Sustainable Pathways to Low Carbon Energy (SPLiCE) Research Programme: Phase 1

Posted on March 13, 2014 by BENNETT Margaret

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs invites tenders for its sustainable pathways to low carbon energy research programme.

The SPLiCE research programme will fill gaps in knowledge about the sustainability of different mixes of energy supply and demand options needed to deliver 2050 greenhouse gas emissions targets. It will look specifically at the effects of different energy options on the natural environment, society and the economy. This new research will be combined with existing information and synthesised into a comprehensive, accessible and holistic view of the data that will support decision making to build a sustainable future energy system.

Phase 1 will establish a foundation for this programme and will start a process of reviewing and synthesising existing research; prioritise new research for phase 2; produce a specification for a portal to access the synthesised information and assess options for evaluating and comparing impacts and engaging the public.

Listing Deadline: 03/04/2014 16:00

Contract Start Date: 28/04/2014

Contract Duration: 12 months

For further information go to: https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk/esop/toolkit/opportunity/opportunityDetail.do?opportunityId=21606&oppList=CURRENT

Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme – NIHR

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Josephine Beech

The EME Programme funds clinical efficacy studies. The studies test if an intervention works as expected in a well-defined population or group of patients. The Programme also provides an opportunity to use clinical studies to understand disease or treatment mechanisms, which may in turn lead to improvements in health and patient care.

EME funds clinical studies to test interventions where proof of concept has already been demonstrated, allowing their progress through early clinical trials and on to larger, later clinical trials. Treatment with drugs or biological compounds, psychological interventions, public health initiatives, diagnostic tests and medical devices are all within the remit of the Programme. Treatments or interventions intended to prevent disease are also included.

To see the latest calls please click HERE

EPSRC Manufacturing Advanced Functional Materials

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Josephine Beech

EPSRC are inviting research proposals from consortia across the Engineering and Physical Sciences communities to address the manufacturing research challenges in developing applications, production technologies and future processes that incorporate advanced functional materials.

EPSRC are expecting to commit up to £10 Million on large, long term (up to five years), multidisciplinary programmes that capitalise on the UK’s growing research capability in functional materials and identify the most promising pathways for scale-up to applications and devices of these innovative materials. A two-stage process will be used to allocate the funding. This first stage of the call seeks expressions of interest to submit a full proposal. The submitted expressions of interests will be assessed at a short-listing panel in May 2014 and those that align appropriately with the scope for this call will be invited for the full proposal stage. The deadline for full proposals will be in July 2014 and these will be peer reviewed during the summer. Funding decisions are expected to be made in Autumn 2014

Closing date:15 April 2014

Type: Expression of interest

If you are interested in this call please email externalprojects@staffs.ac.uk

Royal Society Industry Fellowship

Posted on February 13, 2014 by BENNETT Margaret

This scheme is for academic scientists who want to work on a collaborative project with industry and for scientists in industry who want to work on a collaborative project with an academic organisation.

The scheme covers all areas of the life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excluding clinical medicine.

It aims to enhance knowledge transfer in science and technology between industry and academia in the UK and provides a basic salary for the researcher and a contribution towards research costs.

The scheme is funded by the Royal Society, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, Rolls-Royce plc and BP plc.

The applicant must:

have a PhD or be of equivalent standing in their profession
hold a permanent post in a university, not-for-profit research organisation or industry in the UK
be at a stage in their career when they would benefit from establishing or strengthening personal or corporate links between academia and industry as a foundation for long-term collaboration and development

Applications involving spin-offs or small companies are encouraged.

Applicants should ensure that they meet all the eligibility requirements, which are explained in the scheme notes (PDF).

The scheme provides the applicant’s basic salary while on secondment. The employing organisation continue to pay national insurance and pension contributions.

Research expenses may be claimed up to the value of £2,000 per year. Awards can be for any period up to two years full-time or a maximum of four years pro rata, i.e. an award could be held at 50% part-time for four years enabling fellows to maintain links with their employing institution more easily.

