Research Grants & Contracts Office Applying for research funding Craig Bryce Deputy Head Research Grants & Contracts Room 353, Malet Street extension

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

Types of Funder Research Councils Charities Government bodies Commercial sponsors

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

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Supports world-class research in the arts and humanities budget of ~£100m to fund research in all the subjects within remit. Research Grants - Early Career intended to support well-defined projects enabling individual researchers to collaborate with other individuals and organisations through the conduct of research. Eligibility - within eight years of the award of your PhD or equivalent professional training or, Within six years of your first academic appointment £20k-£200k for duration of up to 60m Around 1 in 4 funded

British Academy The British Academy is the UKs national academy for the humanities and social sciences (inc. psychology) Postdoctoral fellowships Intended to improve prospects of permanent posts at the end of the fellowship 3 years salary support for outstanding recent postdoctoral scholars Two stage process; Outline application Oct (notification Jan) Second stage closing date Feb 2006/7: 578 applications submitted, 45 awards

Leverhulme Trust Applications welcomed in any discipline, annual UK research funding of £40m. Early Career Fellowship researchers at a relatively early stage of their academic careers but with a proven record of research 2 year award – all fields are eligible 70 Fellowships available in 2009 Trust pays up to 50% of the employment cost, plus research expenses up to £6,000 pa Closing date – online submission 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) Funds research and training in social and economic issues, 2007/08 budget £181m Postdoctoral Fellowship Provides a career development opportunity for those at a early stage of their academic career who can demonstrate great potential in social science research Applicants should have no more than three years' active postdoctoral experience when they take up the award. 1 year full time or 2 years PT No closing dates Open to all disciplines but in 2008 encouraged applications in Economics, Education, Management and Business Studies, Advanced Quantitative Methods, Social Work, and Socio-Legal Studies. 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 First Grant Scheme unities/AZ.htm unities/AZ.htm

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

Wellcome Trust Independent charity funding research in Biomedical Science and history medicine. Spend £600m p.a. on activities. Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships 250k for 4 year full time fellowship Salary and research expenses 2 stage process Prelim applications November Full applications February University Awards Biomedical Sciences attract important research staff to academic positions Gradual change from fellow to permanent staff member 5yr award (3 years full, 50% in 4 th yr, 25% in 5 th Year)

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 (1) 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 (1) Allow plenty of time: check deadlines/method of submission Read all guidelines, terms and conditions Check your eligibility Check application form requirements, e.g. referee reports, signatures, length of proposal 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 – INTERNAL PEER REVIEW

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

Proposal writing guides ESRC – Advice on writing proposals. WritingProposals.htm WritingProposals.htm EPSRC: How to Apply efault.htm efault.htm

Funding Information Funders websites Supervisor Research grants website for faculty specific funding information and list of forthcoming deadlineshttp://

Useful websites AHRC EPSRC ESRC MRC fellowships.htm fellowships.htm NERC Scitech

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