and the necessity to create a social pedagogy concerning the particular situation of chronic patients. They are supposed to be autonomous, capable of coping with the quotidianity of their treatment, but at the same time are vulnerable and depending on the strong directives given by the medical staff, too often in a framework provoking lack of communication or misunderstanding. The work intends to treat this important question from the phenomenological analysis of illness narratives. The aim is to convince authorities of the convenience of shifting from a curative model of health towards a coordinated, comprehensive one. The work intended on stigma and social rejection, on the difficult communication between patient and doctor, the analysis of cultural representations of chronic illness seem adequate. A more active participation of the patient in the caring for his health and a major social visibility for chronically ill persons, that need to be heard and accepted, are good objectives. Some more detailed description of how this noble objectives can be reached would given some more strenght to the project.
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_______________________________________________________
Mário Artur Machaqueiro
Evaluation Form - Call 2013
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 7
Comments:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
The applicant has developed some crucial insights in his chosen field over the years since graduating with a PhD. The combination of sociological and anthropological study in historical context opens up a richness of opportunity to pursue a topic that is notable for its timeliness as well as its contested, or controversial, status. The applicant brings a background of published work in the field, clearly demonstrating his research expertise. Increased internationalisation of a greater spread of publications would enhance the CV. While there is evidence of contribution to the research environment through participation in a research network project, and a PhD supervision, additional efforts in this important aspect of independent research would enhance the application.
The proposed project on colonial governance of Muslim populations, with its additional comparative element, brings an important topic to the foreground. It is strong in its theoretical backgrounding, the rationale for the focus is well presented, and the intellectual aim is conveyed. There is some vagueness in the presentation of the research aims, methodologies and methods. Greater coherence could be achieved with more attention paid to clarity and ordering of points. Provision of greater detail in relation to methods would have been helpful.
The career development plan presented by the applicant could be more ‘developed’. The goals expressed in relation to the field are admirable and the proposed project does indeed have the potential to make steps in this direction. There are numerous ways in which an independent researcher might seek to enhance the prospects for his or her own contribution, and more detailed planning might assist their realisation.
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Raul Bettencourt
1-A candidatura foi elaborada em conformidade com os preceitos enunciados nas diferentes secções do formulário de candidatura entre os quais destaco os aspectos biográficos (synopsis of CV) as principais realizações (major accomplishments), sinopse do plano de investigação (synopsis of the research project) e plano de desenvolvimento da carreira (career development plan). Estes aspectos da candidatura foram sumariamente considerados por vezes totalmente ignorados por parte dos avaliadores. Tratando-se duma candidatura a um contrato de trabalho de 5 anos, com a administração pública, esta avaliação pautou-se por critérios de avaliação estritamente relacionados com uma candidatura a um projecto de investigação da FCT (3 anos) e por conseguinte inadequados a um processo de avaliação próprio dum concurso publico para o provimento de um lugar de investigador principal na instituição de acolhimento onde o concorrente pretende desenvolver a sua actividade profissional durante 5 anos. As criticas formuladas visam fundamentalmente por em causa a viabilidade cientifica do projecto de investigação subjacente à candidatura e não as capacidades cientificas do candidato de levar a cabo o seu plano de desenvolvimento da careira e do plano (sim trata-se dum plano!) da investigação prevista para 5 anos e não 3 anos (como referido por um dos avaliadores, certamente equivocado por considerar o projecto cientifico como um projecto de investigação FCT)
2-A avaliação da secção “Research plan and Methods) ou seja “plano de investigação e Metodos” revela algumas incongruências científicas por vezes desconhecimento da área científica conhecida como “imunologia inata” ao afirmar por exemplo que as respostas imunitárias inatas são sempre as mesmas independentemente das bactérias ou microrganismos utilizados para despoletar estas reacções de defesa inata. Tal afirmação não podia ser mais incorrecta revelando um desconhecimento embaraçoso sobre a especificidade das defesas imunitárias inatas e os mecanismos moleculares subjacentes às mesmas. As vias de sinalização mediadas pelo receptor Toll, ou que se interceptam com esta via, são um claro exemplo disso. A referência à utilização da bactéria Vibrio diabolicus é outra incongruência apresentada na avaliação, sendo que a mesma bactéria foi indicada no plano de investigação de acordo com as críticas anteriormente formuladas aquando do concurso IF2012 que visavam justamente a inadequabilidade das bactérias marinhas Vibrio apresentadas aquando do mesmo concurso de 2012 por não serem bactérias do meio natural onde se encontram os mexilhões das fontes hidrotermais. Desta vez foi escolhida uma bactéria proveniente de um organismo hidrotermal embora do Pacifico, foi considerada a mais natural (nativa) e por conseguinte mais próxima do meio natural do modelo de estudo proposto.
Outra inconsistência científica apresentada por um dos avaliadores consiste na afirmação de que o modelo apresentado poderia ser substituído por outro mexilhão costeiro e não das fontes hidrotermais, ignorando por completo o make-up genético (genómico) do mexilhão B. azoricus que não deixaria de existir mesmo que manipulado à pressão atmosférica e infectado por agentes patogénicos de origem marinha.
A referência à presença das bactérias simbiontes que o animal modelo apresentado neste plano possui nas suas branquias e sua possível influência na modelação da resposta imunitária foi devidamente contemplada na minha proposta e não ignorada como foi referido na avaliação. Em boa verdade esta interligação entre bactérias simbiontes e hospedeiro consiste numas das vertentes da minha investigação de momento e que seria impossível esquecer na actual candidatura
No 2º parágrafo da secção “Research Plan” pode ler-se
1. The project aims at revealing conserved and unique features of the immune response in vent animal and help to understand how host-bacteria relationships have shaped the evolution of immune system.
