Grants Factory 2013-14

This year sees our most ambitious Grants Factory yet. Not only are we continuing with the programme of workshops run by experienced academics, but we're building on the success of last year's Early Career Researcher Network to offer a forum for ECRs to meet and discuss issues around developing their careers, and we're complementing both with a series of Writing Group drop-in sessions.


There will be more information on all these sessions closer to the time, but if you would like to come along to any of them based on the information below, do drop me a line.

Grants Factory Workshops

The Grants Factory workshops are an opportunity to hear from experienced colleagues about how funders work and what they’re looking for. This year there is a focus on the new European funding programme, Horizon 2020, but there will also be in-depth sessions on the Research Councils, including mock panel exercises.

9 October, 11-3pm	The Leverhulme Trust	Prof Gordon Marshall (Director of the Leverhulme Trust)
23 October, 1-5pm	Open Access: Understanding the New Landscape	Speakers from HEFCE, RCUK and OA journals, amongst others
14 November	Gearing up for Horizon 2020 (invitation only)	Singleimage
11 December, 12-4pm	How the AHRC Peer Review Panel Works: overview and mock panel exercise	Dr Simon Kirchin & Prof Peter Boenisch
22 January	Preparing an Application for Horizon 2020	Hyperion
19 March 1-3pm	Outreach, Impact & Public Engagement	Prof Ray Laurence & Prof Darren Griffin
12 March, 12-4pm	How the ESRC Peer Review Panel Works: overview and mock panel exercise	Prof Sarah Vickerstaff & Prof Dominic Abrams
3 April, 2-4pm	Alternative Sources of Funding for your Research	Carole Barron, Alison Coles, Phil Ward
9 May, 2-4pm	Overview of Horizon 2020	UKRO
12 Feb, 1-3pm	Involving End Users in your Research	Prof Dominic Abrams & Bridget Carpenter
4 June, 12-4pm	How the EPSRC Peer Review Panel Works: overview and mock panel exercise	Prof Sarah Spurgeon & Prof Simon Thompson

Early Career Researcher Network

The ECR Network exists to offer mutual support to academics at the beginning of their careers. There will also be an opportunity to meet others informally and share the highs and lows of getting started in academia. 

16 October 2-4pm	Planning your Career	Prof Sally Sheldon & Dr Simon Black
8 November, 7pm	ECR Social
27 November, 2-4pm	Getting Published: Targeting Top Journals and Writing Book Proposals	Prof Sally Sheldon & Prof Mick Tuite
6 December, 7pm	ECR Social
19 February, 2:30-4:30pm	Using Social Media to Support your Career	Dr Nadine Muller (Liverpool John Moores University)
19 February,  7pm	ECR Social
5 March, 2-4pm	Balancing the Conflicting Demands of Academia	Prof Gordon Lynch & Prof Sarah Spurgeon
12 March, 7pm	ECR Social
30 May, 7pm	ECR Social

Grants Factory Writing Groups

Struggling to prepare a proposal alone? Finding it hard to get motivated? This year the Grants Factory will offer writing groups where you can meet other applicants for mutual help and support. Faculty Funding Officers will be on hand for advice, and each group will be mentored by a senior academic with peer review panel experience. There will be four groups:

• Arts & Humanities (Mentors: Dr Simon Kirchin & Prof Gordon Lynch)
• Social Sciences (Mentors: Prof Sarah Vickerstaff and Prof Dominic Abrams)
•  ICT, Maths & Physical Sciences (Mentors: Profs Simon Thompson and Sarah Spurgeon)
• Life & Health Sciences (Mentor: Prof Mick Tuite)

30 October, 12-2pm	Kick-off Event: Essential Elements of a Good Application
w/c 18 November	Writing Group Drop-in Session
w/c 27 January	Writing Group Drop-in Session
w/c  24 February	Writing Group Drop-in Session
w/c 24 March	Writing Group Drop-in Session
w/c 12 May	Writing Group Drop-in Session