BU Research Blog

2 February 2026

ECR Funding Open Call: Research Culture & Community Grant – Apply now

Building on the success of our first call, we have reopened grant applications for BU’s ECRs. This is your opportunity to secure the resources you need to innovate, collaborate, and lead.

Whether you’re planning a training workshop or a creative networking event, these grants are designed to empower you to strengthen the BU research environment.

Explore our two dedicated funding streams:

Stream 1: Researcher Development

Supports the organisation of skills focused workshops, events, or initiatives.
Grants of up to £500 per activity are available.
Examples: specific research methods workshops, guest speakers, writing sessions etc.

Stream 2: Research Culture and Community

Supports the delivery of research culture and community building, well-being or social activities.
Grants of up to £300 per activity are available.
Examples: cultural and social events, wellbeing enhancing activities.

Terms

Please review the following terms before submitting your application:

No ECR should be the primary organiser of more than one activity.
Activities should be engaging and available to the full PGR community.
The organisers should be committed to promoting, delivering and evaluating the activity.
Activities must take place and be invoiced before 31 July 2026.
Activities should not duplicate those already on offer.
Contributions from other sources may complement the Doctoral College grant.
Funding will not be offered retrospectively.

Apply here by 4pm, Monday 9 March

If you have an idea that you would like to discuss before submitting your application, please contact Enrica Conrotto, Researcher Development Manager, at
researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

We look forward to seeing your ideas and supporting you in shaping the future of community and development at BU.

The Researcher Development and Culture Team

26 January 2026

Celebrating our Research: Postgraduate Research Showcase 2026

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The Doctoral College invites the BU community to the Postgraduate Research Showcase, hosted in the Atrium Gallery from Tuesday 3 February to Thursday 26 February 2026.

This exhibition features a curated selection of posters from our 17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference. It is a fantastic opportunity to explore the diverse research being driven by our Postgraduate Researchers. The selected posters will remain on display throughout the duration of the showcase, allowing you plenty of time to visit and engage with the work.

Join us for the Launch Event

To kick off the exhibition, we are hosting a celebratory launch event. This is a chance to network with fellow researchers, meet academics, and show your support for the PGR community.

Wednesday 4 February 2026
3-4pm
Atrium Gallery, Poole House, Talbot Campus
Cheese and wine will be provided (with vegan and non-alcoholic options available).

Register your place via Eventbrite here

Please note there will be no virtual exhibition this year, so make sure to stop by the Atrium Gallery in person to experience the showcase. If you would like a taste of the energy from our recent conference, you can catch highlights and images from the event on YouTube.

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating the incredible contributions of our Postgraduate Researchers

6 January 2026

UKCGE Recognised Research Supervision Programme

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UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor Programme

Whether you’re just starting out in supervision or already experienced, you can apply for national recognition of your doctoral supervision through the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE).

There are two levels of recognition, based on your experience:

Recognised Supervisor (Full Award) – for those who have supported doctoral candidates through to final examination and completion.

Recognised Associate Supervisor – for those who have not yet supervised candidates to completion and/or who contribute to supervision in an informal capacity.

Why apply?

UK universities are increasingly prioritising supervisor development to enhance research culture and doctoral support. The Research Supervisor Recognition Programme (RSRP) encourages supervisors at all levels to engage in structured self-reflection, using the Good Supervisory Practice Framework to identify strengths and target areas for growth.

Key Benefits of RSRP Awards:

Structured Self-Reflection: Evaluate your methods and decision-making.

Benchmarked Excellence: Map your practice against national standards.

Professional Growth: Identify clear pathways for improvement, whether applying for Full or Associate awards.

BU already has over 30 recognised research supervisors, and you could be next.

How to apply

Write a reflective account of your supervisory practice aligned with the Good Supervisory Practice Framework.

Submit your application using the relevant form:

Recognised Supervisor Reflective Account Form Word 56.37KB

Recognised Associate Supervisor Reflective Account Form Word 55.72KB

Your application will be peer-reviewed by a two-person panel. Whatever the outcome, you will receive detailed feedback.

