UEL Research Investment Fund 2016 Mid-Career Researchers Award 2016 Information and Application Form Overview The scheme aims to support mid-career researchers in at least one of the following areas: enhancing an individual’s research outputs provide the opportunity to apply for external funding streams to support research and knowledge transfer activity encouraging, developing and support mutually beneficial relationships with external partners Eligibility To qualify as a mid-career researcher staff must have started their careers as an independent researcher before 1st August 2010 and hold an academic contract specifying the primary function as teaching and/or research. This excludes hourly paid lecturers or staff on teaching only contracts Professors are not eligible to apply Staff who have benefited from any internal or external sabbatical schemes in the last three years are not eligible to apply Application process Colleagues must fill out the application form which includes: Purpose of proposed research project Measurable and realistic research outcomes Outline of proposed programme of work How the proposal will enhance your relationships with external partners How the proposal will assist in your own development A budget of up to £5000* *Budget eligibility - The award may be used to cover research and equipment costs, additional technical and research assistant support, teaching buy out, purchase of specimens, consumables and resources, travel and subsistence, conference costs and any other justifiable expenses. Details of any additional resources being made available by the School or Service should also be included in the budget. Please be aware that awards will not be granted solely for: www.uel.ac.uk/reds Visits / lecture tours that do not have research or knowledge exchange focus Organising and attending conferences Rewriting or developing lecture notes or other teaching materials Ongoing PhD study or writing up a thesis Course validation Normal course study activities Internal sign off process The application form must be considered and fully supported by the Dean of School and line manager to be considered by the panel. Please attach an email from your Dean confirming support with your electronic application. Deans will be encouraged to limit the number of applications per school to ensure quality Once applications have been approved by Deans of Schools they should be sent electronically only to mcr@uel.ac.uk by 5pm on Monday 11 April 2016. Late applications will not be accepted NOTE: The length and timing of the research proposal should be discussed with an individual’s subject or programme head prior to the staff member submitting an application; this is to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made within the school to cover fully any responsibilities that would have been undertaken by the applicant. Awards process Applications will be judged against the following criteria; Adherence to eligibility requirements The quality of the research proposal The quality of research outcomes How the proposal will enhance your relationships with external partners and/ or develop knowledge exchange opportunities Value for money Applications will be judged by an awards panel made up of senior academics and chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the panel meeting by Friday 29 April 2016. A list of successful applicants will be distributed to Deans and Research and Knowledge Exchange Leaders www.uel.ac.uk/reds Terms of the grant To comply with UEL accounting procedures all expenditure must be completed no later than 31 July 2017. This also means that any travel must be undertaken before this date Successful applicants will be expected to request ethical approval for programmes of research Deferral of the award is not possible The decisions of the panel will be final and there will be no further right of appeal. Award holders will be required to produce an initial report on the research outcomes from the funding period by Wednesday, 31st August 2016. This should explain what was intended in the initial proposal, and what was achieved, particularly reporting on the specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and trackable research outcomes given in the application for the award. If you have any queries about the scheme please email mcr@uel.ac.uk www.uel.ac.uk/reds Mid-Career Researchers Award 2016 Application Form Name: Grade: School/ Institute: Research Area: Date of joining UEL: Date independent research career started (must be before 1st August 2010): If you are on a limited term contract please specify the end date: Dates of any previous periods of sabbatical leave: (if this is within the last three years you are not eligible to apply). SECTION ONE Purpose of proposed research project: Expected outcomes (include details of potential grant applications which may arise as part of the proposal): Outline of proposed programme of work: www.uel.ac.uk/reds SECTION TWO How this proposal will enhance your relationships with external partners and/ or develop knowledge exchange opportunities SECTION THREE Please state briefly how this proposal will assist in your own development Please provide a budget of up to £5000 SIGN OFF PROCESS DEANS SUPPORT: Please attach email from Dean confirming support with your application. Included in the statement of support must be confirmation that the Dean of the School has consulted the applicants subject or programme head who is supportive. Please email an electronic version of the completed application and Deans support email only by 5pm Monday 11 April 2016 to mcr@uel.ac.uk Late applications will not be accepted. If you have any queries about the scheme please email mcr@uel.ac.uk www.uel.ac.uk/reds