Merits and capabilities in Academy Professorship

The Academy Professor funding scheme is aimed at internationally recognised high-quality researchers whose research contributes to scientific renewal, aims for scientific breakthroughs, and seeks solutions for the benefit of society.

Applicants are expected to:

be internationally recognised, high-quality researchers (with evidence in CV and publication list) who can reach the international top in their field during the Academy Professorship funding period

strengthen the quality of research within their disciplines in Finland

be able to make wide and versatile impact during and after the funding period

have concrete plans for active, top-level research even after the funding period.

The review of applications for Academy Professorship is focused on the applicant’s ability to achieve the above objectives.

The Research Council of Finland’s review criteria are in line with the principles of responsible science and responsible researcher evaluation. This means, for example, that applicants should not give journal rankings, journal impact factors or citation metrics (e.g., h-index) in their applications. Please read also Review principles for code of conduct for review.

Fill in a narrative of your merits and capabilities for reaching the international forefront on this template. The narrative must not exceed one page. The instructions and structure provided must be followed to ensure the equal treatment of applicants. See the How-to guides for the online services on our website for the technical instructions.

The narrative is submitted as a PDF appendix on the tab ‘Merits and capabilities’ in the online services. Name the attachment file as follows: Merits-and-capabilities_RCF2025_yoursurname.pdf

Content of description

The ‘Merits and capabilities’ appendix is essentially a narrative CV designed to allow the applicants to describe their interests, motivation and future plans. The narrative CV complements your separate full CV. The description should focus on the personal international research career with as many concrete examples as possible.

When writing the narrative, consider, for example, how

international collaboration and networking

major international funding

sharing of data

development of methodologies and theories

academic leadership experience

various expert positions

promotion of scientific and societal impact

will affect your capability to reach the international forefront in your field during the Academy Professorship funding period.

Instead of focusing on number of outputs, provide relevant information (with evidence in full CV, if possible) that will help the reviewers to get an overall picture of your research profile and what impact your achievements have had on individuals, teams, science, and society. With regards to your key achievements, consider ‘how’ or ‘why’ they are relevant or important, who has benefitted from your output or achievements and how.

Also familiarise yourself with section 2.2 (Competence, capabilities, expertise and expected achievements of the applicant) of the review form for Academy Professorship applications.

The ‘Merits and capabilities’ document is submitted as a PDF appendix on a dedicated tab in the online services.

The document must not exceed one page.

The paper size is A4.

The font is Calibri/Carlito 12 pt.

The line spacing is 1.

The margins are 20 mm.

The text is left-aligned.

Do not use paragraph indents.

Use a single-column layout when writing the text.

The maximum size of the PDF appendix is 50 MB.

Write the document on this template. You must not edit or delete the headings in the template. Write the document in English; the applications are reviewed by international experts.

Structure

Follow this structure in the narrative. The questions are designed to support and guide you in writing the narrative. You can use them as appropriate.

Please, delete these instructions (in blue) when preparing your text.

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Applicant’s name: Click or tap here to enter text.

Application number: Click or tap here to enter text.

Describe your academic profile and merits from the last 5-10 years.

What are your most important and impressive scientific achievements? How have you contributed to scientific renewal? What have been the turning points in your career towards becoming an internationally recognised, high-quality researcher? What kind of scientific breakthroughs have you made? How have you contributed to collection or production of data and the development of new methodologies or theories?

Please delete these instructions (in blue) when preparing your text.

Write your text here…

Describe how you plan to reach the international forefront and strengthen the quality of research within your discipline in Finland and promote societal impact during the funding period.

What would you do with this funding to reach the international forefront in your field? How will your project strengthen the quality of research within your discipline in Finland? How will you achieve wide and versatile impact during the funding period? What is the relevance and scientific potential of the proposed project?

Please delete these instructions (in blue) when preparing your text.

Write your text here…

Describe your concrete plans to continue the top-quality international research and promote wide and versatile impact after the funding period.

What are your concrete plans for international top-quality research after the funding period? What are your short- and long-term goals after the funding period? What is your scientific vision and ambition for the future? How will you promote the wide and versatile impact?

Please delete these instructions (in blue) when preparing your text.

Write your text here...