Research Funding and Fellowships:

Opportunities, Support Available and Grant Writing Tips

UCL Health of the Public Early Career Researcher Network

2nd September 2020

Pascale Fanning-Tichborne

Strategic Research Facilitator

SLMS Research Coordination Office

What I will cover…..

• Introduction -SLMS Research Coordination Office:– Who we are and what we do?

• Navigating the academic career path

• Funding and fellowship opportunities

• Writing your proposal – Grant writing tips

• Resources and other support available

• Submitting your application

• Final thoughts and questions

Who we are

School of Life & Medical Sciences

The School of Life and Medical Sciences Research Coordination Office (RCO) work to support and promote cross-disciplinary research

communities and collaborations, increase the success of research funding applications, and develop UCL’s health-related research strategies.

Research Coordination Office

Office of the Vice Provost (Health)

Brain SciencesLife SciencesMedical Sciences Pop. Health Sciences

Research Facilitation

SLMS Strategic Research Facilitators

Pascale Fanning-TichborneMelanie Bradnam (currently on secondment)

Antonia Chatzopoulou

Supporting ResearchersSLMS Research Facilitators: slms.facilitators@ucl.ac.uk

Support that we provide for preparing grant and fellowship applications:

Identifying / assessing suitability for funding schemes e.g. reviewing CV, advising on competitiveness

Providing resources for applications e.g. grant-writing and interview preparation tips

Reviewing draft research proposals (science, grantsmanship, editorial)

Supporting mock interviews

Providing training and workshops on grant writing/funding applications

Strategic Activities

Driving Strategy:

Developing and coordinating School/institution-wide internal selection processes for certain funding calls

Managing funder relationships and strategic visits

Supporting major funding bids

Improving grant application success rates; increasing volume of externally funded research

SLMS Research Facilitators: slms.facilitators@ucl.ac.uk

What it funds How your time will be spent Salary provided?

Postdoc on grantsFunds your PI’s

projectResearch on PI’s project Salary [partially] paid via PI

Fellowships Funds youProtected time for your research +

career development planSalary paid

Research Awards Funds your project Research + teaching, etc

Salary not/partially paid –

requires institutional

commitment

(e.g., proleptic/academic

position)

Navigating the career path

Postdoc on grants

Research awards

PhD Established, independent PI?Fellowship(s)

Evolution of research vision/independence

Navigating the career path – Getting a fellowship

PERSON

PLACE PROJECT

Components of success….

Fit for scheme/Eligibility

The right timing –are you going to be competitive?

Does your project fit the remit of the funder/scheme

Is your host department supportive?

Communicate• Your mentor/supervisor• Division/Institute/Department

contacts/leaders • Division/Institute/Department finance• Funded Peers • Research Coordination Office

Ambitious Feasible

What’s the research

question/need?

How do they intersect?

Is it innovative and timely?

Are you distinguishing yourself from your

supervisor?

Develop your proposal• Craft your aims • Develop your budget (Worktribe)• Read the funder’s guidance notes and

evaluation/assessment criteria carefully• Think about YOU and your environment

Before you begin

The right timing is crucial: Multiple Options

PhD

Internat-

ional

mobility

H2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions: Individual Fellowships

EMBO Long Term Fellowship

HFSP Long Term Fellowship

ERC Consolidator Grant --> (12)

Clinical

Wellcome CRCDF Stage 1

MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship ------>

Wellcome CRCDF Stage 2

MRC Senior Clinical Fellowship

BBSRC David Philips Fellowship

Royal Society University Research Fellowship

MRC Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship -->

Non-clinical

or clinical

NIHR Advanced Fellowship

NC3Rs David Sainsbury Fellowship*

<-------UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship* -------->

ERC Starting Grant

NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award

Wellcome Senior Research Fellowships

Early career Intermediate career Senior career

Post-doctoral year

Non-clinical

Wellcome Sir Henry Wellcome

Royal Comm. For Exhib 1851

BBSRC Discovery Fellowship

Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship

Wellcome Sir Henry Dale Fellowship*

<------- MRC Career Development Award ------->

Skills

Funder Remit /Philosophy Fellowship Schemes Other Schemes

Research to understand normal

human function

Discovery Fellowships (E)

David Philips Fellowships (I)

New Investigator

Scheme

Responsive mode

SLoLa

Research relevant to human

health and disease

Career Development Award (E/I)

Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship (S)

Clinician Scientist Fellowships (E/I)

Senior Clinical Fellowships (S)

New Investigator

Research Grant

Responsive Mode

Programme Grants

Research to

improve human and animal health

and to support the brightest

minds

Sir Henry Wellcome (E)

Sir Henry Dale (I)

Senior Research Fellowship (S)

Principal Research Fellowships (S)

Collaborative Award in

Sciences

Investigator Award in

Sciences

Research that is immediately

useful to patients, clinical

practice, and policy or decision

makers

NIHR Advanced Fellowship (E/I)

Research Professorship (S)

Integrated Academic Training

Programme

Clinical Lectureship

Specific/commissioned

initiatives/awards/sche

mes

Supports excellent ECRS, with

outstanding potential to become

future leaders. Research across

the UKRI remit, no barriers to

interdisciplinary or cross-

sector research.

Future Leaders Fellowship (E/I) Specific/commissioned

initiatives/awards/sche

mes – usually via one

of the RCs or Innovate

UK

Funding Opportunities

Research Connect – GRANTfinder 4 Education• ResearchConnect: online funding opportunities search tool

• Use your UCL credentials to log on.

https://www.idoxgrantfinder.co.uk/education

Tell a story Make it compelling Grab the reader in first page: What? Why? Who? Show understanding of context/alternative viewpoints Make it believable: Show evidence of feasibility

(Pilot data, independent aims, expected outcomes, contingencies, timelines, statistics)

Write for the reviewers Help them understand/get excited about your research Don’t:

Make them work (use language and structure) Assume they’ll give you the benefit of the doubt

Seek internal review Experts and non-experts (incl. Research Coordination

Office) Give enough time (>1 month) Heed advice

Writing your proposal

Writing your proposal

(links in last slide)

Resources

Grant submission: tips and tools• Obtain support from your Department/Division (don’t wait until the last minute!)

• Use Worktribe to complete the project costing – seek help from your Research/Finance Administrator

• Be aware of Research Services timelines for notification and approvals (e.g. at least 2 weeks notification) see their webpages for further information. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/research-services/

• Do give yourself time; be organised

• Identify right funder, scheme; carefully read ALL guidance notes

• Utilise available support (peers, research support services)

• Do not get disappointed by unfunded applications – have a plan b and c…..

Final Thoughts

Thank you! Questions?

RCO supportwww.ucl.ac.uk/school-life-medical-sciences/rco/supporting-researchers

Guidance documents:https://www.ucl.ac.uk/school-life-medical-sciences/about-slms/office-vice-

provost-health/research-coordination-office/what-we-do/supporting-7

Contact: slms.facilitators@ucl.ac.uk

@rco_slms_ucl