Research Funding for Early Research Funding for Early Career ResearchersCareer Researchers

Dr. Matt BriggsResearch & Development Office

Schedule Schedule • Part 1: What is research funding?

• Part 2: Main Sources of research funding• Research Councils (RCUK)• Trusts• EU• Funding Councils (QR)

• Part 3: Early Career Researchers• Programmes you could apply for

• Part 4: What is the REF?

• Part 5: Grant application process

• Part 5: Q&A / Discussion

What is research funding?What is research funding?

• Career driver• A game• Source of esteem• A way to do what you love• A way of driving ‘impact’ of your research • A performance indicator • A way of meeting interesting people in

interesting places…..• Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration

What is research funding?What is research funding?

• Importance• This proposal asks an important question

• Success• This project is likely to answer that question

• Value• It’s worth the money to get that answer

• Competence• These investigators can do it.

What is research funding?What is research funding?

• Two main types:• Research Council Grants• You bid for these on a project by project basis. • Typically £30K – £400K

• Funding Council • HEFCW (Higher Education Funding Council for Wales)• Quality Related (QR)• Allocated to universities on basis of quality of research • Peer Review - REF 2014

Research Councils Research Councils

• AHRC• AHRC

• ESRC• ESRC 

• NERC• NERC 

• EPSRC• EPSRC 

• BBSRC• BBSRC • MRC• MRC  

• STFC• STFC

• Frequent Visits

• RSS Feeds

• Email

• Twitter

• Facebook

• Events / Networking

Trusts & Government :Trusts & Government :• British Academy • British Academy

• Leverhulme Trust• Leverhulme Trust

• Wellcome Trust • Wellcome Trust

• Welsh Government • Welsh Government

Europe:• CORDIS (Framework Programme)• CORDIS

• Directorates General • Programmes

Distribution of Research Distribution of Research FundingFunding

• Funding Councils (33%)• Quality Related (QR)• REF / RAE

• Research Councils (23%)• Grants

• Other (45%)• British Academy / Leverhulme / Welcome Trust• Business• Charity• Central Government • European Union

GRANTfinder GRANTfinder • Wide variety of sources:• Europe • Charity• Government • TSB• RCUK

• Registering • Searching • Alerts • Grantfinder • Guide

• Problem: • Usually better to find responsive research (open and user defined)

than thematic research (grant awarding body defined)

• Policy Finder • Alerts and analysis

Funding for Employment – Funding for Employment – Two ApproachesTwo Approaches

• Applying for your own grant…..• Be realistic.• You may have to be in employment at HEI• Or could ‘write yourself a post’

• Keeping your ear to the ground……• Working as a Research Assistant or Fellow on somebody else's

funded project.• Benefits – good experience and network building• Drawbacks – little control of research and may end up

spending your career doing this.• Little job security.

Early Career Researchers Early Career Researchers (ECR)(ECR)

• AHRC Research Grants - Early Careers• The Research Grants Schemes are intended to support well-

defined research projects enabling individual researchers to collaborate with, and bring benefits to, other individuals and organisations through the conduct of research.

• This scheme is not intended to support individual scholarship.

• Guide

• Full economic cost (fEC) between £50,000 and £250,000 for a varying duration up to a limit of 60 months

AHRC’s Fellowships (ECR)AHRC’s Fellowships (ECR)

• NOT REQUIRED TO BE EMPLOYED TO APPLY

• The scheme provides time for potential future research leaders, to undertake focused individual research alongside collaborative activities which have the potential to generate a transformative impact on their subject area and beyond.

• Salary and associated costs for periods of between 6 and 24 months. Proposals with a full economic cost of between £50,000 and £250,000 may be submitted.

AHRC Research Networking AHRC Research Networking • The Research Networking Scheme is intended to support

forums for the discussion and exchange of ideas on a specified thematic area, issue or problem.

• The intention is to facilitate interactions between researchers and stakeholders through, for example, a short-term series of workshops, seminars, networking activities or other events. The aim of these activities is to stimulate new debate across boundaries, for example, disciplinary, conceptual, theoretical, methodological, and/or international.

• Proposals for full economic costs up to £30,000 for a period of up to two years may be submitted. An additional threshold of up to £15,000 full economic cost may be sought to cover the costs of any international participants or activities.

