Funding and how to apply
The BTG makes funds available to the QMUL researchers from Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Engineering (SEMS) and Mathematics departments to support awards intended to build in capacity for multidisciplinary research and enhance its effectiveness. Funds are available to support new interdisciplinary collaborative ideas to the point where outside funding may be sought.
The funds will be used to:
- pump-prime new multidisciplinary research that will lead to new successful proposals aimed at external sources of funding
- fund travel visits (inbound and outbound)
- fund lecture buy-outs to assist staff to take time out of lecturing in order to write new research proposals, and
- facilitate ad-hoc and sandpit events that enable researchers from different disciplines to get together and develop new ideas
To fund an event, please contact us by email or telephone.
To apply for other types of funding, please fill out the BTG Support Fund Application Form and email it or send it to John Schormans and Tijana Timotijevic, Electronic Engineering Department.
Applications
Applications may be made at any time. Pump-priming applications will be considered twice a year by the BTG Project Steering Committee, but in exceptional circumstances the applications may be considered earlier. Other applications will be considered at any time.
All applications will be reviewed by at least 3 referees, one of whom will be the Principal Investigator Dr John Schormans. Referees will make every effort to ensure fair allocation of funds across four participating departments, and to ensure as wide participation as possible. If the demand for the funds exceeds the supply, priority will normally be given to younger researchers in the early stages of their careers.
Maximum value for the pump-priming award is £10,000. Applications for funds for inbound and outbound visits and for lecture buy-outs will be assessed individually on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants who have failed to submit a report / statement of expenditure on a previous grant within the time limit specified will not be eligible for further awards.
Where applicants already hold research grants or contracts in a relevant area, applicants will be expected to explain in detail why additional funding is required.
Applicants should note that grants will not be eligible for supplementation to meet pay increases or other escalations in costs. Applications should therefore include realistic provision for such increases.
General Conditions of Awards
Recipients of awards are required to notify Dr John Schormans immediately where circumstances delay the work or make it impossible for an award to be used for the purposes for which it was given. Awards should be taken up within the year of the date of offer, otherwise the offer will lapse and the money will revert to the BTG fund to be offered to other applicants.
Applications should demonstrate strong multidisciplinary content. They need to:
- Clearly state aims and objectives of the project, work or visit to be funded
- Demonstrate the multidisciplinary nature of the work to be funded
- Explain how the proposed work, project or visit will build capacity for multidisciplinary research
- Show clear timescales and justify costs
Eligibility
The primary purpose of the fund is to build capacity for and facilitate multidisciplinary working across QMUL, and the aim is to make eligibility as wide as possible. All academic and research staff can apply for support, including PhD students looking to develop academic careers or to work across disciplines, with the agreement of their academic supervisor.
Where two applications have equal merit and only one can be supported, applications from junior members of staff will normally be favoured. The submission of an application does not guarantee the award of funds.
More information can be found in the BTG Support Fund Guidelines document, downloadable from the left pane of this page.