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Latest Major Funding Opportunities

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

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The Innovator of the Year Award recognises and rewards individuals and small teams who have harnessed the potential of their excellent research. The competition has three categories; commercial, social and most promising and it is designed to recognise the full breadth of impacts that BBSRC-funded research can have. Winners in each category will receive a £15,000 award, with a further £15,000 for the overall winner. Closing date for nominations: 27/10/14

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Applications are invited for responsive-mode research grants. These support investigator-led research activities can address any topic within the council’s remit. Grants may be used for research projects, technology development, equipment or use of existing facilities, new facilities or infrastructure provision, research networks and coordination, and summer schools. Short-duration activities, such as small pilot projects or proof-of-concept studies, may also be supported. Award varies. Closing date: 4pm 08/01/15

British Academy, GB. The Brian Barry Prize in political science is worth £2,500 and is awarded annually for excellence in political science, as displayed in an unpublished essay. The award is made in partnership with Cambridge University Press and the British Journal of Political Science in honour of Brian Barry, a distinguished Fellow of the Academy and founding editor of the Journal.  The winning entry will be published in the British Journal of Political Science. Closing date: 31/01/15

British Academy, GB. The Wiley Prize in Psychology, worth £5,000, is awarded annually for lifetime achievement by an outstanding international scholar. Closing date:  31/1/15

Innovate UK, GB. Biomedical Catalyst-Feasibility Studies. This joint Innovate UK and Medical Research Council programme offers grant funding through the Biomedical Catalyst and is available to UK businesses (SMEs) and academics looking to develop innovative solutions to healthcare challenges either individually or in collaboration. The award varies depending on business type and activity. Registration closing date: 18/03/2014

Innovate UK , GB. Innovate UK and the Ministry of Defence invite applications for their global navigation satellite system antenna call, for research proposals in the area of low-SWAP GNSS Multi-frequency or Wideband Antennas. Grants are worth up to £50,000 over four months in phase one. Registration closing date: 3/12/14

Innovate UK , GB. Innovate UK and the Department for Energy and Climate Change invite proposals for their heat networks demonstrator competition.  This competition aims to stimulate innovation that helps address cost and performance efficiency challenges related to heat networks. Phase one feasibility studies may be worth up to £50,000 and last from January to March 2015; phase two projects are expected to range between £100,000 and £1m and last from May 2015 to March 2016. Closing date for phase one proposals: 12 noon 28/11/14

Wellcome Trust, GB. Wellcome Trust and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology invite applications for their postdoctoral fellowships. Postdoctoral Fellowships provide four years’ support for recently qualified postdoctoral researchers to gain experience of research at the interfaces between biology/medicine and mathematics, engineering, computer, physical or chemical sciences. Closing date: 24/11/14,  5pm

Please note that some funders specify a time for submission as well as a date. Please confirm this with your RKE Support Officer.

You can set up your own personalised alerts on ResearchProfessional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s RKE Officer in RKE Operations or see the recent post on this topic, which includes forthcoming training dates up to November 2014.

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

Introducing Mr Lynch – Research Facilitator EU and International

Hello comrades.  For those of you who don’t know me I’m Paul Lynch, Research Facilitator for EU and International bids.  I work as part of the newly formed but amply able Funding Development Team. I job share with Emily Cieciura who covers Monday to Wednesday and I do Wednesday to Friday.  Although we may individually lead with particular academics, groups or projects we will be working as a seamless team!

I have worked in research in universities (Warwick, Imperial and BU) for over 20 years and can still remember when both impact and open access were more health and safety issues than research related.  Our recent team restructure is responding to the ever-changing landscape of research funding and the need to support academics with the wide range of demands funders make. I intend through the facilitator role to be able to offer greater support in the crucial early stages of proposal development, collaboration and quality assurance and in a wider context to also contribute to the infrastructure of learning, development and support that underpins a successful research university.  If you see me out and about feel free to express your opinions to, and ideas for, the new team.

