Research Professional Updates

Institute of Physics unveils £10m challenge fund – The Institute of Physics (IOP) has launched a four-year, £10 million challenge fund to “transform the physics landscape” in the UK and Ireland. Launched on 26 October, the fund aims to tackle the key challenges identified in IOP’s Unlocking the Future strategy for 2020-24, including diversity and skills, and public dialogue.

Knowledge Exchange Concordat opens to universities – UK universities can now sign up to the principles of Knowledge Exchange Concordat, which aim to improve how universities and other research organisations collaborate with businesses.

Research Professional Articles

Complaints to universities grew during lockdown

Several Russell Group universities saw a rise in complaints about teaching this year.

REF 2021: rising to the occasion

Sector looks to ‘get REF out of the way’ after year of delays and challenges.

Warning over foreign interference

Vice-chancellors and scholars call for protection of academic freedom and research from overseas threats.

‘Vague’ coronavirus guidance criticised

Lockdown controversy at Manchester Metropolitan University prompts criticism of government advice.

Researchers fear imminent job losses

Almost half of surveyed scientists expect funding cuts as Covid-19 restrictions bite.

Research Professional Updates

Universities fear future funding implications of Covid-19 work

Redirection of resources means universities are falling behind with non-Covid research, says Nancy Rothwell.

UKRI to set up local innovation centres around the country

New centres will focus on ‘left-behind areas’ to boost skills, management and diffusion of technology.

Prospects of UK-EU research deal revived as Brexit talks resume

Two sides begin first intensive three-day talks on all areas, including research and education.

Research managers take aim at university rankings

International team warn of ‘clear weakness in declaring conflicts of interest’

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR INTERNSHIPS 2021

Academic staff are now invited to apply for funding for one of TWO types of Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) internship projects to run in 2021. RKE internships provide opportunities for academic staff to work with a student on a relevant and clearly defined project; and to move project ideas/research studies towards high quality applications for external funding.

Staff can apply for a student intern to work with them on either:

A Summer internship to take place between May and July 2021 for up to 200 hours maximum

OR

A Flexible internship to take place between February and July 2021 for up to 200 hours maximum.

Proposed projects should:
• Give students experience of working with staff on real research and knowledge exchange projects with high quality outcomes.
• Build the academic applicant’s capacity to carry out RKE activity in areas that are likely to result in tangible outcomes
• Help lead towards future external funding applications
Proposals are welcomed from all disciplines and research areas. The application process is competitive with applications assessed by a panel of staff and students against a set of scored criteria.

Full details regarding the flexible duration and funding of the internships can be found in application form. For further information and an application form contact internships@canterbury.ac.uk

Closing date for applications: November 20th 2020

UKRI – Medical Research Council

New opportunity – Researching long-term COVID-19 effects in non-hospitalised individuals.

NIHR and UKRI will be advertising a joint research call in early November, for projects starting in the New Year.

The primary aim will be to fund ambitious and comprehensive research into the longer term, physical and mental effects, of COVID-19 in non-hospitalised individuals.

Full details of the scope of the call, eligibility and how to apply will be made available on the UKRI funding opportunities webpage.

International eligibility for students starting in the 2021/22 academic year

Following the UKRI announcement that international students will be eligible for all UKRI-funded postgraduate studentships from the start of the 2021/22 academic year, further guidance for training grant holders has now been published on the UKRI website.

Further details on the changes can be found here

Nesta free online events

Solving problems with collective intelligence – The event will be focused on the public sector, especially city and local governments, but the lessons learned are relevant to anyone trying to become a better public problem-solver. Sign up for free and hear from teams who have taken part.

AdvanceHE

Development programmes, conferences and events, 10% discount on selected programmes booked before 18th October , find out more

Medical Research Council

Health Systems Research Initiative (HSRI) Call 8 Research Grant – outline stage – This Research Grant call funds research to strengthen and improve health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Applicants based at eligible research organisations (ROs) in LMICs and the UK are eligible to apply.

NIHR

Latest funding opportunities

Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme An NIHR and MRC partnership
20/102 EME Cystic Fibrosis

Health Services and Delivery Research Programme
20/101 HS&DR Cystic Fibrosis

Health Technology Assessment Programme
20/99 HTA Cystic Fibrosis

Integrated Academic Training Programme
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships in Medicine 2021

Programme Grants for Applied Research
Competition 34

Research for Social Care
Competition 3

View the full list of funding opportunities on our website.