Em conclusão, esta avaliação não seguiu os métodos de selecção e avaliação obrigatórios a aplicar nos procedimentos concursais destinados à constituição de relações jurídicas de emprego público. Não se verificou uma avaliação curricular adequada nem uma avaliação detalhada e própria do desempenho profissional e cientifico do candidato e do seu conhecimento científico. A avaliação restringiu-se apenas a uma avaliação típica dum projecto científico da FCT (3 anos). Em jeito de curiosidade revela-se que o plano de investigação subjacente a esta candidatura baseou-se num projecto de investigação FCT cuja avaliação mereceu uma classificação de Excelente, em 2013, mas infelizmente não aprovado para financiamento.
Life Sciences Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
This application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
The overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
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External Reviewer 1
Weighted score: 6.400
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The application IMUNODEEP aims at investigating the immune response of the deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus using both RNAseq and proteomic approaches in order to understand the role of the humoral machinery in the adaptation of eucaryotes to hostile and naturally-toxic environments and to find new proteins/peptides that be of biotechnological interest. As such, the project is quite innovative and should have a positive impact at the international level. The applicant has a modest but good publication record (32 articles, including 4 extended abstracts in Fish & Shellfish Immunology) for a senior researcher leading to an overall productivity of 1.5-2 articles/year. Most of the recent articles have been however not published in top-ranked journals in the field of immunology. The applicant has a good knowledge of vent organisms (species model) and a strong expertise in immunology, molecular biology and gene expression to safely conduct this project in due time. The applicant has also shown his ability in supervising PhD students (3) and post-doctoral fellows (3) when coordinating FCT/FLAD and European (Eurocore-FP7) projects in the last decade. Moreover, the applicant also got a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to study the host-pathogen relationships in the clam Merceneria merceneria. However, no paper has come yet from this collaboration. The project is quite ambitious and aims, using Vibrio infections, at answering at least three main scientific questions: (1) are the vent mussels still able to efficiently respond to pathogens under atmospheric pressure, (2) which gene pathways are likely involved, and (3) is the innate immune response specific to the vent mussel or rather quite universal. Although the scientific questions are of broad interest and should provide interesting scientific outcomes, there is a general lack of information concerning the feasibility of the present project with virtually no details on the experimental protocol design and how the comparison will be done with Mytilus. The first question indeed needs to design a time-series analysis of the immune response of the vent mussel (not said in the application) using freshly-retrieved material as a control. The second question imposes to perform joint experiments on both Bathymodiolus and Mytilus using the same protocol and the same infectious strains as the innate immune response is hardly dependent on the microbe used. Because transcriptomic and proteomic approaches are quite expensive and time-consuming in terms of statistical treatments, it requires first a very clear sampling design and a precise experimental protocol to get conclusive answers. Such information is unfortunately not found in the present state of the proposal. Bioinformatics and statistical methods that will be deployed to test hypotheses are also not presented in the proposal. Moreover, the applicant proposes to use the deep-sea vent microbe Vibrio diabolicus for his infection experiments. Although such a microbe is clearly endemic to the Pacific deep-sea vents and should potentially be in contact with the Atlantic vent mussel, nothing is said about his putative pathogenic effect on bivalves. To specifically answer the question of the uniqueness versus conserved nature of the immune response in bivalves, I think that the applicant should have been more inspired to propose the use of a well-known pathogenic strain already tested on Mytilus to conduct his infection experiments. One of the proposal’s issues is also to shed light into new regulatory mechanisms under which genes adapted to extreme chemosynthetic systems. In deep-sea vent mussels, symbiotic relationships with chemoautotrophic microbes and how the host controls them in the gill tissues is one of the most striking adaptations to the vent environment. However, nothing is said about how the experiments will be conducted to achieve this goal. Again, omics analyses are very powerful to trace back the mechanistic of the symbiosis if the sampling design and the subsequent experimental protocol are previously well-thought. Finally, testing if the Atlantic vent mussel represents a bona fide model to study the immune response does not seem a real novelty as such an issue has been greatly investigated during the last research projects of the applicant (BIODEEPSEA, IMUNOVENT, HERMIONE). A strong point of the proposal is however that RNAseq and proteomic analyses seem to be quite achievable with the international collaborations developed by the applicant with both the P. Girguis’ group (Harvard) and Biocant. If more precisely described, the project is thus achievable during a 3-years time period as the mussel samples are already available and the IMAR-Uaz/DOP is well equipped with the Horta’s vent Lab specifically designed to host and farm deep-sea vent organisms over long periods of time at both in situ and atmospheric pressures.
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External Reviewer 2
External Reviewer 2
Weighted score: 6.467
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The proposal by Dr. Bettencourt describes a plan to look at innate immunity in the hydrothermal vent mussel B. azoricus using transcriptomic and proteomic approaches as applied to an experimental system. The premise is that testing the innate response in this unique/extreme organism may uncover aspects of innate immunity that can help to understand the range of compounds produced by organisms in response to a bacterial challenge and to understand the evolution of innate immunity. This work builds upon previous studies by Dr. Bettencourt looking at immunity in other systems, such as Drosophila, and looking at the transcriptome of the hydrothermal vent mussel, which he first published on in 2010. Dr. Bettencourt certainly has experience in the system he is proposing to work on, and is well connected in the international hydrothermal vent community. The work proposes that the experimental system for the study of this deep-sea vent animal at 1 atm pressure will be adequate to study the immune response, which seems somewhat odd, when the proposers have access to hyperbaric systems, and lower pressures add another variable to the experiments. In any case, I am not sure what the 1 atm experiments add in terms of empirical insight, except perhaps making the experiments easier to conduct. I am also not sold on the idea of challenging the vent mussel with a Vibrio strain isolated from a hydrothermal vent polychaete. Is there any evidence to suggest that these organisms infect vent mussels in real life?
Additionally, although the vent ecosystem is unique, and the research going on at the Azores is a great opportunity, domestically, to take advantage of for Portugese scientists- I am not sure what the project has going for it terms of long term commercial potential for pharma and other purposes, and why these experiments couldn't be conducted on more moderate organisms.
Overall, I found the proposed work interesting, but not compelling.
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External Reviewer 3
Weighted score: 3.867
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This project is not well focused and could be strengthened by an improved detailed experimental design with specific information about exactly the hope to get and at what level of detail. Are they hoping to cover 100% or 10% of the transcriptomes, what is enough? The same for the proteome. What number of replicates will be required to produce reliable data and at what expense?
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External Reviewer 4
Weighted score: 5.908
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Dr Bettencourt has a solid experience in the study of invertebrate immune systems, from insects to deep-sea mussels. He obtained his PhD in 1999 from the University of Stockholm in Sweden, after which he did a post-doc at Umassmed. He has since been in the Azores, first as a post-doc and then as a CIENCIA research contract. He has a strong international past and has developed collaborations in Portugal, other European countries, and the USA.
He is currently at LARSys- Laboratório de Robótica e Sistemas em Engenharia e Ciência, on an invited scientist scholarship.
Dr Bettencourt has a solid experience in the study of invertebrate immune systems, from insects to deep-sea mussels. He obtained his PhD in 1999 from the University of Stockholm in Sweden, after which he did a post-doc at Umassmed. He has since been in the Azores, first as a post-doc and then as a CIENCIA research contract. He has a strong international past and has developed collaborations in Portugal, other European countries, and the USA.
He is currently at LARSys- Laboratório de Robótica e Sistemas em Engenharia e Ciência, on an invited scientist scholarship.
Although biotechnology is not the focal interest of his research, sections pertaining to it are still mentioned and developed. Dr Bettencourt founded his own biotech company in April 2013, and applies his experience and gathered data to the development of that company.
Since his arrival in the Azores in 2004, Dr Bettencourt has used the deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussel B. azoricus (relatively easily accessible from the Azores) as a model of immune response in marine invertebrates. He has been able to assemble a team of researchers around this subject and has in particular published a transcriptome from gill tissues (454 Sequencing) in 2010. Besides this major paper, however, the production of the assembled team seems fairly limited after 9 years of studies. Dr. Bettencourt has published a total of 31 papers so far, with an h factor of 13, a score that is a bit low for a 50-year old researcher. A large proportion of these papers have been published in low-impact journals, while the topics could lead to higher-impact papers.
Since his arrival in the Azores in 2004, Dr Bettencourt has used the deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussel B. azoricus (relatively easily accessible from the Azores) as a model of immune response in marine invertebrates. He has been able to assemble a team of researchers around this subject and has in particular published a transcriptome from gill tissues (454 Sequencing) in 2010. Besides this major paper, however, the production of the assembled team seems fairly limited after 9 years of studies. Dr. Bettencourt has published a total of 31 papers so far, with an h factor of 13, a score that is a bit low for a 50-year old researcher. A large proportion of these papers have been published in low-impact journals, while the topics could lead to higher-impact papers.
The submitted proposal aims at studying the immune response of mussels kept in the aquaria of the host institution. The animals will be exposed to an isolated of Vibrio from the Eastern Pacific hydrothermal vents, with a proteomics and a transcriptomics (Illumina) approach. This up-to-date trasncriptomic approach is very likely to produce results, in collaboration with a bioinformatics group in Portugal (that already did the Bioinformatics part of the 454 transcriptome study). There however are a few issues with the proposed work, and the proponent ignores a possibility that would yield great data that could be published in high impact journals.
The proposal often refers to the ‘extreme’ conditions of hydrothermal vents, but it is difficult to see how this is relevant for the present proposal. All animals are always exposed to potentially harmful microbes and need to defend themselves. There is no evidence that the hydrothermal vent environment is any microbially harsher than other marine environments.
One of the expected results of this proposal is to see whether acclimation to atmospheric affects immune response. How is this relevant? The deep-sea mussels are unlikely to try to adapt to shallow-water environments. Is the rationale to determine whether the supposedly altered immune response is what limits the mussels’ bathymetric distribution?
Several times throughout the proposal, there is mention of the fact that it could shed light on our understanding of the mammalian (and human) innate immune response. This seems quite a long stretch.
There are several sentences whose meaning is unclear (e.g. ‘to understand the genetic architecture of physiological responses and adaptations to extreme environment’… how is extreme environment relevant?), which renders the proposal sometimes hard to follow.
The truly great thing about these mussels is that they can establish a symbiosis with specific bacterial types inside the cells of their gills. Yet, the proposal does not address this amazing state. How can the mussels avoid immunologically reacting against these beneficial bacteria? The great work that could be done here is to investigate the comparative response to exposure to Vibrio versus freshly isolated symbiotic bacteria. Is the immune reaction tailored to the bacterial type? Would the reaction be the same in the shallow-water Mytilus? The proposal, as it is currently written does not require the use of the model B. azoricus, a shallow water mussel would suffice. This is a missed opportunity that has the potential for high impact papers.
