BU Research Blog

…repurpose unsuccessful applications amazing ideas not yet funded.

Huff, so your grant application was unsuccessful! Don’t get too comfortable in the pit of despair and generally feeling demoralised. The imposter syndrome monster eats these thoughts for breakfast!

But in all seriousness, do not to be too hard on yourself. The UK research funding systems is extremely competitive, and the reality is, even great research won’t be funded. So, see this as an opportunity to tweak the research design, get that all important key stakeholders onboard and rethink that postdoc’s training plan… so take 2 (or more).

There is so much to think about when you want to repurpose a previously unsuccessful funding application:

• What can you do to make the second iteration successful?
• Where will you apply, to which funder?
• What sort of scheme will you apply for?
• How can you increase your chances of being funded?
• Have things moved on in your field since you applied previously?
• Has any new research come out that changes the research landscape in your field?
• Do you need to update the research?
• Will you apply to the same funder, for example, if the research is a really good fit for the funder and the project is a good fit for the scheme?
• Will you apply to a different funder?
• Do you want to take a different approach to applying for funding?
• Do you want to take some time to develop your funding profile before you apply for a large-scale grant?

The list is endless, but the Research Facilitators are here to help. We offer and organise one to one support to help you get to grips with the process of reshaping an application. Prompting you to answer/think about the above questions. But if you’d prefer a group effort and peer to peer advice and guidance. The Research Facilitators are running quarterly workshop open to all who wish to repurpose an unfunded application or would like to contribute to the support of others. Scheduled dates below:

The workshop covers:

• Where to start – the things you will need to consider;
• How to approach the unsuccessful application in order to improve it;
• The fit to funder in terms of eligibility, subject remits and criteria for funding;
• The types of schemes available;
• How to pitch your research and structure the main proposal.

To book on please click HERE.