Hints, Tips and FAQs when Preparing a Research Proposal Stuart Hedley – Research Development Officer SASS SASS Research Away Day 2nd February 2017

Know the Funder and Scheme Time Research Context Evidence The Proposal Dos and Don'ts Examples More Info

Know The Funder and the Scheme Funders don’t fund the research you want to do, they invest in the research they need to be done to achieve their strategic objectives Understand their strategic priorities/key themes of the funder and show how your research fits. Always read and understand the guidelines and refer back to them in your proposal to really highlight how your project fits the scheme. Be sure what the scheme will fund this will steer what kind of activities they are expecting under the call.

Give Yourself and Others Time Allow plenty of time to prepare your proposal Let Research Office know you’re preparing it early on A individual grant proposal can take 2-3 months A collaborative grant can take 3-6 months Get it peer reviewed Research office will help with all of this

Research Context How does you idea fit with the field at present? What knowledge or need gap is it filling? Why Now? Why you? Why University of Brighton? How will it all work together, time, people, place, resources.

Back everything up with evidence few examples showing how you can strengthen common ‘throwaway’ phrases: We are a long research group … to … we have been working in mental health research for 20 years Our previous project was successful … to … 75% of clients reduced their substance misuse more people will benefit … to … we plan to reach a further 100 people in 2017 there is a need for this research… to … demand has risen by 15%

Questions to Ask of the Proposal Is it a clear, coherent and simple to follow? Does the aim satisfy the need / knowledge gap the research context identifies? Do the objectives fit the aim? Do the methods and associated methodology address the aim and objectives? Do the method outputs satisfy the aim and objectives? Will the project be managed efficiently to deliver the outputs? Have appropriate resources been allocated to the project?

Dos and Don'ts Do Don’t Make sure your proposal fits the funder Give yourself time Keep it clear Read the guidance Think ahead (long-term) Ask for help! Don’t Apply if it’s not right for you / your research Jargon-overload Be vague Be modest Ignore the bigger picture Give up!

Examples Lizzie Ward – Wellcome Trust Ethical issues in self-funded social care: co-producing knowledge with older people Time, Peer Review, Timeliness Aidan McGarry - AHRC The Aesthetics of Protest: Visual Culture and Communication in Turkey Fit to funder themes (Digital Transformations and Translating Cultures) good management and support

Pre-Award – How to contact us Room M24, Cockcroft Building, Moulsecoomb 01273 641215 researchoffice@brighton.ac.uk @UoB_RO Visit our website - https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/ease/ro/Pages/home.aspx

Upcoming Workshops To book a place on any of the workshops click here INTRODUCTION TO THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE RESEARCH FUND Tuesday 21st February 2017 12:30-1:30pm Falmer Bevendean House BE102 DEVELOPING IMPACT AS PART OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS Wednesday 8th February 2017, 2.00-4.00pm Falmer, Checkland B503 BUILDING COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS Friday 24th March 2017 12.00-2.00pm Moulsecoomb, Huxley 407 To book a place on any of the workshops click here 

Thursday 23rd February - M301 Strategic planning meeting around upcoming mental health calls (NIHR, H2020) Speak to Gillian Bendelow/Julie Green for more info.

Appendix – Funder Priorities and Stay informed British Academy - Strategic Framework 2016-2020 Leverhulme Trust – Approach to Grant making Royal Society – Mission Wellcome Trust – Strategy ESRC – Delivery Plan AHRC - Vision, Strategy and Governance NIHR – Our Purpose ESRC – Email Alerts ESRC – Twitter AHRC – Twitter AHRC – Newsletter NIHR – Twitter NIHR -CCF Newsletter Leverhulme Trust – Twitter Leverhulme – Funding Alert Email MRC Twitter MRC - Network magazine Wellcome Trust – Twitter British Academy – Twitter British Academy – Newsletter Royal Society – Twitter Royal Society – Newsletters Leverhulme Trust – Twitter Leverhulme – Funding Alert Email