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Every new opportunityfor research fundingfrom every sponsor inthe UK, EU, US & beyond
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9 March 2016
Updated daily at www.ResearchProfessional.comFounded by William Cullerne Bown
The University of Birmingham is looking to make com-pulsory redundancies in a number of departments,
partly in response to the results of the 2014 ResearchExcellence Framework.
Since the REF 2014 results, announced in December
2014, Birmingham has sought redundancies in its schoolof engineering and the departments of modern languag-es, neuroscience, pharmacology and hydrogeology.
The university is understood to be considering making24 compulsory redundancies among 87 members of staff.
Staff in the modern languages department are the
latest to go through the redundancy process. At thebeginning of February, Birmingham announced that up
to 12 members of staff with teaching-focused contracts
could be made redundant, and that the department would then create 10 research-active posts. Staff have
been told that this change, which will be implementedby autumn 2017, is to strengthen the department fol-lowing the results of REF 2014. In the exercise, 21.7 per
cent of the department’s outputs were rated 4* and50.4 per cent were rated 3*, placing it in the bottom
third of the modern-languages unit of assessment.The university said in a statement that the REF was
one of a range of factors for its decision.
Research Fortnight understands that some staff whose jobs are at risk were moved from research toteaching contracts ahead of the submission dead-
line for the first REF. However, staff have been toldthat the strategy, which aimed to give the remaining
research-active staff more time to carry out high-qual-ity research, has not been effective. The university hasalso told staff that National Student Survey results
and the department’s performance in national leaguetables, justified the proposed changes.
A consultation document seen by Research Fortnight
suggests that the university had considered closing itshydrogeology department. In the document, the uni-
versity said that the decision was prompted in part byby an assessment of submissions made to REF’s main
panel B, which was published in January 2015 by theHigher Education Funding Council for England. Thissaid, “Hydrogeology appears to be in decline and there
is concern at the apparent loss of national expertise.” Although the assessment did not refer to a specificuniversity or department, just a few universities have
expertise in this area.Following the consultation, the university has rowed
back on these plans and will now continue to provide a
hydrogeology masters, but with just two teaching-onlyposts. The university confirmed that it was now onlyseeking one compulsory redundancy in hydrogeology.
In late 2015, the University and College Union calledfor Birmingham to delay the redundancies. In response,
the university said that any delay could “adversely affect
our submission to the next REF, which will prove damag-ing to the long-term success of the university and the
level of research-grant income awards it wins”.In a statement sent to Rese ar ch Fort night on
7 March, the Birmingham branch of the UCU said that
it “opposes any use of ambiguous REF results to jus-tify disinvestment in research and people”. Last week,
the branch voted to take a formal ballot on industrialaction against the proposed compulsory redundancies.If members are in favour, two week-long strikes will
take place in April and June, followed by an ongoingone-day-a-week strike starting in the autumn term.
The university said in a statement that it took
redundancies seriously and that it anticipated the“overwhelming majority” of posts would be lost
through voluntary measures. “We continue to work with those who are potentially affected to try and findsuitable alternative arrangements,” the university said.
“The University of Birmingham is a large organisa-tion, with 7,000 employees, and incommon with other leading research
universities, we are focused ondeveloping and innovating our
research in areas [in which] we canexcel and ensuring that our stu-
dents receive the highest standardof teaching, informed by outstand-ing research,” the statement said.
by James Field [email protected]
Shadow business secretaryAngela Eagle talks policy – p6
Budget allocations Global challengesfund could be bad news for ESRC – p4
Stern action Reimagining the REF – p20-21
Birmingham cuts jobsahead of REF 2021Union branch prepares for rolling strikes
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Firms say government has one-track-mind on innovation
The business lobby group the CBI has said that the “excessive fixation” on commercialisation of
research is obscuring a variety of routes to innovation. In response to a government consultation,
the CBI said that the plan to bring Innovate UK under the proposed umbrella body Research UK would diminish the agency’s impact and undo progress made in supporting business innovation.
Statistics authority calls for quicker access to public data
The UK Statistics Authority has said that it wants easier access to government data to improve
its publications. In response to a consultation on how the government should improve its use
of data, the authority said that “piecemeal” legislation in the area had hampered government
efforts to improve efficiency. The authority said that it wanted sources of government data to be
better linked, to avoid making separate requests for individual datasets from different bodies.
Amazon cloud computing offers researcher discount Amazon Web Services, a cloud-computing provider, has said that it will waive its charges for
data transfer by researchers. Egress charges, which cover data transfer from Amazon Web
Services to the internet, typically account for around 3 per cent of a researcher’s total bill. The
maximum discount will amount to 15 per cent of a researcher’s total monthly spend. There is no
charge to upload data or to move data across related products.
MPs reject vice-chancellors’ plea for FOI exemption
An independent group of MPs asked to assess the Freedom of Information Act has recommended
that obligations on the respondent be stricter than at present. The Independent Commission on
Freedom of Information said in a report that it was not convinced by arguments put forward by vice-chancellors that universities should be exempt from the FOI Act because it put them at a
competitive disadvantage compared with their private counterparts.
Charity chairman to take over as dementia envoy
David Mayhew, chairman of Alzheimer’s Research UK, is to become the government’s next
champion for research on dementia. The envoy’s job, which has been held by Dennis Gillings
since February 2014, is to promote the UK’s interests in dementia research to companies and
politicians in the UK and around the world.
UK scientists ‘don’t need the EU’ for collaboration
Angus Dalgleish of the pro-Brexit group Scientists for Britain, has said that UK scientists do not
need a supranational entity in order to form collaborations with researchers overseas. Giving
evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on 1 March, Dalgleish, an
oncologist at St George’s, University of London, said that universities would still see an influx of
European researchers and students in the event of a Brexit.
Working internationally muddles national research assessment, report finds
More than half of the research outputs used to assess the UK research base are created in
collaboration with countries competing with the UK in international rankings, a report from
Universities UK and consultancy Digital Science has said. The report found that quantitative
analysis of research in different countries was not effective because so much frequently citedresearch came from “a shared output of networked projects”.
w h a t ’ s g o i n g o n
Research Fortnight, 9 March 2016 what’s going on 3
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The funding settlement for the Global ChallengesResearch Fund could have an adverse effect on some of
the research councils’ other work, experts have said.The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
published budget allocations for the research councils,the Higher Education Funding Council for England andthe national academies for this parliament on 4 March.
As well as outlining the individual councils’ budgets,it detailed their contributions to the global challenges
fund for research that will help the developing world.The fund will distribute £1.5 billion up to 2020-21 and
is worth £1bn over the spending review period, which
runs from 2016-17 to 2019-20. The four national acad-emies combined will pay in and manage £45 million until2019-20; the research councils will contribute £346m.
During this period, the Arts and Humanities ResearchCouncil and the Economic and Social Research Council
will contribute £25m and £35m, respectively, equating
to about 6 per cent of their resource budgets. In contrast,the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
will contribute £55m or 1.73 per cent of its budget.
Kieron Flanagan, senior lecturer in science and tech-nology policy at the University of Manchester, said that
the settlement might pose a particular problem for the
ESRC, which already spends a larger slice of its budgeton programmatic research, as opposed to responsive-
mode funding, than other councils. “It’s a very difficulttrade-off for the ESRC,” he said.
Meanwhile, Paul Nightingale, professor of strategy
and deputy director of the Science Policy Research Unitat the University of Sussex, said that it was not clear why
the councils with the smallest budgets were contribut-ing proportionally the most.
In addition to the councils’ contributions, there will
be an “unallocated” stream for interdisciplinary research,amounting to £377m up to 2019-20. However, Nightingalesaid that, due to a consistent lack of incentives for people
to build interdisciplinary careers, some researchers hadmoved to industry or restricted their focus to one disci-pline. “The fund is assuming there is a healthy ecosystem
for interdisciplinary research in the UK and there isn’t.”In a statement issued on the same day as the allo-
cations, Research Councils UK acknowledged that
councils’ resource budgets and the creation of the GlobalChallenges Research Fund would “create pressures” on
the councils and “may necessitate difficult decisions”.
Global challenges fund weighs
heavily on smaller councils
NHS England is getting ready to overhaul its network of
national clinical directors, including cutting eight posts.Most of the present cohort of 24 clinical directors—who
provide expert advice and research on conditions and
services ranging from obesity and diabetes to emergencypreparedness and critical care—are coming to the end of
three-year terms. Their number is expected to be cut aspart of an ongoing review of NHS England’s clinical advi-sory mechanisms led by Bruce Keogh, the organisation’s
national medical director. A spokesman for NHS England told Research Fortnight
that the organisation saw an opportunity to “streamline
and strengthen” its network—even though the review hasnot yet been finalised—because the secondment agree-
ments with external research institutions for most clinicaldirector positions end on 31 March.
