Research &
Innovation
Services.
MRC Centenary Awards
Application deadline 5pm Friday 31 August 2012
Remit
This scheme aims to support outstanding early career researchers to:
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accelerate significantly challenging research
access novel, cutting-edge technologies, equipment or other special resources
build partnerships and collaborations with other industries or academic centres in the UK or overseas
undertake specialist training in advanced research methods and technologies
drive interdisciplinary collaboration.
Awards may not be used to increase the length of the studentship or to fund a period of writing-up.
For early career researchers coming to the end of their PhD studies, we expect the supplement to cover a salary extension of up to one year. For
early career researchers who have completed their PhDs, we expect the supplement to cover a salary extension or extra resources. Example
projects include: the establishment of new partnerships and collaborations with other academic centres and/or industrial partners; the
acquisition of new data; the development of new technologies.
The highest rated applicants will submit high quality projects and be able to demonstrate how the award will support long term career goals and
help to establish them as independent researchers. Applications are not expected to contain fully formed research proposals but must include
sufficient detail and justification for the panel to be able to assess potential outcomes and value. Projects will be expected to align with MRC,
Faculty and Departmental research priorities
Applications must be made with the full support of your current supervisor and Head of Department.
Funding
Awards are available for between 6 and 12 months. For current post-doctoral students, awards will support salary and justified consumables to
maximum of £45k pa pro rata. For early career researchers who have completed their PhDs, awards will support salary and justified consumables
to maximum of £50k pa pro rata.
Projects must be completed by the end of September 2013.
Deadline
Applications must be received by Dr Andrew Isaac (a.d.isaac@sheffield.ac.uk) by 5pm Friday 31 August 2012.
Additional requirements
The University will be required to report progress to the MRC in April 2013 and recipients will be required to contribute to this.
Further information
For further information please contact Dr Andrew Isaac (a.d.isaac@sheffield.ac.uk; 21338)
Eligibility
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MRC Centenary Awards are open only to individuals based at the University of Sheffield at the time of application and who are (or were) funded
from the MRC via the following schemes:
 Students funded by a MRC Doctoral Training Grant
 MRC Capacity Building students
 MRC Industry CASE students
 MRC Clinical Research Training Fellows (clinicians undertaking PhDs)
 Early stage post-doctoral researchers (within one year of PhD submission)
Current Doctoral Researchers must be in the final 18 months of their MRC studentship. Newly qualified post-doctoral researchers must have been
MRC-funded PhD students and have submitted their PhD thesis within the last 12 months.
Assessment Criteria
Funding will be allocated competitively to eligible individuals based upon demonstration of the following criteria in their application:
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Success in their research career to date
How the proposal adds novelty to their current programme of work
How the proposal aligns to MRC, Faculty and Departmental research priorities
How the proposal contributes to career development by acting as a bridge to future grant proposals and post-doctoral progression.
Quality of the project proposal
How to Apply
Application forms can be downloaded from
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pre-application/funding/opportunities/mrccentenaryaward
Please send an electronic copy of your application to: a.d.isaaac@sheffield.ac.uk and a signed hard copy to:
Dr Andrew Isaac
Research & Innovation Services, New Spring House,
231 Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2GW
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