Writing a successful research funding bid

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Writing a Successful Research Funding Bid

Andrea Tinson Stephanie Wilson

Research Development Mgr Centre for HCI Design

School of Social Sciences School of Informatics

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Focusing on the Research Proposal

The case for support

(the technical part)

All the other important things

(impact, pathway to impact, costings, ethics etc)

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Where to Start?

You are unlikely to be awarded a substantial grant without evidence of a track record

So, start modestly

Look at pump-priming, seed corn and first grant schemes

Collaborate with more experienced colleagues

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The Funding Process

Bright idea!

Write and submit proposal

Peer review

Your response

Panel and decision

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The Message You Need to Convey

This research is original and important

You can deliver it

It fits with the funder’s remit

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Case for Support

Applicant’s previous track record

Proposed research and its context

− Background

− Research hypotheses and objectives

− Research methodology

− National importance

− Academic impact

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Case for Support: General Guidance

Respond to the call (if there is one)

Give yourself plenty of time and seek lots of feedback

Check the review criteria

Get the balance right: make sure you explain what you will do

Stake your claim for what is important and novel

Be fussy, very fussy, about everything…

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Case For Support contd

Previous track record

− your track record in the area (citing evidence)

− more general research and research management experience

− organisational strengths

Background

− demonstrate your (up-to-date) knowledge of the subject

− identify gaps and the problem

− explain the importance

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Case For Support contd

Objectives and research questions

− not too speculative, not too applied

− specific and generic

− can you state in one sentence what you want to do??

Research methodology

− appropriate and justified

− specific and detailed (“will do”)

− organised as a set of activities

− will deliver the objectives, answer the research questions

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State What You Are Going To Do

And state it early on

Our very first sentence in a recent (successful!) proposal:

This project will investigate an innovative adaptation of gesture recognition technology to create a resource for training aphasic people to communicate through gesture.

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From the ESRC:

“Write in plain English. Your proposal is likely to be seen by many people, including some who will not be familiar with your particular specialisation.”

“By the same token, do take the trouble to check spelling, grammar and punctuation. These are all part of the quality of presentation and presentation matters! "

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/guidance/applicants/application2.aspx

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Review criteria

EPSRC: ESRC:

Quality Originality, potential contributionto knowledge

Importance Research design and methods

Impact Value for money

Applicant Outputs, dissemination, impact

Resources andmanagement

Proposals graded 1 - 6

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Potential Downfalls

Not a research proposal

Not clear what the idea or problem is

Not clear that it is an important problem

Insufficient detail about what will actually be done

Lack of awareness of prior work

Requested resources are insufficient or excessive

Proposal is incomprehensible or badly written

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Be Aware…

Some funding bodies have sanctions against unsuccessful applicants

EPSRC: “12-month cooling-off period for repeatedly unsuccessful applicants”

ESRC: “demand management”

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Other aspects to consider……

Costings (salary and other costs)

Justification of resources

Impact statements

General statement

Ethical statement

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Costings

Look at what you want to do

Cost for what you require – do not be afraid to ask

If you have said that you would run seminars then cost for them

Question to ask yourself “Have I costed for everything I need to run this project?”

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Justification of resources (JOR)

Staff – why researcher needed for work, why proposed time is necessary

PI and Co-Is – is time costed necessary

Travel and subsistence – give full breakdown, why and who you are you visiting, how will they contribute

Other directly incurred costs – give full description and state why you require them

Impact – full breakdown required

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Impact statements

Three statements to consider

Impact summary

Pathways to excellence

Academic impact

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Impact summary

Two questions to answer:

Who will benefit from this research?

− List who will benefit, who would be interested, short term as well as long term

− How will they benefit?

• Relevance of your research to them

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Pathways to excellence

Detail the activities which will help develop potential economic and societal impacts. 

Address following question: What will be done to ensure that potential beneficiaries have the opportunity to engage with this research?

Following need to be considered:

Communications and Engagement - describe engagement with the identified beneficiaries

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Pathways to excellence contd.

Collaboration and Co-production - explain how collaborations and partnerships within the proposed project or research will be managed

Exploitation and Application - identify the mechanisms in place for potential exploitation, both commercially and non-commercially

Capacity and Involvement - who is likely to be undertaking the impact activities

Impact Activity Deliverables and Milestones

Resource for the activity

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Academic beneficiaries

How will the research benefit others in the field or carrying out similar related research

Will the research benefit any other academics in other fields

Describe the relevance of the research

− Potential academic impact

− How will your research be made available

− Collaboration

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General statement

Has to be written for a general audience

If you use technical terms explain them

Make it interesting

Don’t waffle

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Ethical issues

Please indicate whether there are any ethical implications arising from the proposed research activities. 

If there are ethical implications, you should give brief details of what they are and how you intend to address them.

You are also asked to indicate whether your HEI has a policy on good conduct in research, in line with the requirements of the Research Councils. 

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Useful web addresses

https://je-s.rcuk.ac.uk/jesHandBook/jesHelp.aspx?m=s&s=570&q=ethics

http://royalsociety.org/Funding-scientists/

http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

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Useful web addresses contd.

http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

http://mrc.ac.uk

http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/

http://www.britac.ac.uk/

https://intranet.city.ac.uk/staff/research_support/research_support/research_integrity/research_ethics.html