Sources for current research funding

Each week this section lists funds available for academic researchers. Items for inclusion should be submitted to research@thes.co.uk

LEUKAEMIA RESEARCH FUND www.leukaemia. demon.co.uk Project Grants Applications must be submitted on the appropriate project grant form obtainable from the fund. The purposes of the project grant support are to provide funds for the employment of qualified staff, essential equipment and recurrent expenses. Grants usually awarded for a period of up to three years. The applicant should preferably occupy a tenured post.

Programme Grants These provide support for a focused programme of research that requires longer-term support than is usual for project grants. Applications must be discussed in advance of submission with the Scientific Director of the Leukaemia Research Fund. Applications can be requested via the website, or contact: Mrs S J Darling, Leukaemia Research Fund, 43 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JJ; Tel: 0171 405 0101.

Deadline: November 19.

SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS www.4spe.org SPE International Award Aims: to stimulate and encourage fundamental contributions in the field of plastics throughout the world; to acknowledge outstanding achievements by honouring distinguished individuals in the field; to disseminate the technical information of award lectures widely among members of the plastics community. Complete on-line form, or contact: Society of Plastics Engineers, PO Box 403, Brookfield, CT 06804-0403, USA; Fax: 203-775-8490. Attn: Chair, International Awards Committee.

Deadline: November 22.

ARTHRITIS RESEARCH COUNCIL www.arc.org.uk Project Grants These support projects designed to seek an answer to a single question or small group of related questions. The ARC will consider support of clinical projects, relating to pathogenesis, diagnosis or treatment, and projects of a more fundamental scientific nature, provided that they offer promise of advancement in the understanding of the rheumatic diseases. Project grants are usually up to a maximum of three years, and may provide for the salary of graduate or technical assistance, running costs and small items of essential equipment. The ARC will enhance the salaries of all non-clinical postdoctoral research staff employed on project grants. Applications for equipment in excess of Pounds 20,000 will be considered only from established units and must be applied for separately. Holders of ARC project grants are eligible to apply for travel awards either for themselves, or research staff employed on the project or working in their laboratory. Application forms are obtainable from: Head of Research & Education Funding, The Arthritis Research Campaign, Copeman House, St Mary's Court, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 7TD; Tel: 01246 558033; Fax: 01246 558007. Email: r&e@arc.org.uk Deadline: November 29.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY http://speke.ukc.ac.uk/secl/bibsoc/ Major Grants Up to Pounds 2,000, are awarded annually. Applications should be on the form provided and supported by two referees, who should write directly to the secretary of the fellowships and bursaries sub-committee at the address below.

Successful applicants will be notified following the meeting of the council in February of each year.

Details and application forms are available from the secretary of the fellowships and bursaries sub-committee: Dr Maureen Bell; School of English; University of Birmingham; Edgbaston; Birmingham B15 2TT; Email: M.Bell@ bham.ac. uk Deadline: November 30.

ANGLO-GERMAN FOUNDATION www.agf.org.uk Research grants Research projects supported are usually comparative in nature and carried out or organised jointly by teams in Britain and Germany that submit a single application. Contact the projects director, Dr Ray Cunningham, at the address below, with a brief outline of the proposed research. The foundation considers applications for funding on any issue relevant to the beneficial development of industrial society. The following areas are of special but not exclusive interest: employment and unemployment; public spending and taxation; the future of the welfare state; adjustment to European and global change; the environment.

Minor grants: up to Pounds 4,000. Applications can be submitted at any time after consultation with Dr Cunningham.

Major grants: up to Pounds 50,000. Applications for large grants have to be submitted to the foundation's board of trustees.

Deadline: November 30.

Anglo-German Foundation, 17 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2LP; Fax: 0171 405 2071; tel: 0171 404 3137; email: info@agf.org.uk.

ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH BOARD www.ahrb.ac.uk Research Exchanges This scheme promotes collaboration between researchers in higher education institutions and colleagues who work in, for example, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, theatres and studios. The scheme seconds researchers to an organisation or institution for three to four months to undertake a specific programme of research activity. The scheme allows for secondments from an academic department to another institution or vice versa. All applications must come from an HEI, as the board can only make payments, worth Pounds 3,500 per month, to these institutions.

Research Grants These support large collaborative projects and fund two rounds a year up to Pounds 100,000 per year for a maximum five years.

Deadlines: November 30.

Application forms o available on the website or contact: Anna Greenwood, Team Leader, on 0117 931 7453 or email: a.greenwood@ahrb.ac.uk EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONSORTIUM FOR INFORMATICS AND MATHEMATICS www.ercim.org Fellowship Programme ERCIM fosters collaborative work within the European research community and to increase co-operation with European industry. The objective is to enable bright young scientists to work collectively on a challenging problem as fellows of leading European research centres. Fellowships are for 18 months, spent in two institutes. Applicants should have a PhD or be in the final year of the thesis work with an outstanding academic record.

Deadline: November 30.

Address for applications: ERCIM, Aurelie Richard, BP 105 78153, Le Chesnay Cedex, France; Tel : + 33 1 3963 5035; Fax : + 33 1 3963 5052; Email: aurelie.richard@ ercim.org ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY www.rgs.org/index.htm Ralph Brown Expedition Award The award seeks to support a multidisciplinary research expedition associated with the study of inland or coastal wetlands, rivers or the shallow (less than 200m) marine environment. The project should be of value to the host country and, where possible, to the local community. There is one annual grant of Pounds 15,000 for the winner of the Award. Applicants proposing to spend less than six weeks in the field are unlikely to be successful.

Deadline: November 30.

Either download the guidelines from the website, or email the Grants Manager on grants@rgs.org.

BRITISH COUNCIL, GERMANY British-German Academic Research Collaboration Programme ARC www.britcoun.de/e/science/arc/index.htm The British Council in Germany invites applications for support under this programme to promote collaboration between research groups in the UK and Germany. It provides a contribution towards travel and living expenses, but does not cover research costs.

Applications can be considered from research groups in publicly funded institutions in both the higher education and non-higher education sectors. Preference is given to research projects which provide opportunities in international research collaboration for younger scientists and scholars. Applications are invited from all subject areas but in particular from the social sciences.

Deadline: December 31.

Information and application forms for British research groups are available on the council's website or can be requested from: The British Council, Science and Public Affairs, Hahnenstrasse 6, 50667 Koln, Germany; Tel: 0049-221-20644-22/30; Fax: 0049-221-20644-55; Email: bc.cologne@britcoun.de; German research groups should apply to: DAAD, Referat 313, Kennedyallee 50, 53175 Bonn; Tel: 0228-882-236; Fax: 0228-882-444; Email: arc@daad.de.

DAIWA ANGLO-JAPANESE FOUNDATION www.daiwa-foundation.org.uk Daiwa Scholarships The purpose of the scholarships is to enable outstanding young UK graduates in any academic discipline, career or performing and creative art to acquire a lasting knowledge of Japanese life and culture and of spoken and written Japanese. Successful candidates will take up their scholarships in Japan in September 2000. The first year (including a month's homestay) will be spent at a Japanese language school and will be followed by a combination of language training and work placements. In addition to free language tuition and free travel to Japan, Scholars will receive grants at an annual rate of not less than 3,000,000 Japanese Yen to cover accommodation and living costs. Candidates must be UK citizens, 20 or over on January 1 2000, and have completed their first degree by the summer of 2000. Candidates engaged in research or a career may also apply, but graduates in Japanese or candidates who have an equivalent proficiency in Japanese will not be considered. Candidates will be expected to combine high personal and intellectual qualities with potential for leadership. Further information and application forms may be obtained from: The Director General, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Japan House, 13/14 Cornwall Terrace, London NW1 4QP; Fax: 0171-486 2914; Email: office@daiwa-foundation.org.uk Requests for application forms must be received by December 14 and completed applications must be submitted at the latest by December 16.