UKCGE | Frequently Asked Questions

To complete your application, please ensure we receive a formal approval email sent directly from your Associate Dean Research, Innovation and Enterprise to researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk. This confirmation is required before the application can move to the final review stage.

For more information, to register your interest, or to discuss your application, please email Julia Taylor (Doctoral College) at researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

Please note: The Doctoral College will cover the cost of applications submitted by BU supervisors.

Application Deadlines

BU Window Closes – 9am, Monday 16 March 2026

UKCGE Window Closes – Friday 20 March 2026

Expected Outcome – June 2026

Complete applications should be submitted to Julia Taylor (Doctoral College) at researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk by the above deadlines.

Supporting Workshop

Supervisory Lunchbite | UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor Scheme

This session provides an introduction to the UKCGE Good Supervisory Practice Framework and the two levels of recognition:

Recognised Supervisor (Full Award)

Recognised Associate Supervisor

Staff attending this session will be able to:

Understand the application process for UKCGE recognition (including deadlines and timescales)

Apply the UKCGE Best Practice Framework to their own supervisory experience

Appreciate the wide-ranging, highly complex and demanding set of roles that modern research supervisors undertake to perform the role effectively

Register here

5 January 2026

3C Event: Research Culture, Community & Cookies – Tuesday 13 January 10-11am

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Behind every successful grant and impact case study, is a dedicated support team. Join us at our next 3C event to meet the Research & Innovation Services staff in person. Discover the specialised support available to help you navigate and succeed on your research journey.

No slides, just support

Grab a coffee and a cookie, and have an informal chat with the Research and Innovation Services Team. No appointments, no formal presentations, just a chance to connect with the people behind your research support services. The same friendly 3C atmosphere you love, now with added expertise.

Who’s joining us?

The following RIS staff members will be joining us to answer your questions or simply say hello:

Shumana Begum – Research Governance Adviser
Claire Fenton – REF Lead
Eva Papadopoulou – Research Grants Manager (Pre-Award)
Julia Taylor – Head of Doctoral College
Alex Morrison – Research Grants Programme Manager

Event Details

Date: Tuesday 13 January

Time: 10-11am

Location: Room K103, Kimmeridge House, Talbot Campus

How to join: Find out more and register here

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions about the event, please do get in touch with the Research Development & Culture Team: researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

21 November 2025

Final day of the ESRC Festival of Social Science

Festival of Learning, Fusion themes, international, PG research, Public engagement, REF Subjects, Student Engagement Edwin van Teijlingen

Saturday 8th November was the final day of the national Festival of Social Sciences (FoSS), which was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Many universities across the Uk organised a wide-ranging set of events. Bournemouth University (BU) organised six events, and on the last day it put up a public-engagement event around its Sonamoni research project at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) building in Poole. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged 6-24 months in Bangladesh, yet it rarely receives the same attention as other global health issues. The Sonamoni project, led by Bournemouth University and the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), is an interdisciplinary collaboration with the University of Southampton, the University of the West of England (UWE), the RNLI, and Design Without Borders (DWB) in Uganda.

This £1.6m project has been made possible thanks to a grant from the UK’s National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) through its Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme. Sonamoni is in the process of developing practical, community-based solutions to reduce drowning among 6-24 months’ old children.

The FoSS event at the RNLI earlier this month was presented by BU academics John Powell and Edwin van Teijlingen with a major contribution from BU’s PhD student Md. Shafkat Hossain, whose doctoral studies focuses on the local community’s understanding of, and engagement with, the Human-Centred Design element of the Sonamoni project. Prof. van Teijlingen, from BU’s School of Health & Care, introduced the project and he highligthed the harmony between the different social science disciplines of the members of the international research team as well as the interdisciplinary nature of this collaboration. The FoSS event was prepared and supported by BU’s Yasemin Oksel Ferraris and Claire Fenton.

