Research Grants & Contracts Office Applying for research funding Louise Botley Research Support Officer Room 353, Malet Street extension

Summary Making a successful application Major funders and their schemes Sources of information

What the funder looks for: High-quality research: an original contribution to knowledge in the field Outputs: what will be the impact of the research? Academic record: evidence of research potential

A strong proposal Addresses the funders research priorities and the aims of the scheme Clear language without jargon Establishes the context for the research Well-defined aims and objectives Detailed methodology – why these methods?

A strong proposal (2) Anticipates potential problems – how will you deal with them? Has realistic ambitions Identifies and addresses training needs Specified outputs and dissemination plans

Practical points Read all guidelines, terms and conditions Check your eligibility Check application form requirements, e.g. referee reports, signatures, length of proposal Allow plenty of time: check deadlines/method of submission. Electronic submission – may need to set up an account

Practical points (2) Choose referees carefully – check they have time. Get the finances right – check with Research Grants Justify costs where appropriate. Get as much feedback on your draft proposal as possible

Essential contacts Head of Department Research Grants Office Funding agency staff Referees Supervisor Potential mentor Ethics committees

Proposal writing guides ESRC – follow How do I link on left hand side. AMRC – Click on Our Members at the top of screen; A guide to success is on the right of the screen. EPSRC: Click on How to Apply on right hand side.

Types of Funder Research Councils Charities Government bodies Commercial sponsors

Arts and Humanities British Academy Leverhulme Trust. Wellcome Trust – History of Medicine Arts and Humanities Research Council – Creative and Performing Arts

British Academy Awards grants in humanities and social sciences (inc. psychology) Postdoctoral fellowships 3 years support for outstanding recent postdoctoral scholars (up to 2 yrs post PhD) Production of single publishable piece of research Closing date 28 February 2004: 518 applications submitted, 38 awards made

Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship 2 year award – all fields are eligible Trust pays up to 50% of the employment cost, plus research expenses up to £5,000 pa Career development for researchers under the age of 35 with track record. Closing date March

Social Sciences Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) British Academy Leverhulme Trust Wellcome Trust – Biomedical Ethics Nuffield Foundation

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Budget of £77m for research in 2004/05 Postdoctoral Fellowship 1 year, immediately on completion of PhD No closing dates Open to all disciplines but preference given to priority areas – economics, quantitative methods. Success rate in 2005: 24%.

Science and Engineering Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Natural Environment Research Council Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council Leverhulme Trust Wellcome Trust – Biomedical Sciences Royal Society

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Royal Academy of Engineering/EPSRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Awards tenable for 5 years Postdoctoral Fellowships in Mathematical Sciences Tenable for 3 years Postdoctoral Fellowships in Theoretical Physics

Medical Sciences Medical Research Council Wellcome Trust Department of Health/NHS Various medical charities – e.g. British Heart Foundation Interdisciplinary awards with ESRC

Medical Research Council Special Training Fellowships in: Bioinformatics, Neuroinformatics, and Computational Biology Health Services & Health of the Public Research Provide support for up to 4 years Placement in another research centre Competitive salary, research training support costs, travel, fEC basis.

Wellcome Trust University Awards Biomedical Sciences Gradual change from fellow to permanent staff member Research Fellowships for up to 3 years Biomedical Ethics programme and History of Medicine programme Salary, research expenses, travel grant Closing dates: 1 Mar., 1 Aug., 1 Dec

Other sources of funding Fellowships for study overseas Visiting fellowships offered by libraries/universities/museums and galleries Travel grants to visit archives/attend conferences Employment on a research grant

Funding Information Funders websites Supervisor Research grants website - for faculty specific funding information and list of forthcoming deadlines

Useful websites AHRC: ESRC: MRC: personal_awards/funding-fellowships.htm Royal Academy of Engineering: EPSRC: NERC: PPARC:

Useful websites (2) British Academy: Leverhulme Trust: Wellcome Trust: Nuffield Foundation: The Royal Society: Medical Research Charities: