Researcher-led Development Projects 2011-2012

Please note that applications for 2011-12 are now closed.

About the fund

A fund of up to £30,000* was available to research students and early-career researchers in late 2010 to develop and deliver researcher- led projects that will result in either research with impact or resources to support employability.

*Up to 10K was available for projects in each of the three broad subject areas: Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts and Humanities. Collaborative interdisciplinary projects that cut across subject boundaries were also welcome.

The fund would be used to develop projects in the following areas:

  • Public Engagement and Impact (including projects to support teaching)
  • Enterprise (commercialisation/ social enterprise)
  • Policy
  • Knowledge Exchange
  • Employability/Career development

Successful projects in 2012

In total, 32 applications were received and of those, 15 were chosen for full or part funding.

All applications were reviewed by a panel including the academic co-ordinators (Professor Andrew Webster, Social Science, Professor Brian Fulton, Science and Professor Mark Ormrod, Arts & Humanities), plus representatives from Research Innovation Office and Researcher Development Team staff.

To read about the successful projects please click on the link below:

Summary of Researcher Led Projects 2012

Any further queries relating to Researcher Led Projects please contact rdt@york.ac.uk

Criteria for the fund

The projects were required to meet criteria 1a or1b and 2:

1a. Impact
Applicants were asked to indicate on the application form how their proposed project would use research to create impact. This may have been through the commercialisation of research outputs; public engagement activities such as school based projects**; knowledge exchange based activities which may include CPD activity; outreach work with the local community; policy development; working with an industrial or external non academic partner from private, public or third sector or the development of workshops and conferences designed to create a dialogue beyond the research community. The following link outlines the research councils’ expectations in this area: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/impacts/Pages/meanbyimpact.aspx

1b. Employability

Applicants were asked to indicate how their proposed project would enhance the employability of researchers. This might have been through the creation of resources to support career development such as webpage material, VLE resources; case studies of the career trajectory of researchers; podcasts with research alumni, internship opportunities.

2. Value for Money and Sustainability
 Applicants were asked to demonstrate how the project would result in a tangible outcome, product, initiative or network that can be sustained beyond the end of the project

Examples of Researcher Led Projects funded in 2010

Employability: Developing and writing health related research funding applications

£1500 allocated. Led by Research staff in Health Sciences. This project has run for the last 12 months and has bought together research staff in action learning sets who peer review draft publications. It is also involves the creation of a number of ‘talking heads’ podcasts of researchers talking about their work. Completed end of August.

Impact: Communicating Research & Public Engagement: Communicating climate change...”: a workshop for PhD students and early-career Post-doctoral researchers working in climate change

£600 allocated.Led by two PhD students in Biology this one day conference was open to all Biology PhD students in the country and looked to improve the way the researchers in the early stages of their careers communicate and engage the public with their work. Speakers included high profile politicians and journalists. The event attracted 90 PhD students from across the UK. 97% said they found the conference worthwhile. 91% said it helped them understand more about the communication of climate change research. 93% said they would use what they had learnt in their future communication of research. The organisers learnt a huge amount about project management, event organisation and dissemination. Completed.

Impact: Communicating Research & Public Engagement: Sensory Stories. £200 allocated

Pioneered by a research student in Archaeology as an extension of the AHRC funded ‘Sensory Stories’ project led by Claire Wood and Professor Jane Moody. The project will fund one student to disseminate at the international conference of the ‘Imagining America’ group, the leading organisation for public engagement in North America. Initial discussions (held by Jane Moody on a visit to the Universities of Madison Wisconsin and Washington Seattle in March 2011) have suggested real enthusiasm for this at both these universities (both leaders in public humanities) and the visit provides an opportunity to continue these conversations and cascade the work out further. Due to take place September 2011.

Impact: Communicating Research: Computer Science Doctoral Symposium. £200 allocated

Organised by two PhD students in Computer Science this 2 nd annual networking conference brings together PhD students in computer science to exchange ideas. It includes a skills training workshop. Due to take place in October.

Last Updated: 07 September 2010 | Researcher Development Team (gtu@york.ac.uk)

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