Consulting my blog post guide – at this point I’m supposed to humanise myself with some light information – so here goes.  I have recently cured myself of an obsession with prime numbers that had led to me spending many hours, days and weeks writing out hundreds of numbers, charts, spreadsheets etc.  I am still uncertain if this is a cure or a bereavement.  Though previously resistant (#Luddite) I shall, in my new role, be seeing you on a social media platform shortly.  My cats are called Billy and Beryl.  Social highlight of the year stroke decade IS Kate Bush opening night Hammersmith Apollo 26th August 2014.  Jane Austen is King.  Toni Morrison is Queen. They are, obviously, equal.  If you build it they will come.

You can find out more about the FDT Team in Jo’s post and from other blog entries from my colleagues.

So, if you have an idea that might have potential for bidding via an EU scheme or working with international funders, please give Emily or me a call.

TTFN

 

P

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Crowd – Automatic Synthesis, Motion and Navigation for Computer Games

We would like to invite you to the first research seminar of the Creative Technology Research Centre for the new academic year, that will be delivered by Professor Edmond Prakash.

 

Title: Crowd – Automatic Synthesis, Motion and Navigation for Computer Games

Time: 2:00PM-3:00PM

Date: Wednesday 22nd October 2014

Room: P335, Poole House, Talbot Campus (Please note the new venue)

 

Abstract:

A huge challenge is to model, simulate, and navigate tens of thousands of characters in real-time where they actively and realistically avoid collisions with each other and with obstacles present in their game environment.

This research talk will look at the challenges and state-of-the-art solutions for deployment of crowd in computer games.

We hope to see you there,

Introducing Sam Squelch: Student Engagement Coordinator

Hello,

My name is Sam Squelch and I am currently on placement working in the research and knowledge exchange office until July 31st. My degree is in Business Studies and I will be looking to gain and develop valuable skills during my placement that I can take into my last year to help me achieve my desirable grade.

I am the student engagement coordinator working in the knowledge exchange and impact team. I will be assisting the event coordinator in the festival of learning, however my main focus will be on organising events over the course of the year engaging students with the research here at Bournemouth University.

My background is in carpentry and joinery so taking on this placement is a massive change for me, but it is a change that I am enjoying every second of. In my spare time away from work I very much have a passion for football, I enjoy playing football and also enjoy the stress of following my boyhood football club. I also enjoy socializing with my friends and enjoy reading the newspaper daily or watching the news.

Social science researchers – help identify strategically important methodological research areas

The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is consulting with the UK social science research community to identify nationally important methodological research areas. This will inform a call for proposals for new methodological research projects in 2015. The projects will form parts of a Centre with funding of £5million in total. Contribute to the consultation at http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/survey/index.php/162988/lang-en.

Introducing Alexandra Pękalski – Research Facilitator

Guidance

Hey!

I am Alexandra Pękalski (nee Peirce) and I am the Research Facilitator for the Media school, School of Tourism and The Business School. I am part of the Funding Development Team, which offers support and advice with all pre-award activities, such as horizon scanning, identifying funding opportunities and developing and submitting proposals.

So, the question you undoubtedly have is what is a Research Facilitator and what can they do for me? If you haven’t already glazed over like my friends and family. I am here to support researchers to gain funding for their research ideas/solution to societal problems!

But if you’re still with me, this really is a new and exciting role for the university and along with my three other colleagues we are here to help with the following:

  • To develop and critique your proposal
  • Help bring together research team
  • Write, review and critique text
  • Ensure your proposal meets the funder’s strategic aims
  • Suggest ideas to strengthen the content of your proposal
  • Help you form inter/multidisciplinary research collaborations
  • Facilitate internal peer review

Within my role as Senior RKE Support officer, I have worked across all 6 Schools/Faculties and have knowledge and understanding of a broad range of sponsors including European Commission, AHRC, EPSRC and Leverhulme (to name but a few!). Before the world of Research Administration I held various roles at the University such as, Programme Administrator, Planning & Resources Officer and Project & Finance Manager. I have also worked in the private sector as a Marketing Executive.

I am particularly keen to work on developing and supporting multi/interdisciplinary collaborations within the university and externally, developing a new researchers development framework and working closely with early careers researchers.

