Category / research opportunities

Applications are now open for 2025 ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowships!

Funding opportunities, PG research

The ESRC invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships (PDF) to be based at the SWDTP institutions of University of Bath, University of Bristol, University of Exeter, Plymouth University, University of West of England, Bath Spa University, Bournemouth University and Plymouth Marjon University.

Fellowships are aimed at providing a development opportunity for social science researchers in the immediate postdoctoral stage of their career, to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their research and professional skills.

At Bournemouth University, we run a dual stage application process. Candidates must be aligned to one of the pathways to which BU belong. For BU, this means that we would be able to support applicants in one of three pathways:

In the first instance we ask potential candidates to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) and an Equal Opportunities form. The deadline for submitting the EOI & Equal Opportunities forms is January 31 2025. Both forms are available from the pathway leads.

Prior to submission of your EOI it is a good idea to have identified a mentor who will support you to develop your application. If you are uncertain on how to identify a mentor, then please contact one of the pathway leads listed above.

Following review of all EOI received, we will nominate successful applicants and support the development of a full application to the ESRC (via the SWDTP). The full application is due on 25 May, 2025. Only nominated applicants are able to complete this second stage.

For further information, please take a look at the SWDTP web pages dedicated to the postdoctoral fellowships award. Note that this includes important Eligibility criteria.

Please also note that you can register for an online information event hosted by the SWDTP. This takes place at 2-3 pm on Wednesday 20 November 2024. Register here. (A recording will be available from 25 November).

 

FoodMapp project holds mid-term meeting

Awarded & submitted bids

 

On 16-17 September 2024, FoodMapp members met for the project mid-term meeting at the Institut Lyfe, Château du Vivier​, Ecully, France​. From Bournemouth University, Prof. Jeff Bray, Prof. Juliet Memery, Prof. Katherine Appleton, and Dr. Roberta Discetti attended the meeting.

Representatives of all project partners were present, including: Universiteit Gent (UGent) Ghent, Belgium; Centre de Recherche de L’Institut Paul Bocuse (IPBR), Écully, France; Ronge & Partner GmbH (RP), Baden, Austria; Centre de Recerca en Economia i Desenvolupament Agroalimentari-UPC-IRTA (CREDA), Barcelona, Spain; Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem (ELTE), Budapest, Hungary; and University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (UZ), Zagreb, Croatia.

The Marie-Curie Staff Exchanges project representative at the European Commission, Dr Gianluca Colucci, attended the meeting online. Dr Colucci chaired the afternoon session, where project secondees had the opportunity to share their secondment experiences. All participants highlighted the positive impact Foodmapp secondments had on their personal and professional lives.

 

Foodmapp is currently in its month 19th, at 40% of completion, with further 29 months to go (60%). Project members have conducted 37 research secondments so far, equalling over 30% of the total of intersectoral and interdisciplinary exchanges among project partners. The project has already produced 8 research outputs between research papers and conference presentations.

Work Package 1 on stakeholder requirements and consumer preferences for the development of the application has been completed.  Activites on Work Package 2 (Information Engineering and Architecture Design) and Work package 3 (User Interface Development) are underway.

FoodMAPP is a European research project that will enable consumers to find and buy local food supplies, reducing waste and supporting sustainable purchases. It will develop a searchable map-based platform that will enable consumers to search and buy food products directly from local suppliers.

The four-year project has been awarded €584,200 from Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, alongside additional funding from UKRI to support BU’s continued inclusion.

 

 

Bursaries available to attend the 2024 Vitae Researcher Development Conference

conferences

A number of bursaries are available to enable researchers to attend the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2024.

The conference takes place online from 3rd-5th September and in-person in Birmingham on 23rd and 24th September.

It is the flagship annual event of Vitae, a non-profit programme to support the professional development of researchers, and will cover topics around policy and practice in researcher development.

29 bursaries are available in total – covering attendance at both the online and in-person events or the online-only elements.

The bursaries have been sponsored by UKRI, British Academy’s Early Career Researcher Network, and Wellcome – with different criteria for each.