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External Reviewer 3
The truly great thing about these mussels is that they can establish a symbiosis with specific bacterial types inside the cells of their gills. Yet, the proposal does not address this amazing state. How can the mussels avoid immunologically reacting against these beneficial bacteria? The great work that could be done here is to investigate the comparative response to exposure to Vibrio versus freshly isolated symbiotic bacteria. Is the immune reaction tailored to the bacterial type? Would the reaction be the same in the shallow-water Mytilus? The proposal, as it is currently written does not require the use of the model B. azoricus, a shallow water mussel would suffice. This is a missed opportunity that has the potential for high impact papers.
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Riccardo Marchi
O meu CV está disponível em:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.808
Weighted score: 7.808
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The applicant has a very coherent curriculum demonstrating his researching interests since the early phases of his academic life. He studied in different countries Italy, Spain and Portugal. He has participated in four research projects coordinated by a prestigious Portuguese scholar. He has a considerable number of published works and a relevant participation, as speaker, in conferences and seminars. The number of achievements, considering that he obtained his PhD recently is remarkable. The work formerly done and the structure of the project allow to consider the applicant very suitable in terms of research profile for the intended grant level. There is not any reference in the application to previous calls for grant application/projects.
No reference is made of doctoral and post-doctoral supervision.
The applicant has a very coherent curriculum demonstrating his researching interests since the early phases of his academic life. He studied in different countries Italy, Spain and Portugal. He has participated in four research projects coordinated by a prestigious Portuguese scholar. He has a considerable number of published works and a relevant participation, as speaker, in conferences and seminars. The number of achievements, considering that he obtained his PhD recently is remarkable. The work formerly done and the structure of the project allow to consider the applicant very suitable in terms of research profile for the intended grant level. There is not any reference in the application to previous calls for grant application/projects.
No reference is made of doctoral and post-doctoral supervision.
The research project of the applicant is very interesting and covers a period of the contemporary history which has yet many areas to be covered.
The applicant masters the methodology of research in contemporary history and the research plan and methods are very clearly exposed.
The weakest point of the project is the lack of a state-of-art appraisal although there are a considerable number of bibliographic references in the application.
The research project if concluded can make a strong contribution for the study of the contemporary Portuguese history.
The research project if concluded can make a strong contribution for the study of the contemporary Portuguese history.
The host institution is one of the leading Portuguese institutions in historical research and will surely provide the ideal academic environment to the research.
The applicant has very clear projects for his career as a historian.
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External Reviewer 2
The applicant has very clear projects for his career as a historian.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 7.633
Weighted score: 7.633
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I am not a political scientist, but as far as I can tell, this is a well-structured and interesting project. I particularly like how the topic is related to the candidate’s previous investigations on the extreme-right. It is indeed a wise decision to expand the research area from the theme of the far-right extremism to the wider issue of the security studies. The negative effects of the curtailment of civil liberties by the States as a consequence of counter-subversive measures cannot be over-stated. In any form of counter-subversion the State gains the upper hand and is not seen as the most tangible threat to individual liberties anymore, but is transfigured into the sole protector of the needs and interests of the majority against the threat of smallish groups of other individuals.
I am not a political scientist, but as far as I can tell, this is a well-structured and interesting project. I particularly like how the topic is related to the candidate’s previous investigations on the extreme-right. It is indeed a wise decision to expand the research area from the theme of the far-right extremism to the wider issue of the security studies. The negative effects of the curtailment of civil liberties by the States as a consequence of counter-subversive measures cannot be over-stated. In any form of counter-subversion the State gains the upper hand and is not seen as the most tangible threat to individual liberties anymore, but is transfigured into the sole protector of the needs and interests of the majority against the threat of smallish groups of other individuals.
It is not completely clear to me in what ways far-right extremism is included in "the rising again of the political and religious radicalisms". How is far-right extremism the enemy within; or are we talking about other forms of extremism, any forms of domestic threats? Are far-right extremist only either fighting the enemy within alongside the government or being used by the government to fight the enemy within? This should be clarified.
The regime change in the 1970's in Portugal clearly represents an excellent case to test the hypothesis of changing approaches in counter-subversive programs. One of the main questions is: What kind of extremism is perceived as the enemy within? The comparative method is convincing, not least do to the fact that the perception of the enemy within can also change in states that do not experience similar regime changes. Strategies not only change in the authoritarian, the transitional, and the democratic regime, but also in States with a long democratic tradition such as the United States or the United Kingdom. From this point of view it also becomes interesting to not only analyse how counter-subversion changes in different types of political settings but how counter-subversion itself changes the political setting.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 4.075
Weighted score: 4.075
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This project, entitled 'The Enemy Within and the the Western Regimes....,' offers some interesting ideas which can be investigated deeper. However, one of the main weaknesses of the project as it stands is that we are never given a full, complete definition, of who exactly this 'enemy from within' is (i.e. how is this term defined?) and why it is really significant to study this theme, in context of ideas raised in the literature beyond Portugal.Of course, there is much room for the need to qualitatively study Portugal as the PI mentions in the application. And by comparing the experience to that of the US, Spain and Italy, there is much potential for interesting comparative analysis. But, the proposal does not explain what the key lines of investigation are to an audience that is not familiar with the research, why such lines of investigation are important for social science in general, and
This project, entitled 'The Enemy Within and the the Western Regimes....,' offers some interesting ideas which can be investigated deeper. However, one of the main weaknesses of the project as it stands is that we are never given a full, complete definition, of who exactly this 'enemy from within' is (i.e. how is this term defined?) and why it is really significant to study this theme, in context of ideas raised in the literature beyond Portugal.Of course, there is much room for the need to qualitatively study Portugal as the PI mentions in the application. And by comparing the experience to that of the US, Spain and Italy, there is much potential for interesting comparative analysis. But, the proposal does not explain what the key lines of investigation are to an audience that is not familiar with the research, why such lines of investigation are important for social science in general, and
how they will build on the key themes in (international) literature. As for CV presented by the PI, he has attained a lot since graduating from his PhD in 2010, showing signs of promise. But, the CV could be stronger on several fronts. First, the edited books are not with significant international publishers. Second, there are no significant articles in peer-reviewed international journals of high standing (or indications that such papers have been targeted/will be targeted for future submissions). All of this makes it unclear how the PI can actually use the term 'my innovative studies' in order to describe his outputs so far (see Section on Background of the proposal.) Overall, while there are some interesting ideas in the proposal, it would not represent one of high funding priority.