From April, the directors will fit into an updated
structure that reflects NHS England’s “improvement pri-orities”, the spokesman said. The roles will fall into three
categories: major programmes, including cancer, mentalhealth and maternity; service improvement, includingdementia and emergency preparedness; and population
groups, such as children and older people.Geraldine Strathdee, national clinical director for men-
tal health, said the directors were a crucial link betweenhealth care providers and government. “It is a false premise
that if you get the structures and policy documents right, it will all just happen. It’s about using the leaders at the frontline who can make the change to good clinical practice.”
However, the changes mean that there will no long-er be clinical directors for certain conditions or fields,including neurology, pathology and renal disease.
Alex Massey, senior policy and campaigns adviser at thecharity the Neurological Alliance, said that the decision
to drop the role of national clinical director for neurology was a real step back.
“When [the appointment was made] in 2013 it was
seen as strengthening the quality of clinical leadershipfor neurology and giving the service a dedicated voice
at senior level,” Massey said. “It is a key role for mak-ing sure that neurology has parity of representation andfocus compared with other conditions.”
NHS to scrap a third of national clinical directors
4 news Research Fortnight, 9 March 2016
n e w s
by Anna McKie [email protected]
by Cristina Gallardo [email protected]
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Jisc bolsters cybersecurity in wake of
attack on high-speed network
Research Fortnight, 9 March 2016
The UK’s higher education ICT agency Jisc is planning an
upgrade to its Janet network in response to a denial-of-service attack in December.
Jisc’s chief executive Paul Feldman told Research
Fortnight that the agency was working hard to improveJanet, its high-speed network for UK research and edu-
cation institutions. This includes increasing its technicalcapacity with a mid-term upgrade and investing more inthe team that manages the network’s security systems.
The sustained denial-of-service attack in Decemberresulted in disruption and limited connectivity for
users across the UK, and forced Jisc to close its websitetemporarily.
“It was a malicious attack,” Feldman said. “It was ini-
tially aimed at a particular institution in the north-westof England, but then it became an attack on the widerJisc infrastructure.”
He added that Jisc’s dedicated Computer Securityand Incident Response team is usually able to fend offattacks, but that this one was particularly well-funded.
The attacker, whose motive and identity are still notknown, also kept changing tactics, making it harder
to respond. “The attacker did some things we’d never
seen before, so it took us a bit of time to find the rightdefence,” Feldman said. “That’s why this attack had a
particularly widespread impact.”
As a result, Jisc is now building and investing in pro-tection from denial-of-service attacks. “The key message
is, rest assured that we’ve learnt lessons and we’re mak-ing additional investment in the network to make it even
more resilient to attacks,” Feldman said.Jisc is also facing pressure to remain competitive
to retain universities’ subscriptions. At the moment,
the agency receives more than 80 per cent of its fund-ing from government and 10 per cent from compulsory
university subscriptions. However, from the start of the2017-18 academic year, universities will be able tochoose whether to subscribe to Jisc’s services.
Jeremy Sharp, director of strategic technologies atJisc, said that the agency was “confident, but not com-placent” that universities would stick with it. Traffic to
the network is doubling every two-and-a-half years, hesaid. The aim is for it to support speeds of up to 600 giga-bits a second in the next two to three years.
Another option would be for universities to pick andchoose the services they want from Jisc, but Feldman
said that the agency would prefer to continue with the
“all you can eat” bundle subscription. “We think mostuniversities will want access to everything we do, but
we’re willing to have that conversation.”
by Lindsay McKenzie [email protected]
news 5
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
has proposed to stop publishing or narrow the scope of 39of its statistical reports, as budget cuts begin to take effect.
In a consultation document published on 25 February,
Defra said that the proposed changes would affect pub-lications on agriculture, environment, rural, forestry,
fishing and animal and plant health. The department, which will cut its costs by 15 per cent during this parlia-ment, said that it was looking to scale back to essential
data gathering. The changes would increase efficiencyand reduce the burden on survey respondents, it said.
Defra publishes about 140 official statistical reports
a year and is proposing changes to 39 of these, includ-ing plans to stop seven of them. The publications to
be discontinued include an annual survey of industryinvestment in environmental protection and Air Quality
Statistics in the UK , a report on levels of certain pollut-
ants across the UK, also published yearly.Defra said the information contained in the latter
was available elsewhere, but James Longhurst, assis-tant vice-chancellor for environment and sustainabilityat the University of the West of England, told Research
Fortnight that the loss of a collated dataset could be aproblem. “It will be more difficult for researchers and the
public to access the data in the future,” he said.Martin Williams, former head of the air-quality pro-
gramme at Defra, said that the department should stopprinting hard copies of the statistics to save costs, andthat “interesting but not essential” analysis could also go.
But the spreadsheet of the basic statistics, which usuallymakes up the bulk of a report, should not be cut, he said.
The department also wants to stop collecting data on
numbers of poultry in the UK, to reduce the detail andfrequency of the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural
Environment survey—which looks at the public use ofgreen spaces—and to carry out the Farm Practices Surveyonce every four years instead of twice a year.
A spokesman for Defra said that the department was“highly responsive, open and data-driven” and that the
proposed changes were to make sure that it “continuesto meet departmental and user needs while offering thebest possible value for taxpayers and businesses”.
Defra plans to cut back on official statisticsby James Field [email protected]
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Research Fortnight, 9 March 20166 news
Sounding boardAs Labour remains in listening mode, Rebecca Hill talked to shadow business secre-tary and ministerial veteran Angela Eagle, seeking hints on future policy directions.
‘I have a problem
with stripping
departments to
their bare bones so
they can’t even dothe day job.’
“Angela is running late,” the shadow business secretary’s
adviser tells me over the incessant ringing of the divisionbell calling MPs to vote, as I follow him through the green-
carpeted warren of corridors towards Angela Eagle’s office.The office is in a prime location, in the corner of the
Palace of Westminster with spectacular views of the
Thames. On her notice boards, an array of campaign postersspeak to her parliamentary experience. She was first elect-
ed Labour MP for Wallasey in 1992 and has held ministerialor shadow ministerial positions under four Labour leaders.
How have the first six months in Jeremy Corbyn’s
shadow cabinet been, I ask once she’s arrived. “Well, it’shectic,” she says. “The brief is really huge and it’s veryspread about. It ranges from consumer protection to sci-
ence—which is a big area in itself—to business and trade.”Nonetheless, Eagle seems to be enjoying the chal-
lenge, especially the economic side of her brief. (Eagle
had been tipped for the role of shadow chancellor, beforeit went to Corbyn’s close ally John McDonnell.)
But what about the science and technology side?
Eagle namechecks a few of the places she’s visited—theSynchrotron Radiation Source at Daresbury, east London’s
tech hub, the aerospace company Reaction Engines inOxfordshire—and reels off topics that have sparked herinterest, notably big data and virtual engineering.
When I ask how the government should be supportinginnovation, she says that her main concern is that it “isn’t
spending enough”. Money spent on R&D, Eagle argues,is seed-corn investment for the future. She singles outgovernment proposals to convert some of Innovate UK’s
grants to loans for particular criticism. “I’m not certainthat a loan structure is remotely applicable to some of
these areas of high-risk innovative developments,” Eaglesays. “I just think that will put people off.”
Labour has committed to creating an innovation pol-
icy and to increasing R&D spending to 3 per cent of GDPif it were to get into power. But it has yet to get down to
specifics. In the meantime, those
high up in the party are keen toshow that they’re listening to
experts. McDonnell has appoint-ed an all-star cast to advise himon economics, and Eagle has just
named financier and former Nikeexecutive Anthony Watson as
head of her business panel. Will we see advisory groups in
other areas, I ask—maybe some-
thing for academia? “We’ve got to make sure that we
focus our policymaking in a way that doesn’t just create vast numbers of groups so we spend our whole time call-
ing meetings and not doing anything,” Eagle says. “I’mnot in a position to announce whether I’ll have a sciencegroup or not. I think the key thing is that we demon-
strate that we’re interested in new ideas.”But what about the Conservative government’s poli-
cies? The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’plan to slash spending and its number of sites and partnerorganisations by 2020 is dominating discussion for those
working with the department. “It’s all driven by the needto cut spending. It’s not been driven by a strategy thatmakes any sense,” Eagle says. “It’s just very short-sighted.
The time when this huge wave of change is coming—that’sprecisely the time you need more investment.”
