Tagged / funding

NERC standard grants (July 17 deadline) – internal competition launched

BU research, Funding opportunities

nerc-logo-largeNERC introduced demand management measures in 2012. These were revised in 2015 to reduce the number and size of applications from research organisations for NERC’s discovery science standard grant scheme. Full details can be found in the BU policy document for NERC demand management measures at: http://intranetsp.bournemouth.ac.uk/policy/BU Policy for NERC Demand Management Measures.docx.

As at March 2015, BU has been capped at one application per standard grant round. The measures only apply to NERC standard grants (including new investigators). An application counts towards an organisation, where the organisation is applying as the grant holding organisation (of the lead or component grant). This will be the organisation of the Principal Investigator of the lead or component grant.

BU process

As a result, BU has introduced a process for determining which application will be submitted to each NERC Standard Grant round. This will take the form of an internal competition, which will include peer review. The next available standard grant round is July 2017. The process for selecting an application for this round can be found in the process document here – the deadline for internal Expressions of Interest (EoI) which will be used to determine which application will be submitted is 17th March 2016.  The EoI form can be found here: I:\R&KEO\Public\NERC Demand Management 2017.

NERC have advised that where a research organisation submits more applications to any round than allowed under the cap, NERC will office-reject any excess applications, based purely on the time of submission through the Je-S system (last submitted = first rejected). However, as RKEO submit applications through Je-S on behalf of applicants, RKEO will not submit any applications that do not have prior agreement from the internal competition.

Following the internal competition, the Principal Investigator will have access to support from RKEO, and will work closely with the Research Facilitator and Funding Development Officers to develop the application. Access to external bid writers will also be available.

Appeals process

If an EoI is not selected to be submitted as an application, the Principal Investigator can appeal to Professor Tim McIntyre-Bhatty, Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Any appeals must be submitted within ten working days of the original decision. All appeals will be considered within ten working days of receipt.

RKEO Contacts

Please contact Lisa Gale-Andrews, RKEO Research Facilitator – lgaleandrews@bournemouth.ac.uk or Jo Garrad, RKEO Funding Development Manager – jgarrad@bournemouth.ac.uk if you wish to submit an expression of interest.

NIHR Grant Applications Seminar & Support event is coming to Bournemouth 28th June 2017 – book now

BU research, Events, Funding opportunities, RKE development framework

rkeo-dev-logo-banner

RKEO are delighted to announce that the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Grant Applications Seminar & Support Event run by the NIHR Research Design Service South West (RDS-SW) is coming to BU.

The session is being held as part of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Development Framework, and will offer some insights into what NIHR are looking for in grant applications to their schemes. You’ll hear from NIHR RDS advisers on what makes a good grant proposal, and from Simon Goodwin, Research for Patient Benefit Programme Manager for the South West.  The afternoon session will consist of one-to-one appointments for those who would like to discuss their own proposal with Simon and/or an RDS adviser.  The session is open to academics from all Faculties, and clinicians in the local health service wishing to pursue research in the fields of health and social care.

Date: Wednesday 28th June 2017RKEO RKE NIHR

Time: 10:30-16:00 (please note that 1:1 appointments are available between 13:45-16:00)

Venue: Fusion Building, Talbot Campus

How to book: Registration is FREE and lunch will be provided. Places are limited and will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Find out more and register.

For further information, please contact Lisa Gale-Andrews, RKEO Research Facilitator.

HE policy update w/e 24th February 2017

innovation, international, policy, Research news, Research Training, RKE development framework, Student Engagement, Training

Jo Johnson spoke at a UUK conference today and made a number of important announcements:

  • New government amendments to the Higher Education and Research Bill. The detailed amendments have not yet been published but a Department for Education factsheet has been provided. The government amendments have been welcomed so far. See the Latest set of proposed amendments (mostly opposition amendments but some government ones too) – this will clearly grow more before the report stage starts on 6th March 2017. See more below.
  • Importantly, he announced that the subject level TEF would have a two year pilot – starting in 2017/18 but also running through 2018/19. Subject level TEF would then be formally implemented in 2019/20, with ratings that are announced around May 2020 with the Year 5 institutional level ratings. Note that it is currently not intended that subject level TEF will result in subject level fees. There was no mention of TEF for post-graduate, which was originally planned to run in year 4, so assessed during 2018/19.
  • Accelerated degrees – Jo Johnson also wrote in the Times about the government response to the consultation on accelerated degrees and credit switching (that closed last July with 1000s of responses) which will be issued shortly, and relevant changes that will be made to the HE Bill.  Apart from the headline grabbing focus on universities being able to raise fees above £13,000 a year, this consultation response will probably contain interesting stuff on credit transfers between universities.  The headline focus on fees is a little bit misleading, because this is in response to sector feedback that it isn’t possible to provide three years of teaching in two years unless fees are increased for those two years (there were many other comments about the impact on extra- and co-curricular activities, as well as cost).  The higher fees would only apply to accelerated degrees, as The Times story makes clear.
  • He also announced a number of other changes regarding institutional and research autonomy which are very helpful – more detail is given below.