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External Reviewer 2
B - Career Development Plan Strategic planning Organization and structure of the career development plan:
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External Reviewer 3
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Catarina Ginja
Muito provavelmente o avaliador1 é Português e faz
uma avaliação superficial em contraditória relativamente aos outros 2
avaliadores. Gostaria da conhecer o cv deste avaliador, pois, comenta que
tenho 1 artigo na PlosONE e um registo de publicações baixo de '4 artigos/ano'
desde 2009. Na realidade tenho 3 artigos na PlosONE e um total de 18 artigos
publicados desde 2009 em revistas indexadas, doas quais 11 como primeira,
segunda ou última autora.
Mais importante ainda, qual o critério para
terem atribuído uma classificação de 6 quando a média dos 3
avaliadores foi de 7.225? Sendo que 2 avaliadores foram extremamente
favoráveis (média de 7.746). Não se compreende porque é que não fui à 2ªfase
uma vez que a média foi superior a 7.
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 6
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Life Sciences Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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Life Sciences Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 6.183
Weighted score: 6.183
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A proposal on ancient DNA studies of Iberian and North African live stock species. The PI will investigate the origin of domestic animals of the Iberian peninsula by merging zooarchaeological and genetical studies. The proposal is divided in to three parts: 1) The origin of domesticated animals. 2) The genetic legacy of the Iberian Peninsula and 3) Comparions of Iberia with the Maghreb. The project will merge zooarchaeology with genetic studies and use aDNA techniques and high throughput- sequencing. The general aim seems to be to investigate whether for domestic animals there is a link between North Africa in present day stocks. The application would benefit from providing an explanation for why such a link is interesting for the general biologists and not only for those with a particular interest in the Iberian situation. I thus urge the PI to become a bit more outlooking and less focussed on issues related to a specific region although I off course understand the Iberian specific focus.
A proposal on ancient DNA studies of Iberian and North African live stock species. The PI will investigate the origin of domestic animals of the Iberian peninsula by merging zooarchaeological and genetical studies. The proposal is divided in to three parts: 1) The origin of domesticated animals. 2) The genetic legacy of the Iberian Peninsula and 3) Comparions of Iberia with the Maghreb. The project will merge zooarchaeology with genetic studies and use aDNA techniques and high throughput- sequencing. The general aim seems to be to investigate whether for domestic animals there is a link between North Africa in present day stocks. The application would benefit from providing an explanation for why such a link is interesting for the general biologists and not only for those with a particular interest in the Iberian situation. I thus urge the PI to become a bit more outlooking and less focussed on issues related to a specific region although I off course understand the Iberian specific focus.
The PI has in the past published mainly in
specialised animal breeding journals but there is one paper in PLoS 1. The rate
of publications is close to 4 papers per year since the PhD which is fair in
comparison to others in the call. The number of publications is still quite low
owing to the fact that the PI earned her PhD in 2009. The PI could improve her
CV by publishing a few more papers in high profile journals. The career plan
and independence criteria were judged to be met. The past funding success is
judged to be good.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 6.517
Weighted score: 6.517
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The following comments explain my scores:
The following comments explain my scores:
A – CV Scientific merit of the applicant
i) Scientific productivity of the applicant
evaluated according to criteria accepted internationally by the different
scientific communities:
21 papers in peer reviewed journals and most
importantly 5 in which the candidate is 1st author, some of which are
relatively high impact journals like Plos ONE, Journal of Heredity and Journal
of Archaeological Science.
ii) Abilities and skills to adequately execute
the proposed project:
I have no doubt from the candidates CV that she is more than adequately trained and experienced to execute the proposed project and career. Her Marie Curie Fellowship is particularly impressive. Finally her English would appear to be Good to Excellent.
iii) Degree of internationalization:
I have no doubt from the candidates CV that she is more than adequately trained and experienced to execute the proposed project and career. Her Marie Curie Fellowship is particularly impressive. Finally her English would appear to be Good to Excellent.
iii) Degree of internationalization:
The internationalisation of the candidate is
moderately high as demonstrated by her having given presentations in many
different countries. Her publications demonstrate even greater international
collaboration with colleagues from many more countries at significant
institutions involved. She clearly intends to keep up her various contacts and
collaborators which is important.
iv) Innovative and creative nature of the
achievements listed by the applicant:
The achievements of the candidate are highly innovative and creative. She is an aDNA worker using studies of the origins of domestic animals in Iberia as well as its subsequent introgression with wild ancestors..