Outside of work!

I enjoy eating, not just outside of work, but all the time. Every 10 minutes.  I love food! Due to this love of food I am currently reading a booked called “French Women Don’t Get Fat”.

I am also learning Polish (if only to ensure my daughter doesn’t sail me down the river with my in-laws), am attempting to master rollerblading with the hope Bournemouth will finally get an ice rink, I can join an ice hockey team and somehow get to the winter Olympics (recently inspired by Cool Runnings).

If you’re thinking about developing a bid, and would like some guidance, advice or support, please feel free to get in touch with me or the Funding Development Team.

Tomorrow is deadline day for Fusion Investment Fund applications

Funding opportunities, Fusion

If you would like to apply to either strand of the Fusion Investment Fund, please make sure you submit your application by the deadline which is 12pm tomorrow!

No exception will be made to this deadline.

For all the strand policy documents, Fund FAQs and information about applying, please visit the FIF intranet pages.

 

Please direct all initial enquiries to the Fusion Investment Fund Co-ordinator, Sue Townrow, at Fusion Fund.

The Fusion Investment Fund is managed by Samantha Leahy-Harland.

Introducing Dianne Goodman the New RKEO Funding Development Officer for Media School

 

Hi, my name is Dianne Goodman, I am the new Funding Development Officer within the Research and Knowledge Exchange Office where I look after the Media School – which means that I support Media School academics with their Research applications/bids through the processes to submission (otherwise known as pre-award). This can include checking applications meet the guidelines of the Research Councils and other funding organisations, providing costings, sense checking proposals, obtaining institutional approvals. Previously people will know me as the Support Administrator for the Grants Academy. You will find me in Weymouth House in room W116 on Thursdays and Fridays (meetings and deadlines permitting!).

I have over 20 years of work experience in the Interior Design Business and the Banking Industry in both the UK and Canada. During this time I set up my own Interior Design Business. I have a BA First Class (Hons) in Interior Design and Furniture which is how I first came to work at Bournemouth University where I taught the 4th Year students within the Interior Design Unit framework.

 I enjoy hiking, biking and snowboarding and I relax with yoga classes, walking on the beach near where I live and making my own craft items and soft furnishings. I am very interested in recycling and I often ‘freecycle’ unwanted items. I also enjoy having a good rummage in charity shops and am a bit of a ‘magpie’. I am a big fan of Orla Kiely products and there are few moments in my life when her scribble stem leaf design is not far away from me in some form or other.

Dianne Goodman

Funding Development Officer (MS)

dgoodman@bournemouth.ac.uk
(01202) 961300

First Wessex Dementia Conference

Research themes

Tuesday 14 October saw the first Wessex Dementia conference hosted by Public Health England, NHS Wessex CSN and The Wessex AHSN. The turnout was much larger than expected demonstrating the increase in interest, enthusiasm and energy surrounding the dementia field. The timeline in the image attached shows just a small selection of projects about dementia that are happening in our region across the dementia timeline; that is from pre-diagnosis, diagnosis, post-diagnostic support to end of life care. BUDI’s work spans this care spectrum but only a handful of our projects are on this timelines as at BU alone we have been involved in 50 dementia projects in the last 2 years (we presented on our Orchestra project with the BSO, the 10 agency partnership project on Dementia Friendly Communities in Dorset we were part of, and the NHS Dorset Memory Advisory service we evaluated as well as having a very popular stand; orange stress balls proved to be particularly popular for our hard working clinical and practice colleagues!)  Taken together with the work of our colleagues from the voluntary, statutory and private sectors alongside our academic colleagues based at other Wessex Universities there is now a critical mass of work going on in our region which bodes well for those who might be affected by dementia in the future in Wessex but also for those currently living with dementia who are participating and hopefully benefiting from the groundswell of commitment to improving not just the diagnostic rate in our region (which two years ago was one of the lowest in the country) but to providing high quality support and services.

