Call for Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship Applications

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Final Reminder of Funder Deadline – 12 January 2016 

The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin scheme is for outstanding scientists in the UK at an early stage of their research career who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances such as parenting or caring responsibilities, or health issues.  This scheme offers holders the opportunity to hold appointments on a part-time basis or convert from full-time to part-time and back again to help match work and other commitments, such as parental or caring responsibilities.

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be able to demonstrate a current need for flexible support due to personal circumstances at the time of application. This can include current parenting or caring responsibilities (such as raising children or looking after ageing or seriously ill family members), clinically diagnosed health issues or other personal circumstances that create a need for a flexible working pattern.   [Although not made specific in the scheme guidance, in the past applicants have been unsuccessful where their caring responsibilities were outside the UK ].
  • Must be at an early stage of their research career (have completed their PhD but have no more than 6 years of research experience post PhD by 12 January 2016).
  • Must not hold a permanent post in a university or not-for-profit organisation in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in Switzerland.
  • Must be a citizen of the EEA or a be a Swiss citizen (or have a relevant connection to the EEA or Switzerland).
  • The research must fall within the Natural Sciences.

Please speak to Kelly or Emma in Research Support if you are considering submitting an application.  Applications must be submitted on eGap to Research Services by Tuesday 5 January 2016.

More information can be found on the Royal Society’s website here:

https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/dorothy-hodgkin/

https://royalsociety.org/~/media/grants/schemes/DHF-2016-scheme-notes.pdf

RCUK Research Policy – DPhil Internships

RCUK logoResearch Councils UK (RCUK) have launched a policy internship scheme for PhD students to enable them to gain experience of how research can inform policy making.

Research Council Policy Internships provide an opportunity for PhD students funded by the UK Research Councils (e.g. EPSRC) to work for three months in one of a selected group of highly influential policy organisations (e.g. The Royal Society). Successful applicants have the opportunity to work on a policy topic of interest to both the student and the organisation, by producing a briefing paper, participating in a policy inquiry and organising a policy event.

A 3 month extension will be added to the current DPhil funding to account for this, and internships must start before the end of the funding period.

The application deadline varies from depending on the specific Research Council, with EPSRC holding an 18th August 2015 deadline

To find out more – Click Here
To find out more about the EPSRC specific call – Click Here

Kasper Rasmussen URF Award – Congratulations!

indexCongratulations to Kasper Rasmussen who has been awarded the Royal Society University Research Fellowship for 2015. The URF’s are prestigious awards that provide the opportunity for exceptional researchers/early career academics to build an independent research career. These awards offer a minimum of 5 years of independent funding, and only around 45 exceptional candidates are awarded one each year, so a huge congratulations to him!

Applications for the 2016 panel are now open for application – Click Here to find out more

The Royal Society URF – Call

RoyalSocietyThe Royal Society URF Call has now opened! The scheme provides the opportunity for exceptional researchers/early career academics to build an independent research career, and those appointed are expected to be strong candidates for permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships. These awards are extremely prestigious and offer 5 years of independent funding, with an option to apply for a further 3 year extension.

The applicant must:

  • have a PhD (the Royal Society will not consider applicants who have just submitted their PhD)
  • be in the early stages of their research career (between 3 to 8 years of research experience since their PhD) by the closing date of the round
  • not hold a permanent post in a university or not-for-profit organization in the European Economic Area (EEA)
  • be a citizen of the EEA or a be a Swiss citizen (or have a relevant connection to the EEA or Switzerland e.g. hold a PhD from the EEA or Switzerland, or has worked in the EEA or Switzerland for at least two years)

This scheme is highly competitive, however help will be on hand during the summer to offer support to those who wish to apply. If you are interested in applying please email us to arrange an initial 1:1 meeting within 2 weeks (up until the 31st July). This initial meeting is important as it will clarify your eligibility and suitability for the scheme, and will allow us to set milestones to ensure you meet the deadlines. Anybody who informs us of their intent to apply after the 31st July may still be considered but we can’t guarantee the same level of support.

The official deadline for this call is 3rd September 2015 (the tentative Research Services Deadline is 27th August 2015, but this is not yet confirmed).

To book an appointment – Click Here
To find out more – Click Here
To view last year’s scheme notes (2016 pending release) – Click Here

Royal Society Writing and Media Skills – Training

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Scientists communicating their work is key to expanding the frontiers of knowledge, and the Royal Society’s courses will help you to do this effectively and memorably. These courses are designed exclusively for scientists, and are tutored by leading communication specialists.

Writing about your research:
Effective communication skills allow scientists to share their work with wider audiences and so enhance the contribution of science to society.  Such skills can also help to secure research funding and build collaborations across disciplines. This course trains scientists to write about their research for non-specialist readers in a variety of contexts, from press releases and news stories, to longer features that sustain the interest of audiences through narrative, and articles for online social media. >>More Info

Date: 29th April 2015
Time: 9:30-17:00
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London
Cost: £450

Media Skills Training:
On this one-day course you will work with an experienced TV production team, a top voice coach, and a leading science communicator to prepare and practice media interviews.  During the course you will discover how the media works, and how to use that knowledge. You will be shown how to interrogate your work into a story the media will be interested in, and what to expect when the media calls. The tutors will work with you to prepare your story for interview, and you will learn techniques so that you, and your message, come across as well as possible. >>More Info

Date: 21st May 2015
Time: 9:00-17:00
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London
Cost: £450

Residential Course (Writing about Research + Media Skills Training):
This two-day residential course covers Writing about your research on Day 1, which includes key principles for communicating research effectively to non-specialist audiences, and Media skills training on Day 2, enabling participants to develop their experience further for interactions with print, broadcast and online media. Its residential format also enables further discussion of social and ethical issues for specific research areas, and the utility of the skills in writing funding applications and generating “impact” from research. >>More Info

Date: 22nd-23rd June 2015
Time: 2 Full Days
Location: Chicheley Hall, London
Cost: £900

To register for a course – Click Here