The achievements of the candidate are highly innovative and creative. She is an aDNA worker using studies of the origins of domestic animals in Iberia as well as its subsequent introgression with wild ancestors..
v) Degree of success in previous calls for grant
applications/projects:
Her Marie Curie Fellowship is very impressive. At an early stage of a career it would be unusual to have a lot more experience at grant applications. In many countries it is not possible to hold a grant if not in a permanent job other than fellowships.
vi) Experience of doctoral and post-doctoral supervision:
Her Marie Curie Fellowship is very impressive. At an early stage of a career it would be unusual to have a lot more experience at grant applications. In many countries it is not possible to hold a grant if not in a permanent job other than fellowships.
vi) Experience of doctoral and post-doctoral supervision:
She apparently has experience of both or so it
would appear. The language is a bit ambiguous.
vii) Overall suitability of the research profile for the intended grant level;
The candidate is very well suited to the intended grant level.
vii) Overall suitability of the research profile for the intended grant level;
The candidate is very well suited to the intended grant level.
B - Career Development Plan Strategic planning Organization and structure of the career development plan:
The structure and organisation of the career
development plan is logical and clear. It is abundantly clear what the
candidate is proposing to do to further an already successful career.
Conditions for Independent Research Adequacy of the career development plan and prior achievements towards research independence: Looking at the CV and career development plan there is a very clear sense given that the candidate knows exactly what she wants to do and why.
Conditions for Independent Research Adequacy of the career development plan and prior achievements towards research independence: Looking at the CV and career development plan there is a very clear sense given that the candidate knows exactly what she wants to do and why.
C - Research Project Scientific merit &
innovative nature. Relevance and originality of the project proposed: The relevance of the work is high as it is a
project with important applications to understanding domestication histories in
mammals. The project will help understand the process of domestication and
hybridisation with wild ancestors in species in greater detail than has been
possible to date in Iberia. The originality lies in the fact that this is the
first time anyone has significantly designed a project that overtly aims to
compare 4 taxa in one area. Innovative nature and impact of the idea
underlying the research project: The innovation is what I mentioned above the comparative part of the
projectThis is of great importance and will give the project a very high
likelihood (Never guaranteed) to achieve high impact journal papers. Objectives that allow considerable progress
beyond the current state of art:
The objectives are to understand matters that are little known. Certainly what
will be learned will pinpoint further questions, good research always does.
Adequacy of the methodology adopted:
Adequacy of the methodology adopted:
I am not an aDNA practioner I collaborate with
and design the questions for aDNA workers so I can only say that the methods
look fine as far as I can tell.
Methodology adopted and feasibility of the work plan:
Methodology adopted and feasibility of the work plan:
Again, I am not an aDNA practioner but the
methods look fine as far as I can tell. The feasibility, is something I can
comment on. The work feasibility will very largely be determined by the samples
of the species available. The temporal and spacial spread of this will be
important but so far as is shown the sampling looks very impressive. This is
often a weak point ion such applications as access to samples is an
increasingly difficult issue. I am, however, concerned about the large number
of taxa to be studied as 4 species (sheep, goats, cattle and pigs) seems very
large for a single project.
Production of innovative knowledge that can benefit society and/or has an impact in the productive system / business sector: The knowledge will definitely benefit society and can even be communicated to the public as it is a topic that attracts attention from, the media. The domestication of species is of great interest.
Production of innovative knowledge that can benefit society and/or has an impact in the productive system / business sector: The knowledge will definitely benefit society and can even be communicated to the public as it is a topic that attracts attention from, the media. The domestication of species is of great interest.
Host Condition and feasibility Feasibility and
conditions granted by the host institution to support the research project and
the career development plan:
The host institution obviously appears to have no aDNA facilities itself and I assume that the candidate is intending to set these up herself. This is a risk to the project and I am concerned not overtly mentioned! The institute does however have very good laboratory facilities for molecular biology and this is how other aDNA facilities have been started. The institution also has a good environment with students and other academics to house this initiative. The host institution is clearly aware and supportive of the plans.
The host institution obviously appears to have no aDNA facilities itself and I assume that the candidate is intending to set these up herself. This is a risk to the project and I am concerned not overtly mentioned! The institute does however have very good laboratory facilities for molecular biology and this is how other aDNA facilities have been started. The institution also has a good environment with students and other academics to house this initiative. The host institution is clearly aware and supportive of the plans.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 8.975
Weighted score: 8.975
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The scientific merit of the applicant is high, with an impressive record of publications, though not many publications in journals of high impact factor, or as first or last author. She has clear abilities and skills to execute the project presented. She has strong internationalization, both in her previous graduate formation, teaching experience in foreign universities and present collaborations in networks and international projects. The research developed so far has already made important contributions to the understanding of the evolution and conservation of domestic animal species. Importantly she has already been able to acquire her own funding, which will support the project presented. Given these strong indicators of an already mature career, efforts should be made to increase PhD and post-doc supervisions in the future.
The scientific merit of the applicant is high, with an impressive record of publications, though not many publications in journals of high impact factor, or as first or last author. She has clear abilities and skills to execute the project presented. She has strong internationalization, both in her previous graduate formation, teaching experience in foreign universities and present collaborations in networks and international projects. The research developed so far has already made important contributions to the understanding of the evolution and conservation of domestic animal species. Importantly she has already been able to acquire her own funding, which will support the project presented. Given these strong indicators of an already mature career, efforts should be made to increase PhD and post-doc supervisions in the future.
