Monthly Archives: October 2013

Workshop: Introduction to Research Funding

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This is a message to researchers and new academics alike who may currently be sitting at their desk wondering the following:

a)      What does Kelly actually do?
b)      Why does she keep sending me all these emails?
c)       What does it all mean?

I regularly speak to many of you and I am aware that there is a definite need for the academic funding landscape and my role here to be clarified, so I have set up a workshop.

Taking place in 2 weeks’ time, Introduction to Research Funding will be aimed at people with little or no experience of the funding landscape or of applying for their own funding. The session will include:

  • Who I am and what I do
  • An overview of the funding landscape for Computer Scientists
  • Demystifying the jargon
  • The types of funding available to you
  • What the internal processes are (departmental and divisional) when applying for funding
  • Costings: how they’re calculated and what they look like
  • The chance to see genuine applications from department

The workshop is taking place on 7 November from 12.30-2pm in room 441 and I’ve just been told I can order lunch for everybody. Huzzah!

So, what’s not to like? You have the opportunity to learn how to further your research career AND you get lunch.

Places are limited and you must book with me via email if you wish to attend.

Research Visits to Japan: Two Opportunities!

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This week I have received information about two separate fellowship opportunities for PhD Students and post docs to work in Japan. One is with Toshiba and the other is with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Details of each can be found below and as an attachment. If you’re interested in applying I’d be happy to support you in any way I can.

Toshiba Fellowship Programme 2014

The Toshiba Fellowship Programme is a unique opportunity for recently qualified PhD level scientists, mainly from science, computing and mathematics disciplines. It offers a chance to journey alongside Toshiba into innovation, discovering a new world of research and development, as well as exploring and living a new cultural experience in Japan. The Programme has successfully operated for over 25 years, enjoying a strong and long-running collaboration with the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) as well as fostering and developing the relationship between Japanese industry and UK academia. The successful Fellow receives a generous package, including a fixed salary and relocation assistance to and from Japan, together with support and advice prior to and during their stay.

Toshiba Fellows usually remain in their team for up to two years. The type of work carried out depends mainly on which team the Fellow joins and the research project area. A normal working day is standard eight hours, Monday to Friday. So that they can settle in and feel at home in their work and a new country, Toshiba assigns a mentor to assist the Fellow in and outside of the workplace.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must:

  • Be a PhD-level researcher
  • Be of EU nationality
  • Be based in a UK academic or Government institution at the time of application (studying or working)
  • Have no more than 10 year’s post-Doctoral experience
  • Have completed their PhD by the time they begin working for Toshiba in Japan.

ICT/Software Research Topics

  • Next-generation storage system architecture for cloud data centres
  • Application data flow security processed on heterogeneous cloud systems
  • System security of the industrial internet
  • Medical image analysis and reconstruction
  • Machine learning for media data understanding
  • Software analysis with dynamic trace data mining
  • Dynamic software management technology for secure and reliable Linux systems through resource partitioning

Proposals from applicants for new advanced research topics which are relevant to this year’s Toshiba Fellowship Programme research areas are also welcome.

How to Apply

  • Visit the Toshiba Fellowship Programme website: www.toshiba.eu/fellowship
  • Look at the current year’s research topics
  • Register your interest online by completing the initial application questions
  • Eligible applications are then sent an application form
  • You must apply by sending the paper application form by the application closing deadline (6th December 2013)
  • You are also invited to attach up to two of your own research papers
  • You must also submit two references to complete your application

Full details of the programme can be found on the attached PDF or on their website: www.toshiba.eu/fellowship

JSPS London: Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers (Short Term)

This Programme provides the opportunity for short-term visits for young pre- and post-doctoral UK researchers and researchers from Europe and North America based in the UK to conduct cooperative research with leading research groups at Japanese Universities and Institutions. The Programme is designed to provide researchers with first-hand experience of the research and living environment in Japan, whilst expanding academic exchange between Japan and the United Kingdom. Researchers from all fields of sciences including humanities and social sciences are eligible to apply. Awards will cover visits of 1 to 12 months. Successful applicants are asked to start their awards in Japan between May 2014 and 31 March 2015

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must be from:

  • UK
  • All European Union countries (as of 1st April 2013) as well as Switzerland and Norway
  • USA and Canada

Nationals of other countries may be eligible to apply for funding through JSPS Headquarters. Please check their fellowship programmes and eligibility criteria by referring to the following web page: http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/index.html.

  • Post docs must have obtained their PhD at a university outside of Japan with the last 6 years (on or after 2 April 2008)
  • PhD Students must be enrolled in a doctoral course in the UK and not Japan and be scheduled to receive their PhD within 2 years from the time of starting tenure in Japan

Research Topics

All computer science related topics are welcomed.

How to Apply

Visit the call website (http://www.jsps.org/funding/2013/09/jsps-london-short-term-postdoctoral-fellowship.html). There is information there, including a guide for applicants and a checklist documenting everything you should supply. Applications can be submitted electronically to short-termaward@jsps.org by the 5 December 2013. They must be as Word documents.

ERC Update on Call Schedule

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ERC LogoTo update the information already published on 18 April 2013, the ERC Scientific Council have disclosed some supplementary information.

The following updated calendar represents the latest planning, but may be subject to change in future, for example, if there are delays in the legislative process. It is therefore provided by the ERC Scientific Council on a purely indicative basis:

 

  • Expected publication of the provisional schedule for the new calls (ERC Work Programme 2014): December 2013
  • Likely submission deadlines of new ERC calls throughout 2014:
  • No calls for Synergy grants in 2014
  • Starting grants;  end of March 2014
  • Consolidator grants; end of May 2014
  • Advanced grants; end of October 2014
  • Proof of Concept grants (one call with two deadlines in 2014); likely to close beginning of April 2014 and beginning of October 2014

A more detailed calendar will be communicated as soon as the ‘Horizon 2020’ programme (and the ERC annual work programme 2014) will be finally adopted.

The ERC will do its utmost to make the transition between the old and the new framework programmes as smooth as possible and to provide the necessary continuity for the research community.

No further information is available at this stage regarding the calendar, the budget or the rules of the next calls for proposals. Stay informed on the ERC website and on the Participant Portal, or sign up for the ERC News Alerts.