But BIS is a big department, I counter; shouldn’t it
be able to make some savings? “I don’t have a problem with making certain that departments work effectively
and efficiently,” Eagle replies. “I do have a problem with
stripping them down to their bare bones so they can’teven do the day job.” Her comments echo concerns
voiced by academics and policy wonks; the government,she says, is trying to change too many things at once. If
you do that, “you inevitably mess it all up—you’ve got to
leave some structures in place”, she says.Despite clearly being exercised by the issue, Eagle’s
agenda for the next few months will be dominated by theUK’s referendum on European Union membership. She’scampaigning for the UK to remain, but, she says, that
doesn’t mean she thinks the EU is perfect. “Far from it.It can be a frustratingly difficult institutional structure
to operate in.” Having been a member of a number of EUcouncils in her time as a minister, Eagle has first-handexperience of those frustrations. But, she adds—citing her
role in negotiating the European arrest warrant and ban-ning white asbestos—in general, the EU “produces good”.
Eagle acknowledges that immigration is a concern for
many people but, she says, “they’re not worried abouttip-top scientists coming to do a year here—they’re wor-
ried about the implications of low-skilled immigrationthat drives wages down.” She insists that open, up-frontconversation is what’s needed rather than “pursuing a
crude numbers game”, as she says the previous two gov-ernments have done. “I think that conversation is quite
easy to have when you can speak to people about it, rath-er than sloganise it.”
More to say? Email [email protected]
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funding opportunitiesevery new opportunity every discipline
NIHR horizon scanningThe National Institute
for Health Research
invites applications for its
horizon scanning research
and intelligence centre
competition. The budget is
worth up to £10 million [8].
MRC Malaysia healthThe Medical Research
Council and the Academy
of Science, Malaysiainvite proposals for their
UK-Malaysia joint health
research call. The budget
is worth £4 million [10].
NERC/BBSRC aquacultureThe Natural Environment
Research Council and
the Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences
Research Council, via the
UK aquaculture initiative,
invite outline proposals
for innovation projects.
The budget is worth up to
£1.2 million [11].
Innovate UK/DH vaccinesInnovate UK, on behalf of
the Department of Health,
invites applications
for its competition on
new vaccines for globalepidemics. The total
budget is worth up to
£10 million [12].
Vehicle dynamicsThe Rail Safety and
Standards Board invites
applications for its vehicle
dynamics competition.
The total budget is worth
£4.5 million [20].
Research Fortnight9 March 2016
Opportunities from previous issues of
Research Fortnight , listed by closing
date. European Commission and
associated funders marked EU.
Each entry is followed by a Web id
March
N O T T O B EP H O T O C O P I E D
For subscriptions call +44 20 7216 6500
d e a d l i n e sf o c u s p o i n t s
17 EU Horizon 2020: Industrial
Leadership H2020-INNOSUP-2016-2017 for a betterinnovation support to SMEs – topic5 1186208
EU Horizon 2020: InnovativeMedicines Initiative Joint Undertak-ing H2020-JTI-IMI2-2015-07 IMIseventh call for proposals – twostage 1188183
MRC biomedical catalyst – regenera-tive medicine research committee
1167138 National Research Fund Luxem-
bourg/Aides à la Formation-Recherche PhD programme 1159901
National Research Fund Luxem-bourg/Aides à la Formation-Recherche public private partner-ships PhD and postdoctoral grants 1159906
NERC environmental risks to infra-structure – knowledge exchangefellowship call 1188238
NERC marine renewable energy –knowledge exchange fellowship 1187385
NERC open knowledge exchangefellowships 1188776
NERC/BBSRC aquaculture knowl-edge exchange fellowship 1187850
NERC/Marine ManagementOrganisation knowledge exchangefellowship – advancing the uptakeof scientific research in marinemanagement 1188323
Sarcoma UK grants 1179993
EU Shift2Rail H2020-S2R-JU-2015-01 call for proposals 1188165
EU Shift2Rail H2020-S2R-JU-2016-01 open call for proposals 1188166
18 Alzheimer's Society clinician and
healthcare professionals trainingfellowships 1169483
Alzheimer's Society junior fellow-ships 1169481
Alzheimer's Society PhD student-ships 258082
CRUK/DH experimental cancermedicine centres – 2017-22 Quin-quennium 154831
DFID social accountability in the de-livery of social protection 1188639
EU European Chemical IndustryCouncil long-range researchinitiative innovative science award
261055 European Federation of Immu-
nological Societies travel grants 1172627
ScotGov Chief Scientist Office clini-cal academic training fellowshipscheme 1161514
ScotGov Chief Scientist Office clini-cal research fellowship in progres-sive supranuclear palsy 1188009
STFC Innovation Technology AccessCentre challenge competition 1161003
WHO global polio eradication initia-tive call for proposals 1158074
Worshipful Company of Armourers &Brasiers Venture prize 1170012
19 ESRC/Future Cities Catapult
knowledge exchange fellowship 1179016
20 Biochemical Society Krebs memorial
scholarship 251982
British Mycological Society smallgrants 213758
European Association for ChineseStudies/Chiang Ching-kuo Founda-tion library travel grant 211921
21 American Statistical Association
Julius Shiskin award for economicstatistics 187838
British Ecological Society outreachgrants 1168904
British Ecological Society researchgrants 1168900
British Society for Oral and Maxil-lofacial Pathology research andscholarship grants 205261
EU Joint Programming Initiativeon Antimicrobial Resistance third
joint call on transmission dynamics 1186215
Joseph Rowntree Charitable TrustNorthern Ireland programme grants 1166757
Royal College of RadiologistsPrafulla Kumar Ganguli professor-ship 1165744
22 Medical Research Foundation
Alexander Fleming disseminationscheme 1165099
MOD Centre for Defence Enterprise/
Defence Science and TechnologyLaboratory enduring challengecompetition 1175661
23 Innovate UK/BIS/Advanced
Propulsion Centre driving UKcapability through low carbonpropulsion technologies 1185083
Innovate UK/RCUK/Newton Fund/Ministry of Science and Technol-ogy China UK-China R&I bridgescompetition 1187617
Museums Association Esmée Fair-
bairn collections fund 1163760 NIHR research for patient benefit
programme – including obesitythemed call 1187889
24 Institute of Historical Research
Pearsall fellowship in naval andmaritime history 211538
Intensive Care Society foundationfellowship for nurses and alliedhealth professionals 1179888
25 Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors Education Trust researchtrust grants 180095
Society for the Study of French His-tory research grants 1175973
Society for Theatre Researchresearch awards 190455
28 Action for A-T research grants 1169771
European Oncology Nursing Societyinvited speaker grants 1183428
Organization for Autism Researchapplied research grants 1173006
29 Campbell Collaboration systematic
review grants 1188663
Department of Defense bone mar-row failure research programme –idea development award 1188319
EU ERA-Net SusAn joint call forproposals on sustainable animalproduction 1187900
MRC biomedical catalyst – devel-opmental pathway funding scheme1176899
30 Action Medical Research forChildren project grants 259674
Association for Computing Machin-ery/Institute of Electrical and Elec-tronics Engineers Computer SocietyEckert-Mauchly award 251798
EU ERA-Net NORFACE dynamics ofinequality across the life-course:structure and processes 1188046
EU ERA-Net OCEANERA-NET jointcall 1182230
ESRC transnational organised crime– innovation awards 1187934
EU H2020-EINFRA-11-2016 supportto the next implementation phaseof Pan-European High PerformanceComputing infrastructure andservices (PRACE) 1187221
EU H2020-INFRADEV-3-2016/2017individual support to ESFRI projectsand other world-class researchinfrastructures call 1184985
EU H2020-INFRAIA-2-2017integrating activities for startingcommunities 1184999
EU H2020-INFRAINNOV-2016 sup-port to technological infrastruc-tures – topic 2 1185003
EU H2020-INFRASUPP-1-2016policy measures for research infra-structures 1185010
European University InstituteFernand Braudel senior fellowships 207344
EU H2020-INFRAIA-1-2016/2017
integrating activities for advancedcommunities – topic 1 1184994
Royal College of Surgeons of Edin-burgh plastic surgery and woundhealing award 1188465
Online Funding Search
Funding searchSearch
For full details of every funding opportunity, visitwww.ResearchProfessional.com
Online subscribers can view full details of any funding opportunity bysimply searching for the Web id number as free text in a funding search.