The Scientific Merit and Innovative Nature of
the project presented are high, involving exploring state-of-the -art
archaeogenetic analysis to reconstruct the origins, evolutionary trajectories
and modes of improvement of Iberian/North African domestic animal species. This
may have applied relevance for issues of animal improvement and conservation.
The methods proposed are clearly presented and adequate. Host conditions to
develop this project are exceptional.
The career development plan flows naturally from the previous experience of the applicant. The researcher already attracted her own financing and presents long-term experience with autonomous achievements, factors that are good indicators of her capacity to progress to become an independent researcher.
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External Reviewer 2
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External Reviewer 3
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Ana Cabrera
The career development plan flows naturally from the previous experience of the applicant. The researcher already attracted her own financing and presents long-term experience with autonomous achievements, factors that are good indicators of her capacity to progress to become an independent researcher.
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Vanessa Cunha
Status
Refused
Refused
Overall : 6
Comments
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 6.767
Weighted score: 6.767
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Overall assessment: The research proposal "The double postponement: men and women coping with childbearing intentions in their late 30s and early 40s" addresses an important and timely topic, and it fits perfectly with the aims of the intended level grant.
The candidate demonstrates a clear and sustained knowledge of the field, mastering both the theoretical and methodological tools to carry out this proposed research successfully. Furthermore, the candidate has previous experience of research in the topic she aims to address with her future study, and is well integrated into national networks of peers.
Overall assessment: The research proposal "The double postponement: men and women coping with childbearing intentions in their late 30s and early 40s" addresses an important and timely topic, and it fits perfectly with the aims of the intended level grant.
The candidate demonstrates a clear and sustained knowledge of the field, mastering both the theoretical and methodological tools to carry out this proposed research successfully. Furthermore, the candidate has previous experience of research in the topic she aims to address with her future study, and is well integrated into national networks of peers.
Building up from previous research experience, the proposed research design
is feasible, although the objectives could have been more clearly designed. The
methodology applied is not particularly innovative, but seems appropriate for
the intended study.
In terms of curricular profile, the candidate displays important strengths,
such as the involvement in previous research projects and networks, as well as
her experience in supervision. In addition, she has already demonstrated her
ability to secure funding, being the PI in a recently awarded research project
that included her responsibility to coordinate a team of co-workers.
Nevertheless, the candidate's profile would benefit from a stronger investment
in single-authored publications in highly recognized journals.
This application, if successful, represents the necessary step towards the candidate's establishment as an independent researcher.
This application, if successful, represents the necessary step towards the candidate's establishment as an independent researcher.
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 7.742
Weighted score: 7.742
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This project presents something important to investigate and the consideration given to second child postponement is relatively novel; I’ve not seen a similar project in the rest of the reviews I have conducted. It’s well ground in background reading and theoretic ally well-considered (though given the attention to the need for a life course approach, a discussion of corresponding life course theory, even a very brief one, was notable through its absence). The research design looks very thorough, with the various double headed approaches - in terms of macro micro, double disciplines and the interfusion of two theoretical frame works – and, especially, the inclusion of the views of men in an area where they are often not considered, all adding to a rigorous and effective methodology. The hypotheses for each strand of the research are clearly out (although quantitative hypothesis three lack precision in as much as it talks about other researcher’s position against the hypothesis), but I think there is scope to talk about the techniques to be used in the quantitative analyses. Sample details for the qualitative section of the research are provided, but there might have been some information on how these people would be accessed, and maybe some consideration of a ‘plan B’ should it become difficult to identify the correct number of participants.
I was slightly unclear on the candidate’s capacity given her fixed and funded FCT research commitments in the coming years. I suppose that would be my only concern in terms of the practicalities of getting the research done. The fact that the candidate is already engage in a project called The Double Postponement means reviewers need a better sense of how the proposed research differs from the project which is already on-going. The synergies between the two are likely to be important for the success of the project and the development of the researcher, but we also need to be sure that funding is used for the right projects which are suitable novel.
Proposed outcomes looks fine, thought relatively narrow. More detail on public engagement would have been helpful.
This project presents something important to investigate and the consideration given to second child postponement is relatively novel; I’ve not seen a similar project in the rest of the reviews I have conducted. It’s well ground in background reading and theoretic ally well-considered (though given the attention to the need for a life course approach, a discussion of corresponding life course theory, even a very brief one, was notable through its absence). The research design looks very thorough, with the various double headed approaches - in terms of macro micro, double disciplines and the interfusion of two theoretical frame works – and, especially, the inclusion of the views of men in an area where they are often not considered, all adding to a rigorous and effective methodology. The hypotheses for each strand of the research are clearly out (although quantitative hypothesis three lack precision in as much as it talks about other researcher’s position against the hypothesis), but I think there is scope to talk about the techniques to be used in the quantitative analyses. Sample details for the qualitative section of the research are provided, but there might have been some information on how these people would be accessed, and maybe some consideration of a ‘plan B’ should it become difficult to identify the correct number of participants.
I was slightly unclear on the candidate’s capacity given her fixed and funded FCT research commitments in the coming years. I suppose that would be my only concern in terms of the practicalities of getting the research done. The fact that the candidate is already engage in a project called The Double Postponement means reviewers need a better sense of how the proposed research differs from the project which is already on-going. The synergies between the two are likely to be important for the success of the project and the development of the researcher, but we also need to be sure that funding is used for the right projects which are suitable novel.
Proposed outcomes looks fine, thought relatively narrow. More detail on public engagement would have been helpful.