HE and Research Bill – As mentioned above, the amendments continue to accumulate for the Lords report stage of the HE bill with the latest government amendments yet to be published. See the latest round up from Wonkhe here. One joint government and Labour amendment (to replace the opposition amendment passed in the House of Lords) defines institutional autonomy, and a number of others require the OfS to protect that autonomy. The definition that is proposed is set out below:

  • There is a new transparency duty – one that did seem to be an omission in the previous drafting. The TEF reflects the new focus on widening participation away from just access to progression and outcomes, but the HE Bill did not reflect this fully in the transparency duty as originally proposed. This has now been picked up, and the proposed amendment (which we have not seen yet) will require providers to publish information on levels of attainment, in addition to application, offer, acceptance and completion rates, broken down by gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background.
  • After the long and energetic discussions in the Lords about the Haldane principle, research autonomy and the many concerns expressed about the role of the Secretary of State, a number of amendments have been tabled 9but not yet published) including one explicitly about the Haldane principle
  • There is a response to the criticism of the limitations on the role of Innovation UK and some of its financial arrangements – we don’t have the detail on all of it but the business focus amendment is set out in the explanatory paper
  • As noted above, the announcement on accelerated degrees requires a change to the HE Bill to allow for higher fees for accelerated degrees – the DfE paper is clear that the overall cost of a degree will not go up – but universities will be allowed to charge more per year for the more intensive short courses.
  • On credit transfer, the proposed amendments will apparently require the OfS to monitor and report on arrangements for student transfer and a power for them to encourage and promote it.
  • There are a number of more technical amendments proposed, including to protect institutions in cases where degree awarding powers may be revoked, to protect Royal Charters and to ensure that the OfS does not meddle in institutional autonomy as regards standards. These changes will be most welcome, and BU, along with most of the sector has called for these changes, and we are looking forward to seeing the detail.

Other proposed opposition amendments include:

  • yet another attempt to change the name of the OfS – this time to the Office for Higher Education Standards. Given that the government have just confirmed that the OfS should not meddle in standards (see above), this amendment seems unlikely to pass.
  • and another attempt to address student loan repayment terms and conditions – this has been raised at every opportunity so far but has not yet been subject to a vote.

The HEFCE grant letter is out, with extensive coverage.  Research Professional report that:

  • Teaching funding will fall, representing nine consecutive years of reductions- it is due to be cut by 5 per cent in 2018-19—and the funds now also have to cover the expansion of medical schools and include trainee nurses, midwives and other health professionals. This is particularly interesting because of the theory that removing the commissioning arrangement will increase student numbers, balanced against concerns in the sector about falling applications and the real-life challenge with increasing student numbers, i.e. placements – On the latter point, Research Professional note the part of the HEFCE letter that “adds that in order to implement the Department of Health announcement that, from September 2018, the government would fund up to 1,500 additional student places in medical schools each year, the funding council should make an initial allocation of 500 places in 2018-19 “based on the capacity for growth and viability of provision in different institutions and be informed by advice from the Department of Health and Health Education England on the distribution of medical placements”
  • On PG: “The letter further asks that the funding council ensures it pays for postgraduate courses on a basis that is “consistent with and complementary to” the new postgraduate loan system. In particular the funding council is asked to prioritise science and other high cost subjects.”
  • On TEF: “It asks the funding council to continue funding the introduction of the teaching excellence framework, including the subject-level pilots, for which the budget and approach will be determined later in 2017. The letter further encourages the continued funding of the “high priority” learning gain pilots” – which may give us an idea of where TEF metrics may be headed
  • On schools: “On social mobility, government asks the funding council to continue encouraging “innovative” forms of engagement with schools, including work to identify which institutions are sponsoring or establishing schools and the support they require to achieve it.” This sounds like a slight backing away from compulsory sponsorship of schools? Or maybe just preparation for identifying those who don’t comply.
  • On research:  “the letter says that detailed allocations for the £4.7 billion of additional investment pledged in the autumn statement will be finalised in early March. The funding council is expected to distribute the additional research and knowledge exchange funding allocation in 2017-18. The £100 million announced for technology transfer, meanwhile, will be based on competitive mechanisms that the funding council will develop with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.”
  • And on student wellbeing: “The letter further asks the funding council to implement recommendations made by the Universities UK taskforce on violence, sexual harassment and hate crimes, which advocated the embedding of a zero-tolerance culture towards such incidents on campus. It also recommends the creation of an evidence base around mental health needs and services for staff and students.” The latter cross refers to a UUK good practice guide.
  • Other issues include plagiarism, credit transfer, REF, degree apprenticeships, Prevent and efficiency.

BTEC students – the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) have issued a report on BTECs and Pearson have blogged for them.  The report concludes that “Students arriving at university with BTECs account for much of the growth in students from the lowest participation neighbourhoods and other under-represented groups over the past decade. But those with BTECs face a ‘glass ceiling’ – for example:

  • only 15 BTEC students were accepted at the four most selective higher education institutions in 2015; and
  • under 60 per cent of students with BTECs at Russell Group universities complete their course.”

The report makes the following policy recommendations:

  • As the proportion of pupils achieving the highest BTEC grades (equivalent to three A-Levels) more than doubled from 17% to 38% between 2006 and 2013, the Government should evaluate whether the current system of external verification of BTECs is fit for purpose.
  • Universities should issue collective guidance on which BTECs are most valuable to students in terms of progression, as they have already done for A-Levels.
  • More prestigious universities with low numbers of BTEC students should consider bespoke access courses for BTEC students aimed at helping them adjust to the methods of teaching and assessment that are common in higher education.

Lifelong learning – The University Alliance issued a report on lifelong learning which calls for a number of actions, including setting up a UCAS style system for adult learning courses, reintroducing individual learning accounts and providing additional loans. They also mention accelerated degrees and suggest broadening the apprenticeship levy to cover such course.

