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Five Ingredients for a Perfect Research Funding Bid

Five ingredients for a perfect recipe. Photo by Calum Lewis on Unsplash Is there a formula for a successful funding proposal? Not quite, but there are five elements that you should definitely keep in mind when drafting your application.  Each year I run a series of Grants Factory training events at the University. A perennial favourite in this series focuses on the essential elements of a
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What You Need to Know: ESRC Secondary Data Analysis Initiative

Or do you have a better idea about using the data?  Photo by Franki Chamaki on Unsplash The ESRC’s Secondary Data Analysis Initiative might not win any awards for ease of verbal articulation, but it does “do exactly what it says on the tin”. Sarah Tetley hears more from Tina Haux about the scheme, and what academics need to do if they want to be successful. Launched in 2016, the Initiative
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What You Need to Know: Applying for GCRF Funding

Photo by Thomas Young on Unsplash GCRF is not straightforward: there are important caveats and qualifications that all applicants should be aware of before they tentatively dip their toe in the GCRF waters. ODA compliance This is the key to the whole fund. Without being compliant with official development assistance (ODA) rules, your project will not even be considered. ODA needs to run
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EPSRC's 'Concept Auditions'

'Heeelllooo Swindoooon!' Photo by James Barr on Unsplash Last year EPSRC launched a scheme for which applicants had to sign up for a 'concept audition'. What's going on?  I’m not sure whether it’s desperate or inspired, but the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council seems to be getting increasingly creative when trying to manage demand and keep its success rates buoyant. Its
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The Right Trousers

EPSRC, in a bold move, has chosen small business owner Wendolene Ramsbottom to be its Executive Chair. Sir Mark 'Gimlet' Walport was enthusiastic in his support for EPSRC's new Executive Coach Travel. 'I'm delighted that Wendolene has chosen to join us. Involving SMEs in research and innovation is a key part of the Industrial Strategy. Her knowledge of the wool industry is second to none.
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What You Need to Know: How other Countries Assess Research

Two ends of the South African research assessment scale: kak and lekker. Photo by Greg Bakker on Unsplash In the UK the REF has become an unavoidable feature of the research landscape. But how do other countries assess research? We look at one example - South Africa - and their very different solution to the same challenge. Here in the UK the Research Excellence Framework is like the key to
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The Rise of the Flexigator

A fully balanced flexigator diet of a block grant burger and side order of study leave Photo by Edward Franklin on Unsplash With the rise in vegetarianism and veganism, meat eaters with a conscience are having a difficult time. They enjoy meat, but they don't want to appear like they don't care about animal welfare or the future of the planet. Luckily semantics is at hand to help them out. '
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