They are available to researchers in the following categories:

  • who are, have been, or are looking to be involved in researcher networks and staff associations or committees (UKRI bursaries)
  • part of the BA Early Career Researcher Network (British Academy bursaries)
  • with an interest in equity, diversity and inclusion within the research environment (Wellcome bursaries)

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 20th August.

For more information and to apply, please visit the Vitae Researcher Development Conference website

one day a week research assistant post with Wessex Cancer Alliance

Colleagues from the Wessex Cancer Alliance are keen to appoint a research assistant (approx. one day a week for 6 months) to work with their Inequality and Involvement Strategic Lead to produce an information pack for their 20 Clinical Advisory Groups (CAGs), which sets out clear and referenced summaries of key insights and intelligence to support their work. This could be a great opportunity for a BU PGR, especially for anyone with an interest in Cancer research and care. The post holder will be hosted by Help and Care, a Wessex Cancer Alliance partner.

Further info:

Brief for research role – Wessex Cancer Alliance patient and public involvement, patient experience and inequalities

What do we need?

We are keen to build a repository of insight and intelligence to support our Clinical Advisory Groups (CAGs) with high impact summaries of patient and public experience and health inequalities.  Briefing packs for CAGs could include:

  • Information from the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey relevant to that CAG’s activity
  • Other relevant patient and public involvement insight gathered from a wide range of sources, both specific to Wessex and from national and international sources
  • Information on inequalities in access, experience, and outcome relevant to that CAG
  • Relevant information would include that which is specific to that CAG’s activity but also other information that can support the activity of the Clinical Advisory Group (e.g. general insight from cancer patients about treatment and care).

Currently, we have 20 Clinical Advisory Groups.  The cancer specific information for each group will vary, with more common cancers (e.g bowel, breast, lung, prostate) expected to have considerably more intelligence and insight available.

The Role

You will work with the Inequality and Involvement Strategic Lead to produce an information pack for each CAG, which sets out clear and referenced summaries of key insights and intelligence to support their work.  The packs will include data from existing online and published literature and resources.  Resources and reports will be stored in a searchable ‘database’ with key words enabling searching by cancer type, area/hospital Trust and where the information exists, protected characteristics.

Hours are flexible and by agreement, but we anticipate approximately 7 hours per week over a 6 month period from September 2024 with possible option to extend.

About you

We are looking for someone who can work pragmatically and at a good pace – with the ability to identify and clearly communicate key insights in a helpful, summarised format.  You will need to have good attention to detail, an enquiring mind and an interest in health, cancer and inequalities.  You will be a confident IT user with an excellent standard of written English.

For more information, please get in touch with Emma Leatherbarrow, Inequality and Involvement Strategic Lead, Wessex Cancer Alliance

Emma.leatherbarrow@wca.uhs.nhs.uk

 

MRes studentship opportunities – application deadline extended to 14th August, 2024

student research

Update about the NIHR INSIGHT programme MRes studentship eligibility which impacts on the current recruitment round.

Following consultation with the 12 regional leads for the NIHR INSIGHT programme, NIHR has agreed to Research Masters studentships being open to applicants with up to five years’ experience of practice in the health or care profession for which they hold the required registration. It is still possible to provide flexibility for instances such as career breaks or time out for caring responsibilities so long as experience of practice fits with this guidance.

In light of the above changes, the deadline for applications for the Research Masters Studentships for South West Central have been extended to Wednesday 14th August 2024 to allow for applications for those who may now meet the eligibility criteria.  Information about how to apply is available on our webpage: https://insight-southwestcentral.net/

There was also discussion about health and care professionals working on skilled worker visas and the requirements for Research Masters studentships in line with all applicants, only those with up to five years’ experience of practice (UK and international practice) will be considered. Those on skilled worker visas will need to be employed on a full-time basis and given clinical release to undertake the MRes programme (0.4FTE). The studentship stipend can be paid to employers to offset the cost of clinical/care release. However, this will mean that employers will need to subsidise the difference in salary costs. This will need to be discussed and negotiated on an individual basis where employers deem it appropriate.