One of the ideas generated by the Sonamoni project, which involves local community involvement at all stages of the study, is a low cost playpen to keep young children save. John Powell MBE outlined the Human-Centred Design process and the eight potential solutions it generated. The FoSS event on the Saturday morning focused particulary on the design stages of the playpen, from concept to a model that could be tested in the field in rural Bangladesh. The colourful first batch of playpens in the photo are ready to be taken to families to be tested in the two field sites. The audience of the FoSS event was particularly interested ways the researchers in Bangladesh managed to get and keep the community involved in this very applied research.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery and Women’s Health

20 November 2025

ECR Funding Open Call: Research Culture & Community Grant – Application Deadline Friday 12 December

Funding opportunities ballen

Research Culture & Community Grant – Relaunch with dedicated ECR Funding

Following the success of the Doctoral College Research Culture & Community Grant for our PGR community, we are excited to announce a new funding strand specifically for Early Career Researchers.

This is your opportunity to secure dedicated funding to develop your ideas, build essential collaborations, and grow professionally within BU’s research environment.

We have set aside grants to support ECR-led social and/or academic events. Whether it is a social mixer, a focused training workshop, or a creative new initiative, we want to empower you to enhance the BU research culture and community.

Which stream is right for your idea?

We have two dedicated streams to support a diverse range of activities:

Stream 1: Researcher Development

This stream supports the organisation of skills-focused workshops, events, or initiatives designed to build research capacity.

Grants Available: Up to £500 per activity
Examples: Specialised research methods workshops, inviting an external guest speaker, or dedicated academic writing sessions.

Stream 2: Research Culture & Community

This stream supports initiatives focused on community building, well-being, or social activities that enhance the overall research culture at BU.

Grants Available: Up to £300 per activity.
Examples: Cultural and social events, or activities specifically designed to enhance researcher well-being.

Key Terms & Conditions

Please review the following terms before submitting your application:

One Activity Limit: No ECR should be the primary organiser of more than one activity.

Community Reach: Activities should be engaging and made available to the full PGR community.

Commitment: Organisers must be committed to promoting, delivering, and evaluating their activity.

Timeline: Activities must take place and be invoiced before 31 July 2026.

Originality: Activities should not duplicate those already on offer elsewhere within the Doctoral College or wider University.

Match Funding: Contributions from other sources are welcome to complement the Doctoral College grant.

Non-Retrospective: Funding will not be offered for activities that have already taken place.

Ready to apply?

If you would like to discuss your ideas before submitting your application, we encourage you to get in touch. Please contact Enrica Conrotto, Researcher Development Manager at researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

The closing date for all applications is 4pm, Friday 12 December 2025

Apply here

We look forward to seeing your ideas and supporting you in shaping the future of community and development at BU.

The Researcher Development and Culture Team

17 November 2025

Register now to attend the 17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference – Wednesday 3 December 2025

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Register now to attend the 17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference, hosted by the Doctoral College.

Join us for a day of showcasing some of the excellent research taking place across BU by our postgraduate research community. This event provides a platform for our postgraduate researchers to present their research, share insights, and engage in meaningful discussions with peers, university colleagues, and external partners.

Date & Time: Wednesday 3 December, 9am-4:30pm

Location: Fusion Building, Talbot Campus

This year, the Poster Exhibition will take place in FG04 & FG06, Fusion Building, with viewings taking place in the morning and during the lunch break. Oral presentations hosted in Share Lecture Theatre in the Fusion Building.

Read the full brochure here

Whether you’re a researcher, academic, colleague, or just interested in the cutting-edge work happening at BU find out more and book your place here

14 November 2025

SPROUT: Embedding Sustainability in Doctoral Research Practice

PG research ballen

Join us for the first SPROUT network event of 2025/26 – a collaborative session between Bournemouth, Cardiff, and Durham Universities exploring how sustainability and impact can be embedded in doctoral research practice.

We’re delighted to invite postgraduate researchers and early career researcher to the first SPROUT event of the 2025/26 academic year.

SPROUT the Sustainability and Postgraduate Research Network is a collaboration between Bournemouth University, Cardiff University, and Durham University. The network aims to explore how sustainability and impact can be embedded within our research practices, collaborations, and everyday academic lives.

Event Overview

Date: Wednesday 19 November 2025
Time: 1-2pm
Format: Online (via Microsoft Teams) and in person at INSPIRE, Fusion Building, Talbot Campus, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB
Host University: Bournemouth University
Organisers: BU academic and PGR leads, in collaboration with Cardiff & Durham Universities
Theme: Personal and Institutional Sustainability: Embedding Sustainable Practice in Doctoral Research
Open to: Doctoral and early career researchers across all disciplines

About the Event

Join the SPROUT hybrid event, a new network uniting BU, Durham, and Cardiff Universities to embed sustainability and impact in research collaboration.