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 6.833
Weighted score: 6.833
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1.Curriculum Vitae (50%). The publication score of the candidate mostly consists of participating in her research group initiatives. This is a relevant contribution to disseminating the outcomes of research and consolidating teamwork, but academic standard criteria require a further endeavour nowadays. To be precise, more independent national and international publications are missing. At the same time, so far the candidate has started to supervise graduate students, but has not finished these projects yet.
1.Curriculum Vitae (50%). The publication score of the candidate mostly consists of participating in her research group initiatives. This is a relevant contribution to disseminating the outcomes of research and consolidating teamwork, but academic standard criteria require a further endeavour nowadays. To be precise, more independent national and international publications are missing. At the same time, so far the candidate has started to supervise graduate students, but has not finished these projects yet.
2.Research Project (35%). This application includes quite a relevant
project whose findings may be really informative in many ways. Methods and
planning are appropriate except for the vague reference to the use of
demographic and sociological approaches. The candidate should have specified
the contribution and the interest of each of them to her project. Normally
evaluators find many proposals mentioning academic references in a general
sense, but we cannot guess what is the specific point candidates wanted to make.
It is important since it is impinges on methodology and the concrete planning
of a research project.
3.Career Development Plan (15%). The candidate has
enough merits to qualify for a starting grant. Her experience and her
participation in a consolidated research group are also guarantees that she can
develop a career as an independent researcher. However, her career development
plan is quite unespecific in this current version. Although it suggests her
main research interests, more precision on her intentions concerning possible
professional tracks are completely overlooked.________________________________________________
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Ana Cabrera
Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The cadidate presents a CV in line with the career stage.
The research project promises to be an interesting and valuable one. The design is somewhat innovative. The background of the investigator is strong. The conceptual framework is well developed. The potential contribution to the field is significant. It is likely this study will advance the current state of the art of knowledge in the field. The benefits to business or society are notable, although further articulation of these benefits would strengthen the proposal. However it would be useful to develop an even more rigorous analysis plan. The degree of internationalization could be also further developed.
The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The cadidate presents a CV in line with the career stage.
The research project promises to be an interesting and valuable one. The design is somewhat innovative. The background of the investigator is strong. The conceptual framework is well developed. The potential contribution to the field is significant. It is likely this study will advance the current state of the art of knowledge in the field. The benefits to business or society are notable, although further articulation of these benefits would strengthen the proposal. However it would be useful to develop an even more rigorous analysis plan. The degree of internationalization could be also further developed.
The panel judged that this application did not reach high enough
priority to be funded in the present call.
Alexandra Lopes
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Life Sciences Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This evaluation report contains the final score awarded by the review panel. The discussion of the panel was conducted within the context of the reports submitted by the external reviewers. The panel closely analyzed these reviews and, while not necessarily subscribing to each and every opinion expressed, found that they provide a fair overall assessment. Based on these reviews, the panel judged that this application did not reach high enough priority to be funded in the present call.
OVERALL: 6
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.242
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 8.458
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 6.033
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(Average score= 7.244)
According to the text in the heading my application was evaluated by a review panel but there is no reference to the method/criteria used to reach an overall classification of 6 (given an average of 7.244)
The external reviewers only give general sentences to justify each "weighted score" given and therefore I must assume that the whole process is highly subjective. Moreover, none of them mentioned the fact that I was the PI of an FCT funded project on the current topic of research.
For example the overall comments of the lowest score (by Reviewer 3, classification of 6.033) were: “The candidate has a good profile, the top 10 publications are excellent and relevant for the project. Overall, the project is very interesting and promising. The work plan is precise and the objectives seem realistic. The background section is an excellent introduction to this project. The writing style is however a little bit surprising.”
He/she then suggests additional work that could be done beyond the main goals of the project (which I prefer not to disclose at this point), admitting however that: “which is of course a much broader objective than the one of the current project.”
Finally I should refer that the research plan that was the core of my application had been submitted to the FCT 2103 call for research projects and obtained a classification of 8 (although it has not been funded).
Status
ResponderEliminarRefused
Overall : 7
Comments:
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Social and Humanities Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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The final evaluation and the ranking list have been decided by a consensus in the panel during the meeting in Lisbon. The panel based its judgment on the opinions of the panel experts analyzing the proposal and on the individual reviews conducted by external referees, which have been discussed in detail by the panel.
The proposal covers an interesting project in computational linguistics. The applicant’s research profile and project management experience suggest that she is very likely to address in a professional way the research and technical questions raised by the project. The applicant has the necessary technical and scientific contacts to address many of the difficult issues that the project will raise. One question, however, can be raised about this project. There is no reference to any reading theory, neither to studies about the processes involved in learning to read or to the type of reading errors observed in different phases of learning.
The potential applications of the knowledge generated by this project are many, and the research produced could very likely turn into something commercially viable, in addition to being useful knowledge for its own sake; these are of course valuable features of the proposal. There is also a clear set of intended contributions, but the goals seem too ambitious given the time frame.
Considering that the Call was extremely competitive, many meritorious applications could not be funded at this stage.
Andreia Amaral- Scientific area: Animal Science.
ResponderEliminarDue to lack of space I have only pasted the grades.
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Life Sciences Evaluation Panel - IF 2013
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This application was not discussed in detail by the panel since it was scored below the panel threshold for discussion (average of external reviews below 6.5). The panel advises that, in accordance to the evaluation guidelines, this application should receive all scores and comments from mail reviewers.
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The overall score is the average of the external reviewers' weighted scores.
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External Reviewer 1
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Weighted score: 7.092
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External Reviewer 2
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Weighted score: 5.183
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External Reviewer 3
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Weighted score: 8.008
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External Reviewer 4
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Weighted score: 5.042
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