Funding

NERC is inviting applications for projects of up to four months which consider the use of NERC environmental data in the development of applications, products and services. Funding of up to £15K is available to researchers to undertake preliminary projects to: Liaise with businesses and other end-users to understand their requirements and gauge their interest in a product, service or application, which uses NERC-funded data; Development of, in discussion with the end-user, a mock up or 'storyboard' to visualise what the product, service or application may look like. The working up of datasets, preferably from NERC Data Centres, which are of interest to business and other end-users, to ensure they will be accessible, in preparation for a forthcoming Technology Strategy Board/NERC joint "New Business Solutions from Environmental Data" feasibility project call (see below). Projects could address one or more of the points above and should be based around the following sectors: Transport, Energy, Built Environment / Future Cities, Agriculture and Food. Applications must include the use of NERC-funded data / information (and where appropriate integrated with data sourced from elsewhere).

The Royal Society invites applications for its research grants. The scheme provides seed-corn funding for scientists in the UK who are at an early stage in their career and want to purchase specialised equipment and consumables, or for academics to research the history of science. Grants cover all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering but excluding clinical medicine. The scheme also provides support for research in the history of science. Applicants should have postdoctoral level or equivalent status, be working as independent researchers within five years of their first academic position and be resident in the UK. Non-tenured researchers and retired scientists may apply if the application is in the history of science field and the applicant works in association with an eligible institution. Eligible organisations are UK universities and not-for-profit research organisations that are not Research Council institutes. The scheme provides a grant of up to £15,000 (incl. VAT) for the purchase of specialised equipment, essential consumable materials and services, and travel and subsistence for essential field research. The grant is for a maximum period of 12 months.

The University of Sussex’s department of biochemistry invites applications for the Korner travelling fellowships. These enable students and recently qualified postdoctoral scientists, working in the field of gene expression or related areas in laboratories in the UK or Republic of Ireland, to visit laboratories outside these countries or to attend international conferences. Awards are also available to similar applicants from abroad who wish to visit laboratories or conferences within the UK or Republic of Ireland. To be eligible an applicant must be a postgraduate or final year undergraduate student currently registered for a degree, or a postdoctoral scientist (usually up to five years post-PhD), who is engaged in a research project within a university or research institute. The topic of study to be pursued during the foreign trip should lie within the fields of gene expression, protein biosynthesis or molecular endocrinology. Awards of up to £1,000 towards the costs of travel and subsistence may be made at each funding round. Deadlines on: 31 May 2013, 30 September 2013, 31 January 2014, and repeated annually.

The UK-India education and research initiative of the British Council and the University Grants Commission invite expressions of interest for their thematic partnerships. These facilitate collaborations between faculties and researchers, and enable registered PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in India and the UK to undertake short-term visits to work on research projects. Partnerships are available for all subjects, including humanities, social sciences, science and technology projects. Multidisciplinary research is encouraged. Project leaders should be of at least postdoctoral status or equivalent and based in an institution or research laboratory in a UK university or institution. EU citizens may apply provided that they hold a permanent position in the UK, and non-EU citizens should have held a permanent position for at least three years. Indian project leaders should be based in an Indian university or institution and be resident in India. Funds are available for partnerships of up to two years in duration and provide a maximum of £60,000 equivalent in INR. Eligible costs include research staff and fellow and student exchanges including travel and accommodation costs.  

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council invites applications for its biotechnology young entrepreneurs scheme. This is aimed at raising awareness of commercialisation of bioscience research among postgraduate students and postdoctoral scientists. Teams receive entrepreneurial awareness training, and present their plans for hypothetical businesses to real entrepreneurs, financiers and industrialists. The competition is run over three days. Regional workshops are held between September and November, and the final takes places in London in December.

The UK-India education and research initiative of the British Council and the Department of Science and Technology of India invite applications for their thematic partnerships. These facilitate collaborations between faculties and researchers and enable registered PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in India and the UK to undertake short-term visits to work on research projects. Five key subject areas are: •sustainable energy supply; •food production and security; •water supply and security; •health and disease; •innovation, including social impact and intellectual property; •research and science policy.   Multidisciplinary research is encouraged. These partnerships are intended for institution-based research teams, in the UK and India, of proven research ability. The project leaders should be faculty members or academia in an institution or research laboratory in a UK university or institution. EU citizens may apply provided that they hold a permanent position in the UK, and non-EU citizens should have held a permanent position for at least three consecutive years. Indian project leaders should be based in an Indian university or institution and be resident in India. Funds are available for partnerships of up to two years in duration and provide a maximum of £75,000 equivalent in INR. Eligible costs include research staff and fellow and student exchanges, including travel and accommodation costs, and reasonable costs directly associated with research activities including laboratory consumables.

The Biochemical Society invites applications for its general travel grants. These help members of at least one year’s standing to attend scientific meetings. Most grants are between £200 and £500, though up to £750 may be available in exceptional cases. Closing Dates 1st January for meetings anytime after 1st February 1st March for meetings anytime after 1st April 1st May for meetings anytime after 1st June 1st June for meetings anytime after 1st July 1st July for meetings anytime after 1st August 1st September for meetings anytime after 1st October 1st November for meetings anytime after 1st December Maximum award: £750

The European Science Foundation invites applications for short visit and exchange grants under its new frontiers of exchange programme. These may be awarded to participate in INFTY activities, or for collaborative work directly relevant to INFTY. Two types of grants are available: •short visit grants of up to 15 days, reimbursed on the basis of an allowance of €85 per day, plus travel expenses of up to €500; •exchange visit grants from 15 days to three months, reimbursed on the basis of an allowance of €1600 per month, plus travel expenses of up to €500.   Applicants may be both pre- and postdoctoral researchers who’s work is directly relevant to the program. Preference will be given to applicants from ESF member countries who financially support the program and to new collaborations rather than repeat visits.