This funding aims to support researchers in their endeavours to develop their own independent academic research track. The funds can be used for a variety of activities within these categories:

• Travel
• Training in new techniques/skills
• Consumable costs
• Facility access

Awarded funds cannot be used for salaries.

The project must be used to foster collaboration which could fall within following aims:

• Building a new academic collaboration (cross-disciplinary, cross-university, international)
• Upskilling of the applicant through collaborative training
• Generation of pilot data and/or developing a pathway to commercialisation with an external collaborator

You can apply for up to £4,000 and we hope to award a minimum of 5 projects.

Eligibility

• The lead applicant must be a postdoctoral researcher, research assistant, technical staff member or teaching fellow actively pursuing an independent academic career trajectory (Please see eligibility key).
• The lead applicant must be employed by a SULSA university or institute. Their contract must be valid for the duration of the funding.
• The co-applicant can be from the public or academic sector and does not need to work in Scotland. Your co-applicant can be a PhD student or research staff member. You require at least 1 co-applicant. Co-applicants must be from outwith your own university or institute.
• Postdoctoral Researchers: if you hold a fellowship that ONLY covers your salary costs, then you are eligible to apply for this funding. If you hold a research grant worth £50k or more then you are no longer eligible to apply for this funding.  

Funding Information and Conditions

• Projects must have defined milestones.
• Your project must be completed within 12 months of being awarded, or (if less) the duration of your contract at your host institution.
• The project must show a pathway to further funding from external sources.
• You must have your application signed by your PI to demonstrate their support.

Judging Criteria

• Project feasibility, objectives, and proposed outcomes
• Novelty and importance of the research described
• Track record of the applicant
• Impact for the applicant and broader community
• Support of your networks
• Sustainability (potential to leverage further funds)

Key Dates

• Call Opens: Monday 13th January 2025
• Information Session: Thursday 23rd January 2025 (register now)
• Application Deadline: Monday 24th February 2025
• Applicants Informed of Outcome: w/c 10th March 2025
• Funding End Date: 31st March 2026

Submitting Your Application
Please submit your application (merged into a single PDF) to jill.inkster@glasgow.ac.uk at SULSA by 5pm on Monday 25th February 2025.

Notification of Outcome
Successful applications will be notified by email by w/c 10th March 2025.

Payment of Funds
If successful, funds will be transferred to your lead Institution. Funds must be spent within 12 months of the date of transfer.

Awardee Reporting
You must provide the SULSA administration with project updates and outcomes when requested for reporting purposes. You will receive a survey to complete 3-months post-project completion and 1-year post-project completion. If this project leads to a published article, or leverages grant funding, please contact the SULSA administration to make them aware.

Applicant Reporting
After awarding SULSA will circulate a demographic survey to all applicants of this funding call. The information is collected anonymously and is used internally by SULSA to understand the diversity of our applicants and identify areas for improvement. This information will not be shared with reviewers and will be held in accordance with SULSA’s privacy policy.

Register now for our Early Career Development Information Session taking place on Thursday 23rd January at 10:00 – 11:00am to learn more about this funding call. 

Application Deadline: Monday 24th February 2025 at 5pm

How to Apply: Complete the EC Development Application Form (merging all documents into a single PDF file) and e-mail to Jill.Inkster@glasgow.ac.uk by the above deadline. 

Download a copy of the SULSA EC Development Funding Call Guidelines. 

Eligibility Enquiries: Alison.Hughes@glasgow.ac.uk 

All Other Enquiries and Post-Award Communication: Jill.Inkster@glasgow.co.uk