If you have any queries, please contact  Carol Clark (cclark@bournemouth.ac.uk) or Theo Akudjedu  (takudjedu@bournemouth.ac.uk) or Les Gelling lgelling@bournemouth.ac.uk

RKEDF July Digest – Training opportunities for YOU!

Funding opportunities, PG research, Training

Have you heard the news!!!!!!  

We are excited to share some great RKEDF training opportunities coming up in July 2024!  

 Click on the titles to find further details and book your place!!!!  

 AHRC & ESRC: How to write an application in the new format for the Funding Service 

Thursday, July 4, 11:00 – 13:00 – Online 

The session will cover the requirements for the new UKRI application format. We will discuss the application structure focusing on AHRC and ESRC and the sections and how to complete them. The session will be framed with more general information on the various Research Councils that comprise UKRI and best practice in writing applications for external research funding. 

 Principal Investigation – Post Award for RKE 

Wednesday, July 10, 14:00 – 15:00 – Online 

This session is aimed at any researcher who is, who plans to be, a Principal Investigator for an externally funded research or knowledge exchange project.   

 New Generation Thinkers 2025 – AHRC/BBC Radio 4 

Thursday, July 11, 11:00 – 13:30 – F112 – Fusion Building – Talbot Campus 

This is our annual new generation thinkers’ workshop, where we look at the call, requirements, eligibility and having a panel chair and member’s point of view. For early career researchers and PGRs who want to share their research with the public. 

Call information: Develop your media skills with the New Generation Thinkers scheme. The scheme is a partnership between the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the BBC.  

 Building a Policy Influencing Strategy 

Friday, July 12, 9:30 – 16:30 and Thursday, July 18, 9:00 – 16:00 – Zoom 

A one-day online workshop for up to eight researchers, delivered via Zoom and facilitated by public affairs and policy consultant Carys Davis, from The Other Place.   

The session will enable participants to: 

  • develop key messages, supporting narratives and evidence, identify and map their audience, gain insight into the channels available for influencing. 

 RKEDF: ECRN: Where do you begin with Research funding? 

Friday 12th July – 10:00-12:00 – Online 

The workshop is aimed at researchers from across BU at either postdoctoral or early career stage. It will focus on funders including (but not limited to) the AHRC, UKRI, British Academy, Welcome Trust, and NIHR. 

Are you an Early Career Researcher interested in applying for research funding but unsure where to start? In this BU ERC Network special session, professional bid writing consultant Sally Baggott (PhD) offers her insights in the contemporary funding landscape for ECRs,  

 ——————————————————————————————— 

Please assist us in avoiding any waste of resources; make sure you can attend or cancel your booking prior to the session. 

 For more training opportunities, please visit the ‘SharePoint site’ here. 

 For any further information, please contact: RKEDF@bournemouth.ac.uk  

RKEDF: New Generation Thinkers 2025 – AHRC/BBC Radio 4

PG research, Training

RKEDF: New Generation Thinkers 2025 – AHRC/BBC Radio 4 – Thursday 11th July – 11:00-12:30 – F112 – Fusion Building – Talbot Campus

Facilitated by: Professor Richard Berger

This is our annual new generation thinkers’ workshop, where we look at the call, requirements, eligibility and having a panel chair and member’s point of view. For early career researchers and PGRs who want to share their research with the public.

Call information: Develop your media skills with the New Generation Thinkers scheme

New Generation Thinkers is a career development scheme for early career researchers to:

  • develop their communication and media skills
  • get their research in front of the general public

The scheme is a partnership between the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the BBC.

If your application is successful, you’ll learn how to communicate research findings to the widest possible audience.

The scheme gives participants the opportunity to:

  • create programme ideas with experienced BBC producers at workshops
  • work with the team at BBC Radio 4 to get your ideas on air
  • get media training
  • take part in a workshop around engaging policymakers
  • get involved with the AHRC-funded Being Human Festival

New Generation Thinkers has run since 2010. Each year a number of applicants are invited to create ideas with the BBC, of which we select the next cohort of New Generation Thinkers.

You can: read about the scheme’s achievements over the first 10 years – find the currently open New Generation Thinkers funding opportunity on the UKRI funding finder once it’s launched.