Essay Mills – Jo Johnson called this week on universities to do more to stop students buying custom written essays online. He has asked the QAA to prepare guidance for universities and information for students to help combat the use of ‘essay mills’ websites as well as other forms of plagiarism and for the QAA to take direct action against those marketing the services. It looks as if the guidance will focus on making sure that universities have policies and sanctions in place.

“The Universities Minister has asked for guidance aimed at universities and information for students to help combat the use of these websites, as well as other forms of plagiarism. The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has also been tasked to take action against the online advertising of these services and to work with international agencies to deal with this problem.

The Minister is calling for the guidance to include tough new penalties for those who make use of essay mills websites, as well as the need to educate students about the potentially significant negative impacts on their future career if they are caught cheating.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson said: “This form of cheating is unacceptable and every university should have strong policies and sanctions in place to detect and deal with it“. Essay mill websites threaten to undermine the high quality reputation of a UK degree so it is vital that the sector works together to address this in a consistent and robust way.””

Brexit – The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published the terms of reference and membership of its “high level stakeholder working group on EU exit, universities, research and innovation”.

“The overarching purpose of the group is to provide a forum for BEIS, DfE, DExEU, and a broad range of UK representatives of the universities, science, research and innovation communities to discuss issues of common interest in approaching the UK’s exit from the EU. The emphasis will be on considering all factors related to research and innovation that need to be taken into account as government policy develops.”

Membership includes Jo Johnson, Madeleine Atkins, Nicola Dandridge, and the chairs of Million Plus, the Russell Group, GuildHE and the University Alliance, a couple of VCs and PVCs from the devolved administrations (Heriot-Watt, Ulster, Cardiff)  and representatives of a number of science bodies such as the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Campaign for Science and Engineering and others, CBI, RCUK, UKRI.  And Sir Mark Walport in his current role as the Government Chief Scientific Adviser.  Interestingly, none of the bodies represented are arts or social sciences bodies, which continues to demonstrate the apparent assumption in all of these groups on research as an activity that is only relevant to STEM.

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have intervened following a complaint to OIA from students that didn’t receive sufficient notice that compulsory modules had been introduced to their course. While UEA was not considered by OIA to have breached its rules the CMA have asked UEA to change its policy and consider the introduction of compulsory modules as a substantial change which would require greater timeliness of notice in future. CMA’s intervention is seen as a landmark intrusion by some. The CMA request is discussed further by Jim Dickinson and Paul Greatrix on Wonkhe. UUK also have a blog on the subject.

Latest Major Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities, Uncategorized

The following funding opportunities have been announced. Please follow the links for more information:

Arts and Humanities Research Council, GB

The AHRC invites applications for its Follow-on Funding for Impact and Engagement Scheme (FoF): Highlight Notice for AHRC’s Four Themes, which seeks to encourage innovative applications that explore new, unanticipated, pathways to impact which have emerged or evolved from research undertaken under AHRC’s four Themes: Science in Culture; Translating Cultures; Digital Transformations; and Care for the Future.

Maximum award: £100,000. Closing date: 4pm, 26/04/17.

Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council, GB

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council invites applications for the David Phillips fellowships, which provide support for researchers to establish their first independent research group. Applicants must show high potential and be able to demonstrate they are on an upward trajectory, with clear evidence of strong scientific outputs and leadership qualities required to establish their own fully independent programme of research. Awards are for five years, and include personal salary and a significant research support grant to enable fellows to establish their own independent research group. Please check call details for eligibility.

Maximum award: £1million. Closing date: 4pm, 11/05/17.

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council invites applications for its Future Leader Fellowships, which will provide support for researchers wishing to undertake independent research and gain leadership skills. The Fellowship will support the transition of early stage researchers to fully independent research leaders.

Maximum award: £300,000. Closing date: 4PM, 11/05/17.

Medical Research Council, GB

The Department of Biotechnology DBT) in India, in collaboration with Department of International Development (DFID), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), are pleased to announce a second joint call to fund global health research addressing the health needs of women and children globally. Research  will impact the ability to prevent, diagnose and manage prevalent chronic and infectious diseases facing women and their unborn children in low- and middle-income settings. Research addressing these health issues will aim to have a positive effect on the life-course of the mother and her unborn children. Proposals should only address the following issues; Anaemia (including Iron, Folate and B12 deficiency related conditions); Sexually transmitted diseases; Gestational diabetes mellitus and; Hypertensive disorders. To support the development of these trilateral partnerships a £4000 travel grant will be available to successful applicants after the concept proposal stage in order to support the full proposal development process. Interested parties must submit a concept proposal by 4pm, 12/04/17.

Maximum award: Not specified. Closing date: Invited full proposals by 4pm 14/09/17.

Natural  Environment Research Council, GB

NERC, the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) jointly invite proposals to a new three-year research programme to improve water quality. The programme aims to improve water quality by providing a better understanding of the sources and fate of different pollutants and by supporting the development of management strategies and technologies to reduce pollution levels. Proposals are sought for collaborative research projects involving researchers from both the UK and India. Interested parties must submit a notice of intent by 4pm, 30/03/17 to be eligible.

Maximum award: £450,000 (80% fEC) for UK component with equivalent in terms of research effort from DST for the Indian Component. Closing date: 4pm 26/04/17.

