Each week this section lists funds
available for academic researchers. Items for inclusion should be
submitted to research@thes.co.uk ARTS & HUMANITIES RESEARCH BOARD
Research Leave Scheme
* supports research
activity of the highest quality conducted by individual scholars across all areas of the arts and humanities
* provides awards to relieve individual scholars of teaching and administrative responsibilities in order to bring a research project to completion
* supports the completion and dissemination of work that will lead to significant advances in knowledge, understanding or insights.
The research leave scheme is open to members of the academic staff of higher education institutions directly funded by the UK funding Councils. Full-time and part-time members of staff on teaching-and-research contracts can apply. To apply for a research leave grant applicants should be of postdoctoral level or beyond. This does not necessarily mean having a doctorate, provided that the applicant can demonstrate equivalent research experience and/or training. Deadline: March 31. Further information from Marinka William-Cassell, Arts and Humanities Research Board, Northavon House, Bristol BS16 1QD; tel: 0117 931 7417; email: m.william-cassell@ahrb.ac.uk
NATIONAL
NEUROFIBROMATOSIS FOUNDATION
Research Grants
Awarded for new or established investigators wishing to pursue a novel idea or concept relevant to the cause, pathogenesis or treatment of NF, where ongoing support is not able to fund the project. Full details available online.
Deadline: March 31. Contact: Allan E. Rubenstein, MD; Medical Director, The National Neurofibromatosis Foundation Inc, 95 Pine Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA.
AMERICAN
ASTRONOMICAL
SOCIETY
Chretien International Research Grants
Aims to further international collaborative projects in observational astronomy. Emphasis is on long-term visits and the development of close working relationships with astronomers in other countries. Eligibility:
astronomers with a PhD or equivalent; graduate students are not eligible.
Size: up to $20,000 is available each year to one or more individuals or groups to be used for the support of international observational astronomy with the emphasis upon long-term, international visits. The awards are open to astronomers throughout the world. See the website for further details. Applications to: Chretien International Research Grant Committee, American Astronomical Society, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW Suite 400,
Washington, DC 20009, USA. Deadline: April 1.
BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Small Ecological Project Grants
SEPGs are given to promote all aspects of ecological research and ecological survey. The grant enables ecologists to travel from the UK or Ireland to a third country, or vice versa, for the purposes of research where alternative sources of funding are inadequate.
The public affairs committee is keen to support small pilot projects, in which cases the grants are viewed as pump priming, hopefully being instrumental in obtaining larger grants from other organisations. Grants are given towards the cost of travel, for the employment of casual and short-term assistance, and for the purchase of small items of equipment. Value of the award: up to Pounds 1,000 for travel and up to Pounds 1,000 for other costs. Next deadline: April 1. Application forms downloadable from the website. Contact: British Ecological Society, 26 Blades Court, Deodar Road,
London SW15 2NU.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
IUPAC Prize for
Young Chemists
This prize has been established to encourage outstanding young research scientists at the beginning of their careers. The prize will be given for the most outstanding PhD thesis in the general area of the chemical sciences, as described in a 1,000- word essay. IUPAC will award up to four prizes annually. Each prize will consist of $1000 cash and travel expenses to the next IUPAC Congress. In keeping with IUPAC's status as a global organisation, efforts will be made to assure fair geographic distribution of prizes. Forms and full details on the web. Contact: IUPAC Secretariat, PO Box 13757, 104 TW Alexander Drive, bldg 19, Research Triangle Park, NC 709-3757, USA; email: secretariat@iupac.org; fax: +1 919 485 8706. Deadline: April 1.
PARTICLE PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY RESEARCH COUNCIL
www.pparc.ac.uk/PUS/mainpage.htm
Public Understanding of Science - Small Awards Scheme
PPARC supports research in particle physics; space, ionospheric, planetary and solar-system science; and astronomy. The Council wishes to promote the general understanding of these sciences, and invites proposals for projects which increase the public's knowledge and awareness of these exciting sciences and the related technology. The project must be relevant to the science areas funded by PPARC, or to related technology. Projects must address PUST in the UK. Awards will be made from Pounds 250 to Pounds 10,000 per project.
