1. Hints, Tips and FAQs when Preparing a Research Proposal Stuart Hedley – Research Development Officer SASS SASS Research Away Day 2nd February 2017

2. Know the Funder and Scheme
Time
Research Context
Evidence
The Proposal
Dos and Don'ts
Examples
More Info

3. Know The Funder and the Scheme
Funders don’t fund the research you want to do, they invest in the research they need to be done to achieve their strategic objectives
Understand their strategic priorities/key themes of the funder and show how your research fits.
Always read and understand the guidelines and refer back to them in your proposal to really highlight how your project fits the scheme.
Be sure what the scheme will fund this will steer what kind of activities they are expecting under the call.

4. Give Yourself and Others Time
Allow plenty of time to prepare your proposal
Let Research Office know you’re preparing it early on
A individual grant proposal can take 2-3 months
A collaborative grant can take 3-6 months
Get it peer reviewed
Research office will help with all of this

5. Research Context How does you idea fit with the field at present?
What knowledge or need gap is it filling?
Why Now?
Why you?
Why University of Brighton?
How will it all work together, time, people, place, resources.

6. Back everything up with evidence
few examples showing how you can strengthen common ‘throwaway’ phrases:
We are a long research group … to … we have been working in mental health research for 20 years
Our previous project was successful … to … 75% of clients reduced their substance misuse
more people will benefit … to … we plan to reach a further 100 people in 2017
there is a need for this research… to … demand has risen by 15%

7. Questions to Ask of the Proposal
Is it a clear, coherent and simple to follow?
Does the aim satisfy the need / knowledge gap the research context identifies?
Do the objectives fit the aim?
Do the methods and associated methodology address the aim and objectives?
Do the method outputs satisfy the aim and objectives?
Will the project be managed efficiently to deliver the outputs?
Have appropriate resources been allocated to the project?

8. Dos and Don'ts Do Don’t Make sure your proposal fits the funder
Give yourself time
Keep it clear
Read the guidance
Think ahead (long-term)
Ask for help!
Don’t
Apply if it’s not right for you / your research
Jargon-overload
Be vague
Be modest
Ignore the bigger picture
Give up!

9. Examples Lizzie Ward – Wellcome Trust
Ethical issues in self-funded social care: co-producing knowledge with older people
Time, Peer Review, Timeliness
Aidan McGarry - AHRC
The Aesthetics of Protest: Visual Culture and Communication in Turkey
Fit to funder themes (Digital Transformations and Translating Cultures) good management and support

10. Pre-Award – How to contact us
Room M24, Cockcroft Building, Moulsecoomb
@UoB_RO
Visit our website -

11. Upcoming Workshops To book a place on any of the workshops click here
INTRODUCTION TO THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE RESEARCH FUND
Tuesday 21st February :30-1:30pm
Falmer Bevendean House BE102
DEVELOPING IMPACT AS PART OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS
Wednesday 8th February 2017, pm
Falmer, Checkland B503
BUILDING COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS
Friday 24th March pm
Moulsecoomb, Huxley 407
To book a place on any of the workshops click here 

12. Thursday 23rd February - M301
Strategic planning meeting around upcoming mental health calls (NIHR, H2020)
Speak to Gillian Bendelow/Julie Green for more info.

13. Appendix – Funder Priorities and Stay informed
British Academy - Strategic Framework
Leverhulme Trust – Approach to Grant making
Royal Society – Mission
Wellcome Trust – Strategy
ESRC – Delivery Plan
AHRC - Vision, Strategy and Governance
NIHR – Our Purpose
ESRC – Alerts
ESRC – Twitter
AHRC – Twitter
AHRC – Newsletter
NIHR – Twitter
NIHR -CCF Newsletter
Leverhulme Trust – Twitter
Leverhulme – Funding Alert
MRC Twitter
MRC - Network magazine
Wellcome Trust – Twitter
British Academy – Twitter
British Academy – Newsletter
Royal Society – Twitter
Royal Society – Newsletters
Leverhulme Trust – Twitter
Leverhulme – Funding Alert