Research Fortnight - 10/02/2016

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10 February 2016

Updated daily at www.ResearchProfessional.comFounded by William Cullerne Bown

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills hasbeen accused of basing its BIS 2020 restructuring pro-gramme on undisclosed evidence, as observers considerthe implications of the closure of BIS’s Sheffield office.

On 28 January, BIS announced that it was closing theoffice, which is responsible for further and higher educa-tion, apprenticeships and skills, and employs 247 people.The move is the first major step in implementing the rad-ical reforms first revealed in October 2015, which aim toslash the number of the department’s sites from 80 to just seven or eight centres and to cut operational costsby between 30 and 40 per cent.

In an internal update to the plan, sent out in Januaryand seen by Research Fortnight , the department pro-

posed six business centres outside London. They are:an institutional and research funding centre in Swindonand Bristol; a business-facing centre in South Wales; twohigher education student-finance centres in Glasgowand Darlington; a further education funding centre inCoventry; and a regulation centre in Birmingham.

At the moment BIS has core offices in two of theselocations—Glasgow and Darlington—as well as inBillingham near Darlington and Cardiff in South Wales.The department’s other four core offices outside Londonare in Nottingham, Watford, Runcorn and Manchester. A senior union source says that the Manchester officecould be next in the firing line.

Meanwhile, the department has been criticised fornot thinking through the timing of the Sheffield clo-sure, which is now processing more than 600 responsesto the consultation on the green paper for higher edu-cation. The office is due to close by 2018, which wouldcoincide with the second iteration of the proposedTeaching Excellence Framework.

“We are going through the biggest change in highereducation regulation for probably 25 years and at the very same time BIS is telling the civil servants dealing with it that they haven’t got job security and their offic-es are being shut down,” says Nick Hillman, director ofthe Higher Education Policy Institute and special advis-er to universities minister David Willetts from 2010-13.“It is a particularly unfortunate moment to do it.”

It is also likely that not all of the staff’s expertise will be transferred to the main policy centre that BISis planning for London; union representatives say thatthe vast majority of staff are not interested in moving,especially as BIS is not offering support for relocation.

Koen Lamberts, vice-chancellor of the University of York, says that having policymakers in Sheffield allowednorthern universities and civil servants to develop rich-er working relationships. “BIS needs to make sure thatit does whatever it takes to go on working very closely with higher institutions in the north,” he says. Both heand Hillman say that it is likely that northern universi-

ties will be watching the situation closely, and may takeadvantage of the closure by recruiting some senior civilservants from the Sheffield office.

Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield Central,says that Javid’s motivation is to reverse the decen-tralisation of policymaking that began in the Thatcher years. He adds that it is not clear whether the planis based on sound evidence. The department hasrepeatedly refused to publish the report by theconsultancy company McKinsey on which the BIS2020 plan is understood to be based. A Freedom ofInformation request by the Campaign for Science andEngineering was declined last year, and a similar callfrom the House of Commons Science and TechnologyCommittee was also not successful. Blomfield says thathe wrote to prime minister David Cameron last week,urging him to publish the documents.

“Javid is somebody who praises himself for being anevidence-based policymaker,” says Blomfield. “If wegot the evidence out into the open,I hope it would lead us to concludethat this was a wrong decision andthat we can review it.”

BIS declined to provide furtherdata on staff numbers or the run-ning costs of the Sheffield office,and said that it would not commenton the restructuring process.

by Cristina Gallardo [email protected]

All change at Bradford’sNational Media Museum – p5CCSResearch down but not out – p6

Welsh woes Former HEFCW chief PhilipGummett on proposed budget cuts – p20

BIS slammed for ‘hasty’reform plansMany of the department’s higher education policy jobs at risk

Issue No. 472


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2 editorial Edited by Ehsan [email protected]: 020 7216 6500Fax: 020 7216 6501Unit 111, 134-146 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3AR

e l s e w h e r e“If we are fortunate and Zika turns out to

be less dangerous than feared, then noone should look back next year with thebenefit of hindsight and accuse the worldof overreacting.” An editorial in the Financial Times says thatthe World Health Organization is right tomove quickly to tackle the outbreak of thetropical disease. Financial Times, 31/1/16.

“If we want to be competitive to get fund-ing and if we want people to believe ourdata, we need to be serious about the data that we generate.”Having proper quality-assurance systemscan and does help you secure grants, saysUniversity of Minnesota virologist MontserratTorremorell. Nature, 28/1/16.

“Once upon a time we thought of MPs assaints. Then we were shocked when they turned out not to be spared the peccadil-loes common to man. This shock, and theensuing disgust, has spawned a rancidpolitical culture that makes zeros out ofheroes, casting the likes of obscure GeorgeFreeman as geeky, boring even—thoughour lives depend on him.” Amol Rajan, editor of The Independent , waxeslyrical about the UK life sciences strategyand the man responsible for implementing it.Evening Standard, 28/1/16.

“The criticism is important, that big institutions are subject to criticism—to whommuch is given, much is expected.” Bill Gates says that he is happy for people tochallenge his foundation’s decisions. DesertIsland Discs, BBC Radio 4, 31/1/16.

“Unfortunately, Cameron seems to belabouring under the illusion that when heis in Britain he is protected by some kindof reflective mirror that means he can beseen only by those inside the country.”Tim King, who writes Politico’s Brusselssketch, says that David Cameron’s assertionsthat the UK is getting a better deal makeshim his own worst enemy in European Uniontalks. Politico, 2/4/16.

Research Fortnight, 10 February 2016

Edited by Ehsan [email protected]: 020 7216 6500Fax: 020 7216 6501Unit 111, 134-146 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3AR

d e c a d e

“It will produce an elementof uncertainty, butuncertainty isn’t necessarilya bad thing.” As the NHS moves toward making itsresearch funding more competitive, Stephen Smith , principal of ImperialCollege London’s faculty of medicine,says that the revamped system could

have its benefits.


Greatest challengeThe UK can—and should—open its doors to morerefugees fleeing Syria

Last week the UK hosted a critical conference of international fundersassisting refugees escaping the crisis in Iraq and Syria. The event resultedin pledges of an additional $11 billion (£7.7bn) in aid up to 2020, the larg-est amount ever pledged to a humanitarian cause in a single day.

Of this, our own Conservative government pledged £1.2bn up to 2020, ontop of an existing commitment of £1.1bn. Germany said that it would spend€2.3bn (£1.8bn) up to 2018, while the US pledged $900 million for 2016.

The funds are to be spent in refugee camps in the countries border-ing Syria that are absorbing, in some cases, thousands of arrivals daily.Desperate for assistance, the governments of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkeyare receiving the aid to help refugees move out of overcrowded camps andinto more secure housing. The money will also be used to ensure that amillion refugee children can go to school, and to give adults opportuni-ties for employment or further education.

But, whereas Germany has committed to housing a million refugees ontop of its aid pledge, the UK will take no extra refugees. Beyond what haspreviously been promised—entry for 25,000 people in a five-year period—the UK’s borders will remain closed to victims of the Syrian conflict.

Resettling traumatised people is hard for any society. Resettling peoplefrom a culture that is radically different to one’s own makes it harder still.Germany is a case in point. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s pledges are test-

ing the nation’s liberal sensibilities. Nonetheless—notwithstanding somedisgruntled local authorities and a small but revived far-right—largenumbers of Germans remain solidly behind their head of government.

The same could have been said for the UK. Had he wanted to, prime min-ister David Cameron could have trusted his citizens’ better instincts andoffered to house more refugees, as so many of his predecessors have done.

In previous years the UK has shown generosity to many hundreds ofthousands of the world’s persecuted. From the 1960s, the UK invitedmembers of the Ahmadiyya, a small minority religion declared hereticalby Pakistan’s government. In the 1980s and 1990s the UK gave sanctuaryto those fleeing violence and wars in Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia and theformer Yugoslavia. And in the 2000s, the UK was at the forefront of reset-tling the survivors of the Rwandan genocide.

That record is what makes the government’s refusal to receive more refu-gees so out of step with the UK’s past. Looking further back there are moreexamples still. In the 1930s and 1940s, tens of thousands of British peopleopened up to families fleeing Nazi persecution, including hundreds of refu-gee academics organised through CARA, the Council for At-Risk Academics.

More than 70 years later the world is once more faced with a group, theso-called Islamic State, looking to conquer using the most brutal meansimaginable. The taxpayer-funded donations to Syrian refugee camps aregenerous, certainly. But the government should know that many of thosetaxpayers will not flinch if asked to go the extra mile to help with reset-tling more refugees in the UK.

All the government need do is ask.


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Zika first priority for global challenges fundThe UK government is fast-tracking £1 million from the Global Challenges Research Fund for work to research diagnostics and potential treatments for the Zika virus, which the World HealthOrganization has declared a public health emergency. The funding call opened on 3 Februaryand will close on 22 February. The call, which is the first use of the global challenges fund, willbe managed by the Medical Research Council.

Supergroup to map UK researchResearch Councils UK has said that it hopes to make better funding decisions with the help ofa high-level group to analyse research activity across the country. The group will be made up ofrepresentatives from each of the seven research councils, Innovate UK, the Higher EducationFunding Council for England and representatives from government. The group will develop afive-year strategy to create a comprehensive picture of the UK’s R&D landscape.