Previous winners: see a list of previous winners – listen to content created by previous winners on BBC Sounds (search for New Generation Thinkers) – read New Generation Thinkers magazine

Book your place here – under “New Generation Thinkers 2025″ in the drop-down menu

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact RKE Development Framework

RKEDF: UKRI Assurance and compliance for externally-funded grants

Training

Thursday 20th June – 10:00-11:30 – Hybrid – Poole House, Talbot Campus

Thursday 20th June – 13:00-14:30 – Hybrid – Gateway Building, Lansdowne

UKRI Assurance and compliance for externally-funded grants

This workshop is aimed at staff who have active UKRI-funded grants, or are in the process of applying for UKRI-funded grants. The workshop will cover; how UKRI conduct its assurance and compliance visits (audits), what you as a principal investigator or co-investigator need to be aware of, how to prepare, and the support you can expect to receive from Research Development & Support. By the end of the workshop, you’ll be aware of the common pitfalls and what you can do to ensure a positive outcome if UKRI pick your project as part of their assurance and compliance process.

The external facilitator for these sessions is Charles Shannon

Please note there is an AM and a PM session on the same day. You are invited to attend online or in person.  

Book your place here – under “UKRI Assurance” in the drop-down menu

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact RKE Development Framework

Formulating Practice Research Methods in Bid writing

Training

Formulating Practice Research Methods in Bid writing

In person event – 21st June 2024 – 11:00 – 13:00 – Create Lecture Theatre, Fusion building, Talbot campus.

This workshop is aimed at anyone trying to formulate funding proposals for grants that primarily follow a practice research method. It will look at how to formulate a practice research project, starting with the framing of the initial idea in relation to peers and relevant prior research/art, how to describe the methodology in a way that meets funding bodies requirements for transparency and rigour, and how to translate outputs into impact.

Attendees can be at any stage of a bid writing process, but should come with an idea that they want to work on, or past experiences that they can reflect on.

Book your place here under ‘Formulating Practice Research Methods in Bid writing – 21/06/2024’ in the drop-down menu.

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact RKE Dev Framework 

RKEDF: ECRN: Where do you begin with Research funding?

Funding opportunities, PG research, Training

ECRN: Where do you begin with Research funding?

Friday 12th July – 10:00-12:00 – Online

The workshop is aimed at researchers from across BU at either postdoctoral or early career stage. It will focus on funders including (but not limited to) the AHRC, UKRI, British Academy, Welcome Trust, and NIHR.

Are you an Early Career Researcher interested in applying for research funding but unsure where to start? In this BU ERC Network special session, professional bid writing consultant Sally Baggott (PhD) offers her insights in the contemporary funding landscape for ECRs, as well as a comprehensive guide on how to improve your bid writing skills, how to work with external partners, and how to apply for funding at BU. The workshop will give an overview of various funding schemes currently available to ECRs, discuss what funders look for within their subject remits and evaluation, and demystify the process of application.

The facilitator for this event is Sally Baggott – Find out more here.

Book your place here under ‘ECRN – Where do you begin with Research funding?‘ in the drop-down menu.

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact RKE Dev Framework 

RDP Masterclass in Productive Writing: Techniques, Planning, Finishing

Training

         

RDP Masterclass in Productive Writing – Wednesday 5th June – 14:00 – 17:00 – Online.

Facilitator: Dr Joanna Young

Session Summary:

How do you initiate the writing process when faced with only a blank page or a cursor incessantly blinking on the screen? Effective written communication is an essential part of academia and researchers are required to write a variety of documents including proposals, theses, papers for publication, grant proposals and books. Scholarly writing projects involve planning, drafting & redrafting, setting deadlines and collaboration.

This workshop will focus on how to start writing, how to keep going and how to finish. We will cover initiating and managing a manuscript, structure, productive writing techniques and a short introduction to new collaborative writing tools. Participants will be encouraged to consider where writing can fit into their schedule and what works best for them.

The workshop will include writing exercises, advice on making writing part of your working routine and a short section on dealing with and providing feedback.