There are no set restrictions on the type of costs that may be applied for. Next deadline: April 10. For further information see the web or contact: PUST Office, PPARC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1SZ;
email: pr.pus@pparc.ac. uk; tel: 01793 442098;
fax: 01793 442002.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH/MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
www.mrc.ac.uk/fund_sch/prim_call.html
Call for proposals on Primary Health Care Research Joint
Initiative
Applications are now invited for strategic grants for individual projects, programme grants, trial grants as well as cooperative group grants and development grants. Applications are particularly welcome which address priorities identified in the 1997 MRC topic review Primary Health Care, the 1997 NHS Executive National Working Group report, R&D in Primary Care and the 1999 NHS R&D Primary Care Topic Working Group report (www.doh.gov.uk/research/index.htm). Also encouraged are applications which aim to advance theoretical and methodological development and help to develop multi-disciplinary alliances between people with complementary skills. However, proposals that address any areas of research of direct relevance to primary health care are accepted provided that they fall within the remit of the MRC's Health Services and Public Health Research Board (www.mrc.ac.uk/New pubs.html). Applicants need not be restricted to general practice and may address research questions in areas such as community nursing, midwifery, pharmacy and dentistry, for example. For further information and to obtain copies of the application pack and MRC Topic Review, leave a message on voicemail 020 7670 5116; fax: 020 7636 34; email: Primarycare@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk. Deadline: April 12.
ROCHE ORGAN
TRANSPLANTATION RESEARCH
FOUNDATION
Project Grants
The foundation's mission is to advance the science of organ transplantation by supporting research programmes through operating grants directly allocated to research projects. Those eligible for operating grants are established members of academic staff in universities, transplant centres and research institutes. The aim of the research must be to improve the outcomes of recipients of organ transplants. The foundation has a two-stage process for grant application. In the first instance, applicants submit a letter of intent via the internet. The letter of intent requires an abstract-length description of the proposal along with the size of the grant requested. Applicants whose letters of intent pass the first review process will then be asked to provide a full application. A template of the letter of intent has been set up on the Foundation website. To apply go to www.rotrf.org ; email: admin@rotrf.org; or write to: ROTRF, Postfach 222,6045 Meggen, Switzerland; tel: + 41 41 377 53 35; fax: + 41 41 377 53 34. Next deadline: April 1.
SYNCHROTRON
RADIATION SOURCE DARESBURY
LABORATORY
Transnational Access to Major Research Facilities
Applications are invited for beam time at the Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS) Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, UK in the period June- September 2000 from groups conducting their research in the member states of the European community and associated states. The SRS provides radiation from hard X-rays through VUV to infra-red for a large range of scientific applications. Approximately 30 instruments are operating, providing techniques such as X-ray diffraction, protein crystallography, EXAFS, small- angle scattering, topography, surface techniques, photon, ion and electron spectroscopes, time-resolved fluorescence, circular dichroism and confocal microscopy. All areas of science are included, eg biology, materials, chemistry, physics, medical and engineering. Successful applicants will be allocated facility access free of charge, including all infrastructure, logistical, technical and scientific support. Travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed. Contact: Professor Bob Cernik or Dr Andy Dent for further details and an application form. Email: r.cernik @dl.ac.uk; a.dent@dl.ac. uk; fax +44 1925 603124. Deadline:
31 March.
ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
Realising Our Potential Awards (ROPAs)
The scheme rewards researchers who receive substantial financial support from industry for basic/strategic research through the award of grants to support curiosity-driven research of their own choosing. Proposals must satisfy originality and feasibility criteria. Applications are invited from researchers in universities and in Research Councils' institutes, units and establishments. Other researchers may apply if their establishments are eligible for responsive mode grants. ROPAs are available in all the research areas of all the Councils. The EPSRC and PPARC operate the scheme without fixed closing dates. Proposals to those Councils may be submitted at any time. See web or contact John Farrow: tel: 01793 444111; email: john.farrow@epsrc.ac.uk.
Compiled by Sarah
Knowles. A more comprehensive version of this service is available to subscribers on our research microsite at www.thesis.co.uk