Introducing Ehren Milner: RKEO Funding Development Officer for the School of Tourism and the Business School

I am the RKEO Funding Development Officer for the School of Tourism and the Business School. My role involves supporting colleagues with sourcing and applying for research funding. I aim to help provide guidance on funding terms and conditions and guide colleagues throughout the funding application processes here at BU.

I have spent much of the past fourteen years working as a heritage consultant in the academic sector on behalf of QUANGOs. Much of this work has focused on the analysis of local authority policies and EU legislation and the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to analyse spatial data and provide socio-demographic segmentation. I’ve also given the odd lecture on IT, geochemistry and planning law.

Outside of work my interests are running, home brewing and BBQing.

 

ESRC impact prize 2015, celebrate your impact!

Impact helps to demonstrate that social science is important, that it is worth investing in and worth using.

In 2015 the ESRC is celebrating 50 years of supporting excellent social sciences. The 2015 impact prize is an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding economic and social impacts achieved by ESRC funded researchers over the last 50 years, this is one that cannot be missed.

This prize is now in its third year, growing ever more each year and brings together successes of impact from different aspects of ESRC research. This is an annual opportunity to recognise and reward the success of ESRC funded researchers who have achieved or are currently achieving, outstanding economic or societal impacts. The prize celebrates outstanding ESRC research and success in collaborative working, partnerships, engagement and knowledge exchange activities that have led to significant impact.

You are eligible for the prize regardless of how long ago you were funded, whether you were funded 50 years ago or very recently, it does not matter, as long as your research has helped change the world, provided deep insights into key social and economic questions, shaped society and made a difference, then this competition is for you, you must apply!

This competition is also looking for an impact champion, someone who has inspired, supported and encouraged others to achieve impact.

The prizes are very generous and are an added incentive to you applying for this competition. With £90,000 worth of prizes to be won, and six prize categories, what a great way to celebrate your amazing research impact. The closing date for applicants is 20th November 2014 with the awards ceremony sponsored by SAGE being hosted in central London week beginning 22 June 2015.

To see the categories, gain inspiration from previous impact prize winners or if you’re interested in applying for this fantastic opportunity, click here.

Code of Practice for the Employment and Development of Research Staff

I am delighted to share with you BU’s new Code of Practice for the Employment and Development of Research Staff. Research staff in this context are defined as staff with a primary responsibility to undertake research, including pre-and post-doctoral staff on fixed-term and open-ended contracts funded through limited period grants, named fellowships and sometimes institutional funds.

The code provides guidance on the University’s expectations for the recruitment, support, management and development of research staff in line with the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers (2008) and the European Charter for Researchers (2005). It is relevant to research staff and their managers as well as to BU staff in general. It has been written by the University’s Research Concordat Steering Group and is one of the objectives from our action plan to further align BU’s policy and practice to the seven principles of the Concordat and to further improve the working environment for research staff at BU.

This is the first time that BU has had a code of practice specifically for research staff and the document acknowledges the valued contribution made by research staff to the research undertaken at BU. The further recognition of the value of research staff and the development of career opportunities for them are key matters on which we will continue to work.

Access information about BU’s work to embed the principles of the Concordat here: http://research.bournemouth.ac.uk/research-concordat/ 

HEFCE are looking for views on a potential international REF in future…

Research assessment

HEFCE has published a survey inviting views on an internationalised system of research assessment.

This survey forms part of a project exploring the benefits and challenges of expanding the UK’s research assessment system, the Research Excellence Framework (REF), on an international basis. At the broadest level, this means an extension of the assessment to incorporate submissions from universities overseas.

This follows an invitation earlier this year from the then Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willetts, for HEFCE to provide an opinion on the feasibility of an international REF. The project belongs in a wider context of international interest in the exercise, on which HEFCE frequently provides information and advice to higher education policymakers and university senior management from overseas.

The THE ran a story about this in April 2014: HEFCE looks at overseas links for research excellence 

Responses are invited from any organisation or individual with an interest in higher education research or its assessment. The survey will be open until Wednesday 12 November 2014.

