Research Division Rooms

Call for proposals to establish and run FEBS Research Division Rooms on the FEBS Network

FEBS has recently launched a new expert network platform at network.febs.org for the molecular life science community.

This FEBS Network has initially focused on ‘Channels’ of expert content for targeted audiences, such as early career scientists or people engaged in teaching molecular life sciences. However, a further important aim of the FEBS Network is to offer online forums for researchers focused on particular areas in the molecular life sciences – for staying updated, learning, support, discussion and connecting with others interested in the same topic and issues. Forum topics could be research fields (e.g. autophagy) or specific research techniques/methodology (e.g. fluorescence microscopy).

These forums will be offered as curated 'Research Division Rooms' on the site. In a given Research Division Room, there are expected to be experts (invited and approved by the ‘curator’ for the room), who can upload content to the Room and answer questions. Registered users are expected to be able to view content, follow experts, ask questions and comment.

Research Division Rooms could be open (unrestricted in number or origin of members), or closed (i.e. invitation only). Closed rooms might suit particular purposes, such as a delegates-only space associated with an event or a special interest groups, while open groups could allow wider discussion and impact. The content and discussion among members in a closed room will be seen by the members only. Some content uploaded to rooms of wider interest could be featured in the ‘Research’ Channel of the FEBS Network according to the curator’s decision and the consent of the contributor.

The FEBS Network Working Group invites ambitious and motivated researchers who are members of FEBS Constituent Societies and interested in building online communities in their subject area to submit a proposal to establish and run such a Research Division Room as the curator. Applications are also welcome from FEBS Advanced Courses organizers wishing to extend activities or the community around their event.
 

Proposals

Research Division Rooms should be proposed by a member of a FEBS Constituent Society or a FEBS Advanced Course organizer.

Curators will be responsible for recruiting experts to the room, encouraging posting and interaction from experts, overseeing content standards, and also creating content and engaging with regular members of the room. Curators and the room experts will have the potential to create a valuable online space for their research field, to facilitate knowledge exchange, education, networking and collaboration.

The informal application proposal should include the following in a single pdf:

(1) An outline of the research area to be targeted, including why an online forum on the FEBS Network is needed or may thrive, and how it may contribute to the advancement of the field
(2) Suggested text to serve as the short summary introduction to the room on the platform
(3) Names and brief written support of at least 8 initial experts (with appropriate spread of topic expertise, location and gender) who express their willingness to contribute material regularly to the research division room for at least 12 months
(4) A detailed plan for the first 6 months on how to establish the research division room
(5) Plans for ongoing interesting and useful content, interactions and further expert recruitment
(6) A note on related engagements and activities of the proposer
(7) The proposer’s CV and list of publications

Proposals may be submitted at any time by email to Prof. Laszlo Fesus (fesus@med.unideb.hu), Chair of FEBS Network Working Group, but to be included in the next period of review they should arrive by 1 September 2018. The FEBS Network Working Group is happy to help with any queries ahead of submission. Information about how we may use the details you provide with your proposal can be found in the FEBS Privacy Policy.

Selection process

Proposals will be reviewed by the FEBS Network Working Group, who may seek further expert advice from members of the editorial boards of FEBS Press journals. Each proposal will be evaluated by at least two experts.

The following will be taken into account: CV of proposer and proposed experts; earlier activities in the subject area (e.g. organization of related conferences, workshops and courses; previous society and network activities); plans for content including novel delivery; perceived interest, need and impact in the scientific or wider community.

The outcome, with additional guidance if appropriate, will be communicated by the Chair of the FEBS Network Working Group within 6 weeks of the start of the proposal review period. Following proposal approval, rooms can be started promptly

Review and longevity

It is expected that research division rooms will develop organically according to the stage of development of research areas, the enthusiasm of groups of researchers, and the interests of the wider community. The FEBS Network Working Group will conduct reviews of activity, value and reach within the Research Division Room at 6-monthly intervals. Continuation of the group will be confirmed at 1-yearly intervals. After 2 years, the curator and experts shall propose a new curator.