MSPs concerned about environment cutsThe Scottish Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee has said that theScottish government must explain why it plans to reduce the budget for environment researchby nearly £8 million in 2016-17, to £66m. The MSPs said that they were worried that thedecision could be shortsighted and could damage innovation and development in the country.

University leaders told to release diversity dataThe government has said that universities will have to publish admissions and studentretention data, by gender, ethnic background and socioeconomic class in certain disciplines.

This information will be available to prospective students to help inform their decisions. Thegovernment said that the duty, which is to be enshrined in legislation, is part of wider reformsto higher education in the UK.

Scottish Science Advisory Council relaunchesPaul Boyle, vice-chancellor of the University of Leicester and former chief executive of theEconomic and Social Research Council, has been appointed to lead a “revitalised” ScottishScience Advisory Council. A further six academics, all of whom are based in Scotland, and threescientific advisers to the Scottish government will make up the rest of the council.

CBI launches group to shadow Northern PowerhouseLeading industry figures from the north of England have launched a group to monitor andchallenge the government’s Northern Powerhouse policies. Business North, set up by thebusiness lobbying firm CBI, held its inaugural meeting on 1 February. The move follows theresignation of Claire Braithwaite from her position as head of Tech North, the organisationcreated to champion digital development in the north of England.

BIS seeks views on home for Innovate UK The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has launched a consultation on its proposalto bring Innovate UK under the same umbrella body as the research councils. The survey asksfor input on the main benefits and risks of having the agency overseen by Research UK. Thedepartment said that it expected to hear from businesses of all sizes and from respondents inhigher education. The consultation will close on 19 February.

w h a t ’s g o i n g o n

Research Fortnight, 10 February 2016 what’s going on 3


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Universities, research councils and private companieshave said that the UK must invest in a national spaceprogramme distinct from the European Space Agency’sactivities to remain competitive.

Responses to the House of Commons Science andTechnology Committee’s inquiry on the subject of satel-lites and space have said that the UK risks losing its abilityto compete for ESA bids and projects and to attract part-ners from elsewhere in the world, unless it forms its ownprogramme to work to specific national strengths, such asthe miniaturised satellites known as cubesats.

The UK Space Agency does invest in UK-focusedprogrammes, such as the National Space TechnologyProgramme, which launched in 2011 with a £10-millionbudget, but such investments are generally made withthe aim of securing additional ESA funding. In 2014-15the UKSA spent about £2.7m on ESA membership and just over £40m on national grants.

In a joint response, the Science and TechnologyFacilities Council, the Engineering and Physical SciencesResearch Council and the Natural Environment Research

Council said that working with the ESA was vital, but without a strong nat ional space programme, the UK would be less able to contribute to European projectsand would have less influence on ESA programmes.

A UKSA spokesman told Research Fortnight that bal-ancing national investments in space technology with

ESA investment was “a fine line to walk” but that French,German and Italian national programmes—which moreor less equal their respective ESA spend—focus on state-owned facilities, whereas the UK’s smaller investment wasused to help the UK industry maintain its edge.

But a number of respondents, including Innovate UK,said that a nationally coordinated space programme wouldbe more responsive and agile than large internationalefforts. They argued that such a fast-moving national pro-gramme would put the UK in a better position to make useof novel technology and move into emerging markets.

Andy Lawrence, regius professor of astronomy at theUniversity of Edinburgh, says that the responses signala growing impatience with the government’s reluctanceto invest more heavily in space technology. “When theUKSA was launched there was a lot of bold talk about mul-tiplying the UK investment in space several fold, but it got warm smiles and no money,” he says. “Helping to main-tain our edge within ESA is clearly good but it’s not what

the original fanfare for the UK Space Agency was about.”But a national programme of investment must not be atthe expense of contributions to the ESA, says Peter Hulsroj,director of the European Space Policy Institute. “It is not azero-sum game,” he says. “And the UK’s potential to takeadvantage of its ESA membership is far from exhausted.”

UK needs ‘responsive andagile’ space programme

Academics welcome the ruling of the Human Fertilisationand Embryo Authority on gene editing in human embry-os, but have said that although this sets a precedent, itmay be a while before similar applications are made.

On 1 February, a team from the Francis Crick Instituteled by Kathy Naikan received HFEA approval to use thegene-editing technique CRISPR-Cas9 on human embryos.

The aim is to improve understanding of early embryodevelopment and why some women miscarry, to estab-lish better infertility treatments. Jim Smith, director ofresearch at the Crick, says that using gene editing meansthat the experiments can be done more efficiently withfewer embryos. He adds that he would like the decision toprompt others to do similar work and that he expects to seemore researchers interested in using the technique.

Robert Lechler, president of the Academy of MedicalSciences, says that he is pleased with the HFEA’s rulingbut doubts there will be a sudden increase in researchteams making similar applications because there aren’t

that many groups fully set up to do this kind of research.Jonathan Montgomery, professor of health-care law

and chairman of the Nuffield Council of Bioethics, saysthat the result is a reassuring if small step in gene-edit-ing research, as it is very specifically limited to Naikan’sgroup’s research. “I hope the decision will encourageresearchers to make responsible applications if it is scien-tifically important to do so, and to not be put off by fear ofregulatory bodies turning it down or of an adverse publicreaction,” he says, adding that he believes it shows theUK has a “robust but proportionate” regulatory system.

Lechler agrees, saying that the UK should be proud ofits record of considered regulation and making matureethical judgements. “There is an ethical issue arounddoing anything with embryos and people will of coursehave views about that,” he says, “but this is a purelyresearch-based decision—and that is how it should be.”

Slow take-up of gene editing expected

4 news Research Fortnight, 10 February 2016

n e w s

by Anna McKie [email protected]

by James Field [email protected]


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MPs demand more detail inproductivity planThe government’s productivityplan is a “vague collection of exist-

ing policies” and lacks specific measures of performance,the House of Commons Business, Innovation and SkillsCommittee has said. In the committee’s response to theplan, published on 1 February, it called on the govern-ment to explain how it would implement and evaluateeach policy it included.

HEFCW criticises England-focused reformsThe Higher Education Funding Council for Wales hassaid that transferring responsibility for quality-relatedfunding for English universities to Research UK—theproposed umbrella body for the research councils—could skew the perspective of the UK-wide body towards

England. The comments were made in response to thegovernment’s green paper on higher education.

Universities back plans for data collection changesThe Higher Education Statistics Agency has said thatmore than 90 per cent of respondents to its consultationon plans for a wholesale redesign of the way it collectsstatistics support its “direction of travel”. The agency wants to make data collection faster and more efficient.

Medical innovation bill passes to LordsThe controversial Access to Medical Treatments(Innovation) bill, has gained cross-party support fromMPs and passed to the House of Lords. The MPs accepteda series of amendments, including to remove a clinicalnegligence clause that had been criticised for addingunnecessary complexity to existing laws.


n e w s i n b r i e f

news 5

National Media Museum refocuses on

science as name change mootedThe National Media Museum in Bradford has announcedplans to move away from the arts and to concentrate onscience and technology.

The museum is also understood to be consideringchanging its name, a move that might see it lose its‘national’ label. A spokesman confirmed the museum wasreviewing its name to assess the best way to reflect thechange of focus, but would not be drawn on whether oneof the names in the running was Science Museum North.

The museum will develop a gallery on the technology oflight and sound with £1.5 million awarded from its man-aging body the Science Museum Group. The change in themuseum’s focus will also see it lose more than 400,000objects from its collection to the Victoria and AlbertMuseum in London. This includes the Royal PhotographicSociety collection, which charts the invention and devel-opment of photography in the last two centuries.

“It’s a great loss for Bradford,” says Jeffrey Geiger,director of the Centre for Film Studies at the University ofEssex. However, he says that he hopes the photographiccollection will have more space and financial backing atthe V&A than in Bradford, as well as being accessible tomore researchers. Michael Terway, head of collections

and exhibitions at the National Media Museum, saysthat the museum will work to minimise disruption forresearchers who are already working on the collection.

But local politicians are not so positive. JudithCummins, Labour MP for Bradford South, has criti-cised the Science Museum Group for what she sees as“a complete lack of transparency or consultation” in adecision-making process led by “the great and the goodin London”. Cummins also called for reassurance thatthe name of the museum would not be changed.

The Science Museum Group, which also managesthe Science Museum in London, the National RailwayMuseum in York and the Manchester Museum of Scienceand Industry, has had budget cuts of nearly 30 per centin real terms since 2010. In 2013, the National MediaMuseum—which was called the National Museum ofPhotography, Film and Television before that point—wasthreatened with closure. The museum avoided this bycutting jobs and running costs, and securing a loan of£780,000 from the Department for Culture, Media andSport to upgrade its Imax theatre.

The museum’s director Jo Quinton-Tulloch said in ablogpost on 4 February that the museum had needed to“clarify its focus” during the last 18 months. She addedthat its switch from the arts to technology would make ita better fit with the managing group’s portfolio.

But the decision to shift the photography collectionto the V&A and to focus solely on science has sparkedconcern among researchers, who question the logic ofseparating art and science in such institutions. “It’s a very quaint idea that you can separate these things out,”

says Ian Christie, a professor of film and media history atBirkbeck, University of London. “We should be aimingfor more integration, not less.”