Royal Society, GB

The Royal Society offers Newton International Exchanges to international researchers with funding towards travel, subsistence and research expenses for either a one-off short visit to explore opportunities for building lasting networks, or for bilateral visits to strengthen emerging collaborations. Awards are currently available to researchers in Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey. Collaborations should focus on a single project with an overseas-based scientist (“the Applicant”) and UK-based scientist (“the Co-applicant”).

Maximum award: £12,000. Closing date: 15/03/17

If you are interested in submitting to any of the above calls you must contact RKEO with adequate notice before the deadline. Please note that some funding bodies specify a time for submission as well as a date. Please confirm this with your RKEO Funding Development Officer . You can set up your own personalised alerts on Research Professional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your Faculty’s Funding Development Officer in RKEO or view the blog post . If thinking of applying, why not add notification of your interest on Research Professional’s record of the bid so that BU colleagues can see your intention to bid and contact you to collaborate.

 

Interreg Visit Next Week: Last chance to sign up!

BU research, EU, Events, Funding opportunities

interreg

Tuesday 21st February, 10.30-16.00 at the EBC

Next week Interreg are coming to BU to run sessions on their funding application process and how to develop a successful application.

Interreg is an economic development programme that funds research and innovation, social inclusion, employment, climate change and resource efficiency projects which take place across EU countries and regions. These projects aim to find common solutions to common problems which exist in multiple countries. BU has been awarded and is involved in projects from the Channel, 2 Seas and Atlantic schemes.

The event will include a number of sessions including;

  • An Introduction to Interreg: The Interreg programmes, how they are different from each other and from other EU funds. This will also cover the types of project that are funded.
  • Tips on How to Develop a Good Interreg Project: Lessons from the selection process by Sallyann Stephen from The Department for Communities and Local Government, based on her experience on the Interreg project selection panel.
  • How to Apply: the two stage process going through the selection criteria and the key documents involved.
  • The opportunity to discuss your own ideas and get advice on how to develop them.

This event is open to staff from other universities and company’s across the south, if you have a network or partner that you think would be interested please invite them to book onto the event.

For further information on this event please contact: RKEDevFramework@bournemouth.ac.uk

Latest Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

The following is a snap-shot of funding opportunities that have been announced. Please follow the links for more information:

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Leadership fellows scheme – early-career researchers

These enable researchers to develop their leadership experience and capabilities as they establish themselves, and to produce innovative research that moves significantly beyond doctoral projects. Grants are worth between £50,000 and £250,000 over a period of between six months and two years.

Maximum Award: £250,000

Closing date: None open call

Collaborative research grants – São Paulo Research Foundation

These enable transitional British and Brazilian teams to carry out collaborative research projects. Grants worth £50,000 to £1 million are available for projects lasting up to 60 months (with a further £1m for Brazilian researchers provided by the São Paolo Research Foundation.

Maximum Award: £1,800,000

Closing date: None open call

COMING SOON: Follow-on funding for impact and engagement scheme: four themes

*** Applications are expected to open at in late January 2017 and to close in April 2017. Call information will be published when applications open. The following information is subject to change.

These encourage innovative applications that seek to explore new, unanticipated pathways to impact which have emerged from projects supported as a part of the following AHRC themes: Science in culture; translating cultures; digital transformations in the arts and humanities; care for the future. Grants are worth up to £100,000 each over 12 months.

Be aware this is a pre-call and there may be further conditions announced in the full call.

Maximum award: £100,000

Closing date: April 2017 (forecast)

Economic and Social Research Council

Research grants

These support individuals or teams to conduct standard research projects, large-scale surveys and other infrastructure projects or methodological developments in any area within the council’s remit. Grants worth between £350,000 and £1 million are available for projects lasting up to five years.

Maximum award: £1,000,000

Closing date: None open call

New investigator grants

These support new researchers and academics at the start of their careers to become independent researchers through gaining experience of managing and leading research projects and teams. Grants ranging from £100,000 to £300,000 fEC are available

Maximum award: £240,000

Closing date: none open call

 

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

COMING SOON: Healthcare impact partnerships

*** Applications are expected to open in February 2017 and to close in April 2017. Call information will be published when applications open. The following information is subject to change.

This funding supports projects that progress previous EPSRC funded research towards impact within a healthcare application. Proposals must address at least one of the following themes: antimicrobial resistance; novel computational and mathematical sciences; image guided therapies and interventions. The total budget for this call is £5 million.

Be aware this is a pre-call and there may be further conditions announced in the full call.

Maximum award: Not yet known

Closing date: 15 August 2017 (forecast)

Royal Society, GB

Larger Scientific Meetings

*** Applications are expected to open in January 2017 and to close in March 2017. Call information will be published when applications open. The following information is subject to change.

This funding enables scientists to present and discuss ne research in all areas of science at large (80-300) meetings. Meetings will be held from November 2017-March 2018.

Be aware this is a pre-call and there may be further conditions announced in the full call.

Maximum award: Not yet known

Closing date: 30 March 2017 (forecast)

International Exchanges Scheme – China cost-share program

This program stimulates new collaborations within the natural sciences between scientists in the UK and China in a range of scientific areas. Up to £24,000 available for travel and subsistence expenses.

Be aware this is a pre-call and there may be further conditions announced in the full call.

Maximum award: Not yet known

Closing date: 30 March 2017 (forecast)

 

If you are interested in submitting to any of the above calls you must contact your  RKEO Funding Development Officer with adequate notice before the deadline.