This interactive one-hour session explores how sustainability can shape both our research and our daily practices as postgraduate and early career researchers. Together, we’ll consider:

What does sustainability mean personally, institutionally, and academically?
How can we make our research processes more sustainable and ethical?
What practical steps can we take as a community?

Meeting Objectives

Reintroduce the SPROUT network for the 2025/26 academic year
Explore how sustainability can be understood and practised at personal, institutional, and research levels
Create space for doctoral and early career researchers to share experiences and connect
Promote opportunities for participation and leadership in future SPROUT events

Why Attend?

If you’re a doctoral or early career researcher interested in embedding sustainability and ethical practice into your research, this session offers:

A chance to connect with peers across three UK universities
Inspiration on integrating sustainability into your research and everyday academic activities
A collaborative space to share experiences, challenges, and ambitions for more sustainable research cultures

How to Join

Participation is free, but registration is required – please sign up via [SPROUT: Embedding Sustainability in Doctoral Research Practice Tickets, Wed 19 Nov 2025 at 13:00 | Eventbrite].
After registering, online attendees will receive a Teams link by email.

For further information, please contact Dr Tahani Mohamed at tmohamed@bournemouth.ac.uk.

We look forward to seeing you at the first SPROUT event of the new academic year and to working together to embed sustainability in doctoral research practice.

7 November 2025

Join the 17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference – Wednesday 3 December 2025

Knowledge Exchange, PG research ballen

17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference: Register now

Register now to attend the 17th Annual Postgraduate Research Conference, hosted by the Doctoral College.

Join us for a day of showcasing some of the excellent research taking place across BU by our postgraduate research community. This event provides a platform for our postgraduate researchers to present their research, share insights, and engage in meaningful discussions with peers, university colleagues, and external partners.

Date & Time: Wednesday 3 December, 9am-4:30pm

Location: Fusion Building, Talbot Campus

This year, the Poster Exhibition will take place in FG04 & FG06, Fusion Building, with viewings taking place in the morning and during the lunch break. Oral presentations hosted in Share Lecture Theatre in the Fusion Building.

Whether you’re a researcher, academic, colleague, or just interested in the cutting-edge work happening at BU find out more and book your place here

The detailed programme will be available soon.

4 November 2025

Exciting Opportunities for Early Career Researchers

Knowledge Exchange, Training ballen

We are delighted to share upcoming events from the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA ECRN) Southwest & South Wales cluster. These are fantastic opportunities for networking, skill development, and engaging with key topics relevant to ECRs in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

SWSW Connect Online Community Meeting: Research Culture and Excellence Frameworks

Date & Time: Tuesday 11 November, 12-1pm

This is a monthly online meeting for ECRs in the humanities and social sciences. It is a space to network, share knowledge, and support each other across the region. November’s session will focus on how ECR research can contribute to the research culture environment and to key UK frameworks: Research Excellence (REF), Knowledge Exchange (KEF), and Teaching Excellence (TEF).

Register on the BA ECRN Portal to find out more and book

Reaching Out: Forming Interdisciplinary Connections

Date: Tuesday 18 November, 10am-4pm

Location: University of Exeter

This in-person workshop is for ECRs who want to work together on research projects that cross different disciplines. The goal is to teach ECRs how to find partners, start these interdisciplinary projects, and gain better insights and funding advice from experienced researchers.

Register on the BA ECRN Portal to find out more and book

Development Fund Workshop: The Impact of the ‘Impact Agenda’

Date & Time: Thursday 27 November, 10:30am-5:30pm

Location: The British Academy, London

This workshop will examine the effect of the ‘impact agenda’ on the professional development and career paths of ECRs in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. It will bring together ECRs, senior academics, and policy actors to develop practical recommendations for improving impact training and career progression.

Register on the BA ECRN Portal to find out more and book

SWSW Webinar Series

The SWSW Webinar Series brings monthly knowledge and skill-based content from engaging expert speakers.

Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation

Date & Time: Thursday 4 December, 11am-12pm

Directors of the University of Exeter’s SHArD 3D Lab will present an overview of successful Knowledge Exchange initiatives. They provide specialised training, workshops, and research solutions for the heritage and emergency services sectors. The presentation highlights insights from their experience in departmental business engagement and impact leadership.

Register on the BA ECRN Portal to find out more and book

Research Impact Culture: AHRC and ESRC Impact Accelerator Accounts

Date & Time: Friday 5 December, 10am-12pm

This workshop introduces Impact Accelerator Accounts (IAA): research council funds provided to universities to develop a research impact culture. The session will cover the concept of research impact, examples of IAA-supported projects, and the aims of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) IAA programmes. Participants will learn about available internal IAA support and funding to help researchers translate their work into real-world impact.

Find out more and book here

Stay Connected

We encourage all Early Career Researchers to join the BA ECRN Portal and ECRN platform for continuous updates on events, funding opportunities, and other resources relevant to your career development.

Our Researcher Development Hub is now available as your dedicated space to easily find resources and development opportunities for your research career stage.

24 October 2025

Don’t miss our Researcher Social – 3C Event: Research Culture, Community & Cake Wednesday 12 November 3-4 pm

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Don’t miss our researcher social taking place on Wednesday 12 November from 3-4 pm.

The Doctoral College is excited to invite all members of BU’s Research Community for this informal social. If you are looking for a relaxed, easy way to meet new people and chat about your work, this is it.

This is a fantastic opportunity for all researchers to connect, exchange ideas, or even start a new collaboration.

Why you should join us:

This informal forum is the perfect place to:

Meet fellow researchers from across the university.
Share your own research and hear what exciting projects others are working on.
Develop new connections and expand your network.
Ask any questions you might have, especially if you are new to the BU research environment.

Event details

Wednesday 12 November, 3–4 pm
F202, Fusion Building, Talbot Campus
Complimentary Refreshments

Find out more and register here

We look forward to seeing you there.

If you have any questions about the event, please do get in touch with the Research Development & Culture Team: researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

24 October 2025

BU PhD student attending HIV conference on scholarship

conferences, PG research, student research Edwin van Teijlingen

Congratulations to Tom Weeks, PhD student in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences at Bournemouth University, who has been awarded a scholarship from Gilead Sciences to attend the 2025 British HIV Association (BHIVA) Conference. His PhD research focuses on HIV stigma in the UK. Tom is supervised by Dr. Pramod Regmi (Principal Academic in International Health) and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen. The BHIVA conference features key sessions including:

What’s happening in HIV in 2025: New guidelines, new data, and new plans
Towards zero HIV transmission by 2030: Where are we now and where do we go next?

Tom is eager to engage with the latest developments in HIV care and contribute to the ongoing dialogue around stigma reduction and equitable access to treatment.

Well done!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen & Dr. Pramod Regmi

14 October 2025

ECR Funding Open Call: Research Culture & Community Grant – Apply Now

Funding opportunities ballen

Research Culture & Community Grant – Relaunch with dedicated ECR Funding

Following the success of the Doctoral College Research Culture & Community Grant for our PGR community, we are excited to announce a new funding strand specifically for Early Career Researchers.

This is your opportunity to secure dedicated funding to develop your ideas, build essential collaborations, and grow professionally within BU’s research environment.

We have set aside grants to support ECR-led social and/or academic events. Whether it is a social mixer, a focused training workshop, or a creative new initiative, we want to empower you to enhance the BU research culture and community.

Which stream is right for your idea?

We have two dedicated streams to support a diverse range of activities:

Stream 1: Researcher Development

This stream supports the organisation of skills-focused workshops, events, or initiatives designed to build research capacity.

Grants Available: Up to £500 per activity
Examples: Specialised research methods workshops, inviting an external guest speaker, or dedicated academic writing sessions.

Stream 2: Research Culture & Community

This stream supports initiatives focused on community building, well-being, or social activities that enhance the overall research culture at BU.

Grants Available: Up to £300 per activity.
Examples: Cultural and social events, or activities specifically designed to enhance researcher well-being.