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Research Funding
Dr Kieran Fenby-Hulse & Dr Rebekah Smith McGloin
Discussion
Why apply for research funding? Think in
particular about the questions below?
• What does funding enable?
• Who benefits from research funding and why?
Discussion
• Resources (equipment, estates, staffing).
• Build a research team.
• Enable longer and larger projects.
• Help establish new collaborations.
• Undertake innovative and experimental research.
• Indicator of quality research.
• Funding as brand of excellence.
Who funds research?
In groups, list at least 3 examples for each of the following funder
types:
• Charities
• Research Bodies, Councils, and Research Funding Agencies
• Industry
• Government.
Once you have created your list, discuss the implications of these
types of funder for you, your department, and your institution. What
do they fund? Why? What are the benefits? What are the challenges?
Why is a strategic approach needed?
• Limited funds and increasing competition
• Funding becoming more focussed on global challenges and funder
priorities
• Evidence required by governments of benefit of research to ensure
continued funding.
• Ensure that you get the time and resources you need to carry out
your research.
Why is a strategic approach needed?
1st Question: What do I want to do?
NO
1st Questions: What are funding bodies looking to fund?
2nd Question: Can I do that?
If so, great; if not:
3rd Question: How can I adapt what I do to meet funder
requirements:
Think: collaborate/change/develop/focus
Research Strategies & Frameworks
Need to have a research strategy and familiarise yourself
with the current research funding climate.
Plan your research:
• Who is your funder?
• What are you going to do?
• How will you do it?
• Do you need to work with other specialists?
• How will I benefit? What are the learning outcomes?
• Where will it lead?
• What’s next?
What constitutes a research proposal?
• Abstract or Summary
• Statement of Need
• Project Description
• Outcomes, Impacts, Benefits
• Research Team and Research Environment
• Resources and Timeframes
What constitutes an excellent research
proposal?
According to the Economic and Social Research
Council (UK), successful funding applications:
• Promote excellent research
• Are of value to potential users outside of the research
community
• Are well planned and convincing
• Demonstrate value for money.
Communicating Excellence
• Convey your genuine interest, understanding and
enthusiasm for the work.
• Have a clearly formulated problem
• Demonstrate how the work sits within contemporary
debates and builds on existing research.
• Show how you will make a contribution to research in the
field
• Develop appropriate and attainable aims and objectives.
• Provide a clear and considered research design.
Communicating Excellence
• Align your work with the funder’s mission statement
or strategic priorities/challenges.
• Ensure fit with the primary aim/purpose of the
scheme.
• Identify and consult potential users of your research
outside of the academic community.
• Provide a dissemination strategy and impact
statement (or equivalent)
Communicating Excellence
Showcase most relevant information:
• Significant papers and invitations/keynotes.
• Travel, conference, and other funding awards.
• Facility usage/gifts in kind
• Industry experience.
• Participation in exchange programmes.
• Networks, conferences and workshop organisation.
• Public Engagement Activities.
Your track record is not the same as your CV.
What you want a reviewer to say…
”This is a very well put together and thought out proposal. The research is
novel and in my view has potential to lead to significant developments in
this field.
Both applicants appear to be capable of delivering the research and will
develop their independent research skills through this funding.
On top of the well put together proposal, the applicants are supported by
strong referee comments which supports and qualifies statements made in
the proposal.
Overall I find this to be an excellent proposal.
TASK: RESPONDING TO FUNDING CALLS
Using your networking skills, you will need to build a team and develop
two proposal together. One proposal will be a poster and one will be a
presentation.
One call has been announced. A second call will be released in 15
minutes. You will need to work on both proposals at the same time.
Make sure you look at the call criteria and deadlines. There are 2
funding officers on hand to help with your proposal.
Good luck!
CALL ONE
Call 1
Proposals are sought on any of the three research areas below. Teams
must consist of at least 3 people and be interdisciplinary in nature.
Proposals must include a non-academic partner and have a nonacademic output (policy paper, intellectual property, public
engagement). By the deadline, applicants must have prepared a 5
minute presentation for consideration by a panel of non-specialists.
Themes: Climate Change / International Social Mobility / Health and
Wellbeing
Deadline: 15.15 Central European Summer Time.
CALL ONE & TWO
Call 1
Proposals are sought on any of the three research areas below. Teams must
consist of at least 3 people and be interdisciplinary in nature. Proposals must
include a non-academic partner and have a non-academic output (policy
paper, intellectual property, public engagement). By the deadline,
applicants must have prepared a 5 minute presentation for consideration by
a panel of non-specialists.
Themes: Climate Change / International Social Mobility / Health and
Wellbeing
Deadline: 15.15 Central European Summer Time.
Call 2
Proposals are sought on any research area. The only criteria is that the team
must consist of 3 people and be an interdisciplinary project. Proposals must
be submitted as a poster and left on the front desk or submitted by email to
[email protected].
Deadline 2: 15.00 Eastern Daylight Time
Thank You!