British Academy British Academy

• Skills Acquisition Awards• Pilot scheme enabling early career researchers to develop and

enhance their quantitative skills by spending time with a mentor at a specialist centre.

• The scheme attracted applications from 32 early career scholars in established academic posts. The Research Awards Committee was able to agree to fund 20 of the proposals submitted, benefiting outstanding researchers and encouraging the development of networks and future partnerships

BA Postdoctoral BA Postdoctoral FellowshipsFellowships

• Do not have to be employed at time of application

• Opportunities for outstanding early career researchers to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in a university environment which will develop their curriculum vitae and improve their prospects of obtaining permanent lecturing posts by the end of the Fellowship.

• The primary emphasis is on completion of a significant piece of publishable research, which will be assisted by full membership of an academic community of established scholars working in similar fields

BA / Leverhulme Small BA / Leverhulme Small Research GrantsResearch Grants

• Grants are available to support primary research in the humanities and social sciences.

• The first recourse for funding should be to your own institution (where applicable).

• Funds are available to facilitate initial project planning and development; to support the direct costs of research; and to enable the advancement of research through workshops or conferences, or visits by or to partner scholars.

• Applications will not be considered for less than £500. The maximum grant is £10,000 over two years. Applications for collaborative or individual projects are equally welcome under this scheme. Applications from international groups of scholars are welcome, provided there is a UK-based scholar as lead applicant

Leverhulme Leverhulme • Research Leadership Awards• The aim of these awards is to support those who have succeeded in

beginning a university career but who are then confronted with the task of building a research team adequately able to tackle an identified but distinctive research problem.

• The awards provide support for research assistants and research students led by the award holder. Applicants will have held a university post for at least two years. Each institution is limited to one bid only.

• Once a university has selected their chosen candidate, they should provide the Trust with the applicant’s name, departmental affiliation and email address. Access will then be granted to the Trust’s online Grant Application System.

Value and Duration• The awards will be for a sum of between £800,000 and £1 million, over a

period of up to five years

Leverhulme Leverhulme • Early Career Fellowships• Early Career Fellowships aim to provide career development

opportunities for those who are at a relatively early stage of their academic careers but with a proven record of research.

• It is anticipated that a Fellowship will lead to a more permanent academic position. Applications are welcomed in any discipline, and approximately 80 Fellowships will be available in 2013. Fellowships can be held at universities or at other institutions of higher education in the UK.

• The Trust will contribute 50% of each Fellow's total salary costs up to a maximum of £23,000 per annum and the balance is to be paid by the host institution. Given the prestige of the awards each Fellow may request annual research expenses of up to £6,000 to further his or her research activities.

LeverhulmeLeverhulme

• Study Abroad Studentships• Study Abroad Studentships support an extended period of

advanced study or research at a centre of learning in any overseas country, with the exception of the USA.

Value• The Studentships comprise: a basic annual maintenance

allowance of £17,000; a partner allowance of £6,000 if a Student is accompanied by a dependent partner; a return air fare; and a baggage allowance. Further allowances are payable at the Trust’s discretion, e.g. assistance with overseas tuition fees and essential research costs.

European Funding European Funding

• Framework Programme for Research

• FP7 (2007 – 2013)

• Horizon 2020 (2014-2020)

• Marie Curie Actions

• Annual Work Programme

• Calls

• CORDIS

European Projects European Projects

• Huge range……• ERDF – Interreg projects• Rural Alliances (ivb NWE)• CISNET (ivb AA)• ACT & CIME (iva IW)

• Universities employ Project Officers to work on grants.• Project Management• Research • Good career development opportunities • Impact / knowledge transfer oriented…..

QR Funding - QR Funding - Research Excellence Framework Research Excellence Framework

• National peer review of research.• Quality Profile for defined ‘Units of Assessment’• National funding councils allocate funds based on the quality

profile.• RAE (2001 - 2007)• REF (2008 -2013)

• 65% - Quality of the outputs

• 15% - Research Environment

• 20% - Economic and Social Impact of Research

QR FundingQR Funding

• UWL ranked 83 out of 132 HEIs

• Majority of research ranked ‘world leading’ (25%) or ‘internationally excellent’ (30%)

• Above average for Wales (49%) and comparable with England (55%)

• QR funding £911,638 in 2009-10, continue to 2014

REF ‘Output’ Aims:REF ‘Output’ Aims:

• Drive up quality across the HE research base and in all forms of research

• Support and encourage innovative and curiosity-driven research, including new approaches, new fields & interdisciplinary work

• Maximum of 4 outputs for each member of staff.