Free text: 1234567 x
Issue no. 474
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8 funding opportunities Research Fortnight, 9 March 2016
Paediatric brain diseasesAction Medical Research for Childrenand the Chartered Society of Physi-otherapy invite outline proposals
for their joint awards. These supportresearch into the treatment and reha-bilitation of paediatric non-acquiredbrain injury or cerebral palsy. Awardsare worth up to £250,000 each. Addi-tional funding is available for attendingconferences.Web id: 1184099Email: [email protected]: 30 March 2016 [1]
Brewers researchThe British Beer & Pub Association invitesapplications for its brewers research andeducation fund. This supports researchand education in the brewing industry.Web id: 1189058
Contact: Neil WilliamsEmail: [email protected]: 31 March 2016 [2]
UK/Brazil workshopThe British Council invites applicationsto attend its researcher links workshopon developing legal research networksin Brazil and the UK. Grants enable early-career researchers based in the UK andBrazil to attend a workshop on developinglegal research networks around agritech-nology in Brazil. Grants cover travel,accommodation and meals.Web id: 1189111Contact: Brian JackEmail: [email protected]
Deadline: 31 March 2016 [3]
Defra engine power The Department for Environment, Food& Rural Affairs, on behalf of the MarineManagement Organisation, invites ten-ders for the provision of English vesselengine power monitoring. The tendererwill test the engine power of a fish-ing vessel. The contract is tenable forthree years.Web id: 1189020Email: [email protected]: 31 March 2016 [4]
Ecology awardsThe British Ecological Society invitesnominations for the following awards:
•founders' prize, worth £500.Web id: 1186289
•the Marsh award for climate changeresearch, worth £1,000. Web id: 1186292Email: [email protected]: 4 April 2016 [6]
NIHR horizon scanning centreThe National Institute for Health Researchinvites applications for its horizon scan-ning research and intelligence centrecompetition. Funding aims to designateand fund a single centre of excellence thatwill provide advance notice to nationalpolicymakers on key emerging healthtechnologies. The budget is worth up to£10 million over five years.Web id: 1188997Email: [email protected]: 12 April 2016 [8]
Gynaecology education visitsThe Royal College of Obstetricians andGynaecologists invites applications forthe Sims Black travelling professorship.This enables practising obstetriciansand gynaecologists who are RCOG fellowsor members to visit countries overseas.Web id: 1189078Email: [email protected]: 15 April 2016 [9]
MRC Malaysia disease researchThe Medical Research Council and theAcademy of Science, Malaysia invite pro-posals for their UK-Malaysia joint healthresearch call. This supports researchon non-communicable diseases of rel-evance to Malaysia ,and particularly thoseimpacting the most vulnerable in society.The total budget is worth £4 million, withup to £400,000 available per project.Web id: 1187543Email: [email protected]: 20 April 2016 [10]
NERC/BBSRC aquacultureThe Natural Environment Research Coun-cil and the Biotechnology and Biologi-cal Sciences Research Council, via theUK aquaculture initiative, invite outlineproposals for their call for innovation pro-
jects. Funding supports the developmentof new products, services or solutionsbased on existing data, knowledge andtechnologies for businesses, practitionersor decision-makers to address key chal-lenges facing the aquaculture industry.The budget is worth up to £1.2 million.Web id: 1188483Contact: Jodie Mitchell Email: [email protected]: 26 April 2016 [11]
Innovate UK/DH vaccinesInnovate UK, on behalf of the Depart-ment of Health, invites applications forits competition on new vaccines for globalepidemics. Funding supports projectsthat aim to develop vaccines, vaccineplatform technologies and manufacturingtechnologies that will enable an effective,rapid response to future outbreaks of path-ogens, including Chikungunya, Crimean-Congo haemorrgagic fever, Dengue virus,Ebola, Hantavirus, Lassa, Marburg, MiddleEast Respiratory Syndrome, Nipah, Plague,Q Fever, Rift Valley Fever and Zika. The totalbudget is worth up to £10 million.Web id: 1189044Email: [email protected]
Deadline: 27 April 2016 [12]
Psychological conferencesThe British Psychological Society invitesapplications for its international confer-ence symposium scheme. This enablesmember networks to convene a sympo-sium at an international conference inorder to help the society showcase UKpsychology to international audiences,by increasing member networks' presenceat international conferences. Grants areworth up to £3,000 each.Web id: 1188971Email: [email protected]: 1 May 2016 [13]
ESRC education researchThe Economic and Social Research Counciland the South African National ResearchFoundation, under the Newton Fund,
invite applications for their call on highereducation in Africa. This supports col-laborative UK-South Africa projects relat-ing to higher education in South Africaand wider Africa. Each UK proposal mayrequest up to £630,000.Web id: 1188821Contact: Tim PankEmail: [email protected]: 3 May 2016 [14]
NIHR health servicesThe National Institute for Health Researchinvites proposals for the commissionedworkstream of its health services anddelivery research programme. Proposalsare sought on the topics of: improvingoutputs of national clinical audits tosupport organisations in improving thequality of care and clinical outcomes; andworkforce interventions for the assess-ment and management of older adultpatients with cognitive impairments.Web id: 1188960Email: [email protected]: 12 May 2016 [15]
Singapore science scholarshipThe Commonwealth Scholarship Com-mission in the UK, in partnership withthe National University of Singapore,invites applications for its Singaporecommonwealth scholarships. These sup-port PhD study at the National Univer-sity of Singapore's Graduate School ofIntegrative Sciences and Engineering.Each scholarship covers tuition fees, amonthly stipend and a computer, bookor conference allowance.Web id: 1188993Email: [email protected]: 15 May 2016 [16]
NIHR commissioned calls 1
The National Institute for Health Researchinvites proposals for the following callsunder the commissioned funding streamof its health technology assessment pro-gramme:
•management of thoracolumbar frac-tures. Web id: 1189034•treating mental health problems
associated with a history of complextraumatic events. Web id: 1188952•persistent acne in adult women;
family-based intervention for the man-agement of asthma in children of southAsian origin; secondary care treatmentfor severe nausea and vomiting in preg-nancy; carboprost versus oxytocin asthe first line of treatment of primary
postpartum haemorrhage; topiramate forpost-traumatic stress disorder; remotelydelivered behavioural intervention fortics in children and adolescents withTourette syndrome; treatment for per-sistent anxiety disorder in adolescentsafter an inadequate response to lowintensity psychological therapy; unsched-uled bleeding in women using long actingreversible contraception; prescribinghigh-dose flouride toothpaste to olderpatients. Web id: 1188970Email: [email protected]: 19 May 2016 [17]
Vehicle dynamicsThe Rail Safety and Standards Board
invites applications for its vehicledynamics competition. Funding supportsinnovations that aim to make technicalimprovements to rail vehicles, reducetrack damage, wheel and suspension
maintenance costs, and that increasethe use of vehicles for both fast and slowlines. The total budget is worth £4.5 mil-lion, with an additional £1.5m availablefrom Future Railway.Web id: 1189084Email: [email protected]: 19 May 2016 [20]
Medieval archaeology grantThe Society for Medieval Archaeologyinvites applications for the Mick Astonresearch grant. This supports the comple-tion and publication of a research projectrelating to settlement archaeology inBritain or Ireland. The total budget is£5,000 and grants are normally worthup to £500 each.Web id: 1189066Email: [email protected]: 31 May 2016 [21]
Renal transplantation grantKidney Research UK invites applicationsfor its renal transplantation programmegrants. These support research focusingon tackling rejection of transplanted
kidneys, making transplanted kidneyslast longer, and making more kidneysavailable for transplantation. Grants areworth up to £750,000 each over five years.Web id: 1188920Email: [email protected]: 24 June 2016 [22]
Psychology awardsThe British Psychological Society invitesapplications for its postgraduate studyvisits scheme. This enables postgradu-ate students to undertake study visits toother institutions related to psychology.Awards are worth up to £600 each.Web id: 1188972Email: [email protected]: 1 July 2016 [23]
Lithic studies bursary The Lithic Studies Society invites applica-tions for the Roger Jacobi bursary. Thissupports research related to museumcollections and archives in the field oflithic studies.Web id: 1188727Contact: Olaf BayerEmail: [email protected]: 8 August 2016 [24]
Psychology grantsThe British Psychological Society invitesapplications for its sections initiativefund. This supports scientific initiativesthat promote or advance psychology.Grants are worth up to £15,000 each.Web id: 1188974Email: [email protected]: 1 September 2016 [25]
NIHR commissioned calls 2The National Institute for Health Researchinvites proposals for the following callsunder the commissioned funding streamof its health technology assessment pro-gramme:
•Australian National Health and Medi-cal Research Council call for primaryresearch on prophylactic antibiotics toprevent recurrent lower respiratory tractinfections in children with neurologicalimpairment and on smoking cessationinterventions in children of school age.Web id: 1189065
•primary research on biological
u k h i g h l i g h t s
New opportunities from UK-based funders.