The survey only has four questions –

1. What do you think the key benefits would be of expanding the REF internationally?

2. What do you think the key challenges would be in expanding the REF internationally?

3. In view of the potential benefits and challenges overall, how supportive would you be of further work to explore the issues in more depth?

4. Have you got any further comments relating to internationalisation of REF?

To complete the survey visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/refinternationalisation

An Example of Research Informed Education

Fusion, Publishing, student research

I have been leading final year Design & Engineering “Advanced Technology & Innovation” unit. This is a 40 credit unit and 50% of the course work is assessed through a research publication.

During this unit the students had the opportunity to choose a topic for research within the area of coatings including nano coatings, structural integrity (corrosion simulation and modelling), thermodynamics, renewable energy and materials. These areas of research are supported through state-of-the-art experimental and analytical resources in Sustainable Design Research Centre and supported by significant industrial collaborations.

Final year design engineering students have been actively engaged with the research activity and were successful in publishing the following journal (open access) and conference papers.

Nugent, M., & Khan, Z. (2014). The effects of corrosion rate and manufacturing in the prevention of stress corrosion cracking on structural members of steel bridges. The Journal of Corrosion Science and Engineering JCSE, 17(16). Retrieved from http://www.jcse.org/

Grover, M., & Khan, Z. (2014). The Comparison on Tool Wear, Surface Finish and Geometric Accuracy when turning EN8 Steel in Wet and Dry Conditions. In M. Grover (Ed.), World Congress on Engineering 2014: The 2014 International Conference of Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management (pp. 1093-1097). Imperial College London: Newswood Limited International Association of Engineers. Retrieved from http://www.iaeng.org/WCE2014/index.html

Wilton-Smith, K., Khan, Z., Saeed, A., & Hadfield, M. (2014). Accelerated Corrosion tests of Waste-gated Turbocharger’s Adjustable and Fixed End Links. In High Performance and Optimum Design of Structures and Materials Vol. 137 (pp. 501-508). Southampton: Wessex Institute of Technology, UK. doi: 10.2495/HPSM140461

Dobson, P., & Khan, Z. (2013). Design considerations for carbon steel pipes materials’ selection applied in fossil powered plants subjected to wet-steam flow accelerated- corrosion review paper. Journal of Corrosion Science and Engineering, 16, 1-13. Retrieved from http://www.scopus.com/source/sourceInfo.url?sourceId=12326&origin=recordpage

Denham, L., & Khan, Z. (2013). The prevention of corrosion and corrosion
stress cracking on structural members of
fixed deep sea oil rigs. The Journal of Corrosion Science and Engineering, 16, 1-13. Retrieved from http://www.jcse.org/

The paper “The Comparison on Tool Wear, Surface Finish and Geometric Accuracy when turning EN8 Steel in Wet and Dry Conditions” was accepted in the World Congress on Engineering 2014 organised by International Association of Engineers (IAENG) at the Imperial College London 2-4 July 2014. This paper was presented at the conference. This paper has now been selected to be contributed as a book chapter which will be published by Springer.

“We are happy to inform you that Springer has invited us to publish the edited book [ Transactions on Engineering Technologies – World Congress on Engineering 2014] for our WCE 2014 and we are now inviting our WCE 2014 conference participants of selected papers for the edited book.” [extract from invitation].

Dr Zulfiqar Khan (Associate Professor)

Director Sustainable Design Research Centre

SciTech

 

Reminder For All Consumer Behaviour Researchers … A forum for discussion around CB research.

REF Subjects, Research themes

The study of consumer behaviour has always been a multi-disciplinary endeavour, so perhaps it is not too surprising that there are pockets of related research activity all around BU.  These include consumer related research clusters in the Business School, the Media School, School of Tourism and Psychology.  What is surprising is how little we are aware of each other’s work.

Given this the ICB research cluster are hosting a ‘Hands-on Information Sharing Session’ to provide a forum for discussion around CB research at BU.  The session will provide an opportunity to meet others with similar research interests and learn more about the variety of consumer research being carried out across the University through brief research presentations, followed by discussions over refreshments to look for potential cross-discipline research opportunities.