• Originality, Significance and Rigour:

• Four Star. Exceptional & world leading. Game changer. • Three Star. Internationally excellent. Key reference point.

• Two Star. Recognised internationally. Incremental advance.• One Star. Good, with national recognition.

REF ‘Environment’ AimsREF ‘Environment’ Aims • Ensure a high-quality, forward-looking research environment

conducive to a continuing flow of excellent research and to its effective dissemination and application

• Vitality

• Sustainability

• Policy and strategy

• Support & infrastructure

• People

• Quality Assurance

• Income

• Postgraduate

• Contribution to discipline

REF ‘Impact’ aims:REF ‘Impact’ aims:• Reward and encourage the effective sharing, dissemination and

application of research findings and the productive interchange of research staff and ideas between HEIs, business and other research users

• Reward and encourage HEIs that deliver benefits to business, the economy and society by building on excellent research

• The ways in which research related knowledge and skills benefit individuals, organisations and nations by:

1. Fostering global economic performance, and specifically the economic competitiveness of the UK

2. Increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy

3. Enhancing quality of life, health and creative output.

Range of ImpactsRange of Impacts

WG - For Our Future: WG - For Our Future: The 21The 21stst Century Higher Education Strategy and Plan for Wales Century Higher Education Strategy and Plan for Wales

Submission SystemsSubmission Systems

• Research Councils (Je-S)• Je-S

• British Academy (E-GAP2)• E-GAP 2

• Speak to Research Office at the very start!

• Approval Process: • Head of School Dean• PVC (Finance) If required• Finance MB / RDO • Quality Control MB / RDO• Submission MB / RDO

Je-S requirements Je-S requirements • RCUK & JISC Applications must

be made through J-ES.

• This takes two forms• 1). Online Form (summaries and costing)• 2) Attachments (detailed research plan)

• Tips• Make use of the help files.• Make use of me.• Leave plenty of time.• All applications subject to quality control and institutional

approval

Online Form AttachmentsOnline Form Attachments• Organisation• Title •  Start / finish dates• Applicants• Investigators • Objectives• Summary • Academic Beneficiaries• Staff Duties • Impact Summary • Ethical Information • Resources • Project Partners • Timetable• Data Collection • Academic reviewers• User Reviewers

• Case for support:• Justification of

Resources (JoR)• CVs• Pathways to Impact  • Data Management

Plan

Costing a RCUK Research Bid

Costing a RCUK Research Bid

• What you need to know about the money…..• And what we will do to help….• Model

• Full Economic Costing (FEC)– Directly Incurred – TRAC (Indirect Costs)– Directly Allocated (Estates) (Existing)

• Match Funding (20%)

Directly Incurred CostsDirectly Incurred Costs

• These are the costs that are directly incurred on a research project, and include both staff and non-staff costs.

• If the project did not take place then the expenditure would not be incurred, or it would be wholly dedicated to another project or activity.

• These are generally straight forward, as all costs of these items will be charged to the particular project.

• Examples include research assistants, consumables, travel and subsistence, dedicated technicians, equipment purchases, and research facilities where charge-out rates have been calculated.

Directly Allocated CostsDirectly Allocated Costs• These are costs of resources, both staff and non-

staff that are shared between several projects or activities and are charged to the projects on the basis of estimates rather than actual costs.

• DA academic staff costs. Costs of academics and research staff who work on more than one project. The Principal Investigator and any Co-Investigators estimate their time on a project (hours per week or per project).

• DA laboratory technician costs. These are the costs of pooled technicians supporting a number of projects.

• DA non-staff costs.  These are the costs of using Research Facilities where charge-out rates have been calculated.

• Estates costs. Costs of the space in the research area required for the project, and local support space charged on the basis of the actual costs incurred by the University.  These are charged to projects as a £ per full time equivalent (FTE) of all academic and research staff.

Indirect CostsIndirect Costs

• These are non-specific costs charged across all projects not otherwise included as Directly Allocated costs.

• These costs are necessary for underpinning research but cannot be allocated to individual projects.

• One indirect cost rate is calculated at TSD and charged to projects as a £ rate per full time equivalent (FTE) of all academic and research staff (not support staff unless they are performing research).