For more funding opportunities that are most relevant to you, you can set up your own personalised alerts on Research Professional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s/Faculty’s Funding Development Officer in  RKEO or view the recent blog post here.

If thinking of applying, why not add notification of your interest on Research Professional’s record of the bid so that BU colleagues can see your intention to bid and contact you to collaborate.

 

Interreg Visit BU 21st February

EU, Events, RKE development framework

interreg

On Tuesday the 21st February 2017 Interreg will be visiting BU 10.30-16.00 at the EBC.

Interreg is an economic development programme that funds innovation, low carbon, climate change and resource efficiency projects which take place across EU countries and regions. These projects aim to find common solutions to common problems which exist in multiple countries. BU has been awarded and is involved in projects from the Channel, 2 Seas and Atlantic schemes.

The event will be split into two parts.

The first part will include;

  • An introduction to Interreg: The Interreg programmes, how they are different from each other and from other EU funds. This will also cover the types of project that are funded.
  • Tips on how to develop a good Interreg project: Lessons from the selection process by Sallyann Stephen from The Department for Communities and Local Government, based on her experience on the Interreg project selection panel.
  • How to apply: the two stage process going through the selection criteria and the key documents involved.

The second part will have a more informal set up aimed to get you thinking, collaborating and developing project ideas.

Throughout the afternoon there will also be one to one appointments on specific project ideas with one of the Interreg facilitators. This is an excellent opportunity to develop a project and get feedback from the experts. If you would like to book a one to one session you will need to email Dianne Goodman at dgoodman@bournemouth.ac.uk. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, if you have specific preferences on the time we recommend contact as soon as possible so your request can be accommodated.

Please note that to attend the one to one session you are required to send a 1 page project summary to Paula MacLachlan, 2 Seas Territorial Facilitator p.maclachlan@interreg2seas.eu no later than 14th February. Apologies, without this ahead of time they will be unable to prepare adequately for your personal one to one session.

We have also invited the the M3 group, which includes: AUB, Bournemouth, Brighton, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Southampton Solent, Surrey, Sussex and Winchester. BU will host a networking lunch for all attendees. This is a great opportunity to learn about Interreg and how you can strengthen your applications for funding. If you would like to attend, then please book through Eventbrite.

For further information on this event please contact: RKEDevFramework@bournemouth.ac.uk

Happy New Year from your new Research Facilitator for FHSS & FST

BU research, R & KE Operations

img_4095I have recently joined the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (RKEO) as the Research Facilitator for the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (FHSS) and the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), covering Jenny Roddis’ maternity leave.

As Research Facilitator I provide support to researchers from the outset to develop their ideas, including horizon scanning and identifying potential funding opportunities, building research teams and advising on bid content and structure.

Before joining RKEO I was Clinical Research Co-ordinator in the Bournemouth University Clinical Research Unit, which entailed working closely with researchers in local NHS Trusts to facilitate collaborations with academics across BU. I have a BSc in Psychology from Cardiff University, and a background in mental health research having previously worked as a Research Assistant in Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust. Whilst there, I co-ordinated NHS grant applications, designed, costed and delivered research projects including the recruitment and assessment for a large MRC funded trial.

I look forward to meeting those I don’t yet know in the near future, but please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or queries. You can contact me by email at lgaleandrews@bournemouth.ac.uk or by phone on 01202 968258.

Interreg Visit BU

RKE development framework

interreg

On Tuesday the 21st February 2017 Interreg will be visiting BU 10.30-16.00 at the EBC.

Interreg is an economic development programme that funds innovation, low carbon, climate change and resource efficiency projects which take place across EU countries and regions. These projects aim to find common solutions to common problems which exist in multiple countries. BU has been awarded and is involved in projects from the Channel, 2 Seas and Atlantic schemes.

This event is aimed at people in the Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Isle of Wight areas and nearby cities that are new to the Interreg programme, who are confused about which programme is which, or who are just beginning to develop a project idea.

For people who are drafting an application, or who want feedback on an application they have submitted, the programmes offer other workshops. For example the 2Seas cross border programme will run a Step 1 applicants’ workshop on 27th January 2017 in Bristol, and a step 2 applicants’ workshop on 13th February, also in Bristol. These are open to all applicants in the eligible area. See www.interreg2seas.eu for further information.

Our event will be split into two parts.

The first part will include;

  • An introduction to Interreg: The Interreg programmes, how they are different from each other and from other EU funds. This will also cover the types of project that are funded.
  • Tips on how to develop a good Interreg project: Lessons from the selection process by Sallyann Stephen from The Department for Communities and Local Government, based on her experience on the Interreg project selection panel.
  • How to apply: the two stage process going through the selection criteria and the key documents involved.

The second part will have a more informal set up with interactive exercises to get you thinking, collaborating and developing project ideas.

Throughout the afternoon there will also be one to one appointments on specific project ideas with one of the Interreg facilitators. This is an excellent opportunity to develop a project and get feedback from the experts. If you would like to book a one to one session you will need to email Dianne Goodman at dgoodman@bournemouth.ac.uk. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, if you have specific preferences on the time we recommend you contact Dianne as soon as possible so your request can be accommodated.

Please note that to attend the one to one session you are required to send a 1 page project summary to Paula MacLachlan, 2 Seas Territorial Facilitator p.maclachlan@interreg2seas.eu no later than 14th February. Apologies, without this ahead of time they will be unable to prepare adequately for your personal one to one session.

The presentation is open also to the regional university network, known as the M3 group, which includes: AUB, Bournemouth, Brighton, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Southampton Solent, Surrey, Sussex and Winchester. All academics and research offices are welcome to attend. BU will host a networking lunch for all attendees. This is a great opportunity to learn about Interreg and how you can strengthen your applications for funding. If you would like to attend, then please book through Eventbrite.

For further information on this event please contact: RKEDevFramework@bournemouth.ac.uk

*Please note as Interreg programmes operate in set geographical areas you must check the programme websites to ensure eligibility.

Research Networking Scheme – Funding opportunity

Funding opportunities

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The Research Networking Scheme is intended to support forums for the discussion and exchange of ideas on a specified thematic area, issue or problem. The intention is to facilitate interactions between researchers and stakeholders through, for example, a short-term series of workshops, seminars, networking activities or other events. The aim of these activities is to stimulate new debate across boundaries, for example, disciplinary, conceptual, theoretical, methodological, and/or international. Proposals should explore new areas, be multi-institutional and can include creative or innovative approaches or entrepreneurship. Proposals must justify the approach taken and clearly explain the novelty or added value for bringing the network participants together.

Proposals for full economic costs up to £30,000 for a period of up to two years may be submitted.

This scheme operates without formal deadlines

All applications to this scheme must be submitted via the cross-council Joint Electronic Submission – (JE-S) System. If you need any assistance to use the system, please contact the JE-S helpdesk on 01793 444164 or on JesHelp@rcuk.ac.uk.

For more information click here

Public Engagement Fund – Funding call

Funding opportunities

rfp-image-620x620Wellcome exists is a global charitable foundation, both politically and financially independent. It exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive.

They currently offer number of funding schemes and one of them is public engagement fund.

Public Engagement Fund is for anyone with a great idea for engaging the public in conversations about health-related science and research. It replaces the Society, People, Large Arts, Small Arts, Development, Co-production, Capital and International Engagement Awards. Read more here.

The fund is open to anyone, including those working in:

  • the arts
  • entertainment media
  • museums and heritage
  • leisure, sport and tourism
  • education and informal learning
  • the community, charity and public sectors.

Scheme at a glance

Proposal stage:

Research and development, Production and project delivery, Developing practice and building networks

Where your activity will take place:

UK, Republic of Ireland, Some low- and middle-income countries

Level of funding:

You can apply for anything from £5,000 up to £3 million

Duration of funding:

Up to 5 years

For more information click here.

Engagement Fellowships – Funding call

Funding opportunities, Uncategorized

rfp-image-620x620

Wellcome exists is a global charitable foundation, both politically and financially independent. It exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive.

They currently offer number of funding schemes and one of them is engagement fellowships.

 

Engagement Fellowships support and develop the careers of emerging leaders in public engagement.

Engagement Fellowships are open to a wide range of people, including:

  • professional science communicators
  • academics exploring health and wellbeing (eg, biomedical or social scientists and medical historians)
  • clinicians or healthcare professionals
  • professionals working in the arts and creative industries.

Scheme at a glance

Where your audience is:

UK, Republic of Ireland

Level of funding:

Salary and research expenses covered

Duration of funding:

Up to 2 years

For more information and how to apply click here.

Latest Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

Money Bear FundingThe following is a snap-shot of funding opportunities that have been announced. Please follow the links for more information:

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Follow-on funding for impact and engagement scheme

These support innovative and creative engagements with new audiences and user communities that stimulate pathways to impact within the area of arts and humanities. Grants are worth up to £100,000 over a maximum period of one year. Smaller grants of up to £30,000 may be awarded for shorter or higher risk activities.

Maximum award: £100,000

 Closing date: None open call

Research grants – early-career route

These enable individual researchers to collaborate with, and bring benefits to, other individuals and organisations through the conduct of research related to the arts and humanities, and support researchers at the start of their careers in gaining experience of managing and leading research projects. Provides grants for projects with a full economic cost (fEC) between £50,000 and £250,000 for a varying duration up to a limit of 60 months.

Maximum award: £200,000

Closing date: None open call

Research grants – standard route

These support research projects by enabling individual researchers to collaborate with, and bring benefits to, other individuals and organisations through the conduct of research related to the arts and humanities. The standard route provides grants for projects with a full economic cost (fEC) between £50,000 and £1,000,000 for a varying duration up to a limit of 60 months.

Maximum award: £800,000

Closing date: None open call

Economic and Social Research Council

COMING SOON: UK in changing Europe – Brexit priority grants

*** The Economic and Social Research Council will shortly be inviting applications for its UK in changing Europe – Brexit priority grants. Applications are expected to open at the beginning of December and to close on 25 January 2017. Call information will be published when applications open. The following information is subject to change. These grants support additional activity, including research synthesis and potential new short-term research activity, related to the process of the UK leaving the EU. The grants will be between £100,000 and £300,000 (100 per cent fEC, with the ESRC contributing 80 per cent fEC) and for a duration of up to 18 months. The ESRC expects grants to commence on 1 April 2017.

Be aware this is a pre-call and there may be further conditions announced in the full call.

Maximum award: £240,000

Closing date: 25 Jan 17 (forecast)

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Whole energy systems scoping studies

The EPSRC/Energy systems catapult will fund up to eight studies across the six areas identified. Scoping studies are expected to be up to a maximum of nine months in duration and up to £60k (80% FEC) in value. Funding could be used for researcher time, travel, workshops and other engagement activities to further develop consortia and larger programmes of work. Interdisciplinary collaboration and consortia building within applications is strongly encouraged as is partnership and engagement activities with organisations outside of academia e.g. Government, regulators and industry.