However, Terway says that the landscape of nationalmuseums in the UK shows a clear distinction betweenthe sciences and the arts. “There are institutions that arededicated to art, but the Science Museum Group is dedi-cated to science,” he says. “When you get down to where you put resources—and money and focus—we have tomake pragmatic managerial decisions.”

by Lindsay McKenzie [email protected]


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funding oppor tuni t iesevery new opportunity every discipline

AHRC US-UK collaborationThe Arts and HumanitiesResearch Council andthe Social, Behaviouraland Economic SciencesDirectorate of theUS National ScienceFoundation inviteapplications for fundingunder their lead agencyagreement. Grants worth

up to £1 million areavailable at 80 per centfull economic cost [1].NERC polar researchThe Natural EnvironmentResearch Council’s BritishAntarctic Survey Instituteinvites applications forits polar ship researchopportunities – marinefacilities planning [9].MOD synthetic biology The Ministry of Defence’sCentre for DefenceEnterprise and theDefence Science andTechnology Laboratoryinvite proposals for theircall on synthetic biologyfor novel materials. Eachproject may receive up to£130,000 [25].NIHR facilitiesThe National Institutefor Health Researchinvites applicationsfor its competition toselect clinical researchfacilities for experimentalmedicine. The total budgetis worth £112.5 millionover five years [30].

Research Fortnight10 February 2015

Opportunities from previous issues ofResearch Fortnight , listed by closingdate. European Commission andassociated funders markedEU.Each entry is followed by a Web id

February

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d e a d l i n e sf o c u s p o i n t s

18 Defra developing an assessment ofbest available technique referencedocuments 1188512

EUEducation, Audiovisual andCulture Executive Agency Erasmus+Erasmus Mundus joint masterdegrees 1176970

EUEUREKA Eurostars programme 199550

NERC/DFID understanding theimpacts of the current El Niño eventgrants 1188369

Royal Commission for the Exhibitionof 1851 research fellowships inscience or engineering 209176

19 American Optometric FoundationWilliam C Ezell fellowships 196481 Bone Research Society Barbara

Mawer travelling fellowship 253049 CRUK population research catalyst

award 1187498 EUDirectorate-General for Mari-

time Affairs and Fisheries study onavailability and dissemination ofdata collection framework data 1188224

EUEUREKA Eurogia2020 call forprojects 1161448

Independent Social ResearchFoundation mid-career researchfellowship 1167564

Palestine Exploration Fund grantsfor travel and research 1170860

Oxford research networks scheme 1187824

Wellcome international engage-ment awards 211201

20 Geologists' Association Curry fund 25725822 British Federation of WomenGraduates foundation grants

210194 Danish Diabetes Academy visiting

scientist 1177437 DFID foreign economic aid-related

services 1188527 European Society of Cardiology con-

gress educational grants 1188526 Institution of Structural Engineers

Pai Lin Li travel award 1170136 Royal Geographic Society Gilchrist

fieldwork award 251971

Royal Geographic Society/Instituteof British Geographers FrederickSoddy postgraduate award 1163626

Royal Geographical Society (withthe Institute of British Geogra-phers) 30th international geo-graphical congress award 1185283

Smithsonian Institution LemelsonCenter archival internships 1182785

23 CRUK science committeeprogramme awards 1173969 CRUK programme foundation

awards1180581 Innovate UK future retail 1188136 Royal Society international

exchanges scheme standard pro-gramme 1162434

Royal Society/Consiglio Nazion-ale delle Ricerche internationalexchanges award 1188205

24 British Society of Aesthetics essayprize 258544 EUHorizon 2020: Industrial Leader-

ship H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017dedicated SME instrument – phaseone 1186202

Innovate UK/Department forEducation schools finance healthcompetition 1188389

Tenovus Cancer Care/Bangor Uni-versity knowledge economy skillsscholarships 1188398

25 EUEducation, Audiovisual andCulture Executive Agency Erasmus+Jean Monnet centres of excellence 1177001

EUEducation, Audiovisual andCulture Executive Agency Erasmus+Jean Monnet chairs 1176976

EUEducation, Audiovisual andCulture Executive Agency Erasmus+Jean Monnet modules 1163895

MOD Centre for Defence Enterprise/Defence Science and TechnologyLaboratory enduring challengecompetition 1175661

STFC public engagement fellowships 1177291

26 British Academy conferenceprogramme 1166177 Crossing Biological Membranes

Network proof of concept funding 1180834

EUEducation, Audiovisual andCulture Executive Agency Erasmus+knowledge alliances 1176973

EUEducation, Audiovisual andCulture Executive Agency Erasmus+sector skills alliances 1177048

European Society of BiomechanicsSM Perren research award 206894

Healing Foundation/NationalInstitute of Aesthetic Research/

British Association of AestheticPlastic Surgeons/British Associa-tion of Plastic Reconstruction andAesthetic Surgeons aesthetic fel-lowships 1187219

Humane Slaughter AssociationDorothy Sidley memorial award 260535

International Glaucoma Associationnursing research awards 1171660

International Society of BloodTransfusion Jean Julliard prize 255546

NERC/BBSRC Sustainable Agricul-ture Research & Innovation Club(SARIC) sandpit 1188186

Parliamentary Office of Science andTechnology/Nuffield Council onBioethics fellowship 1176841

Royal Society for Asian Affairs JPTFamily Trust medical science award 1170357

Universities Federation for AnimalWelfare student scholarship 1175385

Wellcome investigator awards inbiomedical science 1159096

28 British Small Animal VeterinaryAssociation Petsavers clinicalresearch project grants 259993

British Society for Plant Pathologytravel fund 1171888

CERN openlab summer studentprogramme 1162212

CRUK/British Association for CancerResearch student travel awards 1187271

European Respiratory Societyresearch award – innovation in non-tuberculous mycobacteria scienceand medicine 1183561

European Respiratory Society SirJohn Vane grant for pulmonaryvascular research 1161538

European Society of EndocrinologyEuropean Journal of Endocrinologyprize 193980

European Society of EndocrinologyGeoffrey Harris prize 192708

Guarantors of Brain support forshort meetings and conferences 1167093

Guarantors of Brain visiting lecturerbursary scheme 207671

Institute of Physics environmentalphysics essay competition 1171987

Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund pro-gramme and project grants 212833

Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fundresearch support awards 212835

Newlife Foundation for DisabledChildren start-up grants 204227

PhosAgro/UNESCO/IUPAC researchgrants in green chemistry 1177485

Physiological Society public en-gagement grants 1171613

Physiological Society researchgrants 1171619

Primate Society of Great BritainBorn Free Foundation grant 1187049

Primate Society of Great Britainconservation grants 212839

Royal College of Nursing Barbers'Company clinical nursing scholar-ship 1173341

Royal Society of Edinburgh researchvisitors to Scotland 257486

Online Funding Search

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For full details of every funding opportunity, visitwww.ResearchProfessional.com

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Issue no. 472


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8 funding opportunities Research Fortnight, 10 February 201

AHRC UK-US collaborationThe Arts and Humanities Research Council,in collaboration with the Social, Behav-ioural and Economic Sciences Directorate

of the US National Science Foundation,invites applications for funding undertheir lead agency agreement. This sup-ports interdisciplinary research and facili-tates the peer-review and joint funding ofUS-UK collaborative research. Grants areworth up to £1 million each.Web id: 1188536Contact: Allie BrownEmail:[email protected] deadline [1]

Film development awardsThe British Film Institute invites applica-tions for its programming developmentfund. This helps film programmers andexhibitors put together programmes of

films that will be enhanced or under-pinned by curation, interpretation oreducation activity. The total budget isworth up to £1.4 million per year.Web id: 1187955Email:[email protected] deadline [2]

Social issues grantsThe Bromley Trust invites applicationsfor its grants. These support projectson human rights, prison reform or theenvironment. Grants are typically worthup to £20,000 each.Web id: 1180445Email:[email protected] deadline [3]

Optometry awardThe College of Optometrists invites appli-cations for its postdoctoral researchaward. This enables members at post-doctoral level to be principal investigatorson a research project. Awards are worth£20,000 each.Web id: 1187880Email:[email protected] deadline [4]

Design history symposiumThe Design History Society invites appli-cations for its day symposium grant. Thisenables members to host a symposium,

with the aim of discussing and dissemi-nating advanced design history research.Grants are worth up to £750 each.Web id: 1188055Contact: Michaela YoungEmail:[email protected] deadline [5]

Knowledge acquisition grantsThe Foyle Foundation invites applicationsfor its learning grants. These supportprojects that facilitate the acquisitionof knowledge and that have a long-termstrategic impact, in particular projectsfrom libraries, museums and archives, orthat involve special education needs, andprojects that encourage sustainability byreducing overheads or which help gener-ate additional revenue.Web id: 1188075Email:[email protected] deadline [6]

Heritage grantsThe Heritage Lottery Fund invites applica-tions for its Sharing Heritage and Our Her-itage grant programmes. These supportprojects related to national, regional orlocal heritage in the UK. Grants are worthup to £100,000 each.Web id: 1187891Email:[email protected] deadline [7]