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Research Fortnight, 9 March 2016 funding opportunities 9
I S S N 1 3 5 8 - 1 1 9 8
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N O T T O B E P H O T O C O P I E D
response modifier drugs for rare autoim-mune diseases, and poorly controlled dia-betes and outcomes of elective surgery.Web id: 1188959Email: [email protected]: 15 September 2016 [26]
Sports and exercise researchThe British Association of Sport and Exer-cise Sciences invites applications for the
Professor Tom Reilly doctoral dissertationof the year award. This recognises the bestdoctoral dissertation by a BASES memberrelated to sports or exercise medicine. Theaward is worth £500.Web id: 1188085Email: [email protected]: 31 January 2017 [28]
u k o t h e r
Renewed opportunities from funders based
in the UK.
MRC biomedical catalystThe Medical Research Council invitesoutline proposals for its developmen-tal pathway funding scheme, under thebiomedical catalyst programme. Thissupports projects that aim to improvethe prevention, diagnosis, prognosis ortreatment of significant health needs,as well as projects that focus on researchtools which increase the efficiency ofdeveloping interventions.Web id: 1176899Email: [email protected]: 29 March 2016 [29]
Anaesthesia travel grant
The Association of Anaesthetists of GreatBritain and Ireland invites applicationsfor its personal development grant. Thisenables candidates to visit recognisedcentres anywhere in the world for per-sonal development. The grant is worth upto £2,000, and covers travel and subsist-ence for up to two weeks.Web id: 1183661Email: [email protected]: 31 March 2016 [30]
Physiological symposiaThe Physiological Society invites applica-tions for its special symposium grants.These enable members to organise specialsymposia in honour of society memberswho have made exceptional contributionsto physiology or to the society.Web id: 1160303Email: [email protected]: 31 March 2016 [31]
Hellenic researchThe British School at Athens invites appli-cations for grants from the John Morrisonmemorial fund. These support researchinto all branches of Hellenic maritimestudies of any period. One to two grants,worth £500 in total, are available.Web id: 201545Contact: Chryssanthi PapadopoulouEmail: [email protected]: 1 April 2016 [32]
Immunology grantsThe British Society for Immunologyinvites applications for its communicat-ing immunology grants. These encourage
individuals to stimulate interest, discus-sion and understanding of immunologyamongst a wider audience, and supporteducation on immunology. Grants areworth up to £1,000 each.Web id: 257534Contact: Hannah HopeEmail: [email protected]: 1 April 2016 [33]
Soil science grantThe British Society of Soil Science invitesapplications for its field equipment grant.This enables institutions to buy fieldequipment to aid in the instruction andunderstanding of soil science. Grants areworth up to £1,000 each.Web id: 1168865Email: [email protected]: 1 April 2016 [34]
STFC telescope travel The Science and Technology FacilitiesCouncil and the Panel for the Allocationof Telescope Time invite applicationsfor their linked travel and subsistencegrants. These provide travel and subsist-
ence support for telescope time at STFC'sastronomy facilities.Web id: 200066Email: [email protected]: 1 April 2016 [35]
Scottish knowledge exchangeThe Scottish Universities Insight Instituteinvites registrations for its knowledgeexchange programme. Funding supportsprogrammes that address substantialissues facing Scotland and the widerworld, which have the capacity to extendknowledge and inform policy and prac-tice. Programmes typically comprise semi-nars and workshops held over a period ofup to six months.
Web id: 259198Contact: Nicola AllanEmail: [email protected]: 1 April 2016 [36]
Ecology awardsThe British Ecological Society invitesnominations for the Marsh award forecology. This recognises an outstand-ing recent discovery or developmentthat has had a significant impact on thedevelopment or application of the scienceof ecology. The award is worth £1,000.Web id: 1168906Email: [email protected]: 4 April 2016 [37]
MRC clinical fellowshipsThe Medical Research Council invitesapplications for the following oppor-tunities:
•clinician scientist fellowship.Web id: 252449
•senior clinical fellowship.Web id: 252450Email: [email protected]: 6 April 2016 [38]
ESRC access to society dataThe Economic and Social Research Coun-cil's Understanding Society innovationpanel invites proposals for experimentsand methodological innovation for lon-gitudinal studies. This call invites pro-posals for studies to be incorporated inthe Understanding Society panel of datacollection from wave 10 onwards.Web id: 1183751
Contact: Annette JäckleEmail: [email protected]: 11 April 2016 [40]
Headache fellowshipThe International Headache Society invitesapplications for its fellowship. This sup-ports the mobility of researchers and physi-cians working in basic and clinical research,in order to increase the knowledge baseof headache disorders. The fellowship isworth up to £50,000 over one year.Web id: 1162237Email: [email protected]: 15 April 2016 [41]
Nuffield Foundation grantsThe Nuffield Foundation invites applica-tions for its grants for research and inno-vation. These support research, practicalexperiments or development work inthe areas of children and families, early
years education and childcare, economicadvantages and disadvantages, educa-tion, law in society and social wellbeing.Grants are worth up to £250,000 each.Web id: 185280Contact: Alison ReesEmail: [email protected]: 18 April 2016 [42]
RAEng visiting fellowsThe Royal Academy of Engineering invitesapplications for its distinguished visitingfellowships. These enable an academicengineering department in a UK univer-sity to host an expert from an overseasacademic centre of excellence for up toone month. Fellowships are worth up to£6,000 each.Web id: 260314Email: [email protected]: 18 April 2016 [43]
CRUK preclinical grantsCancer Research UK invites applicationsfor its new agents committee preclinicalcombination grants. These support pre-clinical trial development of combinationtreatments for cancer. Grants are worth upto £50,000 each over six to 12 months.Web id: 1177076Contact: Kate SearleEmail: [email protected]: 25 April 2016 [44]
MRC career award/fellowsThe Medical Research Council invitesapplications for the following oppor-
tunities:•career development award.Web id: 252442
•senior non-clinical fellowship.Web id: 252375Email: [email protected]: 27 April 2016 [45]
Surgery travel awardsThe Royal College of Surgeons of Edin-burgh, under the Ethicon FoundationFund, invites applications for its travelgrants. These enable candidates to spendtime overseas to enhance or obtain rel-evant surgical experience which is notnormally available in their own country.Grants are worth up to £1,000 each for
visits lasting six weeks to two years.Web id: 257378Contact: Cathy McCartneyEmail: [email protected]: 27 April 2016 [47]
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10 funding opportunities Research Fortnight, 9 March 2016
Ophthalmology travel The Royal Society of Medicine invitesapplications for its ophthalmology trav-elling fellowship bursary. This enablesBritish ophthalmologists to travel abroadto further the study or advancement ofophthalmology, or foreign ophthalmolo-gists to visit the UK for the same purpose.Bursaries are worth up to £1,000 each.Web id: 187528Email: [email protected]: 28 April 2016 [48]
Scottish engineering travel The Royal Society of Edinburgh invitesapplications for the John Moyes Lessellstravel scholarships. These enable gradu-ates to pursue studies on any aspect ofengineering, including computer andsoftware engineering, in any part of theworld except the UK. Scholarships areworth £1,250 each per month, pro-rata,for up to one year.Web id: 210203Deadline: 29 April 2016 [49]
Software developmentThe Software Sustainability Instituteinvites proposals for its open call forprojects. This offers the assistance andexpertise of institute staff to researchgroups, in order to improve the long-term sustainability of software across allacademic disciplines, from computationalbiology to nuclear fusion.Web id: 1185269Email: [email protected]: 29 April 2016 [50]
Tinnitus researchThe British Tinnitus Association invitesapplications for its large research projectscheme. This supports projects that aim toimprove the lives of people with tinnitus.The total budget is worth £75,000, to fundone or two projects.Web id: 1183694Contact: David StockdaleEmail: [email protected]: 30 April 2016 [51]
Cardiovascular conferencesThe British Cardiovascular Society invitesapplications for its travel bursaries. Theseenable members to attend internationalconferences, including the AmericanCollege of Cardiology conference, theBCS conference and the European Societyof Cardiology conference. Bursaries areworth up to £1,000 each.Web id: 1173408Contact: Cliff Grant Email: [email protected]: 1 May 2016 [52]
Fish biology grantsThe Fisheries Society of the British Islesinvites applications for the followingopportunities:
•small research grants, worth up to£5,000 each. Web id: 252530
•the Wyn Wheeler research grant.Web id: 206200Email: [email protected]: 1 May 2016 [53]
Occupational health nursingThe RCN Foundation invites applicationsfor the Mair scholarship. This enablesoccupational health nurses to undertakelearning and development activities, suchas postgraduate studies or professional
short courses, in order to enhance patientcare, patient experience and developmentin nursing practice. Bursaries are worth upto £5,000 each.Web id: 178863Email: [email protected]: 3 May 2016 [55]
MRC molecular/cellular grantThe Medical Research Council invites pro-
posals for its new investigator researchgrant in population and systems medi-cine. This supports researchers who arecapable of becoming independent prin-cipal investigators within the areas ofmolecular and cellular medicine. Grantsare tenable for three years.Web id: 257869Email: [email protected]: 4 May 2016 [56]
Dementia clinical trialsAlzheimer's Research UK invites expres-sions of interest for its global clinicaltrials fund. This supports clinical trialsthat have the potential to be of benefitto dementia patients. Grants are worth
up to £500,000 per project.Web id: 1184311Email: [email protected]: 11 May 2016 [57]
Innovate UK KTPInnovate UK invites applications for itsknowledge transfer partnerships. Thesefacilitate the transfer of knowledge, tech-nology and skills, and help businessesinnovate and grow, by linking them witha university and a graduate. Partner-ships last between six months and three
years. SMEs must contribute a third of theproject costs, usually around £20,000,whereas large companies must contribute
50 per cent of the costs, around £30,000.Web id: 192286Email: [email protected]: 11 May 2016 [58]
Women graduate awards 1The British Federation for Women Gradu-ates invites applications for its emergencygrants. These support women graduatestudents who face an unforeseen financialcrisis. Grants assist with the completionof an academic year's work.Web id: 194245Contact: Jean Collett-Flatt Email: [email protected]: 12 May 2016 [59]
MRC infections and immunity The Medical Research Council invites pro-posals for its new investigator researchgrant in infections and immunity. Thissupports researchers who are capable ofbecoming independent principal inves-tigators within the areas of infectionsand immunity. Grants are tenable forthree years.Web id: 257880Email: [email protected]: 18 May 2016 [60]
European studies eventsThe University Association for Contempo-rary European Studies invites proposalsfor its small event grants. These enablecandidates to organise conferences orworkshops related to any aspect of con-temporary European studies. Grants areworth up to £1,000 each.