Wherever you are in BU, if you think that you would like to be part of a forum aimed at developing a stronger research presence in this area please come along to a meeting over coffee and cakes ….

‘CB Hands-on Information Sharing Session’

Wednesday 22nd October at 15:30 in TAG22, Talbot Campus.

Please could those wishing to attend let Juliet Memery know as soon as possible to ascertain likely numbers for catering purposes, and then send three Powerpoint slides (max) that briefly cover your research/interests in issues relating to consumer behaviour research to her by Monday 20th October (email: jmemery@bournemouth.ac.uk ).

All welcome – we look forward to seeing you there!

 

Training opportunity! Introducing the Mass Observation Project (1981-2014) as a data source for researchers

Training

Introducing the Mass Observation Project (1981-2014)

as a data source for researchers

 

We invite you to attend an interactive day-event for researchers and doctoral students.

 

This event will introduce you to the unique resources of the Mass Observation Project (MOP).  It provides the chance to discuss and try-out the opportunities that the MOP presents for qualitative longitudinal and/or mixed-method research.

 

The MOP is a self-selecting citizen’s writing project where individual writers have been answering sets of themed questions/directives on a range of different issues, themes and events between 1981 and present day (http://www.massobs.org.uk/index.htm).

 

At this event you will:

  • Go on a tour of the archive and its resources with staff at the archive.
  • Be ‘introduced’ to MOP writers and the topics they write about.
  • Discuss a case-study example of a longitudinal mixed-methods project at the University of Southampton, which is using MOP writing in combination with the British Household Panel Survey and the British Social Attitudes Survey.
  • Take part in a hands-on workshop where you can examine and analyse the scripts of individual writers across time.

 

This event would be suitable for any researcher – including post-graduate/doctoral researchers from a range of different disciplines (social sciences, humanities, and different science and STEM disciplines) who are considering using qualitative and/or mixed research methods.

 

The event takes place on Monday 27th October at The Keep in Brighton (http://www.thekeep.info/) – 10am to 4.30 pm. (please arrive for registration before 10)

 

The Keep is a fully accessible venue. If you require further information on accessibility, please contact moa@sussex.ac.uk.

 

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

 

There is a £16 fee to cover the costs of this event. Please book by visiting:  http://go.soton.ac.uk/61a

 

The maximum number of participants for this event is 20.  Booking for this event will close at midnight on 20th October, or when we have reached our maximum number of participants.

 

For enquiries about this event please contact Rose Lindsey tel: 02380 594442 or email: R.Lindsey@soton.ac.uk

Introducing Jenny Roddis – Research Facilitator

Guidance

Hello, I’m Jenny Roddis and I’m one of the Research Facilitators in the Funding Development Team in RKEO. Specifically, I will be working with the Faculty of Science and Technology and the School of Health and Social Care. I’ve been at BU for over ten years, so some of you already know me, but for those who don’t, I’ve previously worked in HSC as Proposal Co-ordinator followed by my role as Senior RKE Officer for all of the Schools and Faculties at various points. The Facilitator post is an exciting new venture for BU, and one I am very pleased to be undertaking.

Together with Emily, Paul and Alex, I will be offering support for bid development, ranging from horizon scanning and identifying the most suitable funder or funding stream for your idea, through to working with you to develop your ideas, identifying potential collaborators and ensuring that applications are of the highest quality. I am also responsible for managing the Grants Academy (new dates coming soon!).

I am currently writing up my Doctorate, which is exploring perspectives on and understanding of life with a long-term condition, specifically thrombophilia and asthma, from the point of view of those affected. The study uses a grounded theory approach and data has been collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings are offering some interesting insights into how people with long-term conditions use information and knowledge about their condition, and other factors which affect life with such a condition.

Obviously the Doctorate leaves little time for relaxing, but my favourite way to procrastinate is to spend time on the beach with my kindle. I’m looking forward to the day I can do this without feeling guilty!

If you’re thinking about developing a bid, and would like some guidance, advice or support, or even just someone to bounce ideas off, please feel free to get in touch.