Who is this book for?

This book is for people dreaming of a successful future in science: undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and young research group leaders. It is also for the people providing support to help make these dreams come true, for example the staff of funding agencies, scientists who review grant applications, or university funding officers, career advisors, counselors, trainers, and mentors.

There is one type of grant that is becoming increasingly important for building a future in science: the career grant. There is perhaps nothing more attractive than being able to carry out plans you have proposed yourself early on in your career. A career grant can provide the funding for starting or consolidating your own research line. It is a unique and favorable feature of career grant programs that you will be competing only with applicants who are at the same career stage as you and not with more experienced people. Once you have been awarded a career grant, you will be much better equipped to apply successfully for other grants, where you will indeed have to compete with scientists from all career stages. Ideas for new projects will spin off from your career grant project and put you in the ideal position to apply for other grants.