Web id: 1175707Email: [email protected]: 18 May 2016 [61]
NIHR commissioned call The National Institute for Health Researchinvites expressions of interest for primaryresearch in two stages, under the commis-sioned funding stream of its health tech-nology assessment programme. Proposals
are sought on the topic of promisingpharmacological therapy for the treat-ment of resistant bipolar depression.There are no fixed limits on the durationof projects or funding.Web id: 1187497Email: [email protected]: 19 May 2016 [62]
NERC international fundThe Natural Environment Research Coun-cil, under the international opportunitiesfund, invites proposals for its pump-priming and pump-priming plus grants.These enable NERC-supported researchersto forge long-term partnerships withoverseas scientists. Grants are worth
up to £250,000 each at 80 per cent fulleconomic cost over a maximum periodof three years.Web id: 1160948Contact: Weihao ZhongEmail: [email protected]: 19 May 2016 [63]
Wellcome biomedical awardsThe Wellcome Trust invites applicationsfor its people awards. These supportprojects that are innovative and creativeand engage the public with biomedicalscience or the history of medicine. Awardsare worth up to £40,000 each.Web id: 255361Email: [email protected]
Deadline: 20 May 2016 [64]
MRC new investigator grantThe Medical Research Council invitesproposals for its new investigator researchgrant in population and systems medicine.This supports researchers who are capableof becoming independent principal inves-tigators within the areas of populationand systems medicine. Grants are tenablefor three years.Web id: 257885Email: [email protected]: 25 May 2016 [65]
Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's UK invites applications forits project grants. These support projectsthat tackle major research challengesrelated to Parkinson's disease. Grants areprovided for a maximum of three years.Web id: 253799Email: [email protected]: 25 May 2016 [66]
BBSRC young entrepreneursThe Biotechnology and Biological Sci-ences Research Council, under its Innova-tion and Skills Group, and the Universityof Nottingham, under the Haydn GreenInstitute, invite registrations for theirbiotechnology young entrepreneursscheme. This aims to raise awarenessof the commercialisation of ideas fromthe biosciences among postgraduatestudents and postdoctoral scientists. Theprize fund is worth £5,000.
Web id: 1162612Email: [email protected]: 27 May 2016 [67]
Regional studies travelThe Regional Studies Association invitesapplications for its travel grants. Theseenable members to present work, networkand participate in worldwide non-RSAevents in the field of regional studies.Grants are worth up to £500 each and maybe used for travel costs.Web id: 1164935Email:[email protected]: 29 May 2016 [68]
Radiology travel bursariesThe British Society of Head & Neck Imaginginvites applications for its travel bursaries.These enable members to attend confer-ences and courses, or to undertake a periodof specialist head and neck radiology train-ing or similar personal development. Bur-saries are worth £1,000 each.Web id: 1171725Email: [email protected]: 31 May 2016 [69]
Women's studies grantsThe Feminist Review Trust invites appli-cations for its research grants. Thesesupport feminist scholars and activities.Grants are worth up to £15,000 each.Web id: 253602Email: [email protected]: 31 May 2016 [70]
Wheat transformationThe National Institute of AgriculturalBotany, funded by the Biotechnologyand Biological Sciences Research Council,invites applications for its call on commu-
nity resource for wheat transformation.Funding provides capacity for genes tobe transformed into wheat free of charge,with half of the resource reserved forresearchers working on model crops toencourage early testing of novel genesin wheat, and the remaining half reservedfor researchers working on cereal crops,wheat and barley.Web id: 1183927Email: [email protected]: 31 May 2016 [71]
MRC new investigator awardsThe Medical Research Council invites pro-posals for its new investigator researchgrant in neurosciences and mental health.
This supports researchers who are capableof becoming independent principal inves-tigators within the area of neurosciencesand mental health. Grants are tenable forthree years.Web id: 257895Email: [email protected]: 1 June 2016 [72]
German history The German History Society and the RoyalHistorical Society invite submissions fortheir German history essay prize. Thisrecognises the best essay on any aspectof German history, including the historyof German-speaking people abroad. Theprize is worth £500 plus travel costs for
the annual meeting.Web id: 1170667Contact: Melanie RansomEmail: [email protected]: 6 June 2016 [73]
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jobs 11
Strategy Board Manager£27,355-£38,163 plus £4,777 LW Medical Research Council (MRC)Closing date: 15/03/2016Details: http://topcareer.jobs
Head of Research £48,650-£56,900Qualifications WalesClosing date: 17/03/2016Details: To apply, please visit:http://qualificationswales.org
Senior Research Officer – up tothree posts £37,600-£43,950 Qualifications WalesClosing date: 17/03/2016
Details: To apply, please visit:http://qualificationswales.org
Research Officer £23,400-£26,400Qualifications WalesClosing date: 17/03/2016Details: To apply, please visit:http://qualificationswales.org
Research Fellow£30,738-£37,768Department of Electrical& Electronic Engineering,University of Surrey
Closing date: 20/03/2016Email: [email protected]
Senior Research Fellow inGender and Water Governance £47,808-£59,058Coventry UniversityClosing date: 27/03/2016Email: [email protected]
Research Development TeamLead (Engineering and PhysicalSciences) £38,896-£46,414University of BirminghamClosing date: 31/03/2016
Details: www.hr.bham.ac.uk/jobs
Head of Strategic ResearchProjects and Partnerships (LifeSciences) £47,801-£55,389University of BirminghamClosing date: 31/03/2016Details: www.hr.bham.ac.uk/jobs
Director of Research andAcademic Strategy NS The Open UniversityClosing date: 12pm, 04/06/2016Details: www.perrettlaver.com/candidates
P o l i c y , M a n a g e m e n t & S u p p o r t – p l u s E x p e r t C o m m i t t e e s 9 M a r c h 2 0 1 6
Jobs
HIGHLIGHTS
For more details and the completelist of jobs, please visit:www.researchresearch.com/jobs
Aldo de Moor was working as a senior researcherat a lab in Belgium when he decided he’d hadenough. Tired of the academic rat race, in 2007he set up his own independent consultancycalled Community Sense.
De Moor’s expertise is in community informatics,which looks at how ICT can be used to empowerpeople. “I’ve always been interested in the impactmy research could have on society,” he says. “ButI found I didn’t have enough space to do that inacademia. The publish-or-perish culture was like astraitjacket. I wanted more freedom and more controlto do the research I really felt was important.”
The decision to quit wasn’t easy. “I had neverworked outside academia,” de Moor says. “It wasa real challenge to start thinking about how to sellmy expertise, and find people willing to pay for it.”
