SULSA wish to support new and existing Life Sciences Networks with our SULSA Network Support. This funding aims to support new and existing networks by providing funds towards the running of a network event. The network must fall within the SULSA Life Sciences remit which includes everything from human health to animals, plants, and microbes. Networks must be led by at least two SULSA member universities/institutes but can include co-applicants from across the UK and internationally.

The funds must be used towards the costs associated with running a network event such as:

• Venue hire and catering
• Travel and accommodation costs
• Speaker costs
• Registration costs
• Conference materials

Networks are invited to apply for up to £1,000 and we will fund up to three networks per round.

Eligibility:

• The lead applicant must be employed by a SULSA university or institute and work within life sciences. At least one co-applicant from a different SULSA university or institute must be included in the application.
• The network must be cross-university and should promote cross-university working through its activities. Applications which only involve two Universities will not be viewed favourably.
• This bursary is open to applicants at all levels (please see eligibility key)
• The network event must be an open meeting that shows clear benefit to the life sciences community in Scotland.
• Awarded networks must include SULSA logo in promotional material and invite a SULSA representative to the event. Invitations should be sent at least 4-weeks before the activity takes place.
• The event must take place after the awarding date to ensure all funding conditions can be met.
• If a network has previously received funding through the Network Support Grant, they will not be eligible to apply for funding again until 12-months after the date that the funding activity has taken place. After 12-months have passed, the network can apply for the Network Support grant again, but it cannot be for the same activity that was previously funded, and the lead applicant must come from a different SULSA member than the previous application.

Funding Information and Conditions:

• Events must have a clear benefit to life sciences research or researchers in Scotland. This includes events that are not specific to life sciences but offer networking, training, or career development support to researchers within life sciences.
• This call will run twice per year with a max. of 3 networks being awarded per round.
• Round one will open in September 2024 and close in February 2025 with the event taking place by 31st July 2025. Round two will open in March 2025 and close in August 2025 with the event taking place by 31st January 2026.

Judging Criteria

• Benefit of the event to the life sciences community in Scotland
• Collaborative nature of the event
• Creation of new opportunities for life scientists in Scotland
• Sustainability of the network long-term

 Key Dates

• Call Opens: Monday 2nd September 2024
• Application Deadline: Monday 3rd February 2025
• Applicants Informed of Outcome: w/c 24th February 2025
• Funding End Date: event must take place by 31st July 2025

Submitting Your Application
Please submit your application (a single PDF) to jill.inkster@glasgow.ac.uk at SULSA by 5pm on Monday 3rd February 2025 for round one.

Notification of Outcome
Applicants will be notified by email in February 2025.

Payment of Funds
If successful, funds will be transferred to the institution of the lead applicant. Funds must be spent by the end of July 2025. If your event takes place later than this, you should apply for a later round of funding.

Awardee Reporting
You must provide the SULSA administration with project updates and outcomes when requested for reporting purposes. Post-event, SULSA will request attendee numbers and a breakdown of what university attendees were from. If this event 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.

Application Deadline: Monday 3rd February 2025

How to Apply: Submit your completed SULSA Network Support Application Form (merged into a single PDF) via e-mail to Jill.Inkster@glasgow.ac.uk by the above deadline.

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

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