Maximum award: £60,000

Closing date: 19 Jan 17

 Medical Research Council

Health systems research initiative fourth call – providing evidence to strengthen health systems in low- and middle income countries

This is the fourth annual call for the Health Systems Research Initiative. Up to £6million is available for funding proposals under this call.  Innovative proposals are sought from across the public health, social and biomedical sciences and must clearly identify what health system challenge is being addressed. Proposals must situate this clearly-defined challenge within an understanding of the broader health system linkages and describe how and why findings from the project have the potential to improve the health of people living in low and middle-income countries. Funding is available for research only; we will not fund the routine delivery of health services.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 24 Jan 17

Improving cross-sector comparisons – beyond QALY

This supports research into the possibility of creating a measure of quality of life or wellbeing, which would have utility across health and social care. Grants may be awarded for any period of up to five years.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 21 Jun 17 (recurring)

 

Methodological research for health and care systems modelling – identifying and measuring spillover effects

Funding supports research into methodologies for developing models which may enable identification, measurement and understanding of spillover effects in health service and public health systems.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 21 Jun 17 (recurring)

Methods research to support the use of observational data in clinical decision making – highlight notice

Funding supports the development of innovative methods for identifying, synthesising, interpreting and presenting observational data for use in guidance development and clinical decision-making, both at the national level and for individual patients, and in particular, how one may interpret and rationalise data from different sources.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 21 Jun 17 (recurring)

Royal Society, GB

Royal Society/Leverhulme Trust senior research fellowships

These enable academic researchers to be relieved of all their teaching and administrative duties and to concentrate on full-time research in all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excluding clinical medicine. A total of seven fellowships are provided each year. The fellow’s employing institution receives reimbursement for the full salary costs for the fellow. Research expenses of up to a maximum of £2,500 are available to cover the cost of consumables, equipment and travel.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 18 Jan 17 (recurring)

Wellcome Trust, GB

Research bursaries

These support individuals working on small- and medium-scale research projects based on library or archive collections supported by the trust. Bursaries are usually worth between £5,000 and £25,000 each, and may contribute towards travel, subsistence and research expenses.

Maximum award: £25,000

Closing date: 31 Mar 17 (recurring)

If you are interested in submitting to any of the above calls you must contact your  RKEO Funding Development Officer with adequate notice before the deadline.

For more funding opportunities that are most relevant to you, you can set up your own personalised alerts on Research Professional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s/Faculty’s Funding Development Officer in  RKEO or view the recent blog post here.

If thinking of applying, why not add notification of your interest on Research Professional’s record of the bid so that BU colleagues can see your intention to bid and contact you to collaborate.

Latest Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

Tcoins moneyhe following is a snap-shot of funding opportunities that have been announced. Please follow the links for more information:

Academy of Medical Sciences

COMING SOON: Starter grants for clinical lecturers

The Academy of Medical Science will shortly be inviting applications for its starter grants for clinical lecturers. The next call is expected to open in January 2017. The following information is from the previous round and is subject to change. These grants enable research-active clinical lecturers to gather data in order to develop and strengthen their research careers and bids for longer-term fellowships and funding. Grants are worth up to £30,000 each over one to two years.

Maximum award: £30,000

Closing date: 05 Mar 17 (forecast, recurring)

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Collaborative research grants – São Paulo Research Foundation

These enable transnational British and Brazilian teams to carry out collaborative research projects. The overall proposal budget should not exceed £2m. Projects may last for up to 60 months.

Maximum award: £2,000,000

Closing date: None open call

GCRF area-focused network plus call

This supports multidisciplinary, internationally collaborative programmes of activity rooted in the arts and humanities that take a place-based approach to addressing global development challenges. Projects will focus on a cluster of countries, region, or ‘area’ otherwise defined as the basis for addressing a number of interconnected development challenges within the specific context of the area in question. Funding is worth between £1.5m and £2m per project over a period of four years.

Maximum award: £2,000,000

Closing date: 18 Jan 17

 

Highlight notice for international development – research networking scheme

This aims to encourage research networking proposals which explore the contribution that arts and humanities research can make to challenges, policy or practice relating to international development. Grants are worth up to £30,000 each. An additional £30,000 paid in full economic cost may be provided to cover the costs of any international participants or activities in addition to the scheme limit.

Maximum award: £60,000

Closing date: 28 Feb 17

British Academy

APEX awards

This offers established independent researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area, an opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society. Projects may last for up to 24 months.

Maximum award: £100,000

Closing date: 13 Jan 17

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Feasibility studies – industrial systems in the digital age

These enable cross-disciplinary, foresight, speculative and risky early stage research in industry systems in the digital age or the building of a demonstrative prototype. The total budget for the programme is £600,000.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 09 Dec 16

Environmental Change Challenge Fellowships

This aims to establish a research group to answer the question of how our cities, their hinterlands, linking infrastructure, rural surround and the regions they are in, be transformed to be resilient, sustainable, more economically viable and generally better places to live. The total budget is approximately £5 million.

Maximum award: Not known

Closing date: 05 Jan 17

If you are interested in submitting to any of the above calls you must contact your  RKEO Funding Development Officer with adequate notice before the deadline.

