Research Newsletter - Issue 87: Funding Opportunities
Please click on the heading below to see further detail regarding each funding opportunity:
The DCU Research Equipment Maintenance Fund and the DCU Research Equipment Upgrade Fund calls for 2023 are now open.
Research Equipment Maintenance Fund:
Provides resources to support the on-going service/maintenance and/or repair costs of key items of research equipment.
Research Equipment Upgrade Fund:
This call recognises the difficulties facing researchers in funding upgrades and replacements to current infrastructure in the range of €5,000 to €50,000.
These funds are an essential support for DCU to safeguard the capital investment of recent years and support the development of truly internationally-competitive research infrastructure.
The closing date for both these calls is 17th November 2023 at 5pm.
In both cases, submit your proposal using the templates provided through your School, Facility or Research Centre to kieran.odwyer@dcu.ie. Further details and forms can be found via the DCU Research & Innovation Support Internal Funding Webpage.
Contact: kieran.odwyer@dcu.ie
The IRC COALESCE 2024 call has launched with an applicant deadline of 30th November 2023.
The call seeks to fund excellent research addressing national and European/global challenges, as set out in the challenge frameworks now in place. The call is run in partnership with a number of Government departments and agencies, who fund specific strands. This year the call features three strands:
- Strand 2A: Open call for interdisciplinary research addressing national or global societal challenges led by AHSS PI with STEM co-PI (max. €220,000 per award).
- Strand 2B: Better World Awards, in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs, whereby the lead PI will work with a co-PI in one of Irish Aid’s partner countries – ODA-eligible country on the African continent; any ODA-eligible Small Island Developing State (SIDS); Vietnam; Palestine; Laos; Cambodia; Myanmar (max. €350,000 per award).
- Strand 1L: INSTAR+ awards, funded by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in partnership with the Heritage Council (max.€220,000 per award).
Contact: sumona.mukherjee@dcu.ie or javier.monedero@dcu.ie
The IRC’s Enterprise Partnership Scheme is a unique funding scheme that links excellent researchers in all disciplines to enterprise. In the context of this call, enterprise partners can range from multinational corporations and SMEs to non-governmental organisations, and, where justified, public sector agencies. The programme supports postdoctoral candidates in pursuing, or intending to pursue, full-time research in any discipline.
The scheme offers:
- a salary of €42,033 in the first year of the award and €42,783 in the second year of the award;
- employer’s PRSI contribution; and
- eligible direct research expenses of €5,000 per annum.
The applicant deadline is 16th November 2023 at 4 pm.
Contact: sumona.mukherjee@dcu.ie
The Health Research Board (HRB) have launched the Emerging Investigator Awards (EIA) 2024.
This scheme aims to support talented individuals who can make a valuable contribution to knowledge in health research and who are capable of becoming independent and self-directed investigators. The HRB is specifically seeking individuals who are passionate about the application of knowledge in improving healthcare systems, policies, or practice.
The main objectives of this scheme are to:
1. Support talented individuals at a critical career transition stage to establish themselves as
independent health investigators in an academic or other research-based institution.
2. Develop collaborative researchers who can facilitate actionable knowledge by:
a. Translating knowledge generated through research into the health care system, policies or practice
or
b. Generating research findings informed by policy and practice.
Who should apply?
Lead Applicants should have at least four years active post PhD (or equivalent) research experience and be able demonstrate they have the skills, knowledge and supports necessary to direct the proposed research and to carry the research through to completion.
They must not be as yet recognised as an independent investigator or have a permanent position (academic) or hold a fixed-term position (academic) with a contracted end date equal to or later than two years from the deadline of this call (9th November 2023). Please note that fixed term postdoctoral or other research-based positions are eligible.
What does the award include?
The award will provide support for the salary of the Lead Applicant up to a maximum of Level 3.4 on the IUA salary scale, research-related costs up to a maximum of €300K, and overheads.
Submission:
All applications must be submitted using the HRB Grant Electronic Management System (GEMS).
TORA deadline: Tues, 31st October 2023
Applicant submission on GEMS deadline: Tues, 7th November 2023
Research Office approval and submission on GEMS deadline: Thurs, 9th November 2023
Further information is available on the HRB website.
Contact: helen.burke@dcu.ie
SFI has announced the launch of the 2023 SFI Research Centres Programme Call.
Building upon the success of the SFI Research Centres Programme to date, SFI has developed a revamped and enhanced SFI Research Centres programme that optimises the programme for the future. The development of this revised programme was informed by extensive consultation over a number of years with groups including Government and the public sector, industry, and the higher education and research system.
The goal of the SFI Research Centres Programme is to develop a dynamic, cohesive and streamlined ecosystem of Centres that are international beacons of scientific excellence, bringing together a critical mass of outstanding researchers to collaborate at a scale that will yield national and international impact. In partnership with industry, government and civil society, Centres will deliver systemic impact, providing talent and innovative solutions to Ireland’s economic, societal and environmental challenges. SFI Research Centres will also integrate deep and impactful public engagement into the fabric and culture of the Centre, which will bring significant value to the research, the researchers and all those working in the Centre, and deliver benefit for public good. The programme is open to applications that align with the National Research Priority Areas 2018-2023 and SFI’s remit.
Key dates:
- Deadline for submission of Expression of Interest: 1st November 2023 at 1 pm
- Deadline for submission of Pre-Proposals: 13th December 2023 at 1 pm
- Deadline for submission of Full Proposals: 25th September 2024
Contact: ecaterina.mcdonagh@dcu.ie or dara.dunican@dcu.ie
The Health Research Board has launched its Summer Student Scholarships call.
These Scholarships support undergraduate students in health or social care-related disciplines to complete short research projects during the summer. The purpose of the scholarship scheme is to encourage an interest in research and give students an opportunity to become familiar with research techniques.
Projects can last between four to eight weeks and funding has been increased to €400 per week.
These scholarships are great for developing students’ CV’s and for those with an interest in research they have proven invaluable. They have been very popular with DCU academics, allowing them to provide funding to students to work with them on research projects over the summer. DCU has a high success rate in this call and we would encourage anyone working in the health or social care-related areas to consider applying.
The HRB have noted the following key changes to the scheme:
- The 2024 round of the Summer Student Scholarship (SS) will launch in mid-October 2023 with a deadline for applications in mid-December 2023. The outcome of the scheme will be communicated by early-February 2024. This is earlier than in previous years to facilitate successful students and their supervisors to obtain the necessary approvals (ethics or animal) prior to commencing the scholarship.
- Funding will be increased to €400/week.
- The way the HRB selects successful applications will change in this round. Following an eligibility check of applicants, supervisors and projects (as in 2023), the HRB will introduce randomisation into the selection process to ensure that the selection of successful applications from all eligible applications is progressed in an efficient, unbiased and transparent way. The randomisation process of eligible applications will replace the postal panel review process (which took place over a number of months after the detailed eligibility checks).
For further information please see the HRB website.
Contact: Helen.Burke@dcu.ie
The EPA will make up to €500k available to researchers in Ireland to participate in transnational projects under this call. The deadline for submission of pre-proposals is 10th November 2023.
All information, including the specific guidelines for applicants in Ireland, is available on the call webpage.
Contact: Helen.Burke@dcu.ie