Please book your place via the link here.

Getting in touch:

If you have any questions about this specific session or the Doctoral College Researcher Development Programme, please feel free to contact Enrica or Arabella in your Researcher Development team, as we are always happy to help: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk.

RKEDF: AHRC and ESRC – How to write an application in the New Format

Funding opportunities, Training

‘How to write an application in the new format for the Funding Service’

Friday 14th June and Thursday 4th July 2024 – 11:00 – 13:00 – Online

These sessions are aimed at to all interested in finding out about the new funding service, from ECRs to Professors.

The session will cover the requirements for the new UKRI application format. We will discuss the application structure focusing on AHRC and ESRC and the sections and how to complete them. The session will be framed with more general information on the various Research Councils that comprise UKRI and best practice in writing applications for external research funding.

Outcomes:

  • Understanding of the new application format and how to write the sections within it
  • Understanding of AHRC and ESRC

General understanding of best practice for writing an application for external funding.

The facilitator for this event is Sally Baggott – Find out more here.

Book your place here under ‘AHRC & ESRC – How to write an application in the new format for the funding service’ and select either: 14/06/ 2024 or 04/07/2024’ in the drop-down menu.

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact RKE Dev Framework 

Formulating Practice Research Methods in Bid writing

Training

Formulating Practice Research Methods in Bid writing

In person event – 21st June 2024 – 11:00 – 13:00 – Create Lecture Theatre, Fusion building, Talbot campus.

This workshop is aimed at anyone trying to formulate funding proposals for grants that primarily follow a practice research method. It will look at how to formulate a practice research project, starting with the framing of the initial idea in relation to peers and relevant prior research/art, how to describe the methodology in a way that meets funding bodies requirements for transparency and rigour, and how to translate outputs into impact.

Attendees can be at any stage of a bid writing process, but should come with an idea that they want to work on, or past experiences that they can reflect on.

Book your place here under ‘Formulating Practice Research Methods in Bid writing – 21/06/2024’ in the drop-down menu.

RKEDF: Principal Investigation – Post Award for RKE

Post-award

Principal Investigation – Post Award for RKE – Wednesday 8th May – 14:00 – 15:00

This session is aimed at any researcher who is, who plans to be, a Principal Investigator for an externally funded research or knowledge exchange project. Topics covered include:

• What is post award?
• Roles and responsibilities
• Systems
• Key policies
• Starting your awarded project
• Making changes to your project and reporting
• Hints and tips

By the end of the session, attendees will have a strong foundation of what to expect when being responsible for their awarded projects.

Book your place here – under “Principal Investigation – Post Award for RKE – 08/05/2024 – in the drop-down menu

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact Alex Morrison, Post Award Programme Manager RDS morrisona@bournemouth.ac.uk

RKEDF: ECRN – Drop in session – May

PG research

Early Career Researchers Network (ECRN) Surgeries – Wednesday 8th May – 13:00-14:00

This is an open session for all BU ECRs and PGRs, to discuss any issues around career development, or the ECR experience with the peer network, and receive advice and guidance from the network’s academic leads.

 

Book your place here – under “ECRN Surgeries” in the drop-down menu

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact RKE Development Framework

Health Innovation Wessex and UoS Intellectual Property Event

Understanding Intellectual Property to Create Health Impact (in-person)

Hosted by Health Innovation Wessex and University of Southampton

Axis Centre, Southampton Science Park, SO16 7NP

9am – 5pm

Friday 17 May 2024

Book your place here

Join us for a whole day in-person free event discussing Intellectual Property (IP) and applying it to health and medtech researchers. Expert speakers will explore how to protect IP and how to discuss inventions with unprotected IP. They will also cover implications for entrepreneurs and how to work within organisational requirements and the local support available.

Teaching will include tailored workshops. The event is funded by University of Southampton and organised by Health Innovation Wessex, and is open to:

  • Academic staff and researchers
  • Clinical staff, operational leads, and researchers from healthcare organisations within Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Dorset, who either hold or whose work may result in creation of IP.

Book your place here

Any further questions, please contact claire.martin@hiwessex.net