For more funding opportunities that are most relevant to you, you can set up your own personalised alerts on Research Professional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s/Faculty’s Funding Development Officer in  RKEO or view the recent blog post here.

If thinking of applying, why not add notification of your interest on Research Professional’s record of the bid so that BU colleagues can see your intention to bid and contact you to collaborate.

Latest Funding Opportunities

BU research, Funding opportunities, Research news, Uncategorized

The following is a snap-shot of funding opportunities that have been announced. Please follow the links for more information:

Academy of Medical Sciences

SUSTAIN pilot programme

This programme enables female researchers to thrive in their independent research careers by providing interactive career development workshops, a peer support network and one-to-one mentoring. The programme covers travel to London as well as hotel accommodation and optional childcare support during the first regional workshop.

Maximum award: Unknown

Closing date: 02 Dec 16

British Academy

Conference Program

This supports conferences on subjects in the humanities and social sciences held at the British Academy’s premises in London, UK. Funding covers the costs of administration, catering, preparation of delegate packs and promotional material, and contributes to travel and accommodation costs for speakers, chairs and convenors.

Maximum award: Unknown

Closing date: 24 Feb 17 (recurring)

Economic and Social Research Council

Celebrating impact prize

The Celebrating Impact Prize, now in its fifth year, is an annual opportunity to recognise and reward ESRC-funded researchers and ESRC associates. It celebrates outstanding ESRC research and success in interdisciplinary, collaborative working, partnerships, engagement and knowledge exchange activities that have led to significant impact.

Maximum award: £10,000

Closing date: 01 Dec 16

Wellcome Trust

Research career re-entry fellowships

These fellowships provide postdoctoral scientists with the opportunity to re-establish their scientific careers after a continuous break from research of at least two years. Fellowships are tenable for four years and cover salaries, research expenses, materials and consumables, animals and travel and subsistence.

Maximum award: Unknown

Closing date: 04 May 17

Sir Henry Wellcome postdoctoral fellowships

These fellowships enable newly qualified postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to start independent research careers, working in some of the best research environments in the world. Fellowships provide £250,000 over four years, covering the basic salary determined by the host institution, and research expenses such as materials and consumables, animals, travel and overseas subsistence.

Maximum award: £250,000

Closing date: 04 May 17

 

Seed Awards in Science

Seed Awards in Science help researchers develop new ideas to make them competitive for larger awards (from us or other organisations).

Maximum award: £25,000 – £100,000

Closing date: 16 Mar 17 (recurring)

 

If you are interested in submitting to any of the above calls you must contact your  RKEO Funding Development Officer with adequate notice before the deadline.

For more funding opportunities that are most relevant to you, you can set up your own personalised alerts on Research Professional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s/Faculty’s Funding Development Officer in  RKEO or view the recent blog post here.

If thinking of applying, why not add notification of your interest on Research Professional’s record of the bid so that BU colleagues can see your intention to bid and contact you to collaborate.

RKE Development Framework: Pre-award Finances workshop on 2 November!

BU research, Research news

This informative session held in the Fusion Building will introduce researchers to Full Economic Costs (fEC), transparant approaches to costing (TRAC) and BU Financial Regulations. Guidance will be offered on how to cost projects in a way that funders will find acceptable. Training will be provided on producing the ‘Justificaton of Resources’ document required by many funders.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Understand why costs are produced using fEC
  • Gain an understanding of what are reasonable costs on applications
  • Understand why costs must be fully justified.

Please book your place on the Organisational Development webpage here.

As this session starts at 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm, please feel free to bring your lunch.

rkeo-rke-pre-award-at-bu

Research & Knowledge Exchange Development Framework: Getting started on applying for research funding – Tomorrow 27 Oct at 12.00 noon!

BU research, Uncategorized

The first session for the ‘Pre-Award at BU’ pathway called ‘Getting started on applying for research funding’ will be held tomorrow in Poole House, PG10!

This session will explore how best to adapt research in response to the changing external environment. The workshop will provide information on the best routes to funding based upon career stages and also introduce who in RKEO can support you.

By the end of this session you will:

  • Understand how best to access help with research proposals at BU
  • Identify appropriate funders for different areas of research.

Please book your place on the Organisational Development webpage here.

As this session starts at 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm, please feel free to bring your lunch.

rkeo-rke-pre-award-at-bu

Research Professional Fingerprinting – coming to you soon

BU research, Funding opportunities, Guidance

Research-Professional-logo‘Research Fingerprinting’ is a new development on the Research Professional platform that delivers highly relevant funding opportunities to researchers.

How does it work?

Using advanced, highly-targeted algorithms, in combination with their extensive industry knowledge and refined discipline taxonomy, Research Fingerprinting generates personal funding alerts for the majority of the researchers at our institution, based on publicly available information about your research interests and published work.

Once deployed, fingerprinting will perfectly match our researchers with their research interests and help deliver the most relevant funding opportunities into your inbox every week.  You will be able to edit your fingerprint if you find that the some of the disciplines do not match your research interests.

You will already have alerts set up and so when this is switched on, you will receive two alerts on a Friday.  You can compare these to see which is finding the most relelvant funding opportunities.  This should be the Fingerprint and so you can then remove your previous selected alerts.  The fingerprint will update as your research interests grow.

When will we get it?

This post is to let you know that Research Fingerprints is coming soon.  It is now available for the majority of academics but we have yet to switch it on.  We will be rolling this out shortly and will notify you via another blog post.