Going solo isn’t for everyone, says Jela Webb,senior lecturer at the University of Brighton’sbusiness school. In 2000, after a successfulcareer in banking, Webb set up the consultancyfirm Azione, specialising in information andknowledge management. “If you’re thinking ofdoing consultancy as a full-time job, you needto consider how you’ll cope with the peaks andtroughs. You won’t always have a steady stream ofincome and will need some money to fall back on.”
That financial buffer is very important, de Mooragrees. “You can spend a lot of time just looking for
contracts, especially at the beginning.” But evenwhen work is slow, don’t be tempted to lower yourrates. “Be strict, and don’t be afraid to let go of somecontracts. Some clients may think I’m expensive,but I tell them that if they want to hire me for myinnovative capacity, it comes with a price tag”.
For those interested in consultancy but don’t wantto go it alone, Webb suggests doing consultancywork through your university. In addition tominimising your legal and financial risks, yourinstitution may help you find work and facilitate
the process of drawing up contracts. A universitycan also lend its branding and reputation, whichwill be attractive to some clients. But there maybe strings attached; many universities will divertthe extra money you bring in to your department’sbudget rather than your salary.
For de Moor, consultancy has not meant the endof research. “I still consider myself an academic—I’m still publishing, still reading papers andattending conferences. The only difference now isthat I’m self-sponsored”.
He adds that many of the academics he talks toabout his job are a little jealous. “They often saythat they wish they were in my position,” he says.
“But they could be if they wanted to. It’s just amatter of preparing well, and then jumping.”
by Lindsay McKenzie [email protected]
The leap from academia to consultancy:could you make it?
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Newton’sApple, a charitable foundation that aims to bridgethe gap between scientists and policymakers.
Academics, civil servants, special advisers andmembers of the House of Commons Science andTechnology Committee set the group up after whatthe foundation’s chairman Michael Elves says was adisappointing number responses to government andselect committee calls for evidencet. “We knew therewere people out there who had things to say,” hesays. “We decided we had to do something about it.”
Under the foundation’s programme Newton’sHeirs, the group has held more than 65 workshopsin the last eight years for over 1,600 participants,including PhD students and UK researchers.
The workshops cost the host university or societybetween £750 and £800 for an afternoon. Theyinclude talks from civil servants at the GovernmentOffice for Science, present and former members of theCommons science and technology committee, andrepresentatives from academic societies. Participantsdiscuss how science is dealt with in parliament, wheregovernment science advice comes from and the roleof scientific societies in the debate. Attendees also
get several information booklets to take away.Newton’s Apple is now looking to expand this
programme to include an advanced workshop. For
that, Elves says the foundation needed to raise£100,000 and hire a full-time manager to helprelieve pressure from the group’s trustees, whogive their time to the foundation for free.
Elves says that feedback forms suggest that theworkshop format is effective; researchers rarely, ifever, leave without claiming to have significantlyimproved their understanding of science policy.But he adds that it is hard to measure the group’swider impact on engagement. “We’re putting seedsdown, but we don’t know yet whether they’ll growinto anything useful,” he says. “Certainly the needfor the workshops is still there, and the popularityof the workshops with students is testament to thefact that they recognise that need too.”
For Julian Huppert, former Liberal Democrat MPand a trustee of Newton’s Apple, the workshops“really help people to understand how the policyprocess works, what the drivers are, and how theycan use their knowledge to make a difference”. Headds that, although politicians and civil servantsshould do more to understand how science and
evidence work, there is also an onus on scientiststo understand the needs of politics and policy, sothat they can contribute in a useful way.
by Lindsay McKenzie [email protected]
Newton’s Apple to grow second branch of policy workshops
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12 jobs
Daphne Jackson
Fellowship Opportunities
Daphne Jackson Fellowships are unique – they offer STEM
professionals, wishing to return to a research career after
a break of 2 or more years, the opportunity to balance an
individually tailored retraining programme with a challenging
research project. Fellowships are held part-time over 2 years
and include at least 100 hours retraining per year.
For full details of this opportunity, eligibility criteria and how to
apply please visit our website www.daphnejackson.org
The remaining funding will be secured by the Daphne
Jackson Trust from an additional sponsor.
Current sponsored fellowship opportunity:
John Innes Centre, Norwich (www.jic.ac.uk) – Fellowshiphosted and half-sponsored by the John Innes Centre, an
internationally renowned centre of excellence
in plant and microbial science.
Closing date for applications: 18 March 2016
Contact the Daphne Jackson Trust ofce on 01483 689166,
or email [email protected]
Call for proposals The microbiome andneurodegenerative disease
The Reta Lila Weston Trust is delighted to issue a request
for proposals for novel research on the microbiome that
will accelerate the development of therapeutics, identify
preventative strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and
neurocognitive decline or understand the resilience against
such conditions or decline in elderly individuals as a result of
microbiome activity.
• Up to £200,000 per project per annum for up to 3 years
is available.
• The programme is open to UK institutes and charities only.
• Researchers should be at or above the level of
postdoctoral fellow or equivalent from registered
charitable institutions.
Application is a two-step process the first of which is a short
Letter of Intent. To register interest and receive materials
please email:[email protected]
or visit www.retalilawestontrust.com
*Unity is the new way to work with anyone in universities and research.
It’s a simple place to form groups, share files and work on them together.
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jobs 13
Help us shape the Welsh qualification systemThis is an exciting opportunity to join a new high profile Welsh Government sponsored body. Qualifications Wales has beenestablished as the independent regulator of qualifications and the qualification system in Wales. The new body is responsiblefor ensuring that qualifications and the qualifications system are effective in meeting the needs of learners in Wales - and forpromoting public confidence.
We are now recruiting our Research team to develop the evidence base to underpin our decision making and are working todevelop relationships with Universities so these posts will fit within a wider community of Research.
Head of ResearchBand 5 - £48,650 - £56,900
Senior Research Officers (3 posts)Band 4 - £37,600 - £43,950
Research OfficerBand 2 - £23,400 - £26,400
Closing date: 17 March 2016
For further information and to apply in Welsh or English, visit our website atwww.qualificationswales.org
Should you have any queries then please contact: [email protected]
Published daily online and fortnightly as a printed magazine
Research Fortnight is essential reading in universities, funding
agencies, governments and parliaments.
We have an opening for a talented editor to join our 20-strong
editorial team based at the Shoreditch head office of our
growing, London-based company.
You will have responsibility for running our online daily newsservice and fortnightly magazine news coverage, working with
a team of reporters who regularly break stories at the heart of
political establishments in the UK, the EU and around the world.
You can expect to analyse government initiatives and the
policies of funders and universities, interview academics and
policy wonks, and interpret datasets.
The ideal applicant will be an experienced daily news editor,
or a senior reporter looking to make the transition to editing.
You will have worked on a newspaper or website; on a
magazine or journal read by scientists, or on a publication
read by other professionals, for example in engineering,
financial services, IT and law.
This is a full-time position, however, flexible workingarrangements will be considered.
At the interview, applicants will be asked to demonstrate:
•Knowledge of the workings of universities, science,
government and parliament.
•Evidence of at least two original, published stories, either
written or commissioned.
•Knowledge of one or more academic disciplines.
•High standards of rigour, accuracy and attention to detail.
•Curiosity, listening and mentoring skills.
If you can run a busy daily newsroom and value teamwork and
collaboration, please email a CV and a covering letter to
Ehsan Masood, Editor, Research Fortnight on
Please paste your covering letter into the body of the email.
If you would like to have an initial discussion about the job,
please feel free to call Ehsan on +44 20 7216 6500, or contact
him by email at [email protected]
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 1 April 2016.
First interviews will take place in London on Tuesday5 April 2016.
UK News Editor, Research Fortnight
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14 jobs
CONTACT Mrs Gaby Erkens - E-G-G administration, c/o Grünenthal GmbH,e-mail:[email protected], phone: +49 241 569-1304
2016RESEARCH GRANTS FOR CLINICAL ANDHUMAN EXPERIMENTAL PAIN RESEARCHEFIC-GRÜNENTHAL GRANT
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: December 31st 2016GUIDELINES, QUALITY CRITERIA,ONLINE APPLICATION FORMS: www.e-g-g.info
These biennial grants totalling € 200,000 from Grünenthal GmbH aresupporting young scientists early in their career to carry out innovative
clinical pain research in any member country of EFIC® (see www.EFIC.org).
Individual research grants are valued at up to € 40,000 per project for a
duration of up to two years.
Research grants are intended for clinical and human experimental painresearch. Research proposals on animals, computer simulations, cell lines
etc. will not be considered.
The decision of the awards is made independently by the ScientificResearch Committee of the European Pain Federation EFIC®.
