1. Research Funding Opportunities in KLS Brian Lingley Faculty Funding Officer

2. Page 2 Basics… Basically two types of funding available…: – ‘Responsive Mode’ Grants & Fellowships  For research on a subject suggested by you – ‘ Managed Programme’ Grants & Contracts  For research on a subject suggested by the funder  Programme Grants are similar to other grants; Contracts tend to have more onerous terms and conditions and generally result in ‘deliverable’ product/report …and five sources of funding: – Research Councils – Charities – Professional and Learned Bodies – Government – Industry

3. Page 3 Research Councils Benefits of applying to RCs: – Prestige – fEC – generous funding What to watch out for: – Cuts – and ‘politics’ Themes, demand management, ‘longer, larger, fewer’ – Impact

4. Page 4 Research Councils Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (26% - £795m) Science & Technology Facilities Council (20% - £624m) Medical Research Council (19% - £606m) Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (14% - £427m) Natural Environment Research Council (13% - £392m) Economic & Social Research Council (5% - £165m) Arts & Humanities Research Council (3% - £103m)

6. AHRC v ESRC “AHRC supports research into the content, procedures, theory, philosophy and history of the law. This includes studies of legal systems and legislation in all periods of history and in all parts of the world. ESRC supports socio-legal studies, which are concerned with the social, political and economic influences on and impact of the law and the legal system.” Page 6

7. AHRC 70% of Funding Open 30% Themed – ‘Connected Communities’ – ‘strategic need’: modern languages, design and heritage – AHRC’s own multidisciplinary themes: Care for the Future; Translating Cultures; Digital Transformations; Science and Culture Page 7

8. Main AHRC Schemes Research Grant – £50k to £1M (EC flavour - £50k to £250k) – Up to 60 months – PI plus 1-2 Co-Is – Open Call Fellowships – £50k to £250k – 6 to 18 months – At least 50% commitment – (EC flavour – at least 2 years post doc experience) Page 8 Research Networks – up to £30k for costs EC? – within 8 years of PhD, or 6 years of first academic appointment

9. Main ESRC Schemes Research Grant – £200k to £2M – Open Call Future Research Leaders – Up to £312,500 – Up to 3 years – Up to 60% of time – October Deadline – Within 4 years of PhD Page 9 Research Seminars - up to £15k costs Opens mid-December

10. Delivery Plans: Themes AHRC – ‘Connected Communities’ – ‘strategic need’: modern languages, design and heritage – AHRC’s own multidisciplinary themes: Care for the Future; Translating Cultures; Digital Transformations; Science and Culture ESRC – Economic performance and sustainable growth – Influencing behaviour and informing interventions – Vibrant and fair society Page 10

11. Cross-Council Themes Global Uncertainties Living with Environmental Change Ageing: Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Digital Economy Energy Global Food Security Page 11

12. Page 12 Charities General – Leverhulme Trust – Wellcome Trust – Nuffield Foundation Specialist – Joseph Rowntree Foundation – Often medical – e.g. Cancer Research UK – AMRC (www.amrc.org.uk)www.amrc.org.uk Represents 111 health-related charities, with a combined expenditure on medical research of £630m per annum.

13. Page 13 Leverhulme (£53m) Funds all fields, except social policy and welfare, medicine and education Supports original, risk-taking research that often transcends traditional discipline boundaries Rough split: – Sciences: 40% – Soc. Sciences:40% – Humanities:20%

14. Leverhulme Fellowships – Up to £45k – 3-24 mths – Call Sept, deadline Nov – EC version – 03/13 deadline International Academic Fellowship – Up to £22k – Up to 12 mths – Same deadline as above – Employed FT >5 yrs Grants – Up to £500k – Up to 5 yrs – Most > £250k, 2-3 years – 2 part process – Open call, assessed quarterly Success Rates – Fellowship:10-15% – SA Fellowship:30% – Grants:15-20% Page 14

15. Page 15 Leverhulme Benefits of applying to Leverhulme – Not ‘restricted’ by demands of distributing public money no ‘political agenda’ reporting not as onerous What to watch out for: – Research has to appeal to broad general audience Trustees all ex-Unilever employees Depend for advice on: – ‘Advisory Committee’ (for smaller grants): 9 professors – ‘Advisory Panel’ (for larger grants): 32 academics – Interdisciplinary – but not ‘last resort’ – Risk taking – Individual ‘vision’

16. Page 16 Wellcome (£642m) ‘To foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health’ Supports – Biomedical research – Technology transfer – Medical Humanities: History of Medicine & Biomedical Ethics – Public engagement with science Does not support – Clinical trials – Generally, cancer research

17. Wellcome Benefits of applying to Wellcome – Wide range of funding – More useful feedback following rejection – Supportive once you have received funding

18. Page 18 Nuffield (£10m) Aims – ‘To improve social well-being through education, research and innovation.’ – Themes: – Children & Families, Education, Law & Society – Also ‘open door’ – Project Grants £10-250k – Most between £50-150k

19. Nuffield Benefits of applying to Nuffield – 2 part process: initial application very simple, and can apply any time (Mar, Jul & Nov deadlines) What to watch out for: – Look at previously successful grants – Strong social policy element – Importance of ‘methodology’ – Engagement with beneficiaries Page 19

20. Rowntree (£5m) 3 aims: – Poverty: to examine the root causes of poverty and disadvantage and identify solutions. – Empowerment: to find ways in which people and communities can have control of their own lives. – Place: to contribute to the building and development of strong, cohesive and sustainable communities. Benefits of applying to JRF: – Prestigious What to watch out for: – Very prescriptive calls for proposals – Relatively small amounts of funding

21. Page 21 Learned Societies Generally provide some small scale support for visits, conferences, fellowships or smaller research projects Professional Bodies  Represent people working in a specific area  e.g. The Law Society, Socio-Legal Studies Association Learned Societies  Represent, and act as a forum for, a particular subject or discipline  British Academy funds research in Humanities & Social Sciences

22. British Academy Small Research Grants – Up to £10k over 2 years – Flexible (workshops, travel, some RA etc) – Not PI salary or overheads – Feb and Sept deadlines Postdoctoral Fellowship – 3 year salary – Within 3 years of PhD – Attractive, but very competitive (< 5% success) – October deadline Mid-Career Fellowship – 6 to 12 months – Within 15 years of PhD – September deadline Page 22

23. Page 23 Government National – Government Departments – County Councils – Other Government-funded organisations British Council – collaborative grants NESTA Lottery International – Europe Framework Programme – USA Federal Grants

24. Page 24 European Funding Framework Programme: – EU’s main method for funding research and innovation – Budget €50bn over 7 years (Horizon 2020 £80bn!) – Organised into 4 pillars: CooperationIdeas PeopleCapacities

25. Page 25 Cooperation People Ideas Capacities JRC FP7 €7 460 €4 728 €4 217 € 1 751 €32 365 Values in € Millions

26. FP7: European Research Council Starting Researcher – Up to €1.5M over 5 years – 2 to 7 years post PhD – Call closes October Advanced Researcher – Up to €2.5M over 5 years – 10 year track record – Call closes October Consolidating Researcher – Up to €2.0M over 5 years – 7 to 12 years post PhD – Call opens in November, closes February. Page 26 Responsive Mode No requirement for collaborative groups

27. Page 27 Industry Does fund research – In-house R&D – Contracts for research services – Grants or award programmes …but tends to be more restrictive If specifically seeking industry support, talk to Kent Innovation & Enterprise (KIE) Beth Flowers(e.m.flowers@kent.ac.uk)e.m.flowers@kent.ac.uk

28. Early Career Opportunities

29. Main ECR Opportunities Page 29 SchemeDurationFundingECR? AHRC Early Career Research Grant Up to 60 months£50-250k< 8 years PhD AHRC Early Career Fellowship 6 to 18 months£50-250k2 years post doc, < 8 years PhD ESRC Future Research Leaders Up to 3 Years£250k< 4 years post PhD Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship 3 years50% of salary, max 23k pa <5 years post PhD BA Post Doc Fellowship 3 years3 years salary< 3 years post PhD ERC Staring Grant5 years€1.5M2-7 years post PhD

30. ...about the Specifics What will you do? (objectives, plan, timescale) Why now? Why you? (expertise, track record, contacts) What impact? (beneficiaries, dissemination) What kind of resources do you need? (reasonable, accurate, eligible)

31. Recap… 2 types of funding: – Managed – Responsive Mode 5 types of funder: – Research Councils – Charities – Learned Societies and Representative Bodies – Government – Industry

32. Considerations Eligibility – Employment status and residency – Career stage Costs – Will it cover all your costs? – Overheads Internal Pressures – School budget – Teaching needs Remit – Subject – Aims of scheme – ‘Politics’ Timetable – Deadline – Duration Success Rate – Is it worth it? – Back up plan

33. Perspective Put yourself in the funder’s position – Can you understand what is proposed? – Is it worth spending money on? Are the objectives important? Are they achievable? Is the timeframe realistic? Does it offer value for money? – Can the applicant deliver? Do you have the necessary track record? Can you manage a project? Page 33

34. Panellists Not specialist in your area Time poor Eminent Having to filter 100+ applications at a time

35. Make It Easy for Them Make it simple – Avoid jargon – ‘intelligent 14 yr old’ – Simple structure/ format/language Make it urgent – Why should we care? – Back it up with evidence Make it realistic – Programme and costs – Concentrate on methodology – Write defensively Repeat key messages – ‘we need to know...’ – ‘this will tell us...’

36. Craft it Give yourself time – At least a month to write Show it to others – Academics working in same discipline – Academics working in other disciplines – Research Services

37. Good vs Bad Good Application An important question Realistic promise of an answer – Ability and track record of research team – Well designed and fully described project – Properly resourced and value for money Well written and presented application Fits funder priorities Bad Application Unclear, esoteric question Pages of densely packed jargon Emphasis on background and literature Incomplete description of research process Ignores funder guidance

38. Managing Your Research Proposals One won’t be enough – Typical success rates 10 -20% – Reviewing and assessing a ‘lottery’ – Applications are time- consuming – Rejection is crushing Multiple applications give you hope – Don’t wait for the rejections – Create economies of scale – Allow 1-2 years from idea to grant Don’t exhaust your ideas – Complementary applications – Look out for spin off ideas and ‘spare’ research questions – Recycle ideas to different funders Don’t flog a dead horse Page 38

39. Help from Research Services

40. Page 40 Cradle to Grave Identify funders Help with the proposal and application process Costing Institutional ‘sign off’ ‘Accept’ award and negotiate contract Manage Award Financial claims End of Award reports Funding Contracts Finance

41. Help in Developing Applications Information – Funding opportunities Regular, ad hoc, strategic – Background news & insights newsletter, website, blog Funder visits Grants Factory Aiding collaboration – bringing those in similar disciplines together (eg Lunchtime Seminars) Preparing your application – Copy editing, proof reading and advice on the text – Successful application bank – Staff costings and calculating overheads – Advice on eligible costs – Research governance – Internal Peer Review Page 41

42. Grants Factory Help and advice from other academics Workshops – Tools for writing killer applications Masterclasses – What the guidance doesn’t tell you Mock panels – Test drive your proposal

43. Page 43 WeekDateTitleStream 2Thurs 4 Oct 2:30-4:30pm Planning a Personal Research Strategy Jenny Billings & Prof Darren Griffin ECRN 4Wed 17 Oct 9:20-11:30am Getting Published in Journals Prof Sally Sheldon & Prof Jon Williamson ECRN 6Wed 31 Oct 2-4pm Identifying an Idea: What the Funders Want Prof Gordon Lynch and Prof Sally Sheldon ADW 8TBC ESRC Prof Dominic Abrams & Prof Peter Taylor-Gooby FF 10Wed 28 Nov 2-4pm Constructing a Realistic Project Prof Peter Taylor-Gooby & Prof Elizabeth Mansfield ECRN 12Wed 12 Dec 2-4pm The Essential Elements of a Good Application Prof Paul Allain & Prof Mick Tuite ADW 13Wed 16 Jan 12-2pm Developing Collaborations Prof Jon Williamson & Dr Peter Bennett ECRN 15Wed 30 Jan 12-2pm How the Peer Review Panel Works Prof Mick Tuite & Dr Simon Kirchin ADW 17Wed 13 Feb 12-2pm Seeking and Using Feedback Prof Darren Griffin & Prof Paul Allain ECRN 19Thurs 28 Feb 12-4pm EPSRC Prof Sarah Spurgeon & Prof Simon Thompson FF 21Wed 13 Mar 12-2pm Relationships with Senior Staff Prof Ray Laurence & Prof Dominic Abrams ECRN 23Wed 27 Mar 2-4pm Responding to Reviewers’ Comments Dr Peter Bennett & Dr Simon Kirchin ADW 25Thurs 9 May 12-4pm European Commission Prof Simon Thompson & Jenny Billings FF 27Wed 22 May 2-4pm Recycling your Proposal Prof Elizabeth Mansfield & Prof Ray Laurence ADW 29Wed 5 Jun 12-2pmBalancing the Conflicting Demands of Academia Prof Gordon Lynch & Prof Sarah Spurgeon ECRN

44. Page 44 Internal Approval Form Ensures the University endorses and takes responsibility for your project. Internal Approval Form – Check list – risks/issues Need to attach a ‘Full Economic Costing’ Sign off by: – PI and any Co-Is – HoS (or representative) – Research Services

45. Page 45 Sources of Information Research Funding Officers – Social Sciences: Brian Lingley (b.lingley@kent.ac.uk, xtn4427)b.lingley@kent.ac.uk – Humanities: Lynne Bennett (l.bennett-282@kent.ac.uk, xtn4799)l.bennett-282@kent.ac.uk – Sciences: Carolyn Barker (c.m.barker-47@kent.ac.uk, xtn7957)c.m.barker-47@kent.ac.uk – Medway: Karen Allart (k.a.allart@kent.ac.uk, xtn8967)k.a.allart@kent.ac.uk – The Guru: Phil Ward (p.ward@kent.ac.uk, xtn7748)p.ward@kent.ac.uk Websites – Funding opportunities: www.researchprofessional.comwww.researchprofessional.com – European Funding: www.ukro.ac.ukwww.ukro.ac.uk – Jacqueline Aldridge & Andrew Derrington: The Research Funding Toolkit (Sage, 2012) (http://www.researchfundingtoolkit.org/)http://www.researchfundingtoolkit.org/ – Research Services: www.kent.ac.uk/researchserviceswww.kent.ac.uk/researchservices – Research Fundermentals Blog: http://fundermental.blogspot.com/http://fundermental.blogspot.com/