For further information go to:

http://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/industry-fellowship/

Open Call for Proposals: European Co-operation in Science and Technology

Posted on February 6, 2014 by BENNETT Margaret

Stimulating new, innovative, interdisciplinary and broad research networks, COST invites action proposals contributing to the scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societal development of Europe. Proposals initiated by early-stage researchers are especially welcome.

COST is organised in nine broad domains (biomedicine and molecular biosciences; chemistry and molecular sciences and technologies; earth system science and environmental management; food and agriculture; forests, their products and services; individuals, societies, cultures and health; information and communication technologies; materials, physics and nanosciences; transport and urban development).

Proposers are invited to locate their topic within one domain. However, broad inter-disciplinary proposals not fitting readily into a single domain should be submitted as trans-domain proposals (TDP) and will be evaluated separately.

Proposals should include researchers from a minimum of five COST countries.

Deadline: 07/03/2014

For further information go to: http://www.cost.eu/participate/open_call

Fund an international academic to work at Staffs Uni

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Holly Hoar

If you know a star academic working abroad that you would like to work at Staffordshire University for two years, this fund from the Royal Society and British Academy should be of interest.

Researchers can work in a broad range of fields including natural and social sciences and humanities.

Funding Body: Royal Society and the British Academy

Scheme: Newton International Fellowship

Overview: The Royal Society and the British Academy invite applications for the Newton international fellowship. This enables early-stage postdoctoral researchers from all over the world to work in the fields of natural and social sciences and the humanities at UK research institutions. Contact between the applicants and their UK sponsor must have been established prior to application.

Applicants must have a PhD and up to seven years of active full time postdoctoral experience. They should be working outside the UK and be competent in oral and written English. UK citizens may not apply.

Budget: The fellowship lasts for two years and provides £24,000 per year for subsistence costs, up to £8,000 per year for research expenses and a one-off payment of up to £2,000 for relocation expenses. In addition, fellows may receive up to £6,000 per year for up to 10 years following the tenure to support networking activities with UK-based researchers.

Deadlines: 10 March 2014 –This is an annual call

Further Information: http://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/newton-international/

Policy & Research Small Grants Open Call

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Josephine Beech

Nesta have launched a New small grants fund they want to find new ideas and foster collaboration with a wide array of organisations so a open call has been launched where up to ten projects in total will be funded across the year. The maximum budget is 10k and examples of expected projects are:

primarily research-based
developing a paper
a proof of concept
policy idea.

NESTA research themes

Development and application of innovative methods for understanding innovation
Using big data or open data to understand innovation
Mapping and analysing new trends in social, business or technological innovation
Public policies to promote innovation
Adoption of innovation in public services
Innovation in emerging economies

To find out more click on this link – http://www.nesta.org.uk/Small-Grants-Open-Call

The Daphne Jackson Trust invites applications for its STEM fellowships

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Esther KNIGHT

The Daphne Jackson Trust invites applications for its fellowships. These aim to return scientists, engineers and technologists to their careers after a break. Fellowships are normally undertaken on a part-time basis in a university or research establishment in the UK. They are flexible and include a tailored training programme to update the skills and knowledge of the fellow, allowing them to return at the appropriate level to their career.

Applicants must be permanent UK residents, with a good first degree in a STEM discipline and at least three years in research or a PhD qualification prior to the career break.

Fellowships last for two years part time and cover a salary with a small additional allowance for expenses such as conference attendance.

http://www.daphnejackson.org/

Erasmus + Webinars

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Josephine Beech

Ecorys and the British Council have advertised webinars for the new Erasmus + programme of funding. These are taking place in January and February.

All of the details on how to register and when the webinars are taking place can be found Here

The External Projects Team will be listening in to the Webinars, so we will be sending out a blog with all the latest info later this month, in the meantime, if you are interested in accessing the E+ funding please get in touch with us at externalprojects@staffs.ac.uk

Staffordshire University Research and Funding Blog

Category Archives: Sciences