The Department of Health Policy Research
Programme invites ‘Expression of Interest’
applications in the following area:
1. Evaluation of the Integrated Personal
Commissioning Programme
Policy Research ProgrammeCall for Applications
Please visit the Policy Research Programme
Central Commissioning Facility website at
www.prp-ccf.org.uk to access the research
specications, application form, guidance notes
and closing date for the above call.
info.researchprofessional.com/he
Coping with a constantly shifting higher education landscape can be exhausting.*HE is designed to helpby providing timely analysis of market trends and policy developments, cutting through the informationoverload to make sense of what is happening.
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8am Playbook A highly readable weekday briefing on the dayahead, plus a review of the morning papers.
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Research Fortnight, 9 March 2016 funding opportunities 15
Wellcome science learningThe Wellcome Trust invites applicationsfor phase two partnership grants of itsScience Learning+ programme. Thesesupport partnerships involving partnersin the US and in the UK or Republic of Ire-land that aim to improve the knowledgebase and practice of informal scienceexperiences to better understand theirvital role in science engagement and
learning. Project budgets should notexceed £1.5 million over a maximumperiod of five years.Web id: 1183310Email: [email protected]: 14 June 2016 [74]
MRC skills development fellowsThe Medical Research Council invitesapplications for the following oppor-tunites:
•skills development fellowships –expertise at the social science interface.Web id: 1184044
•skills development fellowships –quantitative expertise. Web id: 1184042Email: [email protected]
Deadline: 16 June 2016 [75]
Social science fellowshipThe Academy of Social Sciences invitesnominations for its fellowships in socialscience. These contribute towardsresearch in any area, discipline or inter-disciplinary field of social science.Web id: 1187347Email: [email protected]: 17 June 2016 [77]
Mental health scholarshipsMental Health Research UK invites appli-cations for its PhD scholarships. Thesesupport research on schizophrenia andadolescent mental health. Scholarshipsare worth up to £100,000 each over four
years.Web id: 1162590Email: [email protected]: 17 June 2016 [78]
MRC/NIHR highlight noticesThe Medical Research Council and theNational Institute of Health Researchinvite proposals for the following high-light notice calls:
•methods research on methodology forstratified medicine. Web id: 1182862
•methods research for assessing qual -ity of life in carers. Web id: 1176698
•methods research to support the useof observational data in clinical decisionmaking. Web id: 1176702Email: [email protected]: 21 June 2016 [79]
Architectural technology The Chartered Institute of ArchitecturalTechnologists invites entries for its awardfor excellence. This recognises outstand-ing achievements in the practice of archi-tectural technology. First prize is worth£1,500; second prize £750; and thirdprize £550.Web id: 251564Email: [email protected]: 26 June 2016 [82]
Pharmacology awardsThe British Pharmacological Societyinvites applications for the Schachteraward. This enables postgraduates to visit
a laboratory in order to learn a techniquethat cannot be conducted at their homeinstitute in the field of pharmacology. Theaward is worth up to £1,850.Web id: 211720Email: [email protected]: 30 June 2016 [83]
Mechanical engineeringThe Institution of Mechanical Engineers
invites applications for the Whitworthsenior scholarship awards. These sup-port engineers intending to do researchby undertaking PhD or EngD degrees.Scholarships are worth up to £22,500each over three years.Web id: 203005Deadline: 30 June 2016 [84]
Language awardsThe Modern Humanities Research Asso-ciation invites applications under itsconference grants funding scheme. Thissupports conferences or colloquia in thefield of medieval and modern Europeanlanguages and literature, held in the UK orthe Republic of Ireland. Grants are worth
up to £1,500 each.Web id: 208935Contact: Tyler FisherEmail: [email protected]: 30 June 2016 [85]
Textile history grantsThe Pasold Research Fund invites applica-tions for the Raine grants. These assiststaff in UK museums and other publiccollections and institutions, includingcurators and conservators, with object-based research into textile history. Grantsare worth up to £500 each.Web id: 195392Contact: Steph KnoxEmail: [email protected]
Deadline: 30 June 2016 [86]
Photography bursariesThe Royal Photographic Society invitesapplications for its postgraduate bur-saries. These enable postgraduates toundertake study or research in photog-raphy, including digital and traditionalphotographic media, the art and sc ienceof photography and image-based writtenwork or research. Bursaries are worth£3,500 each.Web id: 1174139Contact: Liz WilliamsEmail: [email protected]: 30 June 2016 [87]
Applied microbiologyThe Society for Applied Microbiologyinvites applications for its hardship grant.This assists members of the society study-ing towards a doctoral degree in appliedmicrobiology. The grant is worth up to£9,000 over three years.Web id: 1165464Email: [email protected]: 30 June 2016 [88]
Language testingThe University of Cambridge, under theCambridge English Language Assessment,and in collaboration with the Interna-tional English Language Testing SystemAustralia and the British Council, invites
submissions for the Caroline ClaphamIELTS master's award. This is awarded fora master's-level dissertation or thesis inEnglish that makes a significant contribu-tion to the field of language testing. The
award is worth £1,000.Web id: 1172050Contact: Gad S LimEmail: [email protected]: 30 June 2016 [89]
Psychology awardsThe British Psychological Society invitesapplications for the following oppor-tunities:
•postdoctoral study visits awards,worth up to £600 each. Web id: 206808•research seminar grants, worth up to
£3,000 each. Web id: 206811Email: [email protected]: 1 July 2016 [90]
Economic and social history The Economic History Society invitesapplications for its bursaries for PhDstudents. These assist students inUK colleges and universities who areresearching economic or social history.Bursaries are worth up to £5,000 eachover one year.Web id: 1166394Email: [email protected]
Deadline: 1 July 2016 [92]
Air quality travel awardThe Institution of Environmental Sciencesinvites applications for the Ian McCraetravel award. This enables air qualityprofessionals to attend a conference ortraining course in the UK or abroad. Theaward is worth up to £1,000.Web id: 1167309Email: [email protected]: 1 July 2016 [93]
Psychoanalysis awardsThe International Psychoanalytical Asso-ciation invites applications for the fol-lowing awards:
•the Elise M Hayman award for thestudy of the Holocaust and genocide,worth US$4,000 (£2,800).Web id: 165086
•the Hayman prize for published workpertaining to traumatised children andadults, worth US$4,000. Web id: 165091
•psychoanalytic research exceptionalcontribution awards, worth US$500 each.Web id: 165105Email: [email protected]: 1 July 2016 [94]
ScotGov health servicesThe Scottish Government's Chief ScientistOffice invites outline proposals for thefollowing calls under the response mode
funding scheme:•health improvement, protection andservices research grants, worth up to£300,000 each. Web id: 192806•translational clinical studies research
grants, worth up to £300,000 each.Web id: 1161521Deadline: 1 July 2016 [97]
Alzheimer's fellowshipAlzheimer's Research UK invites applica-tions for its c linical research fellowship.This supports research on Alzheimer'sdisease and related dementias. The fel-lowship is tenable for up to three years,and provides a salary and a contribution ofup to £20,000 per year towards research
and travel costs.Web id: 257039Email: [email protected]: 6 July 2016 [99]
NERC environmental researchThe Natural Environment ResearchCouncil, under its discovery scienceprogramme, invites applications for itsstandard research grants. These supportenvironmental research that is drivenby curiosity rather than by NERC's widerstrategic priorities. Each proposal mayrequest up to £800,000.Web id: 254868
Email: [email protected]
Deadline: 19 July 2016 [100]
e u r o p e h i g h l i g h t s
New opportunities from European funders,
excluding funders based in the UK.
Bone research grantsThe International Bone Research Associa-tion invites applications for its researchgrants. These support projects dealingwith bone biology and the improve-ment of fixation devices for maxillofacial
and hand surgery. Grants may be usedtowards personnel, equipment, suppliesand external costs, and field expenses ofup to CHF3,000 (£2,100).Web id: 1188931Email: [email protected] deadline [101]
Sustainable energy study Nordic Energy Research invites tendersfor a study on sustainable energy andenergy storage in sparsely populatedareas. The tenderer will produce a guidefor planning and concept choices, anda technical solution for a pilot project.The contract is worth up to NOK750,000(£61,500).
Web id: 1189062Email:[email protected]: 29 March 2016 [103]
EU conference travel grantsThe European Science Foundation, incollaboration with EuroScience and Gra-phene Flagship, invites applicationsfor its ESOF2016 travel grants. Theseenable young researchers to attend theEuroScience Open Forum, to be heldfrom 23 to 27 July 2016 in Manchester,UK. Grants are worth up to €900 (£690)each and cover registration, travel andaccommodation costs. Manchester-basedapplicants only receive a grant for regis-tration fees.
Web id: 1188982Email: [email protected]: 31 March 2016 [103.1]
EU skills supply forecastCedefop invites tenders for the productionof s