Review af research applications

One of the main purposes of the Research Council is to support the Department’s researchers in the application process. More specifically, the Council contributes by reviewing grant applications and thereby serves an advisory role for both researchers and the Head of Department. The aim is to ensure that grant applications originating from the Department are of the highest possible quality and that the resulting research achieves the greatest possible impact—benefiting both the individual researcher’s career and the Department’s academic reputation.

The following types of grant applications should undergo review by the Research Council:

• Applications and ideas for the EU and DFF.
• Applications and ideas that cut across at least two sections/centre with a budget exceeding DKK 5 million.
• Applications and ideas with a budget exceeding DKK 10 million (e.g. for a Center of Excellence).
• Applications with a budget exceeding DKK 1 million that do not fall under the above categories.

As a general rule, the Research Council only assesses applications originating from the Department where the applicant is the Principal Investigator (PI). However, certain types of applications (e.g. EU applications) may also be relevant to submit if the researcher in question has a significant role (e.g. Work Package Lead). In such cases, the review will be limited to the relevant work package in relation to the overall project idea.

For Type 1 applications (EU and DFF), Type 2 applications (involving at least two sections/centre with a budget exceeding DKK 5 million), and Type 3 applications (budget exceeding DKK 10 million), the entire Research Council is involved. Two members of the Council provide written feedback (maximum 2 pages) focusing on how the application can be further strengthened, while the other Council members familiarize themselves with the applications. Applications must be submitted to the shared mailbox ph_fondsansoegninger@ph.au.dk no later than 2 weeks before a Council meeting. However, this deadline may be waived in special cases and by agreement with the Vice Head of Department for Research and Talent. The material is then distributed to the members of the Research Council.

For Type 4 applications (budget exceeding DKK 1 million), a 1:1 review is offered with an appointed Council member. This takes place independently of the Research Council meetings. Therefore, the submission deadline to the shared mailbox in these cases is 4 weeks before the deadline of the funding body.

We recommend that, prior to submission to the Research Council, the application:

• Has received input within the researcher’s own research environment
• Has been reviewed by the Research Support Unit (FSE) or Health Research Support

Researchers from the Department of Public Health or other departments at Aarhus University may be involved as reviewers when needed. It is aimed to identify at least one reviewer with specific experience in the funding instrument being applied for.

If you wish to have a grant application reviewed, it must be submitted to the Research Council at the Department of Public Health.

The request must include:

• Name of the principal applicant
• Section(s)
• CV
• Project title
• Funding body and type of grant
• Amount applied for
• Deadline for submission to the funding body
• Focus area for feedback

The completed template must be submitted to the shared mailbox ph_fondsansoegninger@ph.au.dk no later than 3 months before the funding body’s application deadline. The idea will be considered by the Research Council. The applicant may also be invited to give a brief presentation of the idea at a Council meeting.