Research Grants & Contracts Office

Applying for research funding

Louise BotleyResearch Support OfficerRoom 353, Malet Street extension020 7631 6099l.botley@bbk.ac.uk

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 funder’s 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 http://www.britac.ac.uk

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 www.leverhulme.ac.uk

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%. www.esrc.ac.uk

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

www.bbk.ac.uk/rgco/index.shtml - for faculty specific funding information and list of forthcoming deadlines

www.ResearchResearch.com

Useful websitesAHRC: www.ahrb.ac.uk/cpa/ESRC: www.esrc.ac.ukMRC: www.mrc.ac.uk/index/funding/funding-

personal_awards/funding-fellowships.htmRoyal Academy of Engineering:

www.raeng.org.uk/research/researcher/postdocEPSRC: www.epsrc.ac.ukNERC: www.nerc.ac.ukPPARC: www.pparc.ac.uk

Useful websites (2)

British Academy: www.britac.ac.uk

Leverhulme Trust: www.leverhulme.ac.uk

Wellcome Trust: www.wellcome.ac.uk

Nuffield Foundation: www.nuffield.org.uk

The Royal Society: www.royalsoc.ac.uk

Medical Research Charities: www.amrc.org.uk