Date post: | 12-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | georgia-york |
View: | 214 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Dr Oliver BrainResearch Fellow
WIMM Oxford
Presentation at BSG 13/03/08Amended for BSG trainees website
FirstlyBad news: There is no magic bullet
Good news: If I can do it, so can you
Securing Funding2 main components
You
The research – the ‘Golden Rules’Right projectRight supervisorRight place
Process1) Create opportunity
2) Assess the worth of the project on offer
3) Apply for funding
4) Prepare for the interview
5) Reassess +/- reapply if unsuccessful
1. Create opportunitiesPerhaps the most difficult part of the process to
defineAchieved in many different ways depending on your
background
What I did:Combination of:
Being the best you can be at workTurning up to teachingCompleting smaller projectsTalking to your Professor/ Consultants in researchTalking to the SpR’s who have done researchVisiting the local institutions
2. Assess the worth of the project on offerVisit the lab in question – who will be in the lab
with you? What are the facilities like?
Find out about your potential supervisor – are they supportive?
Discuss the project with others – eg colleagues/ consultants you trust and who have experience of research. They may be able to give a valued second opinion on the projects worth/ direction.
3. Application FormThis can take weeks (?months) to prepare
Meetings with supervisor – to firm up the nature of your experiments.
Writing the application form – you are likely to need a lot of guidance from your supervisor
Costings – both of your salary and of your laboratory costs
4. Preparation: ‘You’The interview is a cross between a standard viva
and the ‘Dragon’s Den’. You need to approach this like an exam but remember that there is an element of a sales pitch to this. You want them to fund your project.
a) Reading – about and around your subject. The volume required should not be underestimated. If you can take study leave it would be helpful.
Preparation (cont)b) Go to the laboratory – start learning the
techniques and getting to grips with the environment. (Apart from being helpful you will sound more convincing at the interview)
c) Interview practice – A must. You need practice answering questions in a less familiar field.
d) Research the interviewers – helps to know their interests.
5. Reassess/ ReapplyDon’t be downhearted if unsuccessful
Reassess the project – what didn’t they like about it?
Is it unfeasible/ bad science/ wrong place/ wrong supervisor? etc
ReapplyReapply – there are plenty of places that offer
funding.
Some (eg MRC, Wellcome, NIHR, CORE) may have enough to fund the whole of your research.
Some smaller charities (eg AMR, ECCO, Broad foundation, IA, CCC) will likely offer you part funding. They are often a good way to get started and will make you more competitive for the larger awards.
ConclusionRemember the golden rules
Achievable – just takes planning and application
Funding is available from many bodies
ThanksCORE
Professor JewelAlison Simmons
Sponsored walks
Cycle from the Andes to the AmazonTrek the Atlas MountainsClimb Mt Kilimanjaro