MS nursing educationThe Multiple Sclerosis Trust invites appli-cations for the John Harrison bursaryfund. This enables clinical nurses, who areworking with people with MS, to under-take higher education or attend courses,conferences, study days or masterclasses,in order to develop their clinical expertiseor expand their skills base. The fund paysup to 65 per cent of course costs, up to£2,000 per individual per year.Web id: 1188098Email:[email protected] deadline [8]

NERC polar researchThe Natural Environment Research Coun-cil's British Antarctic Survey Instituteinvites applications for its polar shipresearch opportunities – marine facili-ties planning. These support scientistswho have secured research funding andrequire access to work onboard polarresearch ships. Scientists may apply foraccess to NERC ships, the National MarineEquipment Pool, and the National MarineFacilities Sea Systems technical staff andequipment support facilities.Web id: 1187899Contact: Beth WoodwardEmail:[email protected] deadline [9]

ScotGov development grantsThe Scottish Government's Chief ScientistOffice invites applications for its develop-ment work grants. These support short-term projects that aim to provide keysupporting evidence in order to underpinsubsequent applications to other researchfunders related to applied or translationalhealth research. Grants are worth up to£35,000 each over six months.Web id: 1188719Email:[email protected] No deadline [10]

Socio-legal mentoringThe Socio-Legal Studies Associationinvites applications for its mentorshipscheme. This enables members to visit,and spend up to a week working with, achosen socio-legal mentor. Each awardcovers travel and accommodation costs.Web id: 1188122Email:[email protected] deadline [11]

Spinal muscular atrophy The Spinal Muscular Atrophy Trust invitesapplications for its research grants, whichmay be either operating grants or post-doctoral fellowships. These support rese-sarch that aims to cure spinal muscularatrophy, or that halts or alleviates thedisease. Standard grants are usuallyworth up to £150,000 each over two years.Web id: 1188399Contact: Vanessa Christie-BrownEmail:[email protected] deadline [12]

Vascular anaesthesiaThe Vascular Anaesthesia Society of GreatBritain and Ireland invites applicationsfor its departmental awards. These sup-port research and audit projects in thefield of vascular anaesthesia undertakenby anaesthetic trainees. Awards are worthup to £10,000 each for up to two years.Web id: 1188010No deadline [13]

DH policy evalutaionsThe Department of Health invites outlineproposals for the following policy evalu-ation calls:

•creating dementia friendly communi -ties, with a total budget worth £450,000. Web id: 1188624

• supporting a culture of opennessin the NHS, with a total budget worth£475,000.Web id: 1188621Email:[email protected]: 1 March 2016 [14]

Defra TB in badgersThe Department for Environment, Food

& Rural Affairs invites tenders for a studyon the prevalence of tuberculosis infound dead badgers in the edge areas ofEngland. The tenderer will undertake astudy of badgers killed during road trafficaccidents and other found-dead badgersto assess the prevalence and geographicdistribution of TB in badgers in the edgearea of England. The contract is worth£550,000 over one year.Web id: 1188686Email:[email protected]: 2 March 2016 [16]

Science lecture awardsThe British Science Association invitesnominations for its award lectures. These

promote open and informed discussionon issues involving science, and activelyencourage scientists to explore the socialaspects of their research.Web id: 1183386Email:[email protected]: 4 March 2016 [17]

MOD UK-France PhDThe Ministry of Defence's Defence Sci-ence and Technology Laboratory and theDirection Générale de l'Armement inviteexpressions of interest for their joint PhDprogramme. This aims to develop researchin key areas of mutual interest to Franceand the UK, such as autonomous under-

water vehicles, meta-materials, syntheticbiology, sensors, vehicle armour, andhuman and social sciences.Web id: 1188698Email:[email protected]: 4 March 2016 [18]

DFID social protection systemThe Department for International Devel-opment invites tenders for a studyon social protection system capacitystrengthening. This aims to accomplish asignificant improvement in the efficiencyand effectiveness of the department,other donors and partner governmentsupport to social protection system capac-ity strengthening. The contract is worth

up to £250,000 for up to 12 months.Web id: 1188723Contact: Steven O'RawEmail:[email protected]: 11 March 2016 [19]

DFID social protectionThe Department for International Devel-opment invites tenders for a study onthe effectiveness of social accountabilityin the delivery of social protection. Thetenderer will bring together and generateevidence on the effectiveness of the socialaccountability mechanism on the deliveryof social protection programmes and sys-tems, and on precipitating state societyrelational change. The total budget isworth up to £121,000 for 10 months.Web id: 1188639Contact: Margaret FaddesEmail:[email protected]: 18 March 2016 [20]

Oncology nursing eventsThe European Oncology Nursing Soci-ety invites applications for the followingopportunities:

•novice dissemination awards.Web id: 1188693

• Teenage Cancer Trust nursing leader-ship summit grant.Web id: 1188694Deadline: 31 March 2016 [21]

UK-Malaysia maternity collabThe British Council, via the Newton Fund'sresearcher links scheme, invites applica-tions for attendance at its workshopon advancing maternity protection inMalaysia. Funding enables early-careerresearchers from the UK and Malaysia toattend a workshop on advancing mater-nity protection in Malaysia, meetingsocial welfare and business needs, andcontributing to economic development,to be held from 27 to 31 July 2016 inPenang, Malaysia.Web id: 1188669Contact: Mark Houssart Email:[email protected]: 1 April 2016 [23]

Men's health nursing grantThe Burdett Trust for Nursing invites appli-cations for its men's health and emergentlonger-term conditions research grants.These support nurse-led projects thathelp to define proactive strategies andinterventions that seek to promote bet-ter self-care and self-management andreverse the negative impact that unde-tected and untreated men's longer-termhealth challenges may impart. Grantsare typically worth up to £200,000 each.Web id: 1188709Deadline: 2 April 2016 [24]

MOD synthetic biology The Ministry of Defence's Centre forDefence Enterprise and the Defence Sci-ence and Technology Laboratory inviteproposals for their call on synthetic biol-ogy for novel materials. Funding supportssynthetic biology approaches that pro-duce novel materials to address defencechallenges, including novel adhesives,enhanced resistance to corrosion, andprotective applications, such as novelarmour solutions. The total budget forphase one is worth up to £750,000. Eachproject may receive up to £130,000.Web id: 1187805Email:[email protected]: 14 April 2016 [25]

MOD hearing lossThe Ministry of Defence's Centre for DefenceEnterprise and the Defence Science andTechnology Laboratory invite proposals for

u k h i g h l i g h t s

New opportunities from UK-based funders.


9/24

Research Fortnight, 10 February 2016 funding opportunities9

ISSN 1358-1198Published every two weeks withbreaks at Christmas, Easter and inthe summer. The next edition willbe published on 24 February.Let te r s toResearch Fortnight Unit 111, 134-146 Curtain Road,London EC2A [email protected] r ies [email protected] +44 20 7216 6500Fax +44 20 7216 6501Editor Ehsan MasoodAssociate Editor Colin MacilwainComment and Analysis Editor John WhitfieldNews EditorsRebecca Hill,Research Fortnight Laura Greenhalgh,Research EuropeReporters James Field, Cristina Gallardo,Eloise Johnston, LindsayMcKenzie, Anna McKie, CraigNicholson, Amanda StringfellowChief Sub EditorKris PedderSub Editor Martha HenriquesData Analyst Gretchen RansowHead of Funding Content Maya BergerFunding Operations Manager Yael MoscouFunding Content ManagersCharlotte van Hek, Mikael Järvelin,Sanja VlaisavljevicEditorial ResearchersClaire Braun, Sofia Capel, RickiEnghoff, Marion Galley, GraceHarrison, Gladys Hellgren, LouiseJensen, Lotte Krause, IqbalMakboul, Sam Marberg, MonikaPallenberg, Marcia Rato, MirellaRosenström, Dalia Saris, SimonSvendsenProduction ManagerKatherine LesterDeputy Production Manager Rebecca Blease Technical Director Steve PotterPublisher William Cullerne BownSales Director Nicky CooperSales ManagersJon Thornton, Alison WarderSubscr ip t ions+44 20 7216 6500 or [email protected] t i s ing LondonTrishita Shah+44 20 7216 6528 or [email protected] by Research. Copyright© Research Research Ltd 2016.ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDReproducingResearch Fortnight byphotocopying, electronic or othermeans in any language without thepermission of the publisher is illegal.

Please recycle after use.NOT TO BE PHOTOCOPIED

their competition on detecting and treatinghearing loss and tinnitus. Funding supportsnew solutions and technologies that detecthearing loss and tinnitus early, and exploreinterventions that aim to minimise loss andtreat or restore hearing capacity. The totalbudget for phase one is £500,000, whichaims to fund lower-value projects worth upto £150,000 each.Web id: 1187808Email:[email protected]: 21 April 2016 [26]

AHRC development researchThe Arts and Humanities Research Councilinvites applications for the following callsunder its highlight notice for interna-tional development:

•follow-on fund for impact andengagement, with grants worth up to£100,000 each.Web id: 1188569

• research networking scheme, withgrants worth up to £30,000 each.Web id: 1188564Email:[email protected]: 31 May 2016 [27]

Research protocol bursariesThe Obstetruc Anaesthetists' Associa-tion invites applications for its studentbursaries. These enable medical studentsto execute a research protocol relatedto obstetric anaesthesia during theirstudent elective abroad. Bursaries areworth up to £1,000 each.Web id: 1182501Email:[email protected] Deadline: 1 June 2016 [29]

NIHR experimental facilitiesThe National Institute for Health Researchinvites applications for its competitionto select clinical research facilities forexperimental medicine. Funding aimsto meet the necessary recurrent NHSinfrastructure costs and NHS supportcosts of funded, world-class, early trans-lational research that needs to be under-taken in dedicated, purpose-built, clinicalresearch facilities in England. The totalbudget is worth £112.5 million.Web id: 1188677Deadline: 22 June 2016 [30]

AHRC African descentThe Arts and Humanities Research Coun-cil, under its research networking scheme,invites applications for the highlightnotice for the UN international decade forpeople of African descent. This encourag-es research networking proposals that are

relevant to the UN international decadefor people of African descent. Grants areworth up to £30,000 each over two years.An additional £15,000 full economic costmay be provided.Web id: 1188561Email:[email protected]: 30 June 2016 [31]

Australia scholarshipThe Britain-Australia Society, on behalfof the Northcote Trust, invites applica-tions for the Northcote graduate scholar-ships. These enable students resident inthe UK to undertake a higher degree atan Australian university for up to three years. The scholarship covers airfare to

Australia, compulsory fees and charges,and a subsistence allowance.Web id: 1188634Email:[email protected]: 24 August 2016 [32]

Master scholarship geriatricsThe British Geriatrics Society invitesapplications for its master’s scholarshipfor trainees. This enables postgraduatestudents to obtain a degree in geriatrics,gerontology, medical education, medicalethics or health services research. Thescholarship is usually worth up to £7,000.Web id: 1186295Email:[email protected]: 30 September 2016 [33]

Rheology doctoral prizeThe British Society of Rheology invitesapplications for the Vernon Harrisonannual doctoral prize. This recognisesexcellence, creativity and novelty inresearch and is awarded to the post-graduate student who has made the mostoriginal and significant contributionto any branch of rheological researchleading to the award of a PhD. The prizeis worth £500.Web id: 1188661Email:[email protected]: 30 September 2016 [34]

Digital humanitiesThe Alliance of Digital Humanities Organi-zations invites applications for the LisaLena Opas-Hänninen young scholar prize.This enables candidates to host confer-ences and recognise a young scholarwho has contributed in a significant wayat a humanities conference using digitaltechnology. Up to two prizes, worth €750(£580) each, are available.Web id: 1182082Email:[email protected]: 1 October 2016 [35]

Rheumatic diseasesThe Royal College of Physicians and Sur-geons of Glasgow invites applications forthe Walker Trust fellowship. This enablesa researcher or a group of researchers toundertake training in clinical rheumatol-ogy and clinical research methods at theCentre for Rheumatic Diseases, GlasgowRoyal Infirmary. The fellowship is worthup to £20,000 over one year.Web id: 1187245Contact: Shona McCall Email:[email protected]: 30 April 2018 [36]

Travel medicine scholarshipThe Royal College of Physicians and Sur-geons of Glasgow invites applicationsfor its Faculty of Travel Medicine trien-nial scholarship. This supports a travelmedicine-related project, preferablyconducted overseas. The scholarship isworth £2,000 over one year.Web id: 1187244Contact: Shona McCall Email:[email protected]: 31 August 2018 [37]

u k o t h e r

Renewed opportunities from funders basedin the UK.

ESRC Europe research

The Economic and Social Research Councilinvites applications for its UK in a chang-ing Europe initiative commissioning fund.This aims to promote high-quality socialscientific research into the nature of the

relationship between the UK and EU,with a particular emphasis on making thefindings of this research easily availableto non-academic stakeholders. Grants areworth up to £9,999 each.Web id: 1183731Contact: Anand MenonEmail:[email protected]: 3 March 2016 [39]

Medical research grantsThe British Medical Association invitesapplications for its research grants. Thesesupport medical research in a variety ofsubject areas, ranging from rheumatismand arthritis to cardiovascular disease,cancer and neurological disorders. Grantsare worth up to £60,000 each.Web id: 194232Email:[email protected]: 7 March 2016 [40]

Hearing loss research 1Action on Hearing Loss invites applica-tions for its international project grant.This aims to generate scientific discover-ies that will lead to new treatments toprotect, improve or restore hearing, orto silence tinnitus. The grant is worth upto £160,000 over three years.Web id: 198200Email:[email protected]: 10 March 2016 [41]

Hearing loss research 2Action on Hearing Loss invites expres-sions of interest for its translationalresearch initiative for hearing grant. Thissupports the translation of fundamentalresearch towards patient benefit. Grantsare worth up to £300,000 each.Web id: 1175049Email:[email protected]: 14 March 2016 [42]

NERC large grantsThe Natural Environment Research Coun-cil invites applications for its large grants.These support adventurous, large-scaleand complex research tackling big sci-ence questions that cannot be addressedthrough other funding opportunitiesfrom the council. Grants are worth up to£3.7 million per project.Web id: 254869Email:[email protected]: 15 March 2016 [44]

Hearing loss research 3Action on Hearing Loss invites applica-tions for the Pauline Ashley new inves-tigator grant scheme. This supports thecareer development of new investigatorsin the field of hearing research. The awardis worth up to £60,000 over one year.Web id: 1175050Email:[email protected]: 16 March 2016 [45]

Bone and soft tissue cancer Sarcoma UK invites applications for itsresearch grants. These support researchon bone and soft tissue cancers. Grantsare worth up to £120,000 each.Web id: 1179993Email:[email protected]: 17 March 2016 [46]

STFC laboratory accessThe Science and Technology FacilitiesCouncil invites applications for its inno-vations technology access centre chal-


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lenge competition. Funding providesfree access to the innovation technologyaccess centre's laboratory space, facili-ties and expertise. The highest scoringentry will be awarded six months, thesecond highest scoring entry will receivethree months access to a self-containedlaboratory and the third highest scoringentry will receive one month of access tothe multi-user laboratory and associatedequipment.Web id: 1161003Email:[email protected]: 18 March 2016 [47]

ScotGov healthcareThe Scottish Government's Chief ScientistOffice invites applications for its clinicalacademic training fellowship scheme.This encourages research-led clinicalacademics to lead development in theirdiscipline by enabling them to undertakea PhD. Projects must address patient careor healthcare-oriented research. Fellow-ships cover salary, research costs of upto £30,000 over three years, PhD regis-tration fees, and costs of up to £2,000.Web id: 1161514Email:[email protected] Deadline: 18 March 2016 [48]

ESRC knowledge exchangeThe Economic and Social Research Counciland the Future Cities Catapult centreinvite expressions of interest for theirmid-career fellowship. This enables fel-lows to work as part of the Future CitiesCatapult on projects relating to new busi-ness models, innovation and governanceof urban infrastructure investment. Thefellowship is worth up to £135,000.Web id: 1179016Email:[email protected]: 19 March 2016 [49]

Biochemistry scholarshipsThe Biochemical Society invites applica-tions for the Krebs memorial scholarship.This enables individuals to study for a PhDin biochemistry or an allied biomedicalscience. The scholarship is worth £18,500.Web id: 251982Email:[email protected]: 20 March 2016 [50]

Ecological researchThe British Ecological Society invitesapplications for the following grants:

•outreach grants, worth up to £2,000each.Web id: 1168904

• research grants, worth up to £20,000each.Web id: 1168900Email:[email protected]: 21 March 2016 [51]

Maritime history fellowshipsThe Institute of Historical Researchinvites applications for the Pearsall fel-lowship in naval and maritime history.This supports postdoctoral research innaval and maritime history from the fallof the Roman Empire in the west up tothe present day. The fellowship is worth£23,000 for one full academic year.Web id: 211538Email:[email protected]: 24 March 2016 [53]

NERC Arctic researchThe Natural Environment ResearchCouncil's British Antarctic Survey invitesapplications to access its Arctic research

station programme. This allows research-ers from the UK and their internationalcollaborators to carry out environmentalresearch relevant to the NERC remit atthe Ny-Ålesund station on the Svalbardarchipelago.Web id: 209468Contact: Nick CoxEmail:[email protected]: 31 March 2016 [55]

Anthropology awardsThe Royal Anthropological Instituteof Great Britain and Ireland invitesapplications for the Emslie Hornimananthropological scholarship fund. Thisencourages postgraduates to pursuefieldwork in order to develop their careersand make significant contributions to thestudy of the growth of civilisations, hab-its and customs, religious and physicalcharacteristics of non-European peoples,and of prehistoric and non-industrialman in Europe. Awards are worth up to£7,000 each.Web id: 202838Email:[email protected]: 31 March 2016 [57]

Radiology grantsThe Society for Radiological Protectioninvites applications for its educationalresource development grants. These sup-port the development of educationalresources in the field of radiologicalprotection. Grants are worth up to £3,000each.Web id: 1174260Email:[email protected]: 31 March 2016 [59]

London healthcare bursary The Worshipful Company of Curriersinvites applications for its millenniumbursary. This enables primary healthcareprofessionals to enhance the healthcareof disadvantaged, high-risk individualsand families in inner London through pilotresearch projects or personal develop-ment. The bursary is worth up to £10,000.Web id: 211280Contact: David M MossEmail:[email protected]: 31 March 2016 [60]

Pathology researchThe Pathological Society of Great Britain& Ireland invites applications for thefollowing opportunities:

•career development fellowship, worthup to £100,000.Web id: 1165547

• educational grants, worth up to£5,000 each.Web id: 1160282

• small grants, worth up to £10,000each.Web id: 212260

• fellowships, worth up to £5,000 each.Web id: 252533Email:[email protected]: 1 April 2016 [63]

Radiology professorshipsThe Royal College of Radiologists invitesapplications for the Roentgen professor-ships. These enable researchers to visita minimum of five UK training schemesfor the purposes of stimulating andencouraging research in clinical radi-ology. Professorships are worth up to£3,000 each.Web id: 211517Email:[email protected]: 1 April 2016 [67]

French studies researchThe Society for French Studies invitesapplications for its visiting internationalfellowship award. This encourages theinternationalisation of French studiesin the UK and Ireland by enabling anoverseas academic in the field to spendtime at a UK or Irish university or HEI. Thefellowship is worth up to £2,500.Web id: 1178297Email:[email protected]: 1 April 2016 [70]

Microbiology developmentThe Society for General Microbiologyinvites applications for its research visitgrants. These enable researchers from theUK or Republic of Ireland to visit anotherlaboratory worldwide, or internationalresearchers to visit a laboratory in theUK or ROI, to carry out a defined piece ofmicrobiology research, whether within anestablished or new collaboration initia-tive. Grants are worth up to £3,000 each.Web id: 211455Email:[email protected]: 1 April 2016 [71]

Wellcome archives accessThe Wellcome Trust invites applicationsfor its humanities and social scienceresearch bursaries. These support smalland medium-scale research projectsbased on library or archive collectionssupported by the trust. Bursaries areusually worth up to £25,000 each.Web id: 1183662Email:[email protected]: 1 April 2016 [73]

Engineering scholarshipsThe Institution of Engineering and Tech-nology invites applications for the follow-ing scholarships:

•the Hudswell international researchscholarship, worth £5,000.Web id: 188392

•the Leslie H Paddle scholarship, worth£5,000.Web id: 188390

• postgraduate scholarship for an out-standing researcher, worth £10,000.Web id: 1158279

• postgraduate scholarships, worth£2,500 each.Web id: 188397Email:[email protected]: 7 April 2016 [75]

Hellenic researchThe British School at Athens invitesapplications for the MacMillan-Rodewaldstudentship. This supports advanceddoctoral or postdoctoral research in alldisciplines pertaining to Greek lands,from fine art to archaeometry and in allperiods to modern times. The studentshipis funded at the AHRC's London-basedrate for postgraduate awards.Web id: 201542Contact: Tania GerousiEmail:[email protected]: 8 April 2016 [79]

CRUK cancer treatmentsCancer Research UK invites applicationsfor the following opportunties:

•drug development project award.Web id: 1182009

• new agents committee trial grantsand endorsements, worth up to £150,000.Web id: 201936Email:[email protected]: 8 April 2016 [80]

NIHR health technology The Department of Health's NationalInstitute for Health Research invitesexpressions of interest for its researcher-led workstream call for primary research,under the health technology assessmentprogramme. This supports research thatis immediately useful to patients, clinicalpractice, and policy and decision makers,

assessing the effectiveness of technolo-gies within the NHS.Web id: 255825Email:[email protected]: 8 April 2016 [82]

Philosophy conferencesThe Mind Association invites applica-tions for its conference grants. Theseprovide financial support to those wish-ing to organise conferences in any fieldof philosophy. Grants are worth up to£2,000 each.Web id: 1173210Contact: Julian DoddEmail:[email protected]: 8 April 2016 [83]

Science books prizesThe Royal Society invites submissions forthe Winton prize for science books. Thisrecognises the books that contributebest to making science more accessibleto public adult audiences. The authors ofup to five shortlisted books receive £2,500each, and the author of the winning bookreceives £25,000.Web id: 1161915Email:[email protected]: 8 April 2016 [84]

Wellcome fellowshipsThe Wellcome Trust invites applicationsfor the following fellowships:

•Science Foundation Ireland andHealth Research Board research careerdevelopment fellowships in basic bio-medical science.Web id: 253970

• the Sir Henry Dale fellowships.Web id: 1164964Deadline: 12 April 2016 [85]

Biology eventsThe Company of Biologists invites appli-cations for its scientific meeting grants.These support the costs associated withhosting meetings, workshops and con-ferences within the field of biology, theattendance of young scientists at theproposed event and hosting the visitsof plenary or keynote speakers at themeeting. Grants are generally worth upto £6,000 each.Web id: 1173309Email:[email protected]: 13 April 2016 [87]

NIHR health servicesThe National Institute for Health Researchinvites proposals for the researcher-ledworkstream of its health services anddelivery research programme. This sup-ports research into the quality, effective-ness and accessibility of health services,including evaluations of how the NHSmight improve delivery of services. NIHRfunds HEIs at up to 80 per cent of fulleconomic cost, and non-HEIs at 100 percent FEC.Web id: 1166293Email:[email protected]: 14 April 2016 [90]


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jobs 11

Research Associate (SIMPAFY)Starting from £31,656, risingto £37,768 Department of MechanicalEngineering, University of BathClosing date: 14/02/2016Contact: Marcelle McManusEmail: [email protected]

Research Post-Award Officer£34,336-£40,448 (inc LW)Research & Enterprise, SOASClosing date: 14/02/2016Details: www.soas.ac.uk/jobs

Grants Manager £31,033-£38,564 Sanger Institute's GenomeCampus, Wellcome TrustClosing date: 14/02/2016Details: https://jobs.sanger.ac.uk

Training Manager NSInternational and ScientificAffairs Department,Centre for Genomic RegulationClosing date: 15/02/2016Details: Please submit a coverletter addressed to Dr MichelaBertero, a CV and references, athttp://recruitment.crg.eu

Research Director £40,000-£49,000 Health & Biomedical Department,NatCen Social ResearchClosing date: 15/02/2016Contact: Rachel CraigEmail: [email protected]

Research Director£40,000-£49,000 Questionnaire Development andTesting Department,NatCen Social ResearchClosing date: 15/02/2016Contact: Jo d'ArdenneEmail: [email protected] Grants Co-ordinator £23,138-£25,793 Research and Innovation Office,Cranfield UniversityClosing date: 22/02/2016Email: [email protected]

Research Development Officer£31,656, r ising to £37,394Research & Enterprise Services,University of SussexClosing date: 22/02/2016Email: [email protected]

P o l i c y , M a n a g e m e n t & S u p p o r t – p l u s E x p e r t C o m m i t t e e s 1 0 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6

Jobs

HIGHLIGHTS

For more details and the completelist of jobs, please visit:www.researchresearch.com/jobs

Even in the digital age, it is commonplace toshare our skills and credentials with papercertificates and two-page résumés—but to somethis is starting to seem archaic.

That’s why many are championing Open Badgesas a digital way to share professional achievements.Much like your school’s 1,000m swimming badge,Open Badges must be earned by fulfilling an awardingbody’s criteria. But instead of sewing them onto yourswimming costume, Open Badges can be shared onplatforms such as LinkedIn, WordPress and Moodle.

Developed by the Mozilla Foundation in 2010,Open Badges are unique, with your name, the nameof the body that awarded the badge, and what youhad to do to get it embedded as metadata.

Doug Belshaw, an open-education consultant andself-confessed Open Badge evangelist, says, “Theyaren’t just claims of what you have done, they areevidence.” As they’re unique, they can’t be copied orstolen. “It’s an open standard,” Belshaw says. “Thatmeans Open Badges can be used across the world.And you can credit anything—from turning up to anevent, all the way to obtaining a PhD.”

Although you could try awarding badges to yourself, Belshaw says that employers would quicklyspot such practice. They will also be able to see howmuch work you had to do for each badge. “Thereare good badges and bad badges,” says GráinneHamilton, programme director at the not-for-

profit organisation DigitalMe. The best, she says,are those that use carefully considered criteria.

Open Badges have been slower to take off inuniversities than in large corporations. Hamiltonputs this down to concerns about quality assurance.“That being said, quality assurance can be builtinto the badge creation, issuing and validationprocesses,” she says. “There are certainly a lot ofuniversities that have started pilots, and are usingthe badges in very different ways.”

The University of Edinburgh is one institutionthat is giving them a go. It is using Open Badgesto recognise student representatives’ work, givingreps formal recognition that they can show topotential employers. Tanya Lubicz-Nawrocka,

academic engagement coordinator at the EdinburghUniversity Students’ Association, says that there isan element of gamification in earning badges, withstudents keen to start collecting.

David Walker, head of technology-enhancedlearning at the University of Sussex, has usedOpen Badges as an incentive for staff to take partin professional development workshops. AlthoughWalker says that he sees benefits in the badges,he adds that a cross-institutional discussion willbe necessary to help projects move beyond thepilot stage and also to ensure that badges areused consistently. “The development of OpenBadges is ongoing and evolving,” he says. “What’s

interesting is that they haven’t disappeared.People still see a value in them.”


Badge your credentials

Success in the Equality Challenge Unit’sframework to improve the representation andcareer progression of minority ethnic staff andstudents depends on top-level support, diversitymanagers have said.

The first formal round of applications to theunit’s Race Equality Charter opened at the end ofJanuary, after a year-long pilot.

Fiona McClement, equality and diversitymanager at University College London, which wasone of the 21 trial institutions, says that her teamwanted to get involved because the charter offereda “structured, cohesive, focused way” of buildingon the efforts that staff were already making.

Just eight of those 21 fulfiled the criteriafor a bronze award, and UCL was one of them.McClement says that buy-in from the top was“absolutely crucial” for success. “Our provost wasvery supportive and immediately offered to chairthe self-assessment team,” McClement says.

Nona McDuff, director of equality, diversity andinclusion at Kingston University, which also obtaineda bronze award, agrees that high-level support isvital. “If you don’t have your vice-chancellor onboard, the process is harder,” she says.

Like the bronze Athena SWAN award for genderequality—which is also run by the Equality

Challenge Unit—the bronze award for race equalityrequires an action plan and careful scrutiny of yourinstitution’s diversity data.

Patrick Johnson, head of equality and diversityat the University of Manchester—another bronzeaward-winner—says that collecting the datarequired and finding the right way to present it istough. “Some universities will have headline dataabout their staff and students’ ethnicity, but thisis really about breaking that down into a lot moredetail,” he says. For example, having ‘black andminority ethnic’ as one category is not sufficientand recruitment practices and the pipeline ofprogression for students and staff needs looking at.

Johnson says that potential applicants will needup to 18 months to prepare their proposal—rushingto collect data, make the surveys and get feedbackwould risk treating the charter as a tick-box exercise.“It’s the process that’s really important.”

The deadline for this round of applications is15 July, but McClement advises that if you haven’tstarted preparing by now, you should wait at least a year. “This is not about winning an award,” she says.“The purpose is to make a long-term, sustained,impactful change within your institution.”


The Race Equality Charter awards are not a quick win


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jobs 13

NatCen Social Research is Britain’s largest,independent social research agency.We carry out qualitative and quantitative researchacross a range of policy areas, including health andwellbeing, children and young people, politics,

communities and work. We mainly work for clients inthe government and charity sectors.

Some examples of our work:• British Social Attitudes

www.bsa.natcen.ac.uk • Health Survey for England

www.healthsurvey.hscic.gov.uk • Understanding the August Riots in England

www.natcen.ac.uk/august-riots

We are recruiting Researchers,Analysts and Statisticians

We are currently recruiting:Research Director – Questionnaire Development

Research Director – Health and biomedicalResearchers – Children, Families and Work

StatisticiansData Analyst

We are looking for talented research professionalswho are passionate about understanding societyand improving the lives of people in Britain. Theresearch we do helps government and charitiesmake the right decisions about the big issues. Pluswe’re passionate about ensuring its widest possibleimpact on the world around us.

We o er a friendly and stimulating environment with ahigh pro le, challenging research programme, as wellas exible working conditions.

All our researchers can bene t from an extensive re -search training programme and will have opportunitiesto work across policy areas and methods where possible.Bene ts include a generous holiday entitlement and ade ned contribution pension scheme .

For more information, please visitwww.natcen.ac.uk/careers

Research funding availablein health economicsThe Health Foundation is seeking a provider to undertakea programme of research into health and social care fundingtrends, innovations and public acceptability in the UK.

£300,000 available for research completed over two years.

Are you interested?The closing date for applications isMonday 7 March 2016.

www.health.org.uk/fundingoptions


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14 jobs

*Unity is the new way to work with anyone in universities and research.

It’s a simple place to form groups, share files and work on them together.

Built by universities, for universities, with some help from us at *Research

Try *Unity now at www.unity.ac

Where universities work together

The Department of Health Policy ResearchProgramme invites applications in thefollowing areas:

1. Creating dementia friendly communities – a policy evaluation

2. Supporting a culture of openness in the

NHS – a policy evaluation

Policy Research Programme:Call for Applications

Please visit the Policy Research ProgrammeCentral Commissioning Facility website atwww.prp-ccf.org.uk to access the research

speci cations, application form, guidance notes and closing dates for the above calls.

For a no obligation chat around yourrequirements, please contact:

[email protected]

Advertise yourvacancies or fundingopportunities

*Research Fortnight reaches thousandsof professionals in the academic researchcommunity every issue.

As the leading publisher of UK researchfunding opportunities, an invaluable sourceof research policy news and an essentialresource for academic vacancies, *ResearchFortnight is an ideal publication for advertisingfunding, jobs and events.

With a range of options to suit every budget,

we can help you find the right people in theright places today.


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Research Fortnight, 10 February 2016 funding opportunities15

Leukaemia fellowshipsThe Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund invitesapplications for its intermediate researchfellowships. These enable biomedicalscientists to gain experience in an inter-national centre of excellence prior toestablishing an independent researchgroup of their own. Fellowships are ten-able for up to four years.Web id: 197388Email:[email protected]: 14 April 2016 [91]

Arabian studiesThe British Foundation for the Study ofArabia invites applications for its researchgrants. These support research relating tothe Arabian Peninsula. Grants are worthup to £4,000 each.Web id: 1170353Email:[email protected]: 15 April 2016 [92]

Building service engineeringThe Chartered Institution of BuildingServices Engineers invites applications forthe Ken Dale travel bursary. This enables young building services engineers toexperience technical, economic environ-mental, social and political conditionsin another country and to examine howthese factors impact the practice of build-ing services engineering. Bursaries areworth up to £4,000 each.Web id: 1170127Contact: Grace Potthurst Email:[email protected]: 15 April 2016 [93]

HEFCE/BIS partnershipsThe Higher Education Funding Council forEngland and the Department for Business,Innovation and Skills invite expressionsof interest to tender for their UK researchpartnership investment fund. This sup-ports large-scale projects that can attractsubstantial co-investment from privatesources, building on the research excel-lence in the higher education sector. Eachproject may receive up to £50 million.Web id: 1167582Email:[email protected]: 15 April 2016 [94]

Wellcome medical callsThe Wellcome Trust invites applicationsfor the following opportunities:

•research resources call in medicalhumanities, with grants typically worthup to £150,000 each.Web id: 210623

• translation fund.Web id: 257867Deadline: 15 April 2016 [95]

Horticulture travel bursary The Society of Chemical Industry invitesapplications for the David Miller travelbursary. This enables young plant scien-tists or horticulturists to travel overseasin connection with their horticulturalcareers. Bursaries are worth £500 each.Web id: 1177565Email:[email protected]: 18 April 2016 [97]

Jacobite history The Institute of Historical Researchinvites applications for the JacobiteStudies Trust fellowships. These supporthistorical research into the Stuart dynastyin the British Isles and in exile, from thedeparture of James II in 1688 to the deathof Henry Benedict Stuart in 1807. Fellow-

ships are worth £15,000 each.Web id: 1160615Email:[email protected]: 20 April 2016 [98]

Teaching research awardsThe British Council invites propos-als for its English language teachingresearch awards. These support innova-tive research that benefits the learningand teaching of English throughout theworld. Awards are worth up to £20,000each over one year.Web id: 1184579Email:[email protected]: 22 April 2016 [99]

Skin disease projectsThe British Skin Foundation invites appli-cations for its small grants. These supportsmall or pilot projects on skin disease con-ducted in the UK or Republic of Ireland.Grants are worth up to £10,000 each forup to one year.Web id: 210875Email: [email protected]: 22 April 2016 [100]

History fellowshipsThe Institute of Historical Researchinvites applications for the Scouloudi,Thornley, and Royal Historical Societydoctoral fellowships . These support stu-dents engaged in the completion of a PhDin history. Fellowships are worth up to£15,726 each for up to one year.Web id: 260011Email:[email protected]: 27 April 2016 [102]

Industrial design awardsThe Royal Commission for the Exhibi-tion of 1851 invites applications for itsindustrial design studentships. These aimto stimulate industrial design capabilityamong UK engineering or science gradu-ates. Funding covers tuition fees up to thenormal level for UK students, a stipend of£10,000, plus £2,500 London weightingwhere applicable, and an allowance worth£850 for materials.Web id: 1166015Contact: Nigel WilliamsEmail:[email protected]: 28 April 2016 [103]

STFC public engagementThe Science and Technology FacilitiesCouncil invites proposals for its publicengagement small awards scheme. Thissupports small, local or pilot projects pro-moting science and technology. Awardsare worth up to £10,000 each.Web id: 257085Email:[email protected]: 28 April 2016 [104]

Chemistry grantsThe Royal Society of Chemistry invitesapplications for its outreach fund. Thissupports the development of projects thatraise awareness of the place of chemis-try in people's everyday lives, and thatdevelop science communication skillsof people who are already highly trainedin chemistry. Grants are worth up to£25,000 each.Web id: 1165016Email:[email protected]: 29 April 2016 [105]

Radiography grantsThe Society and College of Radiographersinvites applications for its industry part-nership scheme research grants. Thesesupport projects related to any aspect ofthe science and practice of radiography.Grants are worth up to £10,000 each.Web id: 1170286Contact: Valerie AsemahEmail:[email protected]: 29 April 2016 [106]

Australia/UK scholarshipsThe Menzies Centre for Australian Stud-ies invites applications for its Australianbicentennial scholarships and fellow-ships. These promote scholarship, intel-lectual links, and mutual awareness andunderstanding between the UK and Aus-tralia by enabling UK graduates to study inapproved courses or undertake approvedresearch in Australia, and Australian grad-uates to study or undertake research inthe UK. Each grant is worth up to £4,000.Web id: 182792Email:[email protected]: 29 April 2016 [108]

Japanese studiesThe British Association for JapaneseStudies invites applications for the JohnCrump studentship. This supports post-graduate research students enrolled in aUK university research degree programmeduring the final stages of the writing-upperiod. The studentship is worth £3,000.Web id: 1172041Email:[email protected]: 30 April 2016 [109]

Cardiothoracic awardsThe European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery invites abstract submis-

sions for the following awards:•the C Walton Lillehei young investiga -tor award, worth US$10,000 (£6,900).Web id: 183963

•the Society of Thoracic Surgeonsaward, worth €2,000 (£1,500).Web id: 1183493

•the Hans G Borst award for thoracicaortic surgery, worth €5,000.Web id: 183961

•young investigator awards, worth€3,000 each.Web id: 183957Deadline: 30 April 2016 [110]

Philology bursariesThe Philological Society invites applica-tions for its master's bursary scheme. Thissupports postgraduate students in theareas of linguistics or philology. Bursariesare worth £4,000 each.Web id: 1171401Email:[email protected]: 30 April 2016 [114]

Surgery awardsThe Royal College of Physicians and Sur-geons of Glasgow invites applications forthe following opportunities:

•travelling fellowships, worth up to£2,000 each.Web id: 1184398

•the Davies Foundation travelling fel -lowships, worth £10,000 each.Web id: 257527

•the Lachlan McNeill scholarship inophthalmology, worth up to £5,000 overone year.Web id: 257529Contact: Shona McCall Email:[email protected]: 30 April 2016 [115]

Chemistry scholarshipsThe Society of Chemical Industry invitesapplications for its scholarships. Thesesupport PhD students approaching theirsecond year of research in chemical indus-try and related subjects across the scien-tific and engineering spectrum, includingindustrial biotechnology, food science,chemical engineering, horticulture, envi-ronmental sciences, polymers, drug dis-covery and cement science. Scholarshipsare worth £5,000 each over two years.Web id: 1183892Email:[email protected]: 30 April 2016 [118]

e u r o p e h i g h l i g h t s

New opportunities from European funders,excluding funders based in the UK.

Structural biology facilitiesInstruct and the Infrastructure for NMR,EM and X-rays for Translational Research

(iNEXT) invite proposals for access tostructural biology facilities. Funding ena-bles candidates to access iNEXT facilitiesin order to undertake structural biologyresearch. Projects must be translational,meaning they must relate to structuralbiology research with applications inbiomedical, biotechnological, biomate-rial, food or environment research.Web id: 1188296Contact: Hans WienkEmail:[email protected] deadline [119]

Orthopaedic professorshipThe International Society of OrthopaedicSurgery and Traumatology invites applica-

tions for the Charles Sorbie professorship.This aims to evaluate and improve trainingin a SICOT education centre by enablingan internationally respected individualto spend at least one week at the centre.Travel expenses are covered up to €3,000(£2,300) and local costs are covered bythe education centre.Web id: 1188285Email:[email protected] deadline [120]

EU Italian exportThe Directorate-General for Economicand Financial Affairs invites tenders for astudy on firm-level drivers of export per-formance and external competitiveness in

Italy. The tenderer will conduct a study toprovide insight into the microeconomicunderpinnings of Italy's external com-petitiveness in recent years. The contractis worth up to €80,000 (£61,400).Web id: 1188620Email:[email protected]: 29 February 2016 [121]

EU bioenergy ERA-Net BESTF3, with support from theEuropean Commission, invites proposalsfor its joint call for proposals – bioen-ergy sustaining the future. This supportspre-commercial bioenergy projects thatdemonstrate collaboration, innovation

and industry focus. The total budget isworth up to €22.3 million (£17.1m).Web id: 1188627Email:[email protected]: 29 February 2016 [122]


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EU inequality dynamicsERA-Net NORFACE invites applicationsfor its research programme on dynam-ics of inequality across the life-course.This supports transnational researchfocused on understanding the dynamicsof inequalities as they unfold over thelife course, casual processes in relationto these inequalities, the impact of theseinequalities on social cohesion and theidentification of opportunities for policyinterventions to increase possibilities forsocial mobility and to reduce inequali-ties. Funding is worth up to €1.5 million(£1.15m) per project for a maximumperiod of 36 months.Web id: 1188046Email:[email protected] Deadline: 30 March 2016 [123]

EU nutrition and healthThe JPI A Healthy Diet for a HealthyLife invites proposals for its ERA-NETcofund call for biomarkers in nutrition andhealth. This supports multidisciplinarytransnational research consortia that willdevelop and validate biomarkers for nutri-tion and health, including nutritionalintake, nutritional status, physical activ-ity related health, diet-related health andrisk of developing diet-related diseases.Funding varies according to respectivefunding organisations' regulations.Web id: 1178988Deadline: 19 April 2016 [124]

Orthopaedic fellowshipsThe International Society of OrthopaedicSurgery and Traumatology (SICOT) andthe Khoula Hospital invite applicationsfor their fellowship. This enables foursurgeons to spend 12 weeks at the KhoulaHospital in Muscat, Oman. Accommoda-tion is provided by Khoula Hospital andSICOT reimburses up to €1,000 (£770)for travel expenses.Web id: 1188287Email:[email protected]: 30 June 2016 [125]

Neuro-oncology workshopsThe European Association of Neuro-Oncology invites applications for its work-shop and symposia grants. These supportthe organisation of short workshops orsymposia on any area directly related toneuro-oncology. Grants are worth up to€25,000 (£19,200) per workshop.Web id: 1188577Contact: Magdalena MaraEmail:[email protected]: 1 July 2016 [126]

Bayer agro scholarshipThe Bayer Foundation invites applica-tions for the Jeff Schell scholarship. Thisenables students and young professionalswith up to two years' work experience toattend special study courses, summerclasses and conduct research projects inthe field of agro sciences, agronomy, cropsciences, green biotechnology, environ-mental sciences or sustainability. Projectsshould have a duration between two and12 months.Web id: 1188707Deadline: 10 July 2016 [127]

Orthopaedic travel grantThe European Orthopaedic Research Soci-ety invites applications for its exchangetravel grant. This enables individuals to

visit a participating member institutionto work or study. The grant is worth upto €1,000 (£770) over two to four weeks.Web id: 1188341Email:[email protected]: 30 September 2016 [128]

e u r o p e

o t h e r Renewed opportunities from Europeanfunders, excluding funders based in the UK.

Greek research grantsThe Alexander S Onassis Public Ben-efit Foundation invites applications forits foreigners fellowship programme.This encourages the promotion of Greeklanguage, history and culture abroad,thereby creating and encouraging tiesof friendship and cooperation betweenmembers of the foreign academic com-munity and their Greek counterparts.Web id: 157906Email:[email protected]: 26 February 2016 [129]

Respiratory awardsThe European Respiratory Society invitesapplications for its award for lifetimeachievement in pulmonary arterial hyper-tension. This recognises members who aretaking part in a research project in thefield of pulmonary arterial hypertensionand who have achieved advances andresearch in the field. The award is worth€10,000 (£7,700).Web id: 261084Deadline: 28 February 2016 [130]

EU water innovationAcqueau, the EUREKA cluster for water,

invites project outlines via its open call.This supports collaborative R&D techno-logical projects, with strong market andexploitation orientation, in the followingareas of water innovation: water resourc-es, water treatment, water distribution,customers, agriculture, industry, urbandrainage and wastewater collection,wastewater treatment, and bio solidsand other sludge.Web id: 1170705Email:[email protected]: 1 March 2016 [131]

Biochemistry grantsThe Federation of European Biochemi-cal Societies invites applications forits workshop grants. These support theorganisation of workshops on topicsof high scientific interest in the fieldsof biochemistry, genetics, biophysics,molecular, cellular and developmentalbiology as well as systems and quanti-tative biology. Grants are worth up to€20,000 (£15,400) each.Web id: 212967Contact: Kinga NyíriEmail:[email protected]: 1 March 2016 [132]

Microbiology meetingsThe Federation of European Microbio-logical Societies invites applicationsfor its meeting grants. These supportscientific conferences, laboratory work-shops and training courses held withinEurope. Grants are worth up to €15,000(£11,500) each.

Web id: 197951Email:[email protected]: 1 March 2016 [133]

Nutrition fellowshipsThe European Society for Clinical Nutritionand Metabolism invites applications forits research fellowships. These supportresearchers in training within the fieldsof nutritional and metabolic sciences.Fellowships are worth up to €50,000(£38,400) each.Web id: 1171323Email:[email protected]: 4 March 2016 [135]

Immunology meetingsThe European Federation of Immunologi-cal Societies invites applications for thefollowing opportunities:

•meeting support

Documents

Research Fortnight - 10/02/2016