Academic Proposal & Application Review for ERC, MSCA, SNF, Postdoc and Faculty Applications

I support researchers with strategic, reviewer-facing feedback on grant proposals, fellowship applications, academic CVs, cover letters, research statements, and interview preparation.

Services include ERC proposal review, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship review, SNF proposal feedback, postdoc and faculty application review, and mock interview preparation.

ERC / MSCA / SNF proposal review PhD / postdoc / faculty applications CV / cover letter / research statement Mock interview and oral preparation
Request a review How the process works Academic CV

Who this is for

This service is intended for researchers preparing competitive academic applications, especially in physics, STEM, data-intensive science, detector/R&D, machine learning, and interdisciplinary technical research.

Services & Pricing

I offer strategic feedback on academic applications and proposals, with a focus on scientific narrative, reviewer-facing clarity, feasibility, ambition, CV positioning, and institutional fit. The goal is not to rewrite your work, but to help you make the strongest possible version of your own application.

I am especially well positioned to support applications in physics, STEM, large-scale scientific collaborations, detector/R&D, machine learning, and interdisciplinary technical research. I can also provide structure- and narrative-focused feedback for broader academic applications.

Perspective informed by ERC Starting Grant Step 2 selection / A ranking and MSCA evaluation experience.

Typical turnaround: 5-10 working days depending on scope, document length, and urgency. Short-deadline reviews may be possible depending on availability.

PhD / Postdoc Application Review

€300

For early-career applications

For PhD, postdoc, fellowship, and academic-position applications. I review your CV, cover letter or motivation letter, research statement, and overall application strategy.

Includes:

  • Written feedback on structure, clarity, positioning, and scientific narrative
  • Comments on CV and track-record presentation
  • Feedback on fit with the target group, institute, or fellowship
  • One 45-minute follow-up discussion

Best for: applicants who already have a draft and want a focused external review before submission.

Grant Diagnostic Review

€500

For ERC, MSCA, SNF, and related grants

A full strategic review round of one advanced grant draft. I focus on how the proposal is likely to be read by expert evaluators: the central idea, ambition, feasibility, risks, work plan, independence, and reviewer-facing clarity.

Includes:

  • One review round of one advanced draft
  • Strategic written comments
  • Reviewer-style feedback on strengths, weaknesses, and risks
  • Feedback on scientific narrative and proposal structure

Best for: applicants who have a reasonably complete draft and want to identify the highest-impact improvements.

Grant Strategy Package

€1,000

For applicants starting earlier in the writing process

A more complete package for applicants who want support before and during proposal writing. The focus is on building a strong proposal logic from the beginning: central question, ambition, feasibility, work packages, risk mitigation, and applicant positioning.

Includes:

  • One initial strategy discussion
  • Feedback on concept, structure, and proposal narrative
  • Review of one outline or early structure
  • One full proposal draft review
  • One follow-up discussion after written feedback

Best for: ERC, MSCA, SNF, and major fellowship applicants who want strategic input before the proposal is fully written.

Mock Interview / Oral Preparation

From €150 to €300

For interviews, panels, and oral defenses

Preparation for ERC interviews, fellowship interviews, postdoctoral interviews, academic job presentations, chalk talks, and oral defenses.

Includes:

  • Review of the presentation or interview narrative
  • Mock interview or oral practice session
  • Feedback on clarity, timing, slide structure, and anticipated questions
  • Strategic advice on how to present ambition, independence, feasibility, and fit

Pricing note: Pricing depends on format, preparation time, and number of mock rounds.

Request a review

How the process works

1. Scope and timeline alignment initial e-mail exchange
We confirm goals, document set, timeline, and the expected depth of feedback.
2. Written strategic feedback scheduled delivery
You receive concrete comments focused on narrative, clarity, positioning, feasibility, ambition, and fit.
3. Follow-up discussion 45-60 minutes
We review key recommendations, prioritize revisions, and define final submission steps.

Scope and pricing notes

Prices are introductory and may depend on scope, urgency, document length, and the number of review rounds. A precise scope, timeline, and deliverable list is agreed before work begins. Additional rounds, urgent reviews, or substantially longer documents may be quoted separately.

Payment is normally agreed before the review starts. For the first version of this service, payment can be arranged manually by bank transfer, Wise, or another mutually agreed method. Online payment links may be added later.

Ethics note: This is a review and consulting service, not a ghostwriting service. I do not guarantee funding, selection outcomes, interview invitations, or job offers. I do not share confidential evaluator information, and I do not advise on applications where I have a conflict of interest.

Privacy

If you contact me by email, I will process the information you send only to respond to your inquiry and, if agreed, to provide the requested consulting service. This may include academic CVs, proposal drafts, application material, reviewer comments, or related documents.

Client material is treated confidentially. I do not sell personal data and I do not share proposal or application material with third parties, unless this is explicitly agreed with the client or required by law.

You may request deletion of your material by email.