Royal Society Research Grants Now Open

The Royal Society Research Grants are once again open for applications. This fund offers up to £20,000 for a 12 month duration to provide ‘seed corn’ funding to increase the availability of specialised equipment and essential consumable materials, and to support essential field research.

• Amount: £20,000
• Duration: Up to 12 Months
• Deadline: Monday 11th November (3pm)

This scheme is open to academics who hold a PhD, are within their first 5 consecutive years of an independent research post and are a fully independent researcher with access to their own lab space with the ability to recruit and be registered as the primary supervisor of PhD students and research assistants.

Royal Society’s remit covers Engineering and Physical Sciences, a full remit list is available to view here.

For more information on the scheme please visit the Royal Society Website and if you would like to apply then please contact your Research Delivery Officer.

Science & Engineering Early Career Researcher Grant Applications Workshop

Brought to you by Research & Knowledge Exchange, this afternoon workshop will be a chance for Early Career Researchers (in Science & Engineering) to improve their knowledge of the grant application process and give them the confidence to get started.

Date: Thursday 2nd May, 1pm – 4pm

Location: John Dalton E005

Registration: Register via Eventbrite

This interactive workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to hear from your Research Development Team on key considerations when preparing grant applications; ask questions to a panel of Science and Engineering colleagues on the realities of the grant application process; and examine past grant applications to determine which elements contribute to funding success.

This session is available to ECRs* who have permanent contracts and are eligible to apply for external funding.

*For the purpose of this workshop, ECRs are defined as staff within six years of their first academic appointment.

There are 30 places available on a first come first serve basis. To register please visit the Eventbrite Page where you will be able to confirm your eligibility and respond to two required questions.

We look forward to seeing you!

Royal Society Research Grants Now Open

The Royal Society Research Grant is now open for applications. This popular scheme is aimed at early career researchers (or those returning from a career break). Projects must fall in the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics – see here for a full list.

This provides ‘seed corn’ funding for a discrete piece of research with the budget to be used to purchase specialised equipment and consumables, and travel for essential fieldwork.

Award Value: £20,000

Duration: 12 months

Deadline: Thursday 16th May, 3pm

Eligibility Criteria:

• Hold a PhD or equivalent qualification.
• Within the first 5 consecutive years of an independent research post, at the time of application. This can be your first permanent independent academic research post or a named limited-tenure/fixed-term post, obtained in open competition (note: tenure must cover the award duration).
• Fully independent researcher with access to your own lab space.

For further information about this call please visit the Royal Society Website.

If you would like to apply for this award please contact your Research Development Officer.

Standing up for Science Workshops

Sense about Science will be running a free workshop ‘Standing up for Science‘ which allows you to find out how to make your voice heard in public debates about science and evidence.

Location: University of Manchester

Date: Friday 29th March 10am – 5pm

Register: Free via the website (here) deadline for registration is Thursday 28th Feb

This is a full-day event where you can meet other researchers who have experience with public engagement, learn from policymakers about how evidence can inform policy and speak with respected science journalists to find out what journalists expect from scientists and researchers. You can also find out how to involve the public in communicating your research – great for Impact and Public Involvement!

The event is free (although registration is required) and is aimed at STEM and social science early-career researchers (PhD students, post-docs welcome) and medical professionals.

For more details please visit the website.

The Year Ahead for Physical Sciences, Engineering and the Environment

A version of this article first appeared on Research Professional 08/01/2019 

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) will be announcing their priorities for the next five years in spring – so definitely worth keeping an eye on their websites!

Materials scientist Alison Davenport will report to the STFC this year on a review of the council’s consolidated grants, which account for £100m that the council awards annually in research grants each year.

Aerospace companies competing for a £92 million government contract to carry out a feasibility study on home-grown replacements for the EU’s Galileo Satellite Navigation System will find out if they are successful early this year. The UK is set to stop using Galileo for defense and critical national infrastructure after Brexit.

The NERC’s polar research ship (The RRS Sir David Attenborough) will be undergoing a year of sea trials before before it’s polar expeditions begin in 2020.

In the first few months of 2019 the government will review the implementation of the sector deals on automotive, artificial intelligence, aerospace and nuclear industries.

The year will close with a crucial meeting for UK space with the science minister and representatives from the UK Space Agengy attending the council meeting of the European Space Agency in November – the members will be tasked with setting funding levels.

Royal Society Drop-in Session Reminder

Our second (and final!) drop-in session for the Royal Society Research Grants will be taking place next week:

Thursday 1st November
Time: 12 – 1pm
Location: JD E246

This session is a chance for you to come and ask any questions you may have about the scheme – we will not be presenting any information.

Please feel free to drop by at any point within the hour to discuss your proposal or ask any questions that you have about the scheme.

If you can’t make it the session but are thinking of applying please contact your Research Development Officer to discuss your proposal.

For more information on the scheme please read our previous post – here.

Royal Society Drop-in Sessions

We’re expecting a high demand for the new round of Royal Society Research Grants and so to help manage this we will be hosting 2 drop-in sessions:

Tuesday 16th October
Time: 12 – 1pm
Location: JD E424

Thursday 1st November
Time: 12 – 1pm
Location: JD E246

These sessions are a chance for you to come and ask any questions you may have about the scheme – we will not be presenting any information.

Please feel free to drop by at any point within the time slots or if you can’t make it then contact your Research Development Officer to discuss the scheme